U.S. Involvement in

Iraq

Operation Desert StormOperation Desert Storm

August 1990 Iraq invades KuwaitAugust 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait Gave Jan. 15, 1991 deadline to Gave Jan. 15, 1991 deadline to

withdrewwithdrew U.S, Britain, France, & other Arab U.S, Britain, France, & other Arab

countries invade Feb 23countries invade Feb 23 Iraq retreatsIraq retreats 148 Americans killed148 Americans killed *Bush Sr. criticized for not going *Bush Sr. criticized for not going

after Saddamafter Saddam

Operation Iraq Freedom

•Second Gulf War

•Began March 20, 2003

•Led by G.W.Bush (U.S) & Prime Minister Tony Blair (Great Britain)

Suspicions:

• Thought had weapons of Mass Destruction

• In 2002, allowed U.N. inspection and nothing found

• May have stopped in 1991 after 1st Gulf War

• Funding Al-Qaeda? (Not proven)

• Funding Palestinian suicide bombers

The Kurds

• Between 1986-1989 Saddam’s regime targeted the Kurds

• Al-Anfal Campaign: Recognized as the Kurdish genocide targeted Kurds in northern Iraq (Deaths unknown ~182,000 to 1.2-2.1 million)

• Halabja Gas Attack: March 16, 1988 at end of Iran-Iraq War (~5,000 killed; many more injured)

The Strategy• Oust Saddam

• Set up model government for Middle East

• Rid of WMD’s

• Get info. on possible terrorists & rid of any

• Secure the country’s oil business

• *Not U.N. backed

Results:

• Baghdad feel on April 9th (Saddam ruled 24 years)

• April 15th invasion declared over (????)

• December 13, 2003 Saddam captured

• Hung December 30, 2006

Stats:

• http://costofwar.com/en/

•~4,500 KIA

•~32,051 wounded

• 30% PTSD

•~47,000 troops there today

Terms

• IED: Improvised Explosive Device

• Sandbox/Sandpit: Iraq

•OIF: Operation Iraqi Freedom