Timeline, 1990 - 2011
time line probably would be better as a page, rather than a post, but I need it for some of the novels I'm currently writing. So the post of this is for referance mainly and I'm getting to have too many 'singular' interest pages on here.
THE FIRST GULF WAR AND WEAPONS INSPECTIONS 1990 - 1999 Invasion of Kuwait, US Military Operations, UNSCOM and No-Fly Zones, Cheney "Quagmire" Comment, Oil-for-Food, UNMOVIC | ||||
DATES | EVENTS | |||
1990
Invasion of Kuwait
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1990 - 1991
US Military Operations
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UNSCOM and No-Fly Zones
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Apr. 1993
Bush Assassination Attempt
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Cheney's "Quagmire" Comment and Saddam Hussein Becomes Prime Minister
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Apr. 14, 1995
Oil-for-Food
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"On 14 Apr. 1995, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council adopted resolution 986, establishing the 'oil-for-food' programme, providing Iraq with another opportunity to sell oil to finance the purchase of humanitarian goods, and various mandated United Nations activities concerning Iraq.
The programme, as established by the Security Council, is intended to be a 'temporary measure to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, until the fulfillment by Iraq of the relevant Security Council resolutions, including notably resolution 687 of 3 Apr. 1991.'"
Office of the Iraq Programme Oil-for-Food "About the Programme," www.un.org, Mar. 28, 2007 | |||
UN Resolutions and CIA Coup Attempt
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"12 June 1996 - UN Resolution 1060 and Resolutions 1115, 1134, 1137, 1154, 1194, and 1205. Demands that Iraq cooperate with UNSCOM and allow inspection teams immediate, unconditional, and unrestricted access to facilities for inspection and access to Iraqi officials for interviews. UNSCR 1137 condemns Baghdad's refusal to allow entry to Iraq to UNSCOM officials on the grounds of their nationality and its threats to the safety of UN reconnaissance aircraft."
CIA "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs," Oct. 2002
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Dec. 1998
Desert Fox
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"In Dec., [1998] Saddam ends Iraqi cooperation with UNSCOM and accuses the UN of espionage. On Dec. 15, UNSCOM Chairman Richard Butler reports that the Iraqis are refusing to cooperate with inspectors and the next day, President Clinton -- on the eve of the House impeachment vote -- orders Operation Desert Fox, a four-day bombardment of key Iraqi military installations. It is conducted without UN Security Council approval."
PBS "The Long Road to War: Chronology," www.pbs.org, Mar. 29, 2007 | |||
Dec. 17, 1999
UNMOVIC
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On Dec. 17, 1999, the UN Security Council passes Resolution 1284 which establishes "as a subsidiary body of the Council, the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) which replaces the Special Commission [UNSCOM]."
United Nations http://daccessdds.un.org, Apr. 16, 2007 |
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS 2000 - Feb. 2003 UN Weapons Inspections, "Axis of Evil", UN Resolution 1441, Secretary of State Powell at UN | |||||
DATES | EVENTS | ||||
Feb. 11, 2000
UN Weapons Inspections
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Iraq announces that United Nations weapons inspectors would not be allowed back into Iraq to reinstate a disarmament program halted on the eve of American and British air strikes in Dec. 1998.
New York Times "Iraq Says It Will Not Allow UN Arms Inspectors to Return," Feb. 11, 2000 | ||||
Oct.-Dec. 2000
UN and Iraqi Oil
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Feb. 2001
Iraq Bombed
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"Britain, US carry out bombing raids to try to disable Iraq's air defence network. The bombings have little international support."
BBC "Timeline: Iraq," news.bbc.co.uk, Mar. 29, 2007 | ||||
Nov. 26, 2001
US Threatens Iraq
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President Bush states: "If anybody harbors a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they fund a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they house terrorists they're terrorists...If they develop weapons of mass destruction, that will be used to terrorize nations, they will be held accountable. And, as for Mr. Saddam Hussein, he needs to let inspectors back in his country to show us that he is not developing weapons of mass destruction."
George W. Bush "President Welcomes Aid Workers Rescued from Afghanistan," www.whitehouse.gov, Nov. 26, 2001
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Jan. 29, 2002
"Axis of Evil"
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In his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush describes Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as the "axis of evil": "States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world....And all nations should know: America will do what is necessary to ensure our nation's security."
