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{{otheruses4|the war that began in 3000BC|other uses|Iraq war (disambiguation)}}
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{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Iraq War
|partof=
|image= [[Image:Iraq header 2.jpg|300px]]
|caption= Clockwise, starting at top left: a joint patrol in [[Samarra]]; the toppling of the Saddam Hussein statue in [[Firdos Square]]; an [[Iraqi Army]] soldier readies his rifle during an assault; an [[Improvised explosive device|IED]] detonates in South [[Baghdad]].
|date= March 20, 2003 – present
|place= [[Iraq]]
|casus= War justifications:
*[[Rationale for the Iraq invasion and occupation]]
*[[Governments' positions pre-2003 invasion of Iraq|Governments' pre-war positions]]
*[[War on Terrorism]]
|status= Conflict ongoing
*Occupation of Iraq
*Overthrow of [[Baath Party]] government and [[execution of Saddam Hussein]].
*[[Al-Qaeda]] operations in Iraq.<ref>{{cite press release|title=DoD News Briefing with Secretary Gates and Gen. Pace from Pentagon|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|date=[[2007-02-02]]|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3879|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref>
*[[Iraqi insurgency]] and outbreak of [[civil war in Iraq|civil war]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sectarian divisions change Baghdad’s image |publisher=MSNBC |date=[[2006-07-03]] |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13684759/ |accessdate=2007-02-18}}</ref>
*[[Iraqi legislative election, December 2005|Legislative elections]] held in Iraq
|combatant1={{flag|Iraq|1991}} (under Saddam Hussein)<br />[[Image:Flag of the Ba'ath Party.svg|22px|border]] [[Baath Party|Baath Party Loyalists]]<br />
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– [[Mahdi Army]]<br />
{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq.svg}} [[al-Qaeda in Iraq]]<br /><!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:IAILogo.gif|25px]] -->[[Islamic Army of Iraq]]<br />– [[Iraqi insurgency|Other Insurgent groups]]
<br />
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{{flagicon image|PKK.svg}} [[Kurdistan Workers Party]]
|combatant2 = {{flag|Iraq}} (post-Saddam Hussein) <br /> {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Peshmerga]]<br/> {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]<br /> {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]<br /> [[Image:MultinationalForce-IraqDUI.svg|22px]] [[Multinational force in Iraq|Other Coalition forces]]<br/> {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Awakening movements in Iraq|Awakening Councils]]
----
{{flag|Turkey}}
|commander1 = {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} [[Saddam Hussein]]{{POW}}[[Execution of Saddam Hussein|{{unicode|☠}}]]<Br />
{{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} [[Qusay Hussein]] [[Killed in action|{{unicode|☠}}]]<br /> {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} [[Uday Hussein]][[Killed in action|{{unicode|☠}}]]
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– [[Muqtada al-Sadr]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Ba'ath Party.svg}} [[Izzat Ibrahim ad-Douri]]<br /> <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:IAILogo.gif|22px|border]] -->[[Ishmael Jubouri]]<br />[[Image:Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq.svg|22px|border]] [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]{{KIA|alt=yes}}<Br /> [[Image:Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq.svg|22px|border]] [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]]
----
{{flagicon image|PKK.svg}} [[Murat Karayilan]]
|commander2 ={{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Jalal Talabani]] <br /> {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Nouri al-Maliki]]<br />{{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Massoud Barzani]]<br />{{flagicon|United States}} [[George W. Bush]]<br /> {{flagicon|United States}} [[Martin Dempsey]]<br />{{flagicon|United States}} [[Ray Odierno]]<br />{{flagicon|Australia}} [[John Howard]]<br />{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Kevin Rudd]]<br />{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Tony Blair]] <br />{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Gordon Brown]]<br /> {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Andy Salmon]] <br />{{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Abdul Sattar Abu Risha]]{{KIA|alt=yes}}<br />
