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War in Iraq

War in Iraq. Began in 2003; Saddam Hussein was the president of Iraq. The Background. 1980-88 War between Iran and Iraq. The U.S. secretly supported Iran with weapons sales (Iran-Contra Scandal!), and more openly supported Iraq. Iran was a theocracy, led by radical Ayatollah Khomeini

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War in Iraq

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

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

  3. Kurds • Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the Kurds, an ethnic minority in northern Iraq

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

  5. 1991-2003 • As part of the peace agreement, Saddam Hussein had to allow the United Nations to send in weapons inspectors, who were looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction. • Saddam Hussein tried to avoid these inspections regularly for 12 years

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

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

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

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

  10. Iraqi Government • Iraq had its first democratic elections in 2005 • The 2010 elections ended without a clear majority: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Allawi are from opposing parties. • It took 9 months after the February election for them to form a coalition government.

  11. Troop Withdrawal • US combat operations officially ended in August 2010 • A full withdrawal took place in December 2011. About 200 U.S. military personnel will stay in Baghdad as members of the U.S. diplomatic mission. • 4,486 US troops died in Iraq since 2003

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

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