George W. Bush Jan. 29, 2002 | ||||
Mar. 28, 2002
Beirut Declaration
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The Arab League holds a summit that results in a summit communique, the Beirut Declaration: "The communique calls for Iraq to comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and demands the immediate lifting of sanctions.
But it also includes an explicit rejection of military action against Iraq, warning that an attack on one Arab nation will be considered an attack on all Arab nations."
Betsy Pisik "Arabs Unite on Peace Offer," Washington Times, Mar. 29, 2002 | ||||
Sep. 12, 2002
President Bush at the UN
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Oct. 10-11, 2002
US Joint Resolution
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The US Senate and the US House of Representatives authorize the use of force in Iraq in Section Three of the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq:
"AUTHORIZATION. The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to (1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq." Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq 36 KB ![]() [See the breakdown of the Oct. 2002 Congressional Votes Authorizing the Iraq War.] | ||||
Nov. 8, 2002
UN Resolution 1441
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The United Nations Security Council approves Resolution 1441 giving Iraq "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Council."
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Jan. 9, 2003
UN Finds No "Smoking Gun" in Iraq
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Dr. Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), comments that, though the weapons inspectors had not found a "smoking gun" in Iraq, there was no guarantee that prohibited weapons and activities did not exist.
United Nations "Notes for Briefing the Security Council," www.un.org, Jan. 9, 2003 | ||||
Jan. 28, 2003
US: Iraq to Disarm
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President Bush, in his 2003 State of the Union address, talks of disarming Iraq: "The United States will ask the UN Security Council to convene on Feb. the 5th to consider the facts of Iraq's ongoing defiance of the world...But let there be no misunderstanding: If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him."
George W. Bush "President Delivers 'State of the Union,'" www.whitehouse.gov, Jan. 28, 2003 | ||||
Feb. 5, 2003
Secretary of State Powell at UN
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START OF THE US-IRAQ WAR Mar.-Dec. 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom, US Takes Baghdad, UNAMI, Hussein Captured | |||
DATES | EVENTS | ||
Mar. 7, 2003
US, UK, Spain Draft Resolution
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A draft resolution by the US, Britain and Spain, as amended by the UK, declares that 'Iraq will have failed to take the final opportunity afforded by resolution 1441 (2002) unless, on or before Mar. 17, 2003, the [UN Security] Council concludes that Iraq has demonstrated full, unconditional, immediate and active cooperation.' Consequently the draft seeks approval for military action. The draft is withdrawn on Mar. 17, 2003 after it became clear that it would not have passed.
GlobalSecurity.org "Documents Related to Iraq," www.globalpolicy.org, Apr. 16, 2007 | ||
Mar. 17, 2003
UN Withdraws Staff in Iraq; Bush Gives Saddam Warning
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UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan orders all UN inspectors and support staff, humanitarian workers and UN observers along the Iraq-Kuwait border to evacuate Iraq after US threats to launch war.
After failing to secure UN authorization to use force to disarm Iraq, President Bush gives Saddam 48 hours to step down or face war.
CBS News "Weapons Inspectors Leave Iraq," Mar. 18, 2003 | ||
Mar. 18, 2003
Coalition of the Willing
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The US State Department names 30 countries which are prepared to be publicly associated with the US action against Iraq. There are 15 additional countries providing assistance, such as over-flight rights, but which do not want to declare support.
The coalition list includes countries which are providing troops, over-flight or basing rights, logistical support or assistance with reconstruction efforts. But the State Department admits that only a few of these countries, notably Britain and Australia, are providing any major military presence in the Gulf.
Steve Schifferes "US Names 'Coalition of the Willing,'" BBC News, Mar. 18, 2003 | ||
Mar. 19, 2003
Operation Iraqi Freedom
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Mar. 21, 2003
Shock and Awe
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"The US and its allies launched a massive aerial assault against Iraq...
The campaign was intended to instill 'shock and awe' among Iraq's leaders, and it was directed at hundreds of targets in Iraq, officials said."