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{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Abdullah Gul]] <br /> {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Tayyip Erdogan]] <br /> {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Yaşar Büyükanıt]]
|strength1 =Post-Baathist government, multi-sided conflict:<br /> '''[[Iraqi insurgency#Sunni Islamists|Sunni Insurgents]]'''<br />~70,000<ref name=brookings>The Brookings Institution [http://www3.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf Iraq Index: Tracking Variables of Reconstruction & Security in Post-Saddam Iraq] October 1, 2007</ref><br />'''[[Mahdi Army]]'''<br />~60,000<ref>{{cite news|last=Ricks|first=Thomas E.|coauthors=Ann Scott Tyson|title=Intensified Combat on Streets Likely|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011002581_pf.html|publisher=Washington Post|date=[[2007-01-11]]|pages=A01}}</ref> <br />'''[[al Qaeda]]/others'''<br />1,300+<ref>Pincus, Walter. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/16/AR2006111601509.html "Violence in Iraq Called Increasingly Complex"]. ''[[Washington Post]],'' November 17, 2006.</ref>
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PKK: ~4,000<ref>{{cite news|title=Toll rises in Turkey-PKK conflict|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=[[2008-02-25]]|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3E14DD15-F2D1-4C65-8148-5200DFB3E975.htm}}</ref>
|strength2='''[[Iraqi Security Forces]]'''<br />631,000 <small>([[New Iraqi Army|Army]]: 254,000, [[Iraqi Police|Police]]: 227,000, [[Facilities Protection Service|FPS]]: 150,000)</small><br />'''[[Multinational Force Iraq|Coalition Forces]]'''<br />~300,000 invasion<br />~152,000 current<br />'''[[Peshmerga]]'''<br />50,000 invasion<br />270,000 current<br />
'''[[Private military company|Contractors]]'''<sup>*</sup><br />~182,000 (118,000 Iraqi, 43,000 Other, 21,000 US)<ref name=LATcontractors> [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-na-private4jul04,0,5419234,full.story "Private contractors outnumber U.S. troops in Iraq"]. By T. Christian Miller. ''[[Los Angeles Times]].'' July 4, 2007.</ref><ref name=contractorsguardian> {{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Michelle|title=Contractor deaths add up in Iraq|publisher=Associated Press|date=[[2007-02-24]]|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660198347,00.html }}</ref> <br />'''[[Awakening movements in Iraq|Awakening militias]]'''<br />65,000-80,000<ref>{{cite news|title=A Dark Side to Iraq 'Awakening' Groups|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=[[2008-01-04]]|url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,159357,00.html}}</ref>
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'''[[Turkish Armed Forces]]''': ~3,000-10,000<ref name="Bendern">{{cite news |first=Paul de |last=Bendern |title=Turkey launches major land offensive into N.Iraq | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUKL22614485._CH_.242020080222 |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-02-22 |accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>
|casualties1='''Iraqi combatant dead''' (invasion period): 6,370-10,800<ref> [http://www.comw.org/pda/0310rm8.html "The Wages of War: Iraqi Combatant and Noncombatant Fatalities in the 2003 Conflict"]. Project on Defense Alternatives Research Monograph #8. Carl Conetta. October 20, 2003.</ref><ref> [http://www.commondreams.org/news2003/1028-01.htm "New Study Finds: 11,000 to 15,000 Killed in Iraq War; 30% are Non-combatants"]. Project on Defense Alternatives. Press release October 20, 2003.</ref>
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'''Insurgents dead''' (post-Saddam): 18,136-23,837 per [[List of insurgents killed in Iraq|these reports]].<br/>19,429 per U.S. military (September 22, 2007)<ref name=insurgents> [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-09-26-insurgents_N.htm "19,000 insurgents killed in Iraq since '03"]. By Jim Michaels. 26 Sept. 2007. ''[[USA Today]].''</ref>


