Is it accurate to argue that the US democracy promotion policy in Iraq has caused or contributed to the disintegration of this country? The author studies the perceptions and policy of the George W. Bush administration concerning democracy promotion, analyzes the preconditions for disintegration in Iraq, and how the 2003 invasion and the reforms of the political system contributed to this process. It is concluded that 1) the de-facto disintegration of Iraq occurred because of the confrontation between major social groups, which intensified after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, and that 2) the establishment of formal democratic institutions did not lead to the expected stabilization of the country.