CNN "'Shock and Awe' Campaign Underway in Iraq," Mar. 22, 2003 | ||
Apr. 9, 2003
US Takes Baghdad
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May 1, 2003
"Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended"
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May 22, 2003
Economic Sanctions End
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The UN Security Council adopts resolution 1483 that ends economic sanctions in Iraq, sets out the responsibilities of the UN in Iraq, and supports the establishment of a transitional Iraqi administration.
USINFO "UN Security Council Ends Economic Sanctions on Iraq," usinfo.state.gov, Apr. 30, 2007 | ||
July 13, 2003
Iraqi Governing Council
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The Iraqi Governing Council, established by and served under the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), meets for the first time in Baghdad. The 25-member governing council has the power to name ministers and approve the 2004 budget. However, L. Paul Bremer, chief US civilian administrator for Iraq, retains the last word on Iraqi affairs.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty "Iraq: Timeline 1991-2005," www.rferl.org, Apr. 6, 2007 | ||
Aug. 14, 2003
UNAMI
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The UN Security Council passes Resolution 1500 establishing the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) as a one-year follow-through mission in the wake of the Oil-for-Food programme handover on 21 Nov. 2003.
United Nations daccessdds.un.org, Apr. 10, 2007 | ||
Aug. 29, 2003
Mosque Bombed, Shiite Leader Killed
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A massive car bomb explodes outside the Imam Ali Mosque, killing one of Shiite Islam's top clerics, Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, and 124 others, is the deadliest attack in Iraq since the regime of Saddam Hussein fell.
CNN "Najaf Bombing Kills Shiite Leader, Followers Say," Aug. 30, 2003 | ||
Aug.-Oct. 2003
International Organizations Bombed
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On Aug. 19, 2003, a truck bomb explodes outside the UN headquarters building in Baghdad. It is one of the worst attacks on UN personnel in the organization's history.
On Oct. 27, 2003, suicide bombings target International Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters, killing 12 people. This bombing is the first suicide attack on the neutral Swiss-based ICRC in its 140-year history.
CNN "Truck Bomb Kills Chief UN Envoy to Iraq," Aug. 20, 2003; BBC, "Red Cross Cuts Iraq Operations," Nov. 8, 2003 | ||
Dec. 14, 2003
Hussein Captured
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THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR ONE 2004 Abu Ghraib, Iraqi Interim Government, Operation Phantom Fury: Securing Fallujah, WMD Search Ends | |||
DATES | EVENTS | ||
Jan. 17, 2004
500 US Troops Dead
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500 US troops have been killed in the Iraq war, 346 of them in hostile situations. 361 US troops have been killed, 231 in hostile action, since President Bush declared the end of major combat operations on May 1, 2003.
Alphonso Van Marsh "US: Powerful Bomb Kills 5 in Iraq," CNN, Jan. 17, 2004 | ||
Mar. 31, 2004
Fallujah: Four Contractors Killed
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Mar. 2004
Taguba Report on Abu Ghraib
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US Army Major General Antonio Taguba authors a report, known as the "Taguba Report," that officially confirms the "numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant, and wanton criminal abuses were inflicted on several detainees" in the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.
Taguba Report: Article 15-6 Investigation of the 800th Military Police Brigade 222 KB | ||
Apr. 18, 2004
Spain Pulls Troops
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Spain's new prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, prepares to pull the 1,300 Spanish troops stationed in Iraq. The previous Spanish government's support for the war, and its handling of the Madrid bombings, were thought to have caused Zapatero's electoral victory.
BBC "Spain PM Orders Iraq Troops Home," Apr. 18, 2004 | ||
Apr. 2004
Abu Ghraib
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A number of photographs surface which depict abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners held in US custody at the Baghdad Central Detention Center, formerly known as Abu Ghraib Prison. This follows a Mar. 2004 announcement by the US Army that six soldiers were being investigated for allegedly abusing about 20 prisoners at the prison.
GlobalSecurity.org "Abu Ghurayb Prison," www.globalpolicy.org, Apr. 30, 2007
[Note: See more about US involvement at the Abu Ghraib prison in our question What happened at Abu Ghraib prison after the US military took over the facility in 2003?]
