Final answer:
The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 due to concerns about Iraqi weapons development and the fear of Iraqi threats to once again invade Kuwait. The rise of ISIS was a consequence of the invasion but not a direct cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was primarily driven by concerns about Iraqi weapons development. The United States believed that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and posed a threat to international security. This belief was fueled by intelligence reports and statements made by the Iraqi government. The United States argued that they needed to intervene to prevent Iraq from using or sharing these weapons with terrorist organizations.
Additionally, Iraqi threats to once again invade Kuwait played a role in the decision to invade. In 1990, Iraq had invaded Kuwait and posed a threat to stability in the region. The fear was that if left unchecked, Iraq could once again invade and destabilize the Middle East.
The rise of ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) did not directly lead to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. ISIS emerged years after the invasion, taking advantage of the power vacuum and instability created by the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. The invasion, however, did contribute to the overall instability in the region, which allowed groups like ISIS to gain traction.
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