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The Iraq War, sometimes called the Second Gulf War, began in 2003 with the United States-led invasion of Iraq and overthrow of the Ba'athist regime led by Saddam Hussein. The war touched off an ongoing insurgency, now frequently referred to as a civil war between Iraq's Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims.
On June 30, 2009, Iraq declared National Sovereignty Day and planned celebrations as U.S. combat troops began withdrawing from the country. All U.S. combat operations are set to end by September of 2010 and all troops are expected to have left Iraq by the end of 2011.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8125547.stm
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Fast Facts
- Start: March 19, 2003
- Sometimes called Second Gulf War
- The government of Iraq collapsed soon after the invasion of Iraq
- Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured in December 14, 2003
- Hussein was executed on December 30, 2006 by the new Iraqi government after found guilty of crimes against humanity
- More than 31,000 US soldiers wounded as of February 2009Fox News: Obama to Announce Iraq Withdrawals to be Completed in 19 Months (February 24, 2009)
- More than 4,200 US soldiers dead as of February 2009Los Angeles Times: Fighting in Iraq kills 3 U.S. troops, interpreter (February 24, 2009)
- 142,000 U.S. troops were in Iraq as of February 2009Fox News: Obama to Announce Iraq Withdrawals to be Completed in 19 Months (February 24, 2009)
- Cost: More than $650 billion (February 2009)Fox News: Obama to Announce Iraq Withdrawals to be Completed in 19 Months (February 24, 2009)
- On January 1, 2009, the Green Zone, a 4-square mile area occupied by U.S. coalition forces, was handed over to the control of IraqFox News: Obama to Announce Iraq Withdrawals to be Completed in 19 Months (February 24, 2009)
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Timeline
- March 19, 2003: War beginsBBC News: Timeline - Iraq after Saddam
- May 1, 2003: President George W. Bush declares "Mission Accomplished"
- December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein is capturedBBC News: Timeline - Iraq after Saddam
- June 6, 2006: Al-Qaeda leader and key resistance figure Abu Musab al-Zarqaui, is killedBBC News: Timeline - Iraq after Saddam
- December 31, 2006: Saddam Hussein hangedBBC News: Timeline - Iraq after Saddam
- January 2007: President George W. Bush announced plans for a 20,000 soldier troop surgeBBC News: Timeline - Iraq after Saddam
- January 1, 2009: U.S. officially gives Iraq control of Green ZoneLos Angeles Times: Iraqi Troops Take Control of Green Zone (January 1, 2009)
- January 5, 2009: US opens new embassy in Iraq, in hopes of normalizing relationsReuters: US opens new Iraq embassy, moves to normalise ties (January 5, 2009)
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Causes
A few months after the Al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush gave a landmark State of the Union address introducing the so-called "Bush Doctrine" of pre-emptive war, and referring to an "Axis of Evil" of countries presenting an immediate threat to the United States. These countries were Iraq, Iran and North Korea.The Bush Administration's justification for the actual invasion of Iraq concerned the threat of Hussein-controlled "Weapons of Mass Destruction" which could be given or sold to terrorist groups wishing to use them against the United States.
Other justifications included turning Iraq into a friendly ally from which other Middle Eastern invasions could be mounted to freeing the Iraqi people from the oppressive of the Ba'athist regime. Some have even suggested that the mission was personal for President George W. Bush, who wanted to finish the job his father, George H. W. Bush, had started during the First Gulf War in 1991.
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2003 Invasion
Operation Iraqi Freedom kicked off early on the morning of March 19, 2003, led by U.S. General Tommy Franks and including other members of a multi-national force. Baghdad fell soon after, on April 9, and the entire invasion was over by April 30. -
Insurgency
Immediately after the invasion, a Coalition Provisional Authority was established in Baghdad, housed within a safe area known as the "Green Zone" and with Paul Bremer placed in charge. Outside the Green Zone, chaos and civil disorder raged, including the looting of several historical buildings and museums throughout Baghdad.Despite an appearance by President Bush on the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln on May 1, 2003, effectively announcing the end of combat operations in Iraq, violence throughout Iraq and attacks on U.S. troops continued unabated. On July 2, 2003, when asked about attacks on soldiers and the continuation of the insurgency, Bush controversially responded: "Bring it on."
