The IRAQ WAR The Facts
What It Looked Like…
IRAQ- Operation Iraqi Freedom WHO: The United States vs. Iraq LEADERS: Presidents George W. Bush & Barack Obama vs. Saddam Hussein
TIME PERIOD: 2003 to 2011 LOCATION: Iraq CAUSES: Saddam Hussein had WMDs or Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq…never found and to bring democracy to the Iraqi people
CONTROVERSIES??? Some say it is over oil Some say it is Bush (Son) getting back for his father not killing Saddam during the Persian Gulf War of the 1990s
Remember….. After Persian Gulf War, UN told Iraq and Hussein to destroy WMDs Several times the UN tried to visit Iraq to check on this, but Hussein wouldn’t allow it After 9/11, Pres. Bush pushed UN to be more forceful This goes back and forth until late 2002
Final Warnings… In early 2003, Pres. Bush and the UN finally get a resolution to allow UN officials to check Iraq for WMDs – this was withdrawn because France and Germany didn’t like it On March 17, 2003, Bush gives Hussein an ultimatum – leave Iraq in 48 hours or face military action Within days, USA gets information that Hussein and his top officials are hiding underground George W. Bush’s Speech (Stop at 6:20) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr7OKqqTb_o
War Begins… On March 20, 2003 at 2:30am in Iraq, USA sends 3 dozen Tomahawk missiles with 1000lb warheads into Baghdad (Iraq’s capital) Within hours more targets are hit and the war, code named – Operation Iraqi Freedom, has started Taking over Baghdad took roughly 21 days It was celebrated around the world when Hussein’s statue was torn down by his own people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvaU3ZiBmGw&feature=related (2:23 BBC Live at First Attack)
FALL OF SADDAM Despite hiding out in bunkers and underground (literally), Hussein was captured http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-1i0bFEv4 (4:51 Saddam’s Last Stand-look at his hideout) He was put on trial for crimes against humanity and sentenced to death He was hanged on Dec. 30, 2006
OUTCOME 4,800 coalition forces killed---4,500 USA Final troops came home December 2011 Democracy in Iraq http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2011-12-15/Iraq-war/51945028/1 (1:31 taking down flag and speeches)