Critique of Justificatory Tendencies in Counter-terrorism Policies: The Case of Iraq

Situated within the field of critical terrorism studies, this paper explores how counterterrorism narratives legitimise terrorism discourse and counterterrorism measures. It shows how military and security counterterrorism policies have been abused in the wake of 9/11 to the detriment of individual rights and liberties, as well as state stability in the case of Iraq. The paper draws on just war and securitisation theories and adopts a critical analysis methodology to revisit these theories from an empirical perspective, examining the implications of their application to counterterrorism policies, specifically in Iraq. The study concludes that the response to terrorist threats was unjustified and entirely counterproductive, elucidating the magnitude and scope of this disproportionate response and the consequences for individual rights and freedoms.