1. Began in 2003; Saddam Hussein was the president of Iraq
War in Iraq
Began in 2003;
Saddam Hussein was the
president of Iraq

2. The Background 1980-88 War between Iran and Iraq.
The U.S. secretly supported Iran with weapons sales (Iran-Contra Scandal!), and more openly supported Iraq.
Iran was a theocracy, led by radical Ayatollah Khomeini
Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq was a secular state.

3. Persian Gulf War, 1991 Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait
The U.S. and many countries in the United Nations attacked Iraq and drove the Iraqis out of Kuwait
The war lasted 6 weeks; Saddam Hussein surrendered.

4.
As part of the peace agreement, Saddam Hussein had to allow the United Nations to send in weapons inspectors, who were looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Saddam Hussein tried to avoid these inspections regularly for 12 years

5. Weapons of Mass Destruction
Nuclear weapons—Iraq was not accused of having these but was apparently working on developing one
Biological weapons (example—anthrax or other deadly diseases that could be used against millions of people)
Chemical weapons (example—mustard gas or cyanide--chemicals that cause severe burns, suffocation, death)

6. Operation Iraqi Freedom
The U.S. attacked Iraq in 2003 because we believed Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons have been found since the US invasion.
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq.

7. What happened to Saddam?
He fled from Baghdad.
He was later found and arrested.
He was put on trial for crimes against his own people (killing 148 Shiites).
He was found guilty and hanged.

8. Sunnis, Shi’ites, and Kurds
Three major ethnic groups in Iraq, all vying for power/ rights
Saddam Hussein—Sunni
Used chemical weapons against Kurds during 1990s
After Saddam, civil war quickly developedbetween Sunnis and Shi’a

9. Troop Surge
In summer 2007, President Bush sent thousands more troops to try to end the violence in Iraq and establish peace and security.
A year later, most people agreed the troop surge was successful in ending the civil war and reducing violence by insurgents, or rebels.

10. US Role US combat operations officially ended in August 2010
A full withdrawal took place in December About 200 U.S. military personnel will stay in Baghdad as members of the U.S. diplomatic mission.
4,486 US troops died in Iraq
Major threat for US troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan has been IEDs—Improvised Explosive Devices

11. Current Situation
Hadair al-Abadi was elected prime minister in the most recent elections; he must put together a cabinet that Sunnis and Kurds will support within the next month
This summer Kurds have provided military aid to minorities being targeted by ISIS (Islamic State).
US supported this effort with airstrikes against ISIS—the first US military combat action since 2010

12. Why did we stay so long in Iraq?
Helped end civil war between Sunnis and Shiites, both trying to control Iraq
U.S. was trying to keep peace and establish security, supporting the elected Iraqi government
We will continue to give support through our Embassy