It had been hoped that the capture and arrest of Saddam Hussein, found in a hole in the ground on a farm near Tikrit on December 13, 2003, would help to bring the violence to a close, but in fact the situation grew more dire, particularly in the city of Fallujah and an area of Baghdad known as "Sadr City" named after the father of popular, radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-04-09-sadr_N.htm All eyes on al-Sadr as Iraq violence swells]
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Prisoner Abuse Scandal
In April of 2004, photos taken at the Abu Ghraib Prison showing Iraqi detainees being tormented and abused by guards, were shown by 60 Minutes and in the New Yorker Magazine. -
Civil War and Troop Surge
The current Iraqi government, led by President Nouri al-Maliki, was elected in December of 2005 and took office on May 20, 2006. Around this time, a controversial study estimated that the war had thus far taken the lives of 601,000 Iraqis. The insurgency, by many accounts, had morphed into a full-on civil war between Iraq's Sunni and Shiite communities, with U.S. forces trapped in the middle. Calls in the United States for the end of an American presence in Iraq increased.This led the Bush administration to pursue a new strategy in Iraq known as "The Surge", increasing the number of soldiers on the ground in an attempt to finally secure the city of Baghdad and allow for some level of stability in Iraqi life and government. The Surge was led by the head of the multinational Iraq force, General David Petraeus. It succeeded in cutting down on the level of violence, particularly in Baghdad, but the long-term effects of the strategy are not entirely clear, and it did not help to bring about a significant political or diplomatic change in the Iraqi government.
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January 2009 Suicide Bomber
On Friday, January 2, 2009, a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a public gathering in Iraq, killing at least 23. The bombing occurred in the town of Yusifya, 12 miles south of Baghdad. The gathering was held at a hall, and was a reconciliation lunch held by a tribal sheik. The bomber was allegedly a relative of the sheik, which allowed him ease of entry to the hall, where he detonated the explosives strapped around his waist.washingpost.com: Suicide Bomber Shatters Relative Calm in Iraq (January 2, 2009) -
The Withdrawal
The formal beginnings of an eventual step down and troop withdrawal began January 1, 2009, when the United States handed over control of the Green Zone to the Iraqi government. Also, on January 5, The US officially moved its base of operations from former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's old palace to a new embassy in order to help normalize relations between the two countries.Reuters: US opens new Iraq embassy, moves to normalise ties (January 5, 2009)Los Angeles Times: Iraqi Troops Take Control of Green Zone (January 1, 2009)On February 27, 2009, President Obama outlined the withdrawal schedule of U.S. forces in Iraq. The President intends to withdraw most combat troops by the end of August 2010, removing all U.S. forces by year end 2011. The remaining 35,000-50,000 troops, after the first wave of withdrawal, will take advisory roles in Iraq. The plan is being supported by John McCain, who stated that he's "cautiously optimistic" that the plan will succeed. Speaker Pelosi voiced concern that the number of troops in Iraq after the first withdrawal is too high.CNN.com: Obama: U.S. to withdraw most... (February 27, 2009)
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US Soldiers Leave Iraq's cities
Iraq formally assumes control of security across the country, as US troops withdraw from towns and cities.news.bbc.co.uk -
Iraqis cheer -- and fear -- U.S. pullout from cities
Tuesday marked the deadline for American troops to pull out of Iraq's towns and cities -- a long-anticipated date that has been met by street festivals in Baghdad.edition.cnn.com -
Wikipedia: Iraq War and 2003 invasion of Iraq
en.wikipedia.org -
WhiteHouse.gov: The Agenda: Iraq
whitehouse.gov -
Iraq War Coalition Fatalities
obleek.com -
VAIW: Veterans Against The Iraq War
vaiw.org -
Bloomberg.com: Obama Says Iraqis Must Take Control as U.S. Withdraws
bloomberg.com (February 27, 2009)
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US Soldiers Leave Iraq's cities
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Iraq War News
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Americans Favour Troop Withdrawal from Iraq
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A large majority of people in the United States agree with the recent withdrawal of thousands of American troops from Iraq, ...Angus Reid Global Monitor (July 09, 2009) -
Link Between Iraq Violence, Troop Withdrawals Considered
By Greg Jaffe A recent spike in violence in Iraq is prompting senior defense officials to ask whether the gradual withdrawal of US troops from Iraqi cities ...Washington Post (July 04, 2009) -
Obama Quietly Marks Troop Withdrawal in Iraq
As Mr. Obama spoke, his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, was asked if the president was intentionally playing down the troop withdrawal. ...New York Times (June 30, 2009) -
Bombs Kill 12 in Mosul
The US military had said troops would stay in Mosul until security improves, but days before the withdrawal, Gen. Ray Odierno, the top US commander in Iraq, ...Washington Post (July 08, 2009)
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Iraq War on Twitter Powered by Twitter
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The Hurt Locker: Finally, a picture about the Iraq war with depth and feeling. http://tinyurl.com/nz83xd
@cbcarts | July 09, 2009 05:52 PM -
RT @JasonLeopold Please give this a digg: More Than $600 Billion And Counting: Iraq War Lies Revisited: http://digg.com/d1wBwB #dnj
@Mercypolitics | July 09, 2009 05:41 PM -
Enlightening article about the war in Iraq, Rules of Engagement, and possible war crimes. http://bit.ly/4aWpOQ Worth buying a New Yorker.