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June 24, 2004
US and al-Sadr Ceasefire
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Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr declares a unilateral cease-fire with US forces in the Baghdad district of Sadr City and offers to help police ensure safety in the area. This is a shift for al-Sadr who had previously launched an uprising throughout the Shiite heartland south of Baghdad.
FOX News "Sadr's Militia Declares Cease-Fire," June 26, 2004 | ||
June 2004
Iraqi Interim Government
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The United Nations endorses the reestablishment of Iraqi sovereignty and the interim constitution takes effect, with Iyad Allawi, a Shiite, as prime minister and Sheik Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar, a Sunni, as president.
Saddam Hussein and 11 other former high-ranking Iraqi officials are formally turned over to the new government and are arraigned.
The Columbia Encyclopedia Sixth Edition, 2001-2005 "Iraq," www.bartleby.com, Apr. 9, 2007 | ||
Sep. 8, 2004
Over 1,000 US and 1,129 Coalition Troops Dead
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The total of Americans killed in the 18-month-old war passes the 1,000 mark at 1,002. And, according to a CNN tally, 1,129 coalition troops from 15 nations have died in Iraq.
Alphonso Van Marsh "US Death Toll in Iraq Passes 1,000," CNN, Sep. 18, 2004 | ||
Oct. 2004
Inconsistant Iraqi Death Count
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Forty-six prominent British figures, including military men, ex-diplomats and bishops, write to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging an inquiry into civilian deaths in Iraq. The Oct. 29, 2004 Lancet study claims that nearly 100,000 died after the invasion. Other groups put the figure at 15,000. Blair says the most accurate estimate is from the Iraqi Ministry of Health - with a total of between 3,853 and 15,517 for Apr. to Oct. 2004.
BBC "Demands Grow for Iraq Death Count," Dec. 8, 2004
[Note: See more about the complexity in accurately reporting casualties in our question What are the difficulties in reporting casualties in Iraq?]
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Nov. 2004
Operation Phantom Fury: Securing Fallujah
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On Nov. 8, an estimated 10,000-15,000 American troops launch Operation Phantom Fury to secure the city of Fallujah. US Military officials announce that, by Nov. 15, 38 US troops, six Iraqi soldiers and an estimated 1,200 insurgents had been killed. On Nov. 16, US military officials announce that American troops had secured Fallujah.
GlobalSecurity.org "Operation al-Fajr (Dawn): Operation Phantom Fury," www.globalsecurity.org, Apr. 23, 2007 | ||
Dec. 2004
WMD Search Ends
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The hunt for biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in Iraq ends nearly two years after President Bush ordered US troops to disarm Saddam Hussein.
Charles A. Duelfer, who led the weapons hunt in 2004, is back in Washington wrapping up his work. According to the CIA, he will not be replaced in Baghdad.
Dafna Linzer "Search for Banned Arms In Iraq Ended Last Month," Washington Post, Jan. 12, 2005 |
THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR TWO 2005 Elections , Operation Lightning, Trial of Hussein Begins, Haditha Killings | |||
DATES | EVENTS | ||
Jan. 30, 2005
Elections
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Apr. 11, 2005
Shia and Sunni Demonstrate
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Tens of thousands of supporters of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr Mar. in Baghdad to denounce the US presence in Iraq and call for a speedy trial of Saddam Hussein on the second anniversary of his overthrow. Sunni Muslims were also urged to demonstrate: "Many of our brothers, including Sunnis, have welcomed the call and will take part," said a spokesman for al-Sadr. "We hope it's going to be one million people strong."
Al Jazeera "Shia Protest Over US Presence in Iraq," Apr. 11, 2005
[Read about the differences between the Sunni and the Shia in our question What are the different religious groups in Iraq?]
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Apr. 2005
Iraqi President and Prime Minister Established
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In the middle of increasing violence, the Iraqi parliament selects Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani as president and Ibrahim Jaafari, a Shia, as prime minister.
BBC "Timeline: Iraq," http://news.bbc.co.uk, Apr. 9, 2007 | ||
May 29, 2005
Operation Lightning
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In the largest anti-insurgent operation by Iraqi soldiers to date, 40,000 members of the Iraqi army and security forces launch Operation Lightning in a bid to crack down on insurgents in Baghdad. The operation is the first phase of a nationwide assault intended to put Iraqi troops on the offensive against the insurgents. Operation Lightning is vital to the new Iraqi government, as well as the US-led coalition, since its outcome could indicate whether the Iraqis are ready to take over security operations in their country.
