NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Iraq Conflict

The Iraq Conflict (2003-present) is an ongoing conflict encompassing the invasion, occupation, and reconstruction of Iraq by a U.S. led coalition. The causes and consequences of the war remain the subject of much controversy. Many refer to it as the Iraq War, but like the conflict with Vietnam with direct U.S. involvement from 1964 to 1975, technically no war has been declared. Although no significant terrorist activities or support for terrorist groups ever came from the Iraqi government, the U.S. Administration claims that the war is part of an ongoing War on Terrorism. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US administration, began on March 20. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1712x1420, 616 KB) Summary http://www4. ... UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters eqipped with M60 machine guns near Najaf, Iraq in May 2005 The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-turbine engine, single rotor, semi-monocoque fuselage, rotary wing helicopter. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, (Arabic: ), (born April 28, 1937 ), was the President of Iraq from 1979 until the United States-led invasion of Iraq reached Baghdad on April 9, 2003. ... Saddam shortly after capture. ... Occupation zones in Iraq as of September 2003 The post-invasion period in Iraq followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition led by the United States, which overthrew the Baath Party government of Saddam Hussein. ... Iraqi militants celebrating orders being given to the surrounding Coalition forces to stand down, Fallujah, May 1 2004. ... Baghdad locals gather around the site of an exploded car bomb, which arent uncommon to be used in a sectarian attack. ... This April 2005 does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US administration, began on March 20. ... Iraqis in the predominantly Sunni city of Husaybah, wait in lines to vote, during the national election, December 15. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, (Arabic: ), (born April 28, 1937 ), was the President of Iraq from 1979 until the United States-led invasion of Iraq reached Baghdad on April 9, 2003. ... Bath Party flag The Arab Socialist Bath Party (also spelled Baath or Baath; Arabic: ØØ²Ø¨ Ø§Ù„Ø¨Ø¹Ø« Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø±Ø¨ÙŠ Ø§Ù„Ø§Ø´ØªØ±Ø§ÙƒÙŠ) was founded in 1945 as a radical, left-wing, secular Arab nationalist political party. ... Iraqi militants celebrating orders being given to the surrounding Coalition forces to stand down, Fallujah, May 1 2004. ... Osama bin Laden founded al-Qaeda in the 1990s. ... Coalition of the Willing is a phrase that has been used by the administration of United States President George W. Bush to refer to the nations whose governments supported (most of them not militarily) the United States position in the Iraq disarmament crisis and later the 2003 invasion of Iraq... The Iraqi Army is a component of the Iraqi Security Forces tasked with assuming responsibility for all Iraqi land-based military operations following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. ... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, (Arabic: ), (born April 28, 1937 ), was the President of Iraq from 1979 until the United States-led invasion of Iraq reached Baghdad on April 9, 2003. ... Image File history File links White_flag_icon. ... Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. ... Muqtada al-Sadr Muqtada al-Sadr (Arabic: مقتدى الصدر, also transliterated as Moqtada Alsadr) (b. ... Abu Ayyub al-Masri Abu Ayyub al-Masri is an Egyptian Islamic Jihad militant and member of al-Qaeda in Iraq. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... General Tommy R. Franks (USCENTCOM photo) Tommy Ray Franks (born June 17, 1945) is a retired General in the United States Army, previously serving as the Commander-in-Chief of United States Central Command, overseeing United States Armed Forces operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East. ... General George Casey General George William Casey, Jr. ... WIA is a three letter abbreviation meaning Wounded in action. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ... Combatants Iran Iraq Commanders Ayatollah Khomeini Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 100,000+ (Plus Civilians, Militias) 100,000+ (Plus Civilians, Militias) Casualties Est. ... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush Norman Schwarzkopf Colin Powell Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also called... Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US administration, began on March 20. ... It has been suggested that 2003 invasion of Iraq be merged into this article or section. ... The Iraq war or war in Iraq (and conflict in Iraq) is a colloquial reference to the overall series of different conflicts in Iraq, usually referring to one of the following: The War of Iraq (eg. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US administration, began on March 20. ... Motto: (historic) In God We Trust (official, 1956â€“present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic - President George W. Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with multinational force in Iraq. ... The War on Terrorism or War on Terror (officially the Global War on Terrorism or GWOT[1]) is a campaign by the United States, NATO, and other allies with the stated goal of ending international terrorism by stopping those groups identified as terrorist groups, and ending state sponsorship of terrorism. ...

War rationale

From April, 1991 and the formation of UNSCOM, Iraq had been under ongoing pressure by the United Nations to declare and destroy its biological and chemical weapons. In total the UN had passed 13 resolutions calling for complete access of UNSCOM and IAEA officials to locate and destroy all weapons of mass destruction[2]. Beginning in September, 2002, an Iraq disarmament crisis emerged due to claims that Iraq did not fully comply with previous UN resolutions.[3] On October 16, 2002 an Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was passed in the United States House of Congress. In November, 2002, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 was passed unanimously demanding that Iraq comply with its disarmament obligations as well as previous resolutions on human rights, terrorism and prisoners of war. Iraq agreed to the resolution and UNMOVIC began inspections on November 18, 2002, replacing UNSCOM which had previously been in charge of monitoring Iraq since April 3, 1991 [4][5]. Four months later on March 7, 2003, head of the inspectors, Hans Blix made his last presentation to the U.N. describing Iraq's cooperation in resolving oustanding issues as "active or even proactive," he went on to state "these initiatives three to four months into the new resolution cannot be said to constitute immediate cooperation."[6] After failed attempts to get a United Nations Security Council resolution supporting military action against Iraq, [7] the United States unilaterally delivered an ultimatum on March 17, 2003, demanding that Saddam Hussein leave Iraq within 48 hours.[8] On March 18, 2003 the U.S. announced the formation of the "Coalition of the willing".[9] [10]. [11] [12] On March 20, 2003 the 2003 Invasion of Iraq began, led by the United States and the United Kingdom, and the "Coalition of the Willing".[13] // The two points of view Main articles: The UN Security Council and the Iraq war and Public relations preparations for 2003 invasion of Iraq Prior to the election of George W. Bush as president, several members of the Bush team, including Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz wrote urging... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was a United Nations organisation performing arms inspections in Iraq after the Gulf War. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The issue of Iraqs disarmament reached a crisis in 2002-2003, when U.S. President George W. Bush demanded a complete end to alleged Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq comply with UN Resolutions requiring UN inspectors unfettered access to areas those inspectors... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in Leap years). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public law 107-243, 116 Stat. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 is a resolution by the UN Security Council, passed unanimously on November 8, 2002, offering Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations that had been set out in several previous resolutions (resolution 660, resolution 661, resolution 678, resolution 686, resolution 687... The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) was created through the adoption of Security Council resolution 1284 of 17 December 1999. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar with 43 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hans Blix in Vienna 2002. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among nations. ... An ultimatum is a final demand, with a threat, made without intent of negotiation, for example before war, before killing hostages, etc. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, (Arabic: ), (born April 28, 1937 ), was the President of Iraq from 1979 until the United States-led invasion of Iraq reached Baghdad on April 9, 2003. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with multinational force in Iraq. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US administration, began on March 20. ...

