Final answer:
The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was sparked by beliefs regarding WMDs and terrorism threats, with influences from control over oil resources, despite questionable intelligence and legal justifications. It resulted in significant consequences, including civilian casualties and sectarian violence, and raised questions about the legality and morality of regime change through military intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question regarding if the US had the right to invade Iraq and force a regime change is deeply rooted in the historical context leading up to the 2003 invasion. Several factors influenced the decision to invade, including the belief that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), was a significant terrorist threat, and the desire to end supposed connections with al-Qaeda. The Bush administration decided to invade Iraq despite challenges against the credibility of the intelligence reports suggesting Iraq's possession of WMDs and the opposition from some of its own members, such as Secretary of State Colin Powell, who had initially labeled the efforts to find substantial evidence against Iraq as 'lunacy.' The involvement in Iraq was also partially motivated by control over oil resources, as evidenced when the contracts previously held by companies in France, Russia, and China were canceled in favor of British and US oil contractors post-invasion.
Furthermore, the 1991 United Nations (UN) Resolution 687 was later interpreted as giving legal justification for the use of force, which was employed again in 1996, 1998, and prominently in 2003. The fear of WMDs was a recurring theme, dating back to when Hussein used such weapons during the Iran-Iraq war and against the Kurds, events during which the US had supported Iraq. The 2003 invasion led to significant consequences, including civilian casualties, sectarian violence, and the damaging of the US reputation in terms of its capability to enact positive global changes. It leaves us with an important consideration of international law, human rights, and the long-term impacts of military interventions.