Briefly, identify two advantages and two disadvantages of the United States becoming involved in state-building in Iraq?

Two advantages

By get rid of Saddam Husain and his coterie from Iraq. Eliminating weapons from the country of mass destruction, stability internally and regional harmony, from Iraq’s oil field, getting predictable and constant production.

Disadvantages

In Iraq, the basis for civil society has been hollowed due to Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship. Moreover, the country is also suffering from long-standing political problems, crime, and banditry which all have been deeply rooted. Hence, any attempts to transform would need to face these challenges.

Lack of real knowledge about to forces related political and attitude within Iraq and lack of consensus on the future political structure of Iraq. The humanitarian situation is poor in Iraq such as child mortality, medical sector, poor sanitation facility. Thus, US need to prepare for these challenges.

References

Iraq. Chapter 10. Retrieved online on December 1, 2009, from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1753/MR1753.ch10.pdf The trip, C. (2004). The United States and state-building in Iraq. Review of International Studies, 30, 545–558