Post 1991 Gulf War

After the 1991 Gulf War, U.N. Resolutions were passed to impose sanctions on the Saddam regime until it was verified that their Weapons of Mass Destruction were destroyed. Starting in the aftermath of the war and continuing until 1998, UNSCOM inspected Iraq, locating and destroying large quantities of chemical agents, nuclear related equipment and other prohibited materials. [14][15][16] Conflict between Iraq and the U.N. developed during 1998, however, which led to the withdrawal of the U.N. and the authorization of a bombing campaign by the Clinton administration to "degrade Saddam's capacity to develop and deliver weapons of mass destruction, and to degrade his ability to threaten his neighbors". [17][18][19] Iraq and weapons of mass destruction concerns the Iraqi governments use, possession, and alleged intention of acquiring more types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. ... The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public law 107-243, 116 Stat. ... In the lead up to the Iraq War, U.S. president George W. Bush alleged that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda might work together to conspire to launch terrorist attacks on the United States[3], basing the administrations rationale for war, in part, on this allegation and... The Rendon Group, a Washington, DC based public relations firm with close ties to the US government, and which has had a prominent role in promoting the Iraqi National Congress, was alleged by some journalists to be planning to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a careful public relations... The issue of Iraqs disarmament reached a crisis in 2002-2003, when U.S. President George W. Bush demanded a complete end to alleged Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq comply with UN Resolutions requiring UN inspectors unfettered access to areas those inspectors... Timeline of events related to the Iraq disarmament crisis Continued from Iraq disarmament crisis timeline 1997-2000 February, 2001 British and US forces carry out bombing raids in an attempt to disable Iraqs air defense network. ... Operation Iraqi Freedom Documents refers to some 55,000 boxes of documents, audiotapes and videotapes produced by the government of Saddam Hussein and seized after the 2003 invasion of Iraq that the U.S. government is releasing on the internet. ... The War on Terrorism or War on Terror (officially the Global War on Terrorism or GWOT[1]) is a campaign by the United States, NATO, and other allies with the stated goal of ending international terrorism by stopping those groups identified as terrorist groups, and ending state sponsorship of terrorism. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush Norman Schwarzkopf Colin Powell Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also called... United Nations sanctions against Iraq were imposed by the United Nations in 1991 following Iraqs invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and continued until the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. ... Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) generally include nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) and, increasingly, radiological weapons. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Combatants United States, UK Iraq Commanders General Tony Zinni Saddam Hussien Strength 30,500 unknown Casualties none 600-2,000 dead Operation Desert Fox was the military codename for a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from December 16-December 19, 1998 by the United States and United... Order: 42nd President Term of Office: January 20, 1993–January 20, 2001 Preceded by: George H. W. Bush Succeeded by: George W. Bush Date of birth: August 19, 1946 Place of birth: Hope, Arkansas Date of death: Place of death: First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton Political party: Democratic Vice President...

Post 9-11

Reasons for the invasion and occupation as stated by the United States in 2002 before the Iraq invasion are controversial, having varied over time. The first calls for war on Iraq came from the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), and the American Enterprise Institute, with arguments based largely on the alleged threat that Saddam posed to American interests in the region, and the project of American influence into the next century. These reasons were not those given by the Bush administration of the United States and have never been recognized by the government. The Project for the New American Century (PNAC) is an American political think tank, based in Washington, DC. The controversial group was established in early 1997 as a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting American global leadership. ... The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943 whose stated mission is to support the foundations of freedom - limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense. ...

Formally beginning with a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 12, 2002 President George W. Bush began a public campaign to convince the world that Saddam Hussein was violating prior resolutions on: weapons of mass destruction, human rights, Kuwaiti prisoners of war, terrorism, long range SCUD missiles, violations of the U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme and refusal to permit UN inspectors back into Iraq after their removal in 1998. [20] Despite repeated claims by President Bush to the contrary even recently,[21][22][23][24][25] Iraq agreed to allow inspectors back into the country on September 17, 2002.[26] [27] Inspections began after passage of U.N. Resolution 1441 on November 18, 2002. [28] United Nations General Assembly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and a former governor of Texas. ... Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) generally include nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) and, increasingly, radiological weapons. ... Polish missile wz. ... The Oil-for-Food Programme, established by the United Nations in 1995 (under UN Security Council Resolution 986) and terminated in late 2003, was intended to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for ordinary Iraqi citizens without allowing... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar with 43 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

On October 10, 2002 the 107th Congress of the United States passed HJ Res 114 titled "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002." Among the reasons noted in the Congressional resolution authorizing force were, Iraq's non-compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441[29], aid to terrorists (PALF)[30][31], a 1993 assassination attempt on former President George H. W. Bush (George W. Bush's father)[32] and violations of the no-fly zones. [33] Image File history File links Powell-anthrax-vial. ... Image File history File links Powell-anthrax-vial. ... General Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret. ... The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among nations. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... George Herbert Walker Bush, Hon GCB (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States of America (1989â€“1993). ...

In a January 27, 2003 report to the U.N., chief inspector Hans Blix, while noting Iraqi cooperation with regards to prompt access to inspection sites, stated "...Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance, not even today, of the disarmament which was demanded of it and which it needs to carry out to win the confidence of the world and to live in peace." The reasons for this include a failure to account for quantities of VX nerve agent and anthrax and also the inability of the U.N. to interview Iraqi scientists outside the country. [34] 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The VX nerve agent is the most well-known of the V-series of nerve agents. ...

On February 5, 2003 Colin Powell attempted to convince the UN Security Council of the threat Saddam Hussein's regime posed. [35] The Bush administration also claimed that Iraq had ties to al Qaeda and other terrorists organizations, including the Palestinian Arab Liberation Front (PALF).[36][37][38][39] Bush administration officials also claimed that Iraq was reconstituting their development of nuclear weapons.[40] February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... General Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret. ... In March 2003 the US government announced that diplomacy has failed and that it would proceed with a coalition of the willing to rid Iraq of its alleged weapons of mass destruction. The 2003 Iraq war officially started a few days later. ... George W. Bush administration is the administration of the 43rd president of the United States of America, 2001-present George H. W. Bush administration is the administration of the 41st president of the United States of America, 1989-1993 This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise... In 2003, the Bush administration alleged that Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda might conspire to launch terrorist attacks on America, and used this allegation, among others, to persuade Congress and the American people to invade Iraq. ...