'''[[Detainee]]s:''' 18,900 (U.S.-held)<ref name="yahoo1">{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080915/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=Ap4glQFc7GGeKo1v2piLjIJvaA8F |title=US military: Bombs kill at least 35, Iraqis say - Yahoo! News<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref><br />24,200 (Iraqi-held)<ref name="yahoo1">{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080830/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_1 |title=US military: More than 11,000 Iraqis freed in 2008 - Yahoo! News<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080830/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestusdetainees_080830064642 |title=US says 11,000 Iraq detainees freed this year - Yahoo! News<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>


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[[Turkish operations in northern Iraq (2007–2008)|PKK]]: 537 killed (Turkish claim)<br />9 killed (PKK claim)
|casualties2='''[[List of Iraqi security forces fatality reports in Iraq|Iraqi Security Forces]]''' (post-Saddam): 10,504 police/military killed


sincerely,
'''Coalition dead''' (4,201 US,<ref>[http://icasualties.org/oif/0BY_DOD.aspx ''Iraq Coalition Casualty Count'': U.S. Casualties - DoD Confirmations]</ref> 176 UK, 138 other): 4,515<ref>[http://icasualties.org/oif/DeathsByCountry.aspx ''Iraq Coalition Casualty Count'': Coalition Deaths by Country]</ref><ref name=mil>Many official U.S. tables at [http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/castop.htm "Military Casualty Information"]. See [http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/OIF-Total.pdf latest totals for injury, disease/other medical]. See also: [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf Latest fatality and wounded-in-action totals].</ref>


Lotz of Mudkipz
'''Coalition missing or captured''' (US): 1<ref name=mil/>


p.s. we herd u liek
'''Coalition [[Wounded in action|wounded]]:''' 30,794 US, ~400 UK<ref name=mil/><ref name=antiwarcasualties> [http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/ "Casualties in Iraq"].</ref><ref name=ukcasualties> [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInIraqBritishCasualties.htm "Defence Internet Fact Sheets Operations in Iraq: British Casualties"]. UK Ministry of Defense. [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/DoctrineOperationsandDiplomacyPublications/OperationsInIraq/OpTelicCasualtyAndFatalityTables.htm Latest combined casualty and fatality tables].</ref>

'''Coalition injured, diseased, or other medical:'''**28,645 US, 1,155 UK.<ref name=mil/><ref name=icasualties> iCasualties.org (was lunaville.org). Benicia, California. Patricia Kneisler, ''et al.'', [http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx "Iraq Coalition Casualties"].</ref><ref name=ukcasualties/>

'''Contractors dead''' (US 249): 1,193<ref name=contractors7> [http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0318650320070703?sp=true "In outsourced U.S. wars, contractor deaths top 1,000"]. By Bernd Debusmann. ''[[Reuters]].'' July 3, 2007. 10,569 wounded and 933 deaths in Iraq. 224 are U.S. citizens.</ref><ref name=contractors1> [http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/04/reconstruction_.html "Reconstruction report: 916 death claims for civilian contractors in Iraq"]. ''[[USA Today]]'' April 30, 2007.</ref><ref> [http://icasualties.org/oif/Civ.aspx "Iraq Coalition Casualties: Contractor Deaths - A Partial List"]. icasualties.org</ref>

'''Contractors [[Foreign hostages in Iraq|missing or captured]]''' (US 4): 18

'''Contractors wounded & injured''': 10,569<ref name=contractors7/>

'''Awakening Councils''':<br/>650+ killed

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[[Turkish operations in northern Iraq (2007–2008)|Turkish Armed Forces]]:<br/>27 killed<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1017/p06s02-woeu.html |title=Turkey's Army loses luster over PKK attack &#124; csmonitor.com |publisher=Csmonitor.com |author=Yigal Schleifer | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref>
|casualties3='''All Iraqi violent deaths, [[ORB survey of Iraq War casualties|Opinion Research Business]] – '''August 2007: '''1,033,000''' (946,000-1,120,000) (gunshots 48%, car bombs 20%, aerial bombing 9%, accidents 6%, other blast/ordnance 6%)<ref name=orbupdate />

'''***Total deaths (all excess deaths), [[Lancet surveys of Iraq War casualties|(''Lancet'')]]''' – June 2006: '''654,965''' (392,979-942,636) 601,027 violent deaths (31% Coalition, 24% Others, 46% unknown)<ref name="Second Lancet Study" /><ref name="Lancet supplement" />

