Author: Joel Rayburn - Frank Sobchak After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the general vision was to transform Iraq into a liberal democratic model that would contribute to reshaping the map of the Middle East. However, the political and economic transformations in Iraq transformed this vision into a historical burden after billions of dollars were spent and human losses resulted. Iraq became an arena for settling disputes and conflicts, including eliminating terrorist organizations using drones. Internally, the war in Iraq was a "republican" move that cost the United States dearly, fueled by false perceptions of Iraq and its ties to Iran. Iraq was portrayed as a hostile arena for surrounding countries, neglecting the reality of its independent and complex composition. Internally, the US administration faced difficulty implementing its plans on the ground, especially during the first term of Maliki's rule. Despite US recommendations to contain the Sadrist movement, Maliki did not seriously address the growing threats, which led to a widespread Sadrist rebellion and forced US forces to intervene directly. This conflict further complicated the domestic American situation and made the idea of ¿¿a military presence in Iraq undesirable, a point Barack Obama made clear during his 2007 election campaign.