Stratfor "Iraq: The Politics of Operation Lightning," June 3, 2005 | ||
June-Oct. 2005
New Kurdistan President and Iraqi Constitution
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On June 14, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, the only official region in Iraq, swears in Massoud Barzani as regional president. A draft constitution is finalized on Aug. 28 by a Shia and Kurdish bloc, but is not endorsed by Sunni representatives.
On Oct. 15, Iraqi voters approve a new constitution, which aims to create an Islamic federal democracy.
BBC "Timeline: Iraq," http://news.bbc.co.uk, Apr. 9, 2007 | ||
Oct. 19, 2005
Trial of Hussein Begins
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Oct. 2005
2,000 US Troops and 25,000 Iraqis Dead
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As the US marks the 2,000th military death in Iraq, the Senate holds a minute of silence and the names of the dead are read out on the floor of the House of Representatives. President Bush has warned Americans to brace themselves for more casualties, saying no-one should underestimate the difficulties ahead. Unofficial estimates put Iraqi civilian deaths since the start of the war at about 25,000.
BBC "US Death Toll in Iraq Hits 2,000," Oct. 26, 2005 | ||
Nov. 19, 2005
Haditha Killings
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Eight US Marines are charged with the deaths of unarmed Iraqi civilians in the Al Anbar town of Haditha. Up to 24 Iraqi non-combatant local residents were killed by the Marines on Nov. 19 during a hunt for a roadside bomber. It is alleged that the Iraqis were massacred by Marines in retribution for an insurgent attack earlier in the day.
NPR "Timeline: Iraq," http://news.bbc.co.uk, Apr. 24, 2007 | ||
Dec. 15, 2005
Vote for New Iraqi Parliament
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Iraqis vote for a parliament that will choose a full-term four-year government. 275 seats are at issue with 288 competing party lists. High Sunni voter turnout and a low level of violence were significant elements of this election.
John Fisher Burns "Iraq Votes," PBS "Online News Hour," Dec. 15, 2005 |
THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR THREE 2006 New Iraqi Government, Al-Zarqawi Killed, Iraq Study Group Report, Hussein Hanged | |||
DATES | EVENTS | ||
Jan. 20 - Apr. 22, 2006
New Iraqi Government
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Shia-led United Iraqi Alliance emerges as the winner of Dec.'s parliamentary elections, but the party fails to gain an absolute majority. Months of political deadlock ends on Apr. 22 when newly re-elected President Jalal Talabani asks Shia compromise candidate Nouri al-Maliki to form a new government.
BBC "Timeline: Iraq," http://news.bbc.co.uk, Apr. 9, 2007 | ||
June 7, 2006
Al-Zarqawi Killed
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Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the mastermind behind hundreds of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings in Iraq, is killed by an airstrike north of Baghdad. Zarqawi's death is the most significant triumph for the US-led military coalition in Iraq since the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein.
Ellen Knickmeyer and Jonathan Finer "Insurgent Leader Al-Zarqawi Killed in Iraq," Washington Post, June 8, 2006 | ||
July 27, 2006
International Compact With Iraq
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Iraq and the United Nations announce the formal launch of the International Compact With Iraq. This Compact, jointly shared by the Government of Iraq and the UN, with the support of the World Bank, will bring together the international community and multilateral organizations to help Iraq achieve its national vision.
United Nations "United Nations, Iraq Jointly Announce Launch of Five-Year International Compact," Press Release, July 27, 2006 | ||
July-Aug. 2006
UN Average: 100 Iraqis Die Each Day
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Nov. 5, 2006
Hussein Sentenced to Death
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Nov. 21, 2006
Iraq and Syria Restore Diplomatic Ties
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The foreign ministers of Iraq and Syria jointly confirm at a press conference in Baghdad that their two countries have restored diplomatic ties. The two countries severed diplomatic relations 24 years ago over Syria's siding with Iran in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty "Iraq, Syria Establish Diplomatic Relations," Nov. 21, 2006 | ||
Dec. 6, 2006
Iraq Study Group Report
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Dec. 30, 2006
Hussein Hanged
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THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR FOUR 2007 US Troop Surge, Iraq War Is "Civil War", Bush Vetoes Withdrawal Legislation, British Transfer Control of Basra to Iraq | |||||
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Jan. 10, 2007
US Troop Surge
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Jan. 2007
Over 34,000 Iraqi Civilians Dead
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Feb. 2007
Iraq War Is "Civil War"
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The 2007 US National Intelligece Estimate (NIE) on Iraq says that, although "the term 'civil war' does not adequately capture the complexity of the conflict in Iraq," the term "accurately describes key elements of the Iraqi conflict."
