Iraq ConflictIraq Conflict

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Iraq WarIraq War

The Iraq War is an ongoing conflict which began on March 20, The Iraq War is an ongoing conflict which began on March 20, 2003 with the United States-led invasion of Iraq by a 2003 with the United States-led invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition composed of U.S. and U.K. troops multinational coalition composed of U.S. and U.K. troops supported by smaller contingents from Australia, Poland, and supported by smaller contingents from Australia, Poland, and other nations. The main rationale for the invasion offered by other nations. The main rationale for the invasion offered by U.S. President George W. Bush and coalition supporters was U.S. President George W. Bush and coalition supporters was the allegation that Iraq possessed and was actively developing the allegation that Iraq possessed and was actively developing weapons of mass destruction in violation of a 1991 agreement.weapons of mass destruction in violation of a 1991 agreement.

U.S. officials argued that Iraq posed an imminent, urgent, and U.S. officials argued that Iraq posed an imminent, urgent, and immediate threat to the United States, its people, allies, and immediate threat to the United States, its people, allies, and interests. Some U.S. officials claimed Saddam Hussein and al-interests. Some U.S. officials claimed Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda had been cooperating, but no evidence of any Qaeda had been cooperating, but no evidence of any collaborative relationship has been found. Other reasons for collaborative relationship has been found. Other reasons for the invasion stated by officials included concerns over Iraq's the invasion stated by officials included concerns over Iraq's financial support for the families of Palestinian suicide financial support for the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, Iraqi government human rights abuses, spreading bombers, Iraqi government human rights abuses, spreading democracy, and Iraq's oil reserves. democracy, and Iraq's oil reserves.

The RCCThe RCC

The first act of the new regime was to establish the RCC The first act of the new regime was to establish the RCC (Revolutionary Command Council) which assumed supreme (Revolutionary Command Council) which assumed supreme authority. The RCC elected al-Bakr president of the republic, authority. The RCC elected al-Bakr president of the republic, and he invited al-Nayif to form a cabinet. and he invited al-Nayif to form a cabinet.

Al-Bakr was not interested in administrative details, and, as he Al-Bakr was not interested in administrative details, and, as he grew older and his health deteriorated, he began to depend grew older and his health deteriorated, he began to depend more heavily on Saddam to carry out the business of more heavily on Saddam to carry out the business of government. government.

Saddam Takes OverSaddam Takes Over• On July 16, 1979 On The Eve Of The Anniversary Of of the On July 16, 1979 On The Eve Of The Anniversary Of of the

revolution of 1968 officially announced his resignation. He was revolution of 1968 officially announced his resignation. He was immediately succeeded by Saddam Hussein. On July 28 it was immediately succeeded by Saddam Hussein. On July 28 it was announced that a plot to overthrow the government had been announced that a plot to overthrow the government had been uncovered. This announcement had been preceded, on July 12, uncovered. This announcement had been preceded, on July 12, by the arrest of Muhyi 'Abd al-Hussein al-Mashhadi, the by the arrest of Muhyi 'Abd al-Hussein al-Mashhadi, the secretary of the RCC. secretary of the RCC.

• Mashhadi made a public confession, stating that he and other Mashhadi made a public confession, stating that he and other Bath leaders, including four other members of the RCC, had Bath leaders, including four other members of the RCC, had conspired to overthrow the regime. The Syrian government was conspired to overthrow the regime. The Syrian government was alleged to have provided the funds for their activities. A special alleged to have provided the funds for their activities. A special court was set up, and 22 conspirators were executed; a number court was set up, and 22 conspirators were executed; a number of others were sentenced to prison terms. This development of others were sentenced to prison terms. This development put an end to plans for union with Syria. put an end to plans for union with Syria.

Current Conflicts in IraqCurrent Conflicts in Iraq

The U.S. Army has plans to keep the current level of soldiers in Iraq The U.S. Army has plans to keep the current level of soldiers in Iraq through 2010, the top Army officer said Wednesday, a later date through 2010, the top Army officer said Wednesday, a later date than Bush administration or Pentagon officials have mentioned thus than Bush administration or Pentagon officials have mentioned thus far.far.

The Army chief of staff, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, cautioned The Army chief of staff, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, cautioned against reading too much into the planning, saying troops levels against reading too much into the planning, saying troops levels could be adjusted to actual conditions in Iraq. He said it is easier to could be adjusted to actual conditions in Iraq. He said it is easier to hold back forces scheduled to go there than to prepare and deploy hold back forces scheduled to go there than to prepare and deploy units at the last minute.units at the last minute.

““This is not a prediction that things are going poorly or better,” This is not a prediction that things are going poorly or better,” Schoomaker told reporters. “It’s just that I have to have enough Schoomaker told reporters. “It’s just that I have to have enough ammo in the magazine that I can continue to shoot as long as they ammo in the magazine that I can continue to shoot as long as they want us to shoot.”want us to shoot.”