Iraq War

The Iraq War, also known as Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Telic, or the
occupation of Iraq, is an ongoing conflict which began on March 20, 2003 with the
United States-led invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition composed of U.S. and
UK troops supported by smaller contingents from Australia, Denmark, Poland, and
other nations. The main reason to fund the Iraq War was the allegations described
by George W. Bush that Iraq was in command of weapons of mass destruction.
Other reasons for the invasion stated by officials included concerns over Iraq's
financial support for the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, Iraqi government
human rights abuses, and spreading democracy. Lastly, oil reserves were one of the
causes for the invasion of Iraq but were earlier denied by officials. However, after
about five years of continuation, the War on Iraq has been questioned
internationally and President Bush’s approval ratings have dropped. Not only has
the Iraq War been lengthy, it’s been costly also. The United States pours over 800
billion dollars into the Iraq war. The war also lead to recent signs on recession for
the United States and its sliding value on the US dollar. The US economy has to
suffer from the Iraq War
Timeline

2001: Bush's Cabinet agreed to use military intervention in Iraq, because it was
considered a destabilizing influence to the flow of oil to international markets from
the Middle East.

2002: the CIA sent former Ambassador Joseph Wilson to investigate dubious claims
about Iraq's attempted purchase of yellowcake uranium from Niger. Wilson returned
and informed the CIA that reports of yellowcake sales to Iraq were "unequivocally
wrong."

2002: George Tenet briefed Bush that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of
mass destruction.

2002: A few days before the U.S. Senate voted on the Joint Resolution to Authorize
the Use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq, about 75 senators were told in
closed session that Saddam Hussein had the means of attacking the eastern
seaboard of the U.S.

2003: French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin declared "we believe that
military intervention would be the worst solution." Meanwhile anti-war groups
across the world organized public protests.

February 15, 2003: Largest international demonstration against the invasion of Iraq.

March 20, 2003: The invasion on Iraq begins.

April 9, 2003: Bagdad Falls.

April 21, 2003: CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority) a type of transitional

government was created for Iraq.

May 1, 2003: Bush effectively declared victory due to the defeat of Iraq's
conventional forces. However, Saddam Hussein remained at large and significant
pockets of resistance remained.

July 2, 2003: President Bush declared that American troops would remain in Iraq in
spite of the attacks, challenging the insurgents with "My answer is, bring 'em on," a
widely criticized line which Bush later expressed misgivings about.

December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein was captured.

March 31, 2004: Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah ambushed a Blackwater USA convoy.

November 2004: US and Iraq engaged in the bloodiest battle of the war so far: the
Second Battle of Fallujah.
November 7, 2006: United States midterm elections removed the Republican Party
from control of both chambers of the United States Congress.

December 30, 2006: Saddam Hussein was hanged after found guilty of crimes
against humanity.

2007: Bush calls for troop surges and more finance for the continuation of Iraq War.