1. IRAQ Operation Iraqi Freedom Background, Conflict, and Aftermath

2. BACKGROUND TO WAR

3. Background to War Persian Gulf War 1990 – Iraq invades Kuwait. 1991 – Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm) –U.S. and U.N. Coalition Forces attack Iraq. They are successful, but Hussein is not captured.

4. Background to War Attempted Assassination It is believed that during the Persian Gulf War, Saddam Hussein orders an assassination on then President George Bush, Sr. The attempt is unsuccessful.

5. Background to War Weapons of Mass Destruction Following the Persian Gulf War, Iraq was ordered to eliminate its programs to develop Weapons of Mass Destruction – biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons – U.N. inspections were scheduled. Iraq consistently denied access to these inspectors.

6. Background to War 9/11 September 11, 2001 Attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon. American airplane also crashes after being taken over by terrorists. Al-Quada (led by Saudi Osama bin Laden) is behind the attacks. Iraq has nothing to do with these attacks, but Americans’ fear of terrorism (which many associate with Iraq) increases dramatically.

7. Background to War Bush Doctrine Bush Doctrine –New foreign policy strategy that calls for preemptive war to prevent terrorists or state sponsors of terrorism from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. –This doctrine also held that the United States would act unilaterally if necessary

8. Background to War Axis of Evil George W. Bush identifies Iraq as an “axis of evil” who is threatening global security. Bush asserts that Iraq possesses large stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction and is trying to make more. Bush makes case for preemptive military action.

9. Background to War United Nations March 7, 2003 –International Atomic Energy Agency reports to the UN Security Council that “After three months of intrusive inspections, we have to date found no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapons program in Iraq”. U.N. Security Council votes on date for final inspection (prove no weapons or go to war). –If any of the 5 permanent members (U.S., Great Britain, France, Russia and China are permanent members). U.S. and Great Britain favor the resolution. France, Russia and China reject the resolution. It does not pass.

10. CONFLICT

11. Conflict U.S. Declares War March 19, 2003 –Bush declares war on Iraq March 20, 2003 –U.S. air strike on Iraq begins. Most of the air strikes were aimed at Baghdad – this particular air attack is referred to as the “shock and awe” campaign March 21, 2003 –Coalition ground troops enter Iraq

12. Conflict Iraqi Cities Iraqi cities that are major combat areas during Operation Iraqi Freedom –Baghdad –Mosul –Kirkuk –Tikrit (Hussein’s hometown – This is where he will eventually be captured)

13. Conflict Govt. Falls/Major Combat Ends April 9, 2003 –Baghdad falls. Saddam Hussein’s government is toppled. With the fall of the government, widespread looting and chaos begins. Many important infrastructures (power plants, communication lines, water purification plants, etc.) are destroyed. May 1, 2003 –Bush declares and end to combat operations on May 1. –However, guerilla war against the coalition occupation continues.

14. Conflict War Fatalities From the start of the war (March 20, 2003) to the end of major combat (May 1, 2003), 138 U.S. service personnel were killed. Today (April 2006), the total number of Americans killed now stands at 2,245. The total number of Iraqis killed since the start of the war is approximately 30,000 – this total includes Iraqi civilians killed by both coalition forces and guerilla attacks.

15. AFTERMATH

16. Aftermath No Evidence No evidence of weapons of mass destruction were found during Operation Iraqi Freedom (of have been found since). Also, no evidence of Hussein having links to Al-Quaeda.

17. Aftermath Abu Ghraib In late April, the appalling physical and sexual abuse and humiliation of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad came to light when photographs were released by the U.S. media. The images sparked outrage around the world.

18. Aftermath Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein was captured. He is currently on trial for crimes against humanity. Saddam Hussein’s 2 sons were killed.

19. Aftermath New Government Since the end of major combat in May 2003, Iraq’s government has been in a continuous transition. Some important dates include: –October 2005 – A constitution was voted on by the Iraqi people. It passed. –December 2005 – First parliamentary elections since fall of Hussein. Shiites won the majority of the seats. –Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a controversial religious Shiite has been chosen as Prime Minister. Iraqi and U.S. officials have asked him to step down because many believe that he is dividing the country even more.

20. Aftermath Reconstruction The lack of security, due to attacks by insurgents, has continued to frustrate reconstruction efforts. Electricity and clean water are still below prewar levels, and half of Iraq's employable population are still without work. In Feb. 2006, a U.S. Senate report on progress in Iraq indicated that despite the U.S. spending $16 billion on reconstruction, every major area of Iraq's infrastructure was below prewar levels. This included electricity, drinkable water, heating oil production, crude oil production, and sewage service. U.S. is trying to train Iraqi police, but the training of Iraqi security forces had been far below what was anticipated.

21. Aftermath Insurgency Insurgency continues. Predominantly involves Sunni insurgents targeting Shiite and Kurdish civilians in suicide bombings. The death toll for Iraqi civilians is estimated to have reached 30,000 since the start of the war. Suicide bombings, kidnappings, and beheadings targeted civilians, Iraqi security forces, foreign workers, and coalition soldiers. In Feb. 2006. a U.S. Senate report on progress in Iraq indicated that the number of insurgent attacks has increased: between March 2004 and Dec. 2005, they had grown by more that 200%.

22. Aftermath Shiites and Sunnis On Feb. 23, insurgents bombed and seriously damaged the golden dome atop the Shiite's most revered shrine in Iraq, the Askariya Shrine, in Samarra. The bombings ignited ferocious sectarian attacks between Shiites and Sunnis. More than a thousand people were killed over several days, and Iraq seemed poised for civil war. Civil War is still possible.

23. Aftermath Total Fatalities Today (April 2006), the total number of Americans killed now stands at 2,245. The total number of Iraqis killed since the start of the war is approximately 30,000 – this total includes Iraqi civilians killed by both coalition forces and guerilla attacks.

24. Aftermath Exit Strategy ?