@auwebmanager | July 09, 2009 05:31 PM -
John nichols just said it's the media's fault we went to war in iraq, not bush and cheney's #Cpnc
@fauberrs | July 09, 2009 05:22 PM
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Iraq War Background | Add a Link
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Wikipedia: History of Iraqi insurgency
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The New York Times: Iraq, Afghanistan & the Reach of War
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University of Michigan Library: Documents Center: Iraq War Debate 2002 - 2007
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Salon.com: The Iraq insurgency for beginners
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The Nation: Iraq War articles
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CNN Specials: War in Iraq
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CNN: Iraq insurgency 101
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PBS Frontline: The Insurgency
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Wikipedia: History of Iraqi insurgency
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Questions and Answers About Iraq War | View All | Ask a Question
View All Iraq War Questions (375) | Ask a QuestionIraq conflict or Iraq war? What is the difference? (1 Answer)Assuming this is an American related question. I'm not an expert, but I recall that only the US Congress can declare War. This hasn't happened since WWII, therefore the current ... read moreIs Amercia starting to pull troops from Iraq? (1 Answer)The withdrawal, starting on June 30 is the beginning of a full American pullout by the end of 2011. read moreDo you think violence will continue in Iraq after American troops withdrawal? (3 Answers)Yes, violence in IRAQ will continue long after U.S. troops are out of there. It is a violent, rather primitive civilization with many warring factions. You would think that they ... read moreU.S. Troops are being withdrawn from Iraq's cities...? Really? How is this not news...? (2 Answers)It started on June 30th (yesterday) so... read more
Ask a Question about Iraq War 140 characters
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Iraq War 2008 News | Add a Link
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PBS: Europe To Host Up to 10,000 Iraqi Refugees
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BBC News: Iraq War 'Violated Rule of Law'
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BBC News: Bush Confident of Iraq Troop Deal
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The Washington Post: Most Members of Iraq Coalition Preparing...
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AFP: Iraq to Reject US Deal Without Pullout Timetable
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AlterNet: Iraqi Soldier Who Killed U.S. Troops is a Hero in Iraq
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CNN: McCain Predicts Iraq War over by 2013
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BBC News: Cheney vows to finish job in Iraq
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The New York Times: Top U.S. Commander in Mideast to Retire Early
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PBS: Europe To Host Up to 10,000 Iraqi Refugees
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Iraq War on Amazon | View All
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Ambush Alley: The Most Extraordinary Battle of the Iraq War - $7.99
March 23, 2003: U.S. Marines from the Task Force Tarawa are caught up in one of the most unexpected battles of the Iraq War. What started off as a routine maneuver to secure two key bridges in the town of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq degenera...
Amazon -
War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars - $27.00
When should the United States go to war?<P>It is arguably the most important foreign policy question facing any president, and Richard Haass -- a member of the National Security Council staff for th...
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The Iraq War (History Channel) - $29.95
THE HISTORY CHANNEL examines the key military and political decisions that have determined the course of the Iraq war, from President Bush s Axis of Evil declaration through negotiation, invasion, Mission Accomplished, and beyond. Experts a...
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Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers - $14.95
Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers is the story of what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war. Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed, and Uncovered) takes you inside the l...
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Uncovered - The Whole Truth About the Iraq War - $9.95
Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 03/30/2004 Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon
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Iraq War News Archives | Add a Link
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Reuters: McCain backs Obama Iraq pullout plan
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Newsday: Iraq museum, ransacked in 2003, is reopened
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Reuters: US opens new Iraq embassy, moves to normalise ties
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The New York Times: Heart of U.S. Occupation Reverts to Iraqi Control
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Los Angeles Times: Iraqi Troops Take Control of Green Zone
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Sky News: Green Zone Control Handed to Iraq
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ABC News: Obama: 'By Aug. 31, 2010, Combat Mission in Iraq Will End'
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The Los Angeles Times: Fighting in Iraq kills 3 U.S. troops, interpreter
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The Guardian: Jack Straw vetoes publication of cabinet Iraq war minutes
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TIME: Opening Day for America's Enormous New Embassy in Iraq
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Washington Post: Peacemaking Event Is Attacked in Iraq
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Reuters: McCain backs Obama Iraq pullout plan
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Iraq War 2007 News | Add a Link
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WashingtonPost.com: "All Iraqi Groups Blame U.S. Invasion for Discord..."