NIE: "Prospects for Iraq's Stability: A Challenging Road Ahead 234 KB Feb. 2007
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Feb. 26, 2007
New Iraqi Oil Legislation and Iraqi Ministry Bombing
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Iraq's cabinet approves draft oil legislation that will allow the government to manage the country's vast oil resources and to distribute oil revenue throughout the country.
In a severe security breach, a bomb explodes inside a government ministry in Baghdad, narrowly avoiding the assassination of, Adel Abdul Mahdi, one of Iraq's two vice presidents.
Joshua Partlow and Ernesto Londono "Iraq's Cabinet Backs Contentious Oil Measure," Washington Post, Feb. 27, 2007 | ||||
Mar. 27, 2007
Ba'ath Party Returns
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Apr. 11, 2007
ICRC Issues Report
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Apr. 2007
Baghdad Wall
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May 1, 2007
Bush Vetoes Withdrawal Legislation
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Oct. 2007
Troop Buildup Peaks at 170,000
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Aug. 29, 2007
al-Sadr Cease-Fire
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Dec. 17, 2007
British Transfer Control of Basra to Iraq
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Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Deadliest Year
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THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR FIVE 2008 Iraq Attacks Decline, Iraq Calls for US Withdrawal Timetable, Iraq Sets US Troop Withdrawal Date, Oversight Agency Cites "Massive Waste" in Reconstruction | |||||
DATES | EVENTS | ||||
Jan. 12, 2008
Ba'ath Reinstate-
ment |
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Feb. 22, 2008
al Sadr Extends Ceasefire
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Mar. 11, 2008
Iraq Attacks Decline
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Mar. 24, 2008
4,000 US Troops Dead
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July 10, 2008
Petraeus
Commands CENTCOM, Odierno to MNF-I |
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July 14, 2008
Iraq Calls for US Withdrawal Timetable
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July 16, 2008
US Troop Surge Ends
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Nov. 27, 2008
Iraq Sets US Troop Withdrawal Date
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Dec. 2008
Oversight Agency Cites "Massive Waste" in Reconstruction
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THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR SIX 2009 US Hands over Green Zone Control to Iraq, US Embassy in Iraq Opens, Remaining Non-US Coalition Forces Leave Iraq Obama Announces End of Combat Mission in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010, Deadliest Attack of 2009 Back to Top | |||||||
DATES | EVENTS | ||||||
Jan. 1, 2009
US Hands over Green Zone Control to Iraq
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Jan. 5, 2009
US Embassy in Iraq Opens
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Jan. 31, 2009
Iraq Holds First Nationwide Elections Since 2005
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Feb. 27, 2009
Obama Announces End of Combat Mission in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010
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May 1, 2009
UK Ends Six Years of Combat Operations in Iraq
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June 30, 2009
Iraq Declares a National Holiday as US Troops Withdraw
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June 30, 2009
Iraq Begins Major Oil and Gas Auction
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July 2009 Remaining Non-US Coalition Forces Leave Iraq |
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Aug. 19, 2009 Deadliest Attack of 2009 |
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THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR SEVEN 2010Multi-National Force-Iraq Becomes United States Forces-Iraq, Official End to US Combat Operations in Iraq, Wikileaks Publishes Classified US Military Logs on the War in Iraq Back to Top | |||||||
DATES | EVENTS | ||||||
Jan. 1, 2010 Multi-National Force-Iraq Becomes United States Forces-Iraq | "The first of January will bring in more than a new year for U.S. troops serving in Iraq; it will also bring them a new name, as the moniker Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) is replaced by the new term, U.S. Forces-Iraq.