Criticisms of the Iraq war rationale

Despite these efforts to sway public opinion the invasion of Iraq was seen by many as a violation of international law, breaking the UN Charter (see Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq).[41] especially since the U.S. failed to secure UN support for an invasion of Iraq. In 41 countries the majority of the populace did not support an invasion of Iraq without UN sanction and half said an invasion should not occur under any circumstances. [42]. In the US however, 73 percent supported an invasion. [43]. The United States formed a "Coalition of the Willing" and proceeded with the invasion with only sporadic and generally subdued domestic protest. The majority of protests took place abroad.[44][45][46]. At the time of the invasion UNMOVIC inspectors were ordered out by the United Nations. The inspectors requested more time as they were unable to account for the destruction of all proscribed items in the four months since inspections had resumed.[47][48] This article is about opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Iraq War from outside Iraq. ... A London protest against the 2003 Iraq invasion See also Views on the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Opposition to the 2003 Iraq War There exists a legal dispute concerning whether the United States and other coalition governments invasion of Iraq was an unprovoked assault on an independent country, thus... There have been considerable protests against the Iraq War in the build up to and following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... This page contains links to several topics relating to views on the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent occupation of Iraq. ... This article lists and summarize War Crimes commited since the Hague Conventions of 1907. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... The United Nations Charter is the constitution of the United Nations. ... A London protest against the 2003 Iraq invasion See also Views on the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Opposition to the 2003 Iraq War There exists a legal dispute concerning whether the United States and other coalition governments invasion of Iraq was an unprovoked assault on an independent country, thus...

Following the disputed invasion no nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, nor could the allegation of links with Al Qaeda be substantiated. President George W. Bush has since admitted that "much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong".[49][50][51] However, an indepth investigation into the various discrepancies has yet to be initiated. Colin Powell later expressed regret about his presentation at the UN Security Council. [52]

On June 21, 2006 Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) held a press conference in which it was claimed that Weapons Of Mass Destruction had been discovered in post-invasion Iraq [53][54][55]; however the weapons in question had already been discovered and discounted by the official Iraq Survey Group's Final Report of September 2004, which stated "While a small number of old, abandoned chemical munitions have been discovered, ISG judges that Iraq unilaterally destroyed its undeclared chemical weapons stockpile in 1991. There are no credible indications that Baghdad resumed production of chemical munitions thereafter, a policy ISG attributes to Baghdad’s desire to see sanctions lifted, or rendered ineffectual, or its fear of force against it should WMD be discovered." [56] In the March 2005 Addendum to the Report, the Special Advisor furthermore went on to state that "ISG assesses that Iraq and Coalition Forces will continue to discover small numbers of degraded chemical weapons, which the former Regime mislaid or improperly destroyed prior to 1991. ISG believes the bulk of these weapons were likely abandoned, forgotten and lost during the Iran-Iraq war because tens of thousands of CW munitions were forward deployed along frequently and rapidly shifting battlefronts." [57] (For comparison, the US Department Of Defense itself was famously unable in 1998 to report the whereabouts of "56 airplanes, 32 tanks and 36 Javelin command launch units". [58]) When Jim Angle of Fox News asked the Department Of Defense to comment upon the two Senator's latest claims, an unamed official stated these weapons could not be fired and were "not the WMD’s for which this country went to war." [59] June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

According to opinion polls, the war was unpopular from the outset in nearly all Coalition countries, widely viewed as counterproductive, improper, or even illegal; only since summer 2005 has this been the majority case in the United States. [60][61]

In Europe the peace movement was very strong.[62][63] Ten NATO member countries did not join the coalition with the U.S., and their leaders made public statements in opposition to the invasion of Iraq. Public perceptions of the U.S. changed dramatically as a consequence of the invasion.[64] Especially in Germany, where traumatic experiences in the Second World War are still remembered,[65] three quarters of the population were opposed to the war.[66] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Other possible U.S. objectives, denied by the U.S. government but acknowledged by Retired U.S. General Jay Garner, included the establishment of permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq as a way of projecting power (creating a credible threat of U.S. military intervention) to the oil-rich Gulf region and the Middle East generally. Jay Garner, who was in charge of planning and administering post-war reconstruction in Iraq, explained that the U.S. occupation of Iraq was comparable to the Philippine model: "Look back on the Philippines around the turn of the 20th century: they were a coaling station for the navy, and that allowed us to keep a great presence in the Pacific. That's what Iraq is for the next few decades: our coaling station that gives us great presence in the Middle East" [67]; (See also Philippine-American War). Its noted retired U.S. General Jay Garner was replaced by Paul Bremer after reports came out of his position in SY Coleman, a division of defense contractor L-3 Communications specializing in missile- defense systems. It was believed his role in the company was in contention with his role in Iraq [68]. The House Appropriations Committee, said of the report accompanying the emergency spending legislation was "of a magnitude normally associated with permanent bases" [69]. Combatants United States The Philippines Commanders Elwell Stephen Otis Emilio Aguinaldo Strength 126,000 soldiers 80,000 soldiers Casualties 4,324 U.S. soldiers dead 2,840 wounded; 2,000 killed, dead, or wounded of the Philippine Constabulary 16,000 soldiers killed est. ...

Combat and occupation summary

Timeline of events during Multinational forces occupation of Iraq, following 2003 invasion of Iraq, and relevant quotations about nature of occupation from officials. ...

Prior to invasion

Prior to invasion, the United States and other coalition forces involved in the 1991 Persian Gulf War had been engaged in a low-level conflict with Iraq, by enforcing the two controversial Iraqi no-fly zones in the north and the south of the country. Iraqi air-defense installations were engaged on a fairly regular basis after repeatedly targeting American and British air patrols. In mid-2002, the U.S. began to change its response strategy, by increasing the overall number of missions and selecting targets throughout the no-fly zones in order to disrupt the military command structure in Iraq. A change in enforcement tactics was acknowledged at the time, but it was not made public that this was part of a plan known as Operation Southern Watch. Image File history File links Iraq_NO_FLY_ZONES.PNG edit of image. ... Image File history File links Iraq_NO_FLY_ZONES.PNG edit of image. ... No-fly zone detail The Iraqi no-fly zones (NFZs) were proclaimed by the United States, United Kingdom and France after the Gulf War of 1991 to protect Kurds in the north and Shiite Muslims in the south. ... Operation Southern Watch was a operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 33rd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War up until the March, 2003 invasion of Iraq. ...

The weight of bombs dropped increased from none in March 2002 and 0.3 in April 2002 to between 8 and 14 tons per month in May-August, reaching a pre-war peak of 54.6 tons in September - prior to Congress' 11 October authorization of the invasion. In retaliation for the Iraqi's now-daily air defense attacks on coalition aircraft, the September attacks included a 5 September 100-aircraft attack on the main air defence site in western Iraq. According to an editorial by Michael Smith for the The New Statesman, this was "Located at the furthest extreme of the southern no-fly zone, far away from the areas that needed to be patrolled to prevent attacks on the Shias; it was destroyed not because it was a threat to the patrols, but to allow allied special forces operating from Jordan to enter Iraq undetected." [70] US military personnel stationed at Southern Watch headquarters during this time recall that this attack on this particular Iraqi air defense unit was taken soley in reaction to Iraqi's continued attack on coalition aircraft operating in compliance with the UN-mandated overflights of the Iraq "no-fly" zone. October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years). ... NOONE CARES Headline text The Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq (H.J.Res. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... Rik Mayall as Alan Bstard in The New Statesman The New Statesman was an award-winning British sitcom of the late 1980s and early 1990s satirising the Conservative government of the time. ...

This article describes the positions of world governments prior to the actual initiation of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and not their current positions as they may have changed since then. ... The Rendon Group, a Washington, DC based public relations firm with close ties to the US government, and which has had a prominent role in promoting the Iraqi National Congress, was alleged by some journalists to be planning to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a careful public relations... In March 2003 the US government announced that diplomacy has failed and that it would proceed with a coalition of the willing to rid Iraq of its alleged weapons of mass destruction. The 2003 Iraq war officially started a few days later. ... // The administrations position Much of the position is summed up in the main article on the U.S. plan to invade Iraq. ...