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The New York Times: Effort to Shift Course in Iraq Fails in Senate
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The New York Times: Op-Ed: "The War as We Saw It"
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Bloomberg.com: Romney, Giuliani Change Their Tone on Bush's Iraq Troop Buildup
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International Herald Tribune: Film Review: ''No End in Sight''
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Slate: A guide to the Iraq surge
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Huffington Post: Bush Signs $555 Billion Spending Bill
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MSNBC.com: House approves $70 billion for wars
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FOXNews.com: House to Bring UP $50 Billion War Funding Bill Containing Troop... (Nov. 14, 2007)
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Reuters: US "partition" resolution leaves Iraqis confused
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The New York Times: U.S. Needs 'Long-Term Presence' in Iraq, Gates Says
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BBC News: US claims fall in Baghdad attacks (Sept 20, 2007)
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ABC News: Two War Critic Soldiers Killed in Iraq
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Los Angeles Times: "Reports add fuel to Iraq debate" (Septemeber 2, 2007)
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Times Online: "UN accepts UK's request to expand role in Iraq" (Aug 10, 2007)
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Los Angeles Times: "House OKs longshot troop-rest bill"
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CBS News: Is The Surge Working?
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WashingtonPost.com: "All Iraqi Groups Blame U.S. Invasion for Discord..."
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Iraq War 2006 News
- NPR: Bipartisan Study Group Releases Its Plan for Iraq (December, 2006)
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Iraq War Casualty Counts and Statistics | Add a Link
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Iraq War Scandals and Controversies | Add a Link
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The New Republic: A Statement from Scott Thomas Beauchamp
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Reuters: Baghdad Wall Sparks Confusion, Divisions in Iraq
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New York Times: Bush Widens Iraq Criticism Over Handling of Executions
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CNN: Iraq insurgency in "last throes," Cheney says (2005)
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WashingtonPost.com: Bush Challenged on Iraq
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Macleans.ca: "How George Bush became the new Saddam"
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Wikipedia: Scott Thomas Beauchamp
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Michelle Malkin: The Scott Thomas Beauchamp saga continues
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Harper's Magazine: The revision thing: A history of the Iraq war, told entirely in lies (2003)
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Guardian Unlimited: McCain derides Rumsfeld's Iraq "mismanagement"
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MSNBC: Cheney: WMD or not, Iraq invasion was correct (2006)
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CBS News: "Mission Accomplished" Whodunit (2003)
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The New Republic: A Statement from Scott Thomas Beauchamp
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Iraq War Blogs and Message Boards | Add a Link
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AntiWar.com: It's Occupation, Not War
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Daily Kos: Tag: Iraq
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AlterNet: War on Iraq coverage
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Riehl World View: News from Iraq
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Google Blog Search: Iraq War
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Blog Post: Iraq is a Quandry in More Ways Than One
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The Lede: Oh, By the Way, There Was No Al Qaeda Link
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New York Times Op-ed: The $2 Trillion Nightmare (March 4,2008)
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AlterNet: A Culture of Atrocity: U.S. Troops Feel the Effect of Prolonged Combat
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WashingtonPost.com: Why I Declined To Serve
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Michelle Malkin: A 'Citizens Report on Iraq'
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Think Progress: A Timeline of the Iraq War
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Flopping Aces: Jamil Hussein Story Archives
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AntiWar.com: It's Occupation, Not War
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Iraq War Central Figures
- George W. Bush
- WhiteHouse.gov: President's Address to the Nation
- Ahmad Chalabi
- Muqtada al-Sadr
- FoxNews.com: Anti-American Cleric Reportedly Flees Iraq for Iran
- Donald Rumsfeld
- MSNBC.com: Rumsfeld says Iraq hostility has been a surprise (2004)
- Saddam Hussein
- CNN: Hussein executed with "fear in his face" (2006)
- George W. Bush
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The Pro-Iraq War Movement | Add a Link
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WashingtonPost.com: Hawks Bolster Skeptical President
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Washington Times: Criticism of Iraq policy seen hurting U.S. troop morale
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Reuters AlertNet: Cheney dismisses Iraq criticism as "hogwash"
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OpinionJournal: "Eyes on the Prize" by Peggy Noonan (2003)
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Protest Warrior Blog
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Reuters: Gates urges Iraq to pass key laws by late summer
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WashingtonPost.com: Hawks Bolster Skeptical President