'''All Iraqi violent deaths, [[Iraqi Health Ministry casualty survey]]''' for the '''[[World Health Organization]] – '''June 2006: '''151,000''' (104,000-223,000)<ref name=nejm358/><ref name=WHOifhs/><ref name=bbcNewStudy/><ref name=guardianNewStudy/>
|notes= '''*'''[[Private military company|Contractors]] (U.S. government) perform "highly dangerous duties almost identical to those performed by many U.S. troops."<ref name=contractorsguardian /><br/>'''**''' "injured, diseased, or other medical" - required medical air transport. UK number includes wounded ("aeromed evacuations")<ref name=mil/><ref name=icasualties/><ref name=ukcasualties/><br/>***'''Total deaths''' include all additional deaths due to increased lawlessness, degraded infrastructure, poorer healthcare, etc.<br/> For more see: [[Casualties of the Iraq War]]
}}
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The '''Iraq War''', also known as the '''George bushes war''', the '''Massive rape of Iraqis''',<ref>{{cite book|last=Allawi |first=Ali |title=The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ptqgNq8xnOAC&printsec=frontcover&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html |accessyear=2008 |accessmonth=September |edition=1 |year=2007 |month=April |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven, CT |language=English |isbn=0300110154 |pages=544}}</ref> or the '''War in Iraq''', is an [[ongoing conflicts|ongoing]] [[military campaign]] which began on March 20, 2003 with the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 invasion]] of [[Iraq]] by a [[Multinational force in Iraq|multinational force]] composed largely of [[United States]] and [[United Kingdom]] troops supported by smaller contingents from [[Australia]], [[Denmark]], [[Poland]] and other nations. All of the Arab states and a number of members of the [[NATO]] alliance did not publicly support the invasion, while some Eastern European states were willing to offer their public support.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm|title=US Names Coalition of the Willing|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>

Prior to the war, Iraq's alleged possession of [[Weapon of mass destruction for example the fart bomb which might have destroyed the nose senses of over 100,000 people |weapons of mass destruction]] (WMD) was claimed to pose a serious and imminent threat to the security of the United States and its coalition allies.<ref>Center for American Progress (January 29, 2004) [http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/kfiles/b24970.html "In Their Own Words: Iraq's 'Imminent' Threat"] ''americanprogress.org''</ref><ref name=nelson /> This assessment was supported by the U.K. intelligence services, but not by other countries such as France, Russia and Germany.<ref>{{cite news|title=Britain Releases Pre-Iraq War Dossier Used by Tony Blair|publisher=Associated Press via Foxnews.com|date=[[2008-02-18]]|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331092,00.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bernstein|first=Richard|coauthors=Michael R. Gordon|title=German help on Iraq lasted months|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=[[2006-03-02]]|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/02/news/germany.php }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dougherty|first=Jill|title=Russia 'warned U.S. about Saddam'|publisher=CNN|date=[[2004-06-18]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/06/18/russia.warning/ }}</ref> United Nations [[United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission|weapons inspectors]] found no evidence of WMD, giving support to earlier criticism of poor intelligence on Iraqi WMDs.<ref name=blix /> After the invasion, the U.S.-led [[Iraq Survey Group]] concluded that Iraq had ended its WMD programs in 1991 and had no active programs at the time of the invasion, but that they intended to resume production if the [[Iraq sanctions]] were lifted.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/report/2004/isg-final-report/isg-final-report_vol1_rsi-06.htm|title = Iraq Survey Group Final Report: Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)}}</ref> Although some degraded remnants of misplaced or abandoned chemical weapons from before 1991 were found, they were not the weapons for which the coalition invaded.<ref>Shrader, K. (June 22, 2006) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201475.html "New Intel Report Reignites Iraq Arms Fight"] ''Associated Press''</ref> The failure to find WMD in Iraq caused controversy, particularly in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bush takes responsibility for invasion intelligence|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/14/bush.iraq/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=2005-12-14}}</ref> Some U.S. officials also accused [[Saddam Hussein]] of harboring and supporting [[Al-Qaeda]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/033jgqyi.asp|title=The Weekly Standard, Saddam's al Qaeda Connection}}</ref> but no evidence of any collaborative relationship was found.<ref>Woods, K.M. and Lacey, J. (2008) [http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/Saddam%20and%20Terrorism%20Redaction%20EXSUM%20Extract.pdf "Saddam and Terrorism: Emerging Insights from Captured Iraqi Documents," vol. 1] ''Institute for Defense Analyses'' IDA Paper P-4287, pp. ES-1</ref><ref>Kerr, R.J., ''et al.'' (29 July 2004) [http://irrationallyinformed.com/pdfcollection/20040729_Kerr_Report.pdf "Intelligence and Analysis on Iraq: Issues for the Intelligence Community,"] MORI Doc. ID 1245667 (Langley, VA: Central Intelligence Agency)</ref> Other [[Rationale for the Iraq War|reasons for the invasion]] stated by U.S. officials included Iraq's alleged financial support for the families of [[Palestine|Palestinian]] [[suicide bomber]]s,<ref>CNN (September 12, 2002) [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/09/12/iraq.report/ "White House spells out case against Iraq"], "the White House released a report early Thursday, listing some of the principal accusations against Iraq and its leader.... Iraq is also accused of sheltering two Palestinian terrorist organizations, and it lists Saddam's decision in 2002 to increase from $10,000 to $25,000 the bounty paid to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers."</ref> Iraqi government [[human rights]] abuses,<ref>Wolfowitz, P. (May 30, 2003)</ref> spreading [[democracy]],<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030226-11.html "President Discusses the Future of Iraq"] The White House, February 26, 2003</ref> and Iraq's [[oil reserves]],<ref>Wright, G. (June 4, 2003) [http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/aboutoil.htm "Wolfowitz: Iraq war was about oil,"] ''Guardian Unlimited'' (London: Guardian Newspapers Limited); this article [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jun/07/iraq.comment was retracted], stating "Paul Wolfowitz [actually] said, 'The...difference between North Korea and Iraq is that we had virtually no economic options with Iraq because the country floats on a sea of oil. In the case of North Korea, the country is teetering on the edge of economic collapse and that I believe is a major point of leverage whereas the military picture with North Korea is very different from that with Iraq.'"</ref><ref>Morgan, D. and Ottaway, D.B. (September 15, 2002) [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0915-03.htm "In Iraqi War Scenario, Oil Is Key Issue"] ''Washington Post''</ref><ref>Shih, G. and Montes, S. (October 15, 2007) [http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2007/10/15/roundtableDebatesEnergyIssues "Roundtable debates energy issues"] ''Stanford Daily''</ref><ref name=observer /> although that was denied by other officials.<ref>[http://mwcnews.net/content/view/16794/51/ Gates denies Iraq war about oil]</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22021182-661,00.html PM denies Iraq oil link]</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2003/jan/15/foreignpolicy.uk Blair: Iraq oil claim is 'conspiracy theory']</ref> Bush reportedly told Palestinian officials either that God inspired him to end the tyranny in Iraq, or to hit Saddam.<ref>Kessler, G. (October 9, 2005) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/08/AR2005100801094.html "Interpretation of Bush's Comments Reignites Debate,"] ''Washington Post''</ref>

