 17 years ago, the U.S. illegally invaded Iraq, leaving a trail of destruction and death. Thousands of U.S. troops lost their lives and millions of Iraqi civilians were killed or wounded. The U.S. invasion was actively opposed by peoples and countries all over the world. 17 years later, the consequences of the invasion have lived up to the fears of all who opposed it. Let's take a look at 12 of the most serious consequences of the U.S. war in Iraq. 1. Millions of Iraqis Killed and Wounded 2. Millions more Iraqis displaced 3. Thousands of American and other foreign troops killed and wounded As of February 2020, 4,576 U.S. troops were killed. 4. Even more veterans have committed suicide More than 20 U.S. veterans killed themselves every day. 5. Trillions of dollars wasted The Congressional Budget Office estimated $2.4 trillion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007. None of this money went to rebuild everything we destroyed in Iraq. 6. Disfunctional and Corrupt Iraqi Government Most men running the country are the same U.S.-backed Iraqi exiles that planned the invasion of their own country in 2003. 7. The illegal war has undermined the rule of international law. 8. War lies corrupted U.S. democracy U.S. Congress voted for war based on a previous document produced weeks before the vote to make the case for war. 9. Impunity for systematic war crimes 10. Destruction of the environment War-created pollution is a major cause of the skyrocketing levels of cancer, leukemia, birth defects, premature birth, and miscarriages in Iraq. 11. The U.S. Divide and Rule Policy Unleashed Regional Havoc The sectarian divisions the U.S. unleashed in Iraq led to the resurgence of al-Qaeda and the emergence of ISIS. 12. The new Cold War between the U.S. and the emergent multilateral world The war in Iraq has set off a precarious polarization put in Russia and China against the U.S. 13. World public opinion so likely critical of Washington and our European allies increasingly distant from us. 14. The invasion of Iraq was a humanitarian catastrophe and remains a symbol of irrationality, illegality, and greed. 15. The Iraqi parliament recently voted to expel U.S. troops. The U.S. should comply. After 17 years, it's time for our troops to come home. Hey, wanna read the full article and learn some more? Go to CodePink.org.