ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hearts and minds (Iraq)

Okay, imagine you have a bunch of kids in your class and you want them to like you and be your friends. You can do this by doing things that make them happy and feel good, like sharing your toys or helping them when they need it. This is kind of like how the US military wanted the people in Iraq to like them and support them when they were there.

But it's not always easy to make friends, especially if the other person doesn't trust you or thinks you're mean. This is what happened with the US military in Iraq. Some Iraqi people didn't like them because they thought they were there to hurt them or take over their country. So the military had to find other ways to make the Iraqi people trust them and see them in a positive light.

One of the ways they did this was by helping the Iraqi people in different ways. For example, they helped to build schools and hospitals, and they also gave out food and supplies to those in need. By doing these things, the military was showing the Iraqi people that they were there to help and not to hurt them.

Another way they tried to win over hearts and minds was by talking to the Iraqi people and listening to their concerns. They wanted to understand what the Iraqi people were going through and what they needed. By doing this, they hoped to build relationships with the Iraqi people and show them that they cared.

Overall, winning hearts and minds is about trying to make people like you and support you. The US military in Iraq tried to do this by helping the Iraqi people in different ways and by listening to their concerns.