The [[invasion]] led to the quick defeat of the Iraqi military, the americans raped over 30,000 iraqi women, 50,000 iraqi men and over 120,000 iraqi cows and the capture and [[execution of Saddam Hussein]]. The U.S.-led coalition [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2006|occupied Iraq]] and attempted to establish a new [[democracy|democratic]] government; however, violence against coalition forces and among various sectarian groups soon led to [[asymmetric warfare]] with the [[Iraqi insurgency]], strife between many [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] Iraqi groups, and [[al-Qaeda]] [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq|operations in Iraq]].<ref> [http://www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3879 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, 2 Feb 2007], see "four wars" remark</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CBS on civil war|publisher=CBS News|url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/26/eveningnews/main886305.shtml |date=September 26, 2006}}</ref> Estimates of the number of Iraqis killed through 2007 range from 150,000<ref name=nejm358/> to more than 1,000,000.<ref name=orbupdate /> [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]] estimates the war created 4.7 million [[Iraqi refugees]] through April 2008 (about 16% of the population of Iraq.)<ref name=UNHCR-04084> [http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/iraq?page=briefing&id=4816ef534 UNHCR - Iraq: Latest return survey shows few intending to go home soon]. Published April 29, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2008.</ref> The [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] claimed in 2008 that "the security, political and economic trends in Iraq continue to be positive, however, they remain fragile, reversible and uneven."<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/Master_16_June_08_%20FINAL_SIGNED%20.pdf "US Department of Defense (June 2008): Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq]</ref> Iraq was fifth on the 2008 [[Failed States Index]],<ref>[http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=140 Failed States List 2008] The Fund for Peace. Retrieved on 2008-08-29</ref> and the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] stated in 2008 that Iraq's humanitarian situation "remains among the most critical in the world".<ref>[http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/iraq-report-170308/$file/ICRC-Iraq-report-0308-eng.pdf Iraq: No let-up in the humanitarian crisis]</ref> Member nations of the Coalition began to withdraw their forces as public opinion favoring troop withdrawals increased in their countries and Iraq and as Iraqi forces began to take responsibility for security.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/02/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Britain.php Britain's Brown visits officials, troops in Iraq.] ''International Herald Tribune'', October 2, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4352259.stm Italy plans Iraq troop pull-out] [[BBC]] March 15, 2005</ref> U.S. and Iraqi officials are debating the timeline and magnitude of an American withdrawal, with Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] pushing for a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq by 2011. Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's Sunni Muslim vice president, has said many Iraqis feel the United States is trying to blackmail Iraq in to a status of forces agreement with the United States.<ref>[http://www.thestate.com/world-wire/story/568187.html ''McClatchy Newspapers'': U.S. threatens to halt services to Iraq without troop accord]. Gutman, Roy and Fadel, Leila. Oct. 26, 2008.</ref>

