US Goes To War In Iraq

September 11, 2001

• Al-Qaeda – based in Afghanistan – stages terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and Pentagon– Over 3,000 killed– President George W. Bush

demand the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden

• They refuse

• October 2001: America goes to war in Afghanistan

Bush Doctrine

• The United States will attack first against any nation that poses a threat to the security of the United States or its allies

Leading Up To War

• United States identifies Iraq as a threat– Broke cease fire agreement 17 times

• Repeatedly kicked weapons inspectors out of Iraq– Police once held inspectors in parking lot for 2 days at gunpoint

– US points to evidence that Saddam is developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s)

• Could be used against Israel or sold to terrorists

• President Bush declares Saddam Hussein a threat to the safety of the United States– Issues Feb. 2003 as deadline for Saddam to step

down from power• Deadline ignored

War in Iraq

• March 2003: U.S. invades Iraq– 78,000 troops

• Saddam’s government quickly collapses– US confident that end of

war is near• Without clear authority-

violence breaks out– Looting– Ethnic violence– Not enough US troops to

control the situation– Police were disbanded

Resistance

• 1st resistance: Political– Former Iraqi Army soldiers

trying to re-gain control

• 2nd resistance: religious– Al-Qaeda comes to Iraq

• Iran helps Shia insurgence with weapons

• Method: Guerilla Warfare– Ambush– I.E.D.’s

American Forces

• 168,000 by 2007– Attempting to provide

stability in order to establish a Democratic government

– Training a national army/ police force

• Patrols through cities• Leading raids on

suspected insurgents

Iraqi Government?

• Should Iraq be divided up into 3 separate nations?– Problem:

• North (Kurds): Oil. Water resources

• Sunni (North): No water or oil resources

• Shia (South): Oil/ water resources. Connection to Iran

• Dec. 2005: Parliamentary elections successfully held– Democracy is established

President Obama Changes Policy

• Current 142,000 troops will be reduced to 25-30,000 by end of 2010.– Iraqi Army / police will take

on more responsibility– US troops will be based

outside of cities• For support of Iraqi troops

• US troops will leave Iraq by end of 2011

Iraq So Far

• Saddam Hussein captured– Tried and executed

• 4,287 US troops killed• Over 30,000 US

troops wounded• Over 60,000 Iraqi’s

killed• $657 Billion so far