Invasion

For more details, please see 2003 invasion of Iraq. Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed Operation Iraqi Freedom by the US administration, began on March 20. ...

The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed "Operation Iraqi Freedom" by the US administration, began on March 20. The United States and the United Kingdom supplied 98% of the invading forces. They cooperated with Kurdish forces in the north which numbered upwards of 50,000. Other nations also participated in part of a coalition force to help with the operation by providing equipment, services and security as well special forces. The 2003 Iraq invasion marked the beginning of what is commonly referred to as the Iraq War. March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). ...

Post-invasion, early and mid 2003

In May of 2003, after the defeat of Iraq's conventional forces, the coalition military noticed a gradually increasing flurry of attacks on the multinational troops in various regions, such as the "Sunni Triangle". In the initial chaos after the fall of the Iraqi government, there was massive looting of infrastructure including; government buildings, official residences, museums, banks, and military depots. According to the Pentagon, 250,000 tons (of 650,000 tons total) of ordnance were looted, providing a significant source of ammunition for the Iraqi insurgency. These looted supplies for the insurgents were further strengthened by the hundreds of weapons caches already created by the conventional Iraqi army and Republican Guard. Image File history File links Sunni_triangle. ... Image File history File links Sunni_triangle. ... Map of the Sunni Triangle The Sunni Triangle refers to a roughly triangular area of Iraq to the northwest of Baghdad. ...

At first the resistance stemmed from fedayeen and Saddam Hussein or Ba'ath loyalists, but soon religious radicals and Iraqis angered by the occupation contributed to the insurgency. In late 2004, foreign fighters from around the Middle East as well as al-Qaeda operatives led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would help to fund and coordinate the insurgency. The insurgents are generally known to the Coalition forces as Anti-Iraqi Forces or AIF. Fedayeen (from Arabic fidÄÄ«, plural fidÄÄ«yÄ«n ÙØ¯Ø§Ø¦ÙŠÙˆÙ†, one who is ready to sacrifice his life for the cause) describes several distinct, primarily Arab groups at different times in history. ... Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. ...

The initial insurgency in Iraq was concentrated in, but not limited to, an area referred to by Western media and the occupying forces as the Sunni triangle. This location includes Baghdad [71]. The three provinces that had the highest number of attacks were Baghdad, Anbar, and Salah Ad Din--these provinces account for 35% of the population. This resistance has been described as a type of guerrilla warfare. Insurgent tactics include mortars, suicide bombers, improvised explosive devices, roadside bombs, small arms fire, and RPGs, as well as sabotage against the oil, water, and electrical infrastructure. Iraqi militants celebrating orders being given to the surrounding Coalition forces to stand down, Fallujah, May 1 2004. ... Guerrilla War redirects here. ... A suicide bombing is a bomb attack on people or property, committed by a person who knows the explosion will cause his or her own death (see suicide, suicide weapons). ... Explosive devices, as used by terrorists, guerrillas or commando forces, are formally known as Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs. ...

In 2006, three years after the US-led invasion, insurgent attacks on an almost daily basis continue to hamper the development of a unified Iraqi government as well as inflame sectarian tension among Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. Insurgents have also resorted to kidnapping civilian journalists and workers. Jill Carroll, a journalist for the Christian Science Monitor, was kidnapped in early 2006, and although later let go, her Iraqi translator was killed. Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ...

The post-invasion environment began after the Hussein regime had been overthrown. It centers on Coalition and U.N. efforts to establish a democratic state capable of defending itself ^[72], versus various insurgent demands that the foreign forces leave the country. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 1294 KB) Summary From US Dept of Defense. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 1294 KB) Summary From US Dept of Defense. ... Occupation zones in Iraq as of September 2003 The post-invasion period in Iraq followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition led by the United States, which overthrew the Baath Party government of Saddam Hussein. ... Occupation zones in Iraq as of September 2003 The post-invasion period in Iraq followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition led by the United States, which overthrew the Baath Party government of Saddam Hussein. ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ...

Coalition military forces launched several operations around Tigris River peninsula and in the Sunni Triangle. A series of similar operations were launched throughout the summer in the Sunni Triangle. Toward the end of 2003, the intensity and pace of insurgent attacks began to increase. A sharp surge in guerrilla attacks ushered in an insurgent effort that was termed the "Ramadan Offensive", as it coincided with the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Coaliton forces brought to bear the use of air power for the first time since the end of the war. Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: Ø±Ù…Ø¶Ø§Ù†) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the holiest month in Islam. ...

Suspected ambush sites and mortar launching positions struck from the air and with artillery fire. Surveillance of major routes, patrols, and raids on suspected insurgents were stepped up. In addition, two villages, including Saddam’s birthplace of al-Auja and the small town of Abu Hishma were wrapped in barbed wire and carefully monitored. On 22 July 2003, during a raid by the U.S. 101st Airborne Division and soldiers from Task Force 20, Saddam Hussein's sons (Uday and Qusay) and one of his grandsons were killed. July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) â€”nicknamed the Screaming Eaglesâ€” is an air assault division of the United States Army mainly trained for air assault operations. ... Task Force 20 is a temporary, top secret Task Force assigned to Iraq. ... Uday Hussein Uday Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti (June 18, 1964 â€“ July 22, 2003) Arabic: Ø¹Ø¯ÙŠ ØµØ¯Ø§Ù… ØØ³ÙŠÙ†; also transliterated as Odai) was the eldest son of Saddam Hussein, the deposed president of Iraq, and his first wife, Sajida Talfah. ... Qusay Hussein Qusay Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti (or Qusai) (May 17, 1966 - July 22, 2003) was the second son of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. ...

