The US Congress passed a resolution in October 2002 that authorized military force to enforce UN sanctions and "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq."
On 20 March 2003, the United States launched a war against Iraq, with President Bush saying the attack was to "disarm Iraq and to free its people"; 250,000 United States troops were supported by approximately 45,000 British, 2,000 Australian and 200 Polish combat forces.
The US State Department released this list of the "coalition of the willing": Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and the United States.
On 1 May, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and under a "Mission Accomplished" banner, the President said, "Major combat operations have ended; in the battle of iraq, the US and her allies have prevailed... We've removed an ally of al Qaida." Fighting continues; there is no scheduled departure of US troops.
The Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) assumed authority for governing Iraq on June 28, 2004. Elections are scheduled for January 2005.
Whereas the first Gulf War was measured in days, this second has been measured in months. Fewer than 200 US military were killed in the first war; more than 1,000 have been killed in the second. Congress has appropriated $151 billion for the war effort.
On 20 March 2003, the United States launched a war against Iraq, with President Bush saying the attack was to "disarm Iraq and to free its people"; 250,000 United States troops were supported by approximately 45,000 British, 2,000 Australian and 200 Polish combat forces.
The US State Department released this list of the "coalition of the willing": Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and the United States.
On 1 May, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and under a "Mission Accomplished" banner, the President said, "Major combat operations have ended; in the battle of iraq, the US and her allies have prevailed... We've removed an ally of al Qaida." Fighting continues; there is no scheduled departure of US troops.
The Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) assumed authority for governing Iraq on June 28, 2004. Elections are scheduled for January 2005.
Whereas the first Gulf War was measured in days, this second has been measured in months. Fewer than 200 US military were killed in the first war; more than 1,000 have been killed in the second. Congress has appropriated $151 billion for the war effort.
Latest Developments
A review of US and coalition troops (June 2005).
US Liberals reports on Iraq by the Numbers (July 2005).
Background
Iraq is approximately the size of California with a population of 24 million; it is bordered by Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Ethnnically, the country is predominantly Arab (75-80%) and Kurd (15-20%). Religious composition is estimated at Shi'a Muslim 60%, Sunni Muslim 32%-37%, Christian 3%, and Yezidi less than 1%.
Once known as Mesopotamia, Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire and became a British territory after World War I. It achieved independence in 1932 as a constitutional monarchy and joined the United Nations in 1945. In the '50s and '60s, the country's government was marked by repeated coups. Saddam Hussein became President of Iraq and Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council in July 1979.
From 1980-88, Iraq warred with its larger neighbor, Iran. The United States supported Iraq in this conflict.
On July 17, 1990, Hussein accused Kuwait -- which it had never accepted as a separate entity -- of flooding the world oil market and "stealing oil" from field which ran beneath both countries. On August 2, 1990, Iraqi military forces invaded and occupied Kuwait."
The US led a UN coalition in February 1991, forcing Iraq to exit Kuwait. Coalition Allied Forces, 34 countries, included Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, The Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
President Bush rejected calls to march to Baghdad and oust Hussein. The U.S. Department of Defense estimated the cost of the war as $61.1 billion; others suggested the cost could be as high as $71 billion. Much of the cost was borne by others: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States pledged $36 billion; Germany and Japan, $16 billion.
Once known as Mesopotamia, Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire and became a British territory after World War I. It achieved independence in 1932 as a constitutional monarchy and joined the United Nations in 1945. In the '50s and '60s, the country's government was marked by repeated coups. Saddam Hussein became President of Iraq and Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council in July 1979.
From 1980-88, Iraq warred with its larger neighbor, Iran. The United States supported Iraq in this conflict.
On July 17, 1990, Hussein accused Kuwait -- which it had never accepted as a separate entity -- of flooding the world oil market and "stealing oil" from field which ran beneath both countries. On August 2, 1990, Iraqi military forces invaded and occupied Kuwait."
The US led a UN coalition in February 1991, forcing Iraq to exit Kuwait. Coalition Allied Forces, 34 countries, included Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, The Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
President Bush rejected calls to march to Baghdad and oust Hussein. The U.S. Department of Defense estimated the cost of the war as $61.1 billion; others suggested the cost could be as high as $71 billion. Much of the cost was borne by others: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States pledged $36 billion; Germany and Japan, $16 billion.
