1. Iraq: A Brief History

2. Under Foreign Control Part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries
Occupied by Britain during WWI and until 1932

3. Under Control of Dictators
Declared a republic in 1958, but ruled by a series of dictators

4. Saddam Hussein took power in 1979

5. Iran-Iraq War
Causes – long-standing disputes over territory; Hussein wanted to stop Iran’s support of Iraqi Shiites; Iraq invaded Iran

6. Effects – U.S. supported Iraq because of Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist govt’; 8 years long; over 1 million died; No clear winner led to U.N. cease fire; Huge debt

7. Persian Gulf War 1990
Causes – Huge debt from Iran-Iraq War; Kuwait had oil, larger: Iraq invaded Kuwait

8. Effects – U. S. established a trade embargo; U. S
Effects – U.S. established a trade embargo; U.S.-led UN coalition removed Iraq from Kuwait (Jan-Feb 1991); U.S. left Iraq;

9. UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction & long-range missiles & to allow UN inspections.

10. Operation Iraqi Freedom
Causes - Iraq would not allow full inspections, violating the treaty from Persian Gulf War

11. Effects - As a result of non-compliance and reports that Iraq had WMD (weapons of Mass Destruction), the U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003

12. Iraq’s Future
Saddam Hussein was captured and brought to trial, found guilty of crimes against his own people, and hanged
U.S. has tried to help establish a stable democratic government

13. The last U.S. combat brigade has left
As Iraqi Security Forces take responsibility for securing their country, U.S. troops will move to an advise-and-assist role
U.S. troops had withdrawn by December 2011 brining an end to the war