In March of 2003, the United States invaded Iraq based on forged documents asserting that Iraq had attempted to purchase refined yellow cake uranium from Niger. The war was also sold to the American public with assurances that the Iraqi population woud greet US soldiers with open arms and flowers.

As early as June 2003, reports of torture began to emerge, which included many incidents at the Abu Ghraib prison, where up to 50,000 prioners were held.

Estimates of Iraqi casulaties range from 100,000 to as much as 1 million; US casualties stood at 4,431 through 2021.

The war was also sold to US population for its cost: approximately $50-60 billion, with claims that it may be offset by Iraqi oil.

In 2020, the Military Times published details of a report estimating the cost of the war was $2 trillion dollars, including $444 billion of interest, roughly $8,000 per US citizen.

The artwork comes with delivery of the lighter, electrical wire, and the 2003 US $100 note shown, DG 55219274