In the wave of intelligence information fueling the raids on remaining Ba'ath Party members connected to insurgency, Saddam Hussein himself was captured on December 13, 2003 on a farm near Tikrit. The operation was conducted by the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division and members of Task Force 121. Operation Peninsula Strike Conflict 2003 Invasion of Iraq Date June 9 - June 13, 2003 Area of Operation Balad, Iraq Objective Capture Baath Party Officials and clear enemy forces from the Tigris River Primary Units Involved US Army, 173rd Airborne Bde. ... Operation Desert Scorpion Conflict 2003 Invasion of Iraq Date June 15 - June 29, 2003 Area of Operation Iraq Objective Search and destroy anti-coalition forces and privde humanitarian aid Primary Units Involved US Army, 3rd Infantry Div. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Spartan Scorpion was a joint U.S. Army and coaltion raid aimed at removing lingering Baath Party assets after the coaltion capture of Baghdad. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Sidewinder was designed in support of Operation Desert Scorpion, and took place from June 29 to July 7, 2003. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Soda Mountain was a nationwide sweep by American and Coalition forces against insurgents and remnants of the former regime conducted from 12 to 17 June, 2003. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Ivy Serpent was an American anti-insurgent sweep launched on 12 July, 2003 in Sallahadin and Diala provinces. ... Operation Tyr was the proposed plan of Nazi Germany during World War II to invade and take over Liechtenstein. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Ivy Lightning was a raid conducted by elements of the 4th Infantry Division on 12 August 2003 in the towns of Ain Lalin and Quara Tapa along the Jabal Hamrin Ridge north of Baghdad. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Silverdao was a small operation conducted by the 39th Infantry Brigade (Light) (Separate/Enhanced) of the Arkansas National Guard in Subak Sur on 16 August, 2003 to capture suspected insurgents and seize weapons stockpiles. ... Operation Ivy Needle Conflict 2003 Invasion of Iraq Date 26 August 2003 Area of Operation Khalis, Iraq Objective destroy former regime loyalist and insurgents Primary Units Involved US Army, 173rd Airborne Bde. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Longstreet was a two-week series of raids and cordon operations conducted between Baghdad and Fallujah by elements of the First Armored Division and the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in September 2003. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Tiger Clean Sweep was a border security operation conducted by the Tiger Squadron of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment announced on 7 September 2003 near Al Qaim. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq Operation Industrial Sweep was a search of parts of the city of Samarra by elements of the 4th Infantry Division in October 2003. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Chamberlain was an American border-security operation mentioned in press releases on 15 October, 2003. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation OK Corral was a sweep operation conducted by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division in Ar Ramadi beginning on 19 October, 2003. ... Operation Iron Hammer may refer to: Operation Iron Hammer (WWII), a military operation launched in World War II. Operation Iron Hammer (Iraq 2003), a military operation of the multinational force during the Iraq War. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Eagle Curtain was a series of raids and roadblocks conducted by the 101st Airborne Division in November 2003. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation All American Tiger was an operation begun on 6 November 2003 with an objective of capturing insurgents associated with the old regime. ... Operation Ivy Cyclone was an operation launched during the 2003 invasion of Iraq against the resistance stronghold of Tikrit, Iraq. ... Operation Rifles Blitz was a series of patrols and checkpoints set up at the Iraqi frontiers with Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan by the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. ... Operation Bayonet Lightning Conflict 2003 Invasion of Iraq Date December 2, 2003 Area of Operation Al Hawija, Iraq Objective Capture suspected anti-coalition forces and weapons caches Primary Units Involved US Army, 173rd Airborne Bde. ... Operation Bulldog Mammoth Conflict 2003 Invasion of Iraq Date December 4, 2003 Area of Operation Abu Ghurayb, Iraq Objective Capture suspected anti-coalition forces and weapons caches Primary Units Involved US Army, 1st Armored Div. ... Operation Clear Area Conflict 2003 Invasion of Iraq Date December 6, 2003 Area of Operation Qalat Sukar, Iraq Objective Search and seizure of weapons Primary Units Involved Italian, Savoia Cavalry Italian, San Marco Battalion Italian, Lagunari Troops Casualties None During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Clear Area was conducted... Operation Abilene Conflict 2003 Invasion of Iraq Date December 8, 2003 Area of Operation Al Anbar Province, Iraq Objective Capture or eliminate anti-coalition forces Primary Units Involved US Army, 1st Infantry Div. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Panther Squeeze was a series of 18 raids by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division conducted on the night of 10 December 2003 in the city of Latifiya. ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that U.S. 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division be merged into this article or section. ... Task Force 121 is a classic example of the United States Joint Task Force concept of conducting Special Operations. ...

Late 2003

With the capture of Saddam and a drop in the number of insurgent attacks (an average of 18 a day), some concluded the multinational forces were prevailing in the fight against the insurgency. With the weather growing cooler, United States forces were able to operate in full armor which reduced their casualty rate. The provisional government began training a security force intended to defend critical infrastructure, and the United States promised over $20 billion in reconstruction money in the form of credit against Iraq's future oil revenues. Of this, less than half a billion dollars had been spent in 10 months after it had been promised. Oil revenues were also claimed to be used for rebuilding schools and for work on the electrical and refining infrastructure.

However, the failure to restore basic services to above pre-war levels, where over a decade of sanctions, bombing, corruption, and decaying infrastructure had left major cities functioning at much-reduced levels, also contributed to local anger at the IPA government headed by an executive council. On 2 July 2003, President Bush declared that American troops would remain in Iraq in spite of the attacks, challenging the opponents with "My answer is, bring 'em on," a line the President later expressed misgivings about having used. ^[73] In the summer of 2003, the multinational forces focused on hunting down the remaining leaders of the former regime, culminating in the shooting deaths of Saddam's two sons in July. In all, over 300 top leaders of the former regime were killed or captured, as well as numerous lesser functionaries and military personnel. July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Shortly after the capture of Saddam, elements left out of the Coalition Provisional Authority began to agitate for elections and the formation of a Iraqi Interim Government. Most prominent among these was the Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani. More insurgents stepped up their activities. The two most turbulent centers were the area around Fallujah and the poor Shia sections of cities from Baghdad to Basra in the south. The Seal of the CPA in Iraq The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States, United Kingdom and the other members of the multinational coalition which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003. ... The Iraqi Interim Government was created by the United States and its coalition allies as a caretaker government to govern Iraq until the Iraqi Transitional Government was installed following the Iraqi National Assembly election conducted on January 30th, 2005. ... Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani (Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ø³ÙŠØ¯ Ø¹Ù„ÙŠ Ø§Ù„ØØ³ÙŠÙ†ÙŠ Ø§Ù„Ø³ÙŠØ³ØªØ§Ù†ÙŠ Persian: Ø³ÛŒØ¯ Ø¹Ù„ÛŒ ØØ³ÛŒÙ†ÛŒ Ø³ÛŒØ³ØªØ§Ù†ÛŒ) (born approximately August 4, 1930) is an Iranian Grand Ayatollah, a Shia marja and currently an important person in relation to the occupation of Iraq. ...

During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Panther Backroads was launched on December 15, 2003 by the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in the Sunni Triangle city of Ar Ramadi in an attempt to stop insurgent smuggling. ... Operation Ivy Blizzard, occurred on December 17, 2003, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a counterinsurgent sweep of the Iraqi town of Samarra (part of the Sunni Triangle). ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Arrowhead Blizzard was launched on December 17, 2003 by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division and Stryker Brigade in the Sunni Triangle city of Samarra. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Iron Justice was a U.S. Army operation aimed at ending insurgent run Black Market fueling activities south of Baghdad. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Rifles Fury was a coalition strike at insurgent training camps in the Rawah area. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Devil Siphon was, like Operation Rifles Fury, a coalition strike aimed at ending Black Market fuel and propane operations run by insurgent marketeers. ...

Early-mid 2004 – increased insurgent activity and Fallujah

The start of 2004 was marked by a relative lull in violence. Insurgent forces reorganized during this time, studying the multinational forces' tactics and planning a renewed offensive. Guerrilla attacks were less intense.