The dropping of the name 'multi-national' removes one of the last reminders to the 'coalition of the willing' that the Bush administration used to describe the 2003 allied invasion of Iraq and the subsequent effort to stabilize the country.
The long-awaited name change reflects the reality that, since July, only U.S. troops have continued to serve in Iraq...
The move also consolidates U.S. forces into a new command structure ahead of the planned troop reductions scheduled for 2010. By the end of August 2010, the current force levels of 110,000 U.S. troops will be reduced to 50,000 troops who will be serve in a new training mission.
Under the security agreement between the United States and Iraq, all U.S. forces are supposed to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011."
Luis Martinez "The Name Change in Iraq," abcnews.go.com, Jan. 1, 2010 | ||||||
Aug. 24, 2010 US Withdraws More Than 90,000 Combat Troops in Iraq | "The U.S. military said on Tuesday [Aug. 24, 2010] it had cut its troops in Iraq to below 50,000 before an Aug. 31 deadline set by President Barack Obama as he seeks to keep a promise to end the war. The withdrawal of 90,000-plus soldiers, 40,000 vehicles and 1.5 million items from radios to generators has progressed steadily over the past months, despite continuing violence and a political impasse five months after an inconclusive election. The U.S. military commander in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno, said troop numbers were at around 49,700 and would stay at that level for the next year before a full withdrawal by the end of 2011 agreed in a bilateral security pact... The end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq comes 7-1/2 years after the invasion launched by former President George W. Bush to topple Saddam Hussein." Reuters "U.S. Troops in Iraq below 50,000 as Combat Ends," www.reuters.com, Aug. 24, 2010 | ||||||
Aug. 31, 2010
Official End to US Combat Operations
in Iraq | "...[T]onight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country. This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq’s Security Forces and support its government and people.
That’s what we’ve done. We’ve removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We’ve closed or transferred to the Iraqis hundreds of bases. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.
This completes a transition to Iraqi responsibility for their own security. U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq’s cities last summer, and Iraqi forces have moved into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow citizens. Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. And Iraqi forces have taken the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its leadership in Iraqi-led operations...
Going forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain in Iraq with a different mission: advising and assisting Iraq’s Security Forces, supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counterterrorism missions, and protecting our civilians. Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S. troops will leave by the end of next year. As our military draws down, our dedicated civilians -- diplomats, aid workers, and advisors -- are moving into the lead to support Iraq as it strengthens its government, resolves political disputes, resettles those displaced by war, and builds ties with the region and the world."
Barack Obama, JD "Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the End of Combat Operations in Iraq," www.whitehouse.gov, Aug. 31, 2010 | ||||||
Sep. 2010
GAO Report Finds Iraq Has Budget Surplus of $52.1 Billion
| GAO believes that Congress should consider Iraq’s available financial resources when it reviews the administration’s fiscal year 2011 budget request and other potential future budget requests for additional funds to train and equip Iraqi security forces. Iraq generated an estimated cumulative budget surplus of $52.1 billion through December 2009." "Iraqi-U.S. Cost-Sharing: Iraq Has a Cumulative Budget Surplus, Offering the Potential for Further Cost-Sharing," 1.75 MB Government Accountability Office (GAO), Sep. 2010 | ||||||
Oct. 22, 2010 Wikileaks Publishes Classified US Military Logs on the War in Iraq | "Wikileaks has released almost 400,000 secret US military logs, which suggest US commanders ignored evidence of torture by the Iraqi authorities.The documents also suggest 'hundreds' of civilians were killed at US military checkpoints after the invasion in 2003. And the files show the US kept records of civilian deaths, despite previously denying it. The death toll was put at 109,000, of whom 66,081 were civilians... Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday [Oct. 22, 2011], US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she condemned the disclosure and suggested the leaks put lives at risk. However, Wikileaks said it was confident that the documents - published in a heavily censored form - contain 'no information that could be harmful to any individual'. Wikileaks says it expects to launch legal proceedings as a result of information contained in the documents." BBC "Huge Wikileaks Release Shows US 'Ignored Iraq Torture'," www.bbc.co.uk, Oct. 23, 2010 | ||||||
THE US-IRAQ WAR - YEAR EIGHT 2011Iraqi Leaders and al-Sadr Debate US Troop Departure, New US Defense Secretary Leon Panetts Makes First Trip to Iraq, United States Declares Official End to War in Iraq with Final Troop Drawdown | |||||||
DATES | EVENTS | ||||||
Jan. 13, 2011 Iraqi Leaders and al-Sadr Debate US Troop Departure | "Iraqi politicians face the contentious question this year of whether to ask U.S. troops to stay beyond an end-of-2011 deadline for their departure. That decision has become far more complicated with the return to Iraq of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr...
