By Michael Nietfeld CURRENT EVENTS OF IRAQ WAR

About 4,287 US soldiers have been named dead since April 1 st About 30,182 US soldiers have been wounded since April 1 st 2005 An estimated 655,000 Iraqis have died since CASUALTIES IN IRAQ

Iran became one of Iraq’s largest trading partners Iranian leaders established ties with Iraqi politicians which increases Iran’s political power Weapons have been traded between Iran and Iraq STRENGTHENING OF IRAN Iran’s involvement has hindered the U.S. due to Iraqis obtaining and using weapons from Iran The economic cost of fighting Iraq hurt the U.S. economy Weakening of the U.S.

Costs could be over 2 trillion dollars if factors such as medical care for injured Americans is accounted for Direct cost to the treasury has been over 750 billion dollars ECONOMIC COSTS

NO PROVISIONAL IRAQI GOVERNMENT Without someone to lead the country, Iraqis began looting and discontent The discontent led to the insurrection and fighting between Iraq and the U.S. Al-Maliki began forming a new government but no final decisions have been made

Original order would dismiss more than 500,000 Iraqis from their jobs 30,000 Iraqis were dismissed from ministries 100,000 members of intelligence services were dismissed Some senior members of government were allowed to return Due to the loss of jobs, the insurrection was encouraged DE-BA’ATHIFICATION AND DISBANDING OF IRAQI MILITARY

TROOP LEVELS IN IRAQ The war began by 192,000 troops invading Iraq in March 2003 By October ,000 troops In October ,000 troops March ,000 troops

2008 ELECTION Obama wished to remove one or two brigades each month from Iraq and have all troops home after 16 months McCain wished to pursue victory in Iraq before bringing troops home

Prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq were tortured When this scandal was released to the public it hurt the image of the Iraq War Seventeen soldiers and officers were removed from duty ABU GHRAIB

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