Insurgent activity soon increased, however, as hundreds of Iraqi civilians and police were killed over the next few months in a series of massive bombings. One hypothesis for these increased bombings is that the relevance of Saddam Hussein and his followers was diminishing in direct proportion to the influence of radical Islamists, both foreign and Iraqi. An organized Sunni insurgency, with deep roots and both nationalist and Islamist motivations, was becoming more powerful throughout Iraq. The Mahdi Army also began launching attacks on coalition targets in an attempt to seize control from Iraqi security forces. The southern and central portions of Iraq were beginning to erupt in urban guerrilla combat as multinational forces attempted to keep control and prepared for a counteroffensive. This article is about political Islamism. ... Members parade in Sadr City The Mahdi Army, also known as the Mehdi Army or Jaish al Mahdi (Arabic Ø¬ÙŠØ´ Ø§Ù„Ù…Ù‡Ø¯ÙŠ) , is a militia force created by the Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003. ...

The coalition and the Coalition Provisional Authority decided to face the growing insurgency with a pair of assaults: one on Fallujah, the center of the "Mohammed's Army of Al-Ansar", and another on Najaf, home of an important mosque, which had become the focal point for the Mahdi Army and its activities. Just before the attack on Fallujah, four private military contractors, working for Blackwater USA, were ambushed and their corpses mutilated by a large crowd, receiving a great deal of media attention. The attention illicited a violent reaction from Donald Rumsfeld who then ordered LtGen Conway to immediately attack Fallujah at the earliest opportunity. Part of the weapons cache captured in Market Sweep During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Market Sweep involved troops from the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, and their successful intrusion into the downtown Fallujah arms market on January 13, 2004. ... Operation Tomahawk was an airborne military operation by the 187th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) in March 1951 at Munsan-ni as part of Operation Courageous in the Korean War. ... This article is about the city of Fallujah in Iraq. ... Najaf (Arabic: ) is a city in Iraq, about 160 km south of Baghdad, located at 31. ... Members parade in Sadr City The Mahdi Army, also known as the Mehdi Army or Jaish al Mahdi (Arabic Ø¬ÙŠØ´ Ø§Ù„Ù…Ù‡Ø¯ÙŠ) , is a militia force created by the Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A private military contractor (PMC) is a corporation that provides armed forces trained in combat, private military, for other corporations, organizations, individuals and state military forces. ... Blackwater USA is a United States private military contractor and security firm based in North Carolina. ... An ambush is a long established military tactic in which an ambushing force uses concealment to attack an enemy that passes its position. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Disfigurement. ...

After this incident, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force began plans to re-establish a coalition presence in Fallujah. On April 4, the multinational forces began assaults to clear Fallujah of insurgents. On April 9, the multinational force allowed more than 70,000 women, children and elderly residents to leave the besieged city, reportedly also allowing males of military age to leave. Meanwhile, insurgents were taking advantage of the lull in combat to prepare defenses for a second assault. On April 10, the military declared a unilateral truce to allow for humanitarian supplies to enter Fallujah. Troops pulled back to the outskirts of the city; local leaders reciprocated the ceasefire, although lower-level intense fighting on both sides continued. The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) of the United States Marine Corps primarily composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Marine Logistics Group. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The usage by the U.S. of white phosphorus in Fallujah attracted controversy. In the documentary "Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre", aired on the Italian state television network RAI, a former soldier testified "I saw the burned bodies of women and children. The phosphorus explodes and forms a plume. Who ever is within a 150 metre radius has no hope."[74][75][76] The US State department first dismissed such claims,[77] but was later corrected in other reports. Lt Col Barry Venable stated to BBC, "it is an incendiary weapon and may be used against enemy combatants." According to Protocol III of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, white phosphorus can be used, but only against enemy combatants and not civilians.[78] The Independent later reported that "there remain widespread reports of civilians suffering extensive burn injuries. While US commanders insist they always strive to avoid civilian casualties, the story of the battle of Fallujah highlights the intrinsic difficulty of such an endeavour."[79] White phosphorus is a common allotrope of the chemical element phosphorus which has found extensive military application as an incendiary agent , smoke-screening agent, and as an antipersonnel flame compound capable of causing serious burns. ...

When the Iraqi Governing Council protested against the US assault to retake Fallujah Operation Vigilant Resolve, the US military halted its efforts. In the April battle for Fallujah, Coalition troops killed about 600 insurgents and a number of civilians, while 40 Americans died and hundreds were wounded in a fierce battle. The Marines were ordered to stand-down and cordon off the city, maintaining a perimeter around Fallujah. A compromise was reached in order to ensure security within Fallujah itself by creating the local "Fallujah Brigade". While the Marines attacking had clear superiority in ground firepower and air support, LtGen Conway decided to accept a truce and a deal which put a former Baathist general in complete charge of the town's security. The Fallujah Brigade's responsibility was to secure Fallujah and put a stop to insurgent mortar attacks on the nearby U.S. Marine bases. This compromise soon fell apart and insurgent attacks returned, causing Marine commanders to begin preparations for a second attack in the coming fall. By the end of the spring uprising, the cities of Fallujah, Samarra, Baquba, and Ramadi had been left under guerrilla control with coalition patrols in the cities at a minimum. ^{[citation needed]} This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Early-mid 2004 – the Shi'ite south

Meanwhile, the fighting continued in the Shiite south, and Italian and Polish forces were having increasing difficulties retaining control over Nasiriya and Najaf. U.S. marines were then shifted there to put down the overt rebellion and proceeded to rout Sadr's Shiite Militia. In all, April, May and early June saw more fighting. Over the next three months, the multinanational forces took back the southern cities. Also, various insurgent leaders entered into negotiations with the provisional government to lay down arms and enter the political process. Nāşirīyah (also transliterated as Nassiriya or Nasiriya; in Arabic ناصرية, al-Nasiriyah or an-Nasiriyah) is a city in Iraq. ... Najaf (Arabic: ) is a city in Iraq, about 160 km south of Baghdad, located at 31. ...

During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Iron Promise was a long-running series of patrols conducted by elements of the 1st Armored and 1st Cavalry Divisions in and around Baghdad beginning on 18 March 2004. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, Operation Aloha was a search of houses in the city of Kirkuk for weapons. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Warrior was a cordon and search operation conducted by coalition forces designed to capture Farhan and Sofi Sinjar, Abu Akmed and Abu Farka. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Iron Saber was a coalition strike aimed at defeating the Mahdi army under the control of Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf, Al Kut and Karbala. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Operation in April 2004 to capture Muqtada al Sadr. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Ripper Sweep was a joint Australian Army and U.S. 1st Infantry Division cordon and search operation aimed at securing roads into and out of Fallujah. ... During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, or Iraq War, Operation Spring Clean-up took place in May 2004, and included the U.S. 3rd Brigade Combat Teams assault and capture of the Blue Babe Highway, which was also known as RPG Alley for the large number of IED and insurgent...

