The War on Iraq has brought changes to a lot of things. Regional stability, the world economy and local people's lives now all face an uncertain future. The conflict has also had a far-reaching impact on international relations between the world's major powers.
Before the first bomb was dropped on Iraqi soil, the world was bitterly divided over the US' position on the Iraq crisis.
The US' biggest surprise was two of their staunch cold war allies, France and Germany, turned their back on the world's only superpower with France as America's leading opponent.
On March 21, French President Jacques Chirac stated, "My dear countrymen, the military operations have just started in Iraq. France regrets this action taken without approval of the United Nations."
On the same day, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said, "My question was and is: does the degree of threat stemming from the Iraqi dictator justify a war that will bring certain death to thousands of innocent men, women and children? My answer was and is: no."
This is seen as the most serious rift in the trans-Atlantic alliance for more than 50 years.
Russia, not surprisingly, expressed its opposition against unilateralism, throwing a wet blanket over its warming relations with the United States. Belgium, China, Argentina and many Arab countries also joined their ranks.
Despite this strong opposition, the United States finally decided to act without UN authorization.
After the US-led forces had taken control of most of Iraq, another rift appeared, this time over who should play a central role in the postwar reconstruction of the country.
However, the US, while acknowledging that the UN shouldn't be sidelined, insisted that the US and its allies must play "the leading role" in deciding Iraq's postwar future.
Such disagreement was reinforced during the St. Petersburg meeting between Russia, France and Germany. As the war came to an end, the leaders poured scorn on the US for failing to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which they say was the only justification for war.
Saddam's regime has ended, satisfying the US goal of regime change. But how long it will take for the wounds to heal between the US and Europe and within Europe itself, remains unknown.
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