Important facts between the years of 2003-2007, about the war in Iraq

The War begins

Things Kick Off

• On March 19,2003 bush launches the invasion on Iraq. The goal was for the United States military to go there and take the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that the Iraqi people had.

Iraq CrumblesApril 9, 2003

• United States, British and other allied forces quickly overwhelm the Iraqi Army.

• Three weeks after the invasion, Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers pulled down a statue of Saddam in Baghdad’s Firdos Square.

Mission (apparently) AccomplishedMay 1, 2003

• President Bush declares the end of all major military combat operations in Iraq.

Iraq’s Army DisbandsMay 23, 2003

• L. Paul Bremer III, head of the coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, signs an order disbanding the Iraqi army and intelligence services. This sends thousands of armed Iraqi men into the streets.

Hussein’s Sons are KilledJune 22, 2003

• Saddam Hussein’s sons, Uday and Qusay are killed by U.S. troops during a raid in the northern city of Mosul.

• The manhunt that had found his sons was still in pursuit of Saddam himself.

Tragedy for the UNAugust 19,2003

• A suicide bomber driving a cement mixer filled with explosives drives into the UN headquarters in Iraq an explodes.

• The bombing kills UN special representative Sergio Vieira de Mello, and twenty-two members of his staff.

“We got him.”December 14, 2003

• Saddam Hussein is found hiding in a hole close to his hometown of Tikrit.

• The finding of Saddam is heralded by military officials as a possible turning point of the war.

• President Bush expresses hope that rising violence will subside.

Major events in 2004

WMD SearchJanuary 24,2004

• The Bush administration concedes its prior arguments about explosive stockpiles or chemical, biological, and nuclear weaponry in Saddam Huseein’s Iraq were mistaken.

• A presidential commission concludes in March 2005 that “not one bit” of prewar intelligence including WMD’s were found.

Mutilation in FallujahMarch 31, 2004

• Al-Qaeda in Iraq mounted a wave of suicide bombings.

• The attacks killed hundreds.• Four U.S. contractors are killed, burned, and

hung from a bridge.• Video of the slaughter is beamed around the

world.

Prisoner AbuseApril 28, 2004

• Evidence of prisoner abuse in the U.S. Abu Ghraib prison became public.

• Backed by photographic evidence, the conviction of seven soldiers for the torture and humiliation of prisoners brings jail sentences.

• Critics, including some of the convicted. Complain that senior officers and officials were spared.

BeheadedMay 11,2004

• Nicholas Berg, a U.S. businessman is videotaped as he is beheaded by his kidnappers.

• The U.S. government later claims that Berg was killed at the hands of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founder of the al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The Battle for FallujahSeptember 8,2004

• Fifteen-thousand U.S. and Iraqi forces assault the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah in central Iraq.

• Thirty-eight U.S. troops die along with six Iraqi soldiers.

• The pentagon estimates 1,200 insurgents killed along with at least eight-hundred Iraqi civilians.

WMD’s are not foundOctober 7, 2004

• Saddam Hussein did not have Weapons of mass destruction when the U.S invaded Iraq in 2003.

• The U.S. official said he believes Saddam decided to give up his weapons in 1991, but tried to conceal his nuclear and biological programs for as long as possible.

• Then in 1995, when his son-in-law Hussein Kamal defected with information about the programs, he gave those up, too.

DisappearanceOctober 25, 2004

• about 380 tons of powerful explosives disappeared from military installation called Al Qaqaa sometime after the war began in March 2003.

The U.S unleashes full forces November 8,2004

• This the was the second time the united states unleashed their full forces. (first time march 19,2003).

• U.S. and Iraq leaders hope the assault will break the grip of rioters who have held Fallujah for nearly seven months.

Major events in 2005

The search for WMDs is overJanuary 12, 2005

• U.S. inspectors have ended their search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Tragic deathsJanuary 27, 2005

• 30 Marines and sailors die in Iraq from a helicopter crash.

• This was the second worst tragic event that happened since the U.S invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003.

Signs of Democracy in IraqOctober 15,2005

• Shiites celebrate their first voting in Iraq’s constitution referendum.

• Two months later Iraqis vote for their first, full-term government.

Many Troops leave IraqNovember 18,2005

• John Murtha calls for the U.S troops to Withdrawal from Iraq.

• He said “The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course”.

Major events in 2006

Bloodiest day January 6, 2006

• This was the bloodiest day for the united states, 140 people were killed in Iraq.

Violence in BaghdadFebruary 22,2006

• Sunni extremists attack Baghdad’s Shiite district. The attacks spread across the country.

• Analysts later point to the Samarra strike as the start of sectarian bloodletting.

Bush gives bad newsMarch 21,2006

• Bush said “ some troops will remain in Iraq at least until 2009.

New governmentApril 22, 2006

• President Jalal Talabani appoints Nouri Maliki prime minister and asks him to form a government.

Large amount dead August 15, 2006

• 3,438 Iraqi civilians have died. This is the deadliest month for Iraq civilians.

Incidents of 9/11August 21,2006

• Bush acknowledges that Iraq did not take any part with the incident that happened on 9/11/2001.

Saddam is convictedNovember 5, 2006

• Saddam Hussein is convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging.

ExecutedDecember 30,2006

• Saddam Hussein is executed by his own people.

Major events in 2007

Bill passedApril 26,2007

• U.S. Senate passed a bill, setting an Oct. 1 deadline to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.

• The House of Representatives passed a similar bill.

• President George w. Bush vetoes the bill.

Deadliest year

• This was the deadliest year for U.S troops.

• Over 1,000 troops were killed in the War.

Total body count

• 4,287 troops have been named dead between the years of 2003-2009.

• There were 30,182 soldiers that were injured.

Money spent

• 700,000,000,000,000 is the estimated amount of money spent on the Iraq war so far.

The End