The new Iraqi government

Toward the end of June (2004), the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred the "sovereignty" of Iraq to a caretaker government, whose first act was to begin the trial of Saddam Hussein. However, fighting continued in the form of an insurgent rebellion against the new sovereignty, with some parts composed of non-Iraqi Muslim militant groups like al Qaeda. The new government began the process of moving towards open elections, though the insurgency and the lack of cohesion within the government itself, has lead to delays. Militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr took control of Najaf and, after negotiations broke down, the government asked the United States for help dislodging him. Through the months of July and August, a series of skirmishes in and around Najaf culminated with the Imman Ali Mosque itself under siege, only to have a peace deal brokered by al-Sistani in late August. Iraqi militants celebrating orders being given to the surrounding Coalition forces to stand down, Fallujah, May 1 2004. ... The Seal of the CPA in Iraq The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States, United Kingdom and the other members of the multinational coalition which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... Look up rebellion in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, including people named Islam, see Islam (disambiguation). ... The word militant has come to refer to any individual or party engaged in aggressive physical or verbal combat, normally for a cause. ... Osama bin Laden founded al-Qaeda in the 1990s. ... Muqtada Al-Sadr (Arabic: Ù…Ù‚ØªØ¯Ù‰ Ø§Ù„ØµØ¯Ø±, also transliterated as Moqtada As-sadr) (born August 12, 1973 (Rajab 14, 1393 A.H. in the Islamic calendar) is the fourth son of the famous Iraqi Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr and son-in-law of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir As...

Iraqi insurgency

When the ruling Ba'ath party organization disintegrated after the fall of the Iraqi government, elements of the secret police and Republican Guard formed guerrilla units, since some had simply gone home rather than openly fight the multinational forces. Many of these smaller units formed the center of the initial anti-coalition insurgency, based primarily around the cities of Mosul, Tikrit and Fallujah. The militants and guerrilla units favored attacking unarmored vehicles and avoiding major battles. The early Iraqi insurgency was concentrated in, but not limited to, an area referred to by the Western media and the occupying forces as the Sunni triangle which includes Baghdad ^[80]. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Iraqi militants celebrating orders being given to the surrounding Coalition forces to stand down, Fallujah, May 1 2004. ... , Tigris River and bridge in Mosul Mosul (Arabic: , Kurdish: MÃ»sil, Syriac: NÃ®nÄ›wÃ¢, Turkish: Musul) is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of Ninawa Governorate. ... Looking north along the Tigris towards Saddams Presidential palace in April 2003 Tikrit (ØªÙƒØ±ÙŠØª, also transliterated as Takrit or Tekrit) is a town in Iraq, located 140 km northwest of Baghdad on the Tigris river (at 34. ... Map of the Sunni Triangle The Sunni Triangle refers to a roughly triangular area of Iraq to the northwest of Baghdad. ...

By the fall of 2003, these anti-occupation groups began using typical guerrilla tactics; such as ambushes, bombings, kidnappings, and improvised explosive devices. Other tactics included mortars, suicide bombers, roadside bombs, small arms fire, and RPGs, as well as sabotage against the oil, water, and electrical infrastructure. The insurgents primarily targeted coalition forces, checkpoints, and as well as some civilian targets--usually those civilians associated with coalition forces. These irregular forces especially favored attacking unarmored or lightly armored Humvee vehicles, the U.S. military's primary transport vehicle. In November 2003, some of these forces successfully attacked U.S. rotary aircraft with SAM-7 missiles bought on the global black market. Insurgent groups such as the al-Abud Network have even attempted to constitute their own chemical weapons programs, attempting to "weaponize" traditional mortar rounds with ricin and mustard toxin.PDF An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority, by any irregular armed force that rises up against an enforced or established authority, government, or administration. ... IED is also an abbreviation for Intelligent Electronic Device IED is also an abbreviation for Intermittent explosive disorder A large cache of munitions found in Afghanistan in 2004. ... Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening an enemy through subversion, obstruction, disruption, and/or destruction. ... Irregular soldiers in Beauharnois, Quebec, 19th century Irregular military refers to any non-standard military. ... This article refers to the Military HMMWV, not the civilian Hummer sold by General Motors General Characteristics (Humvee) Manufacturer: AM General Length: 4. ... A soldier posing with a Strela launcher The 9K32 Strela-2 (Russian 9К32 стрела-2 - arrow, NATO reporting name SA-7 Grail) is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system similar to the US Army REDEYE, with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared... The al-Abud Network is a former insurgent group who was operating within Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. ... Castor beans The protein ricin (pronounced ) is a toxin from the castor bean (Ricinus communis). ... 0. ...

There is evidence that some guerrilla groups are organized, perhaps by the fedayeen and other Saddam Hussein or Ba'ath loyalists, religious radicals, Iraqis angered by the occupation, and foreign fighters. [81] The insurgents are known by the Coalition military (especially in the United States armed forces) as Anti-Iraqi Forces (AIF). ^{g1 g2}.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed on June 7, 2006 in the town of Baquba, north of Baghdad, when U.S. warplanes dropped 2, 500-pound bombs on his isolated safe house.[82] President George W. Bush said the killing was "a severe blow to al-Qaida and it is a significant victory in the war on terror" but cautioned: "We have tough days ahead of us in Iraq that will require the continuing patience of the American people."[83] Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Al-Qaida in Iraq vowed to continue its "holy war," according to a statement posted on a Web site announcing: "We want to give you the joyous news of the martyrdom of the mujahed sheik Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."[84] Jamaat al-Tawhid wal Jihad members with Shosei Koda and with the banner in the background Jamaat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (Arabic: , Monotheism and Holy War Movement) is the Islamist guerrilla network of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born Islamist militant believed operating against United States-led... Holy war may refer to: religious war, a war one or more sides claim to have been led by or authorized by God. ...

This is a history of the Iraqi insurgency. ... Baghdad locals gather around the site of an exploded car bomb, which arent uncommon to be used in a sectarian attack. ...

Human rights abuses

Throughout the entire Iraq war there have been numerous human rights abuses on all sides of the conflict. This image is in the public domain because it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image is in the public domain because it is ineligible for copyright. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Harman, al-Jamadi Graner, al-Jamadi Manadel al-Jamadi was an Iraqi who was tortured to death during interrogation at Abu Ghraib prison. ... The Bush administration and many parties have expressed concern about the state of human rights in Iraq after the 2003 occupation of Iraq. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

Occupation forces

Satar Jabar standing on a box with wires connected to his body Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse images Beginning in 2003, numerous accounts of abuse and torture of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq (also known as Baghdad Correctional Facility) occurred. ... In 2005, a 2,000-page U.S. Army report was obtained by the New York Times concerning the homicides of two unarmed civilian Afghan prisoners by U.S. armed forces in 2002 at the Bagram Collection Point. ... The Haditha killings (also called the Haditha massacre or the Haditha incident) occurred on November 19, 2005 in the town of Haditha, Iraq. ... The Ishaqi incident refers to the reported mass murder of Iraqi civilians allegedly committed by the United states forces in the town of Ishaqi in March, 2006. ... The Hamadiya, Hamandiyah, or Hamdania incident refers to the shooting death of an Iraqi man, Hashim Ibrahim Awad, but US Marines on April 26, 2006 in Al Hamdania, west of Baghdad. ... The Al-Mahmudiyah incident occurred on March 12, 2006 in the town of Al-Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, Iraq. ... Mukaradeeb is a small village in Iraq near the Syrian border which was attacked by American helicopters on May 19, 2004, killing 42 men, women and children. ... 502nd PIR Distinctive Unit Insignia During World War II, the 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment (502d PIR) was a regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. ... Fakhriya Taha Muhasen was an Iraqi woman who lived in the village of Mahmoudiyah southeast of Baghdad. ... Mahmoudiyah is an Iraqi village southeast of Baghdad. ...

