ABSTRACT
Introduction Before 9/11 there was strong pressure from senior officials within the Bush administration and opinion-formers outside government to depose Saddam Hussein. The most vociferous supporters of this goal were often those labelled ‘neo-conservatives’. After 9/11 pressure from the neo-conservatives to use military force to change the regime in Baghdad increased and played a major role in the Bush administration’s steadfast determination to confront and if necessary invade Iraq. Understanding contemporary neo-conservatism and its impact on the White House and the war on terrorism is crucial to understanding why the administration was so adamant about regime change.