The case for an extension centers around concerns that Iraqi forces may not be ready to keep security. Many Sunnis want U.S. troops to stick around for their protection, fearing domination by the Shiite majority. Kurds see the Americans as a guarantee of their autonomous region in the north. And some in the party of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also want the U.S. forces to stay.
But al-Sadr, a Shiite who came home last week from nearly four years in voluntary exile in Iran, is a formidable obstacle. He immediately put the government on notice that he and his movement, which is a pivotal member of the ruling coalition, will not tolerate any lingering American troop presence."
Qassim Abdul-Zahra Rebecca Santana "Sadr Return Complicates US Troop Presence in Iraq," abcnews.go.com, Jan. 13, 2011 | ||||||
July 10, 2011 New US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta Makes First Trip to Iraq |
The United States is scheduled to withdraw all of its remaining 46,000 troops from Iraq by the end of this year, under the terms of a bilateral security pact -- despite US and Iraqi military concerns about expected gaps in security.
Panetta, who is fresh from a trip to Afghanistan, made hopeful remarks to Congress last month that Iraq's government might eventually ask some U.S. forces to remain beyond 2011. But he was cautious in his comments to reporters in Afghanistan, just before departing for Iraq.
Asked whether he would encourage Iraq to ask some US forces to stay, Panetta said: 'I'll encourage them to make a decision so that we'll know where we're going.'
US officials say that the clock is ticking and that the longer the Iraqis wait, the more difficult it becomes for Washington to say 'yes'."
Reuters "New U.S. Defence Chief in Iraq, to Press on Drawdown," af.reuters.com, July 10, 2011 | ||||||
Dec. 15, 2011
United States Declares Official End to War in Iraq with Final Troop Drawdown |
"After nearly nine years of war, the loss of more than 100,000 lives and hundreds of billions of dollars spent, the U.S. military mission in Iraq has formally ended…
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and other top U.S. officials conducted a low-key ceremony on a military base at the Baghdad airport Thursday, furling the flag to signal the official conclusion of one of the most divisive wars in American history…
‘With the departure of the remaining U.S. forces within these last few days to the end of the year, we salute the fact that Iraq is now fully responsible for directing its own path to future security and future prosperity,’ Panetta told about 200 troops and a few Iraqi officials during the 45-minute ceremony…
Only two U.S. bases and about 4,000 troops remain in Iraq, the rear guard of a force that was more than 170,000 strong at the height of the war and once controlled hundreds of bases. The last of the troops will leave this weekend, officials said. About 200 U.S. military personnel will stay in Baghdad to administer arms sales and other limited military exchanges as members of the U.S. diplomatic mission…
The security of civilians is now the responsibility of Iraqi troops and police, visible on virtually every major street in Baghdad, searching passing cars and patrolling avenues. More than a year ago, they took over security responsibilities after U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq's cities…
Of the 16,000 employees expected to be working at the embassy next year, only 1,500 to 2,000 will be State Department staffers. Many of the rest will be security contractors…
Even so, U.S. involvement in Iraq is not over. This week, Iraqi President Nouri Maliki met with Obama in Washington, where they pledged to proceed with a new, vaguely defined ‘equal partnership’ between the nations. Iraq has requested more U.S. military training, the details of which will be negotiated next year. Meanwhile, American military and civilian trainers with the Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy train Iraqis to use warplanes and tanks purchased from the U.S.”
Los Angeles Times "'Iraq War 'Not in Vain,' Panetta Says at Withdrawal Ceremony: After Nine Years, the U.S. Military Mission in Iraq Formally Ends,” latimes.com, Dec. 15, 2011 |
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