Insurgent forces

The regular Iraqi insurgents and other groups such as the Islamic militant groups Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Ansar al-Islam are responsible for numerous abuses, including: Jamaat al-Tawhid wal Jihad members with Shosei Koda and with the banner in the background This article is about the group called Al-Qaeda in Iraq. ... Ansar al-Islam (Arabic: Ø§Ù†ØµØ§Ø± Ø§Ù„Ø§Ø³Ù„Ø§Ù…, Supporters or Partisans of Islam) is a Kurdish Sunni Islamist group, promoting a radical interpretation of Islam and holy war. ...

Eugene Armstrong, in orange, seated, before his decapitation by the five men standing over him. ... Categories: Stub | 1955 births | 2004 deaths ... Kim Sun-il (September 13, 1970 â€“ June 22, 2004) was a South Korean translator working in Iraq for Gana General Trading Company, a South Korean company under contract to the U.S. military. ... Kenneth Bigley and his wife Sombat at their wedding in 1998 Kenneth John Bigley (1942 â€“ October 7, 2004), was a civil engineer from Liverpool, England, who was kidnapped in the al-Mansour district of Baghdad, Iraq on September 16, 2004, along with Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong, both U.S... Shosei Koda Shosei Koda (é¦™ç”°è¨¼ç”Ÿ KÅda ShÅsei, November 29, 1979â€“November 3, 2004?) was a Japanese citizen who was kidnapped and later beheaded in Iraq of November 3, 2004 while touring the country. ... Fabrizio Quattrocchi during his captivity Fabrizio Quattrocchi was a 36-year-old Italian security guard taken hostage by Islamist militants in Iraq and murdered there on April 15, 2004. ... Margaret Hassan Margaret Hassan (also known as Madam Margaret) (April 18, 1945 â€“ November 16, 2004) was an aid worker who worked in Iraq for many years and was kidnapped and murdered there at the age of 59 by Islamic militants. ... Berg in October 2003 Nicholas Evan Berg (April 2, 1978 â€“ May 7, 2004) was an American businessman seeking telecommunications work in Iraq during the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. ... This article needs cleanup. ... It has been suggested that Female suicide bomber be merged into this article or section. ...

Iraqi government

Financial costs

As of June 13, 2006, over $320 billion has been allocated by the US Congress for the Iraqi war. The amount has been calculated at upwards of $2300 per taxpayer [94]. The war in Afghanistan has cost an additonal $89 billion since 2001 [95].

As of March 2006, approximately £4.5 billion has been spent by the United Kingdom in Iraq. All of this money has come from a government fund called the "Special Reserve" which has a current allocation of £6.44 billion[96]

It is not known how much more money has been spent by other members of the coalition--however, the US's share of the cost is by far the largest.

Ever since the beginning of the war, President Bush has not included the cost of the Iraq war and occupation in the regular defense spending request. Instead he has submitted emergency spending bills to Congress to cover those estimated costs of the war and occupation. These are best documented in a series of Congressional Research Service reports. [97]

Joseph Stiglitz, former chief economist of the World Bank has suggested the total costs of the Iraq War on the US economy will be $1 trillion in a conservative scenario and could top $2 trillion in a moderate one [98]. Joseph Stiglitz (born February 9, 1943) is an American economist, author and winner of Nobel Prize for economics ( 2001). ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means...

The withdrawal of US troops from Iraq is one of the issues on which John Kerry and George Bush have differed in the 2004 US Presidential Election. ...

U.S. equipment losses

In addition to the human casualties the U.S. has lost a number of pieces of military equipment since the beginning of the war in 2003. This total includes those vehicles lost in non-combat related accidents. (numbers are an approximation). In recent events the army has said that the cost of replacing its depleted equipment has recently tripled.[99]

Combat losses: Air equipment [103] The M1 Abrams main battle tank is the principal combat tank of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, with three main versions being deployed starting in 1980: the M1, M1A1, and M1A2. ... The M2 Bradley and M3 Bradley are American infantry fighting vehicles. ... For the manufacturer of medical and orthopedic products, see Stryker Corporation. ... The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family of vehicles in use with the US military and many other nations. ... General Characteristics (M998) Manufacturer: AM General Length: 15 ft (4. ... The Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV)â€”official designation AAV-7A1 (formerly known as LVT-7) is the current amphibious troop transport of the United States Marine Corps and is also operated by other forces. ...

Boeing AH-64 Apache The Boeing IDS AH-64 Apache Helicopter is the US Armys principal attack helicopter, the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. ... UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters eqipped with M60 machine guns near Najaf, Iraq in May 2005 The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-turbine engine, single rotor, semi-monocoque fuselage, rotary wing helicopter. ... A Royal Air Force Chinook A field artillery section slingloading a M-198 howitzer for airlift by a CH-47 Chinook The CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. ... OH-58 Kiowa OH-58D Kiowa Warrior The OH-58 Kiowa scout is a helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron. ... Marines board a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter on USS Saipan, during beach-landing training. ... A CH-53E Super Stallion taking off from the deck of the USS Saipan Designated S-80E internally by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, the Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion, and the Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon are the largest and heaviest helicopters in the United States military. ... Primary user United States Air Force Number built 715 Unit cost US$9. ... The F-15E Strike Eagle is a modern American all-weather strike fighter, designed for long-range interdiction of enemy ground targets deep behind enemy lines. ... The UH-60 Black Hawk that crashed on September 21, 2004 Below is a list of Coalition aircraft that have crashed in Iraq. ...

References

February 20, 2003. Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ... Image File history File links Wikinews-logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikisource â€“ The Free Library â€“ is a Wikimedia project to build a free, wiki library of source texts, along with translations into any language and other supporting materials. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... The Hague Conventions were international treaties negotiated at the First and Second Peace Conferences at The Hague, Netherlands in 1899 and 1907, respectively, and were, along with the Geneva Conventions, among the first formal statements of the laws of war and war crimes in the nascent body of international law. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 63 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Contents

War rationale

Post 1991 Gulf War

Post 9-11

Criticisms of the Iraq war rationale

Combat and occupation summary

Prior to invasion

Invasion

Post-invasion, early and mid 2003

Late 2003

Early-mid 2004 – increased insurgent activity and Fallujah

Early-mid 2004 – the Shi'ite south

The new Iraqi government

Iraqi insurgency

Human rights abuses

Occupation forces

Insurgent forces

Iraqi government

Financial costs

U.S. equipment losses

References

See also

External articles

Contents

War rationale GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Post 1991 Gulf War

Post 9-11

Criticisms of the Iraq war rationale

Combat and occupation summary

Prior to invasion

Invasion

Post-invasion, early and mid 2003

Late 2003

Early-mid 2004 – increased insurgent activity and Fallujah

Early-mid 2004 – the Shi'ite south

The new Iraqi government

Iraqi insurgency

Human rights abuses

Occupation forces

Insurgent forces

Iraqi government

Financial costs

U.S. equipment losses

References

See also

External articles

War rationale