Donald Rumsfeld pushed the Iraq War. We should grieve its innocent victims, not him.

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As often happens with the deaths of politicians, memories of their injustices are quickly erased in the name of mourning the deceased and honoring the grieving families. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who died Tuesday at the age of 88, was no exception. The real tragedy of his passing is that he does not face justice.

President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and other architects of the devastating and unproductive war that followed 9/11 should be considered.

Following his death, many death row inmates would instead sing his praises. Her former colleague Condoleezza Rice defined her best friend as a remarkable and dedicated public servant. Similarly, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Has called Rumsfeld one of the nation’s strongest defenders.

The lives we should mourn, however, are the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis and Afghans who died as a result of Rumsfeld’s push to war, aided by many fellow officials in President George W. Bush’s administration, who followed suit. Al Qaedas attacks on September 11, 2001. As an Iraqi, these deaths, some of friends and family members, continue to haunt me. Without the Rumsfelds War, many of them would still be with us.

Rumsfelds ’relationship with Iraq began when President Ronald Reagans commanded the Middle East, famously shining as he shook hands with Iraqi leader Saddam Husseins. On behalf of the United States, he vowed to support the dictator in adapting Iran while facing human rights abuses. Years later, Rumsfeld abandoned this partnership when he became one of the main architects of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

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Within six hours of the twin towers attack, Rumsfeld pointed to Iraq. Rumsfelds ’orders that day are described in the notes as telling his aide to get the“ best information quickly ”and then“ judge if the SH is right. [Saddam Hussein] once Not just UBL [Osama bin Laden]. “Then,” went massive. Sweep it all away. Things that are related and not. “

Without adequate public support, however, the Bush administration will not be able to get congressional approval for an attack on Iraq. Rumsfeld, loved by many in the media at the time for his furious and aggressive authority, began to make the case for an invasion of Iraq.

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In September 2002, Rumsfeld announced that the United States had no ammunition evidence that Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda already had an alliance. It was not done. We also know now that Iraq does not possess a weapon of mass destruction. Rumsfeld, in contrast, not only claimed they had, but declared that he even knew their location.

When Baghdad fell to U.S. troops, the United States protected the Ministry of Oil as widespread theft of Iraq’s national treasures took place. When investigating about this piracy, Rumsfelds ’response highlighted his lack of empathy: the thing is happening.

Until now, Iraqis have been suffering from the costs of the war. It estimates that nearly 200,000 Iraqi civilians have died as a result of the invasion of Iraq, along with their families who have yet to see justice. My own family is now scattered around the world, from the US to Australia, as part of the 9.2 million Iraqis who have fled within or outside the country, with the number still growing.

After my grandparents ’house in Baghdad was destroyed by an explosion, the ongoing fear led many family members to flee the country. I personally witnessed a terrifying car bomb in Baghdad, which killed many civilians, on a visit to Iraq.

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Rumsfeld is also one of the key engineers behind global torture programs in U.S. governments, called enhanced interrogation techniques. This is a man who once complained that forced prisoners to stand for four hours should be more like 8-10 hours.

History will remember Rumsfeld for the destruction he caused and the lives he broke. It is a shame justice was never delivered while he was alive. Before it’s too late, Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney and other architects of the devastating and unproductive wars that followed 9/11 should be held accountable rather than allowed to peacefully see their remaining years, a privilege not granted. to many Iraqis.

Ahmed Twaij is a freelance journalist, filmmaker and doctor.

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