Why did the USA become fixated on regime change? You could start with this radio programme presented by British journalist Gordon Corera, which includes Western and Iraqi revelations. (The episode starts 3 mins 27 secs in and lasts about 15 mins.)

This book explains what life was like in Iraq under Saddam Hussein and describes the First Gulf War (1990–91) and the Second Gulf War (2003–10). It shows how the wars affected the everyday lives of people on both sides of the conflict. Chapters 8 and 9 cover the Second Gulf War. The book provides a useful overview of the chronology and events from 1990 to 2010. Students will find it helpful to learn about the First Gulf War and the situation in Iraq under Hussein’s rule before you discuss the Second Gulf War. 

This article gives a useful summary of the invasion and the Chilcot report on Britain’s involvement in the war, which showed that the UK entered the war before peaceful options had been fully explored. It has detailed interviews with five Iraqis who experienced the war, including the wife and son of an engineer who was killed by coalition troops. (Note: The interviewees talk about death and torture.) The photos are a valuable primary source and could be useful as a focus for discussion.

This fiction title tells the story of Zainab, an Iraqi girl living as a refugee in the USA, and her challenges and successes. Although she does not remember the frightening journey to safety, she feels different from others and she lives between two cultures. The story is interwoven with facts about the Second Gulf War and Iraqi refugees worldwide. There are discussion prompts, and a downloadable teachers’ guide is available. Using the story of an individual can make the war in Iraq more relatable for young people. This would be a useful introduction to a lesson about life for refugees settling in a new country. If you have students in the class who are well established in the country, they might be prepared to share their experiences.

This fiction title tells the story of Zainab, an Iraqi girl living as a refugee in the USA, and her challenges and successes. Although she does not remember the frightening journey to safety, she feels different from others and she lives between two cultures. The story is interwoven with facts about the Second Gulf War and Iraqi refugees worldwide. There are discussion prompts, and a downloadable teachers’ guide is available. Using the story of an individual can make the war in Iraq more relatable for young people. This would be a useful introduction to a lesson about life for refugees settling in a new country. If you have students in the class who are well established in the country, they might be prepared to share their experiences.