==1991–2000: U.N. inspectors, no-fly zones, and Iraqi opposition groups==
{{see also|Oil-for-Food Programme|Operation Northern Watch}}
Following the 1991 [[Gulf War]], the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 687]] mandated that [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraqi chemical, biological, nuclear, and long range missile programs]] be halted and all such weapons destroyed under [[United Nations Special Commission]] control. [[United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission|U.N. weapons inspectors inside Iraq]] were able to verify the destruction of a large amount of WMD-material, but substantial issues remained unresolved in 1998 when the inspectors left Iraq due to then current UNSCOM head [[Richard Butler (diplomat)|Richard Butler]]'s belief that U.S. and UK military action was imminent. Shortly after the inspectors withdrew, the U.S. and UK launched a [[Bombing of Iraq (December 1998)|four-day bombing campaign]]. Also, during this period the US congress and President Clinton issued a [[Iraq Liberation Act|resolution calling for regime change in Iraq.]]

In addition to the inspection regimen, the U.S. and UK (along with France until 1998) engaged in a low-level conflict with Iraq by enforcing northern and southern [[Iraqi no-fly zones]]. These zones were [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 688|created following the Persian Gulf War]] to [[Operation Provide Comfort|protect]] [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] in the north and the [[Operation Southern Watch|southern Shia areas]], and were seen by the Iraqi government as an infringement of Iraq's [[sovereignty]]. The no-fly zones prohibited unauthorized fixed-wing aircraft but allowed Iraqi helicopters or limited Turkish bombing runs<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccmep.org/2002_articles/Iraq/120402_nofly_zones_over_iraq.htm |title=No-Fly Zones Over Iraq: Washington's Undeclared War on "Saddam's Victims"<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Ccmep.org |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/nofly/2002/1206excuse.htm |title=The Abuse of the No-Fly Zones as an Excuse for War - UN Security Council - Global Policy Forum<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Globalpolicy.org |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>. Iraqi air-defense installations and American and British air patrols regularly exchanged fire during this five year period.

Approximately one year before [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], the U.S. initiated [[Operation Southern Focus]] as a change to 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. The weight of bombs dropped on Iraq increased from none in March 2002 and {{convert|0.3|ST}} in April to between {{convert|8|ST}} to {{convert|14|ST}} per month in May-August. The total reached a pre-war peak of {{convert|54.6|ST}} in September 2002.

===Iraqi opposition groups===
Following the Gulf War, [[President of the United States|President]] [[George H. W. Bush]] signed a presidential finding directing the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] to create conditions for Hussein's removal in May 1991. Coordinating anti-Saddam groups was an important element of this strategy and the [[Iraqi National Congress]] (INC), led by [[Ahmed Chalabi]], was the main group tasked with this purpose. The name INC was reportedly coined by [[public relations]] expert [[John Rendon]] (of the [[Rendon Group]] agency) and the group received millions in covert funding in the 1990s, and then about $8 million a year in overt funding after the passage of the [[Iraq Liberation Act]] in 1998. Another opposition group was the [[Iraqi National Accord]] which continues to have influence in the current Iraqi government through its leader [[Ayad Allawi]].

===Presidential involvement===
In late April 1993, the United States learned that Saddam Hussein had attempted to have former President George H. W. Bush assassinated during a visit to Kuwait on April 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnn.us/articles/1000.html |title=How Do We Know that Iraq Tried to Assassinate President George H.W. Bush? |publisher=Hnn.us |author=FBI Study |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref> On June 16, as per order of then-President Clinton, a cruise missile was shot at the Iraq Intelligence Service building in downtown Baghdad, by way of retaliation. Clinton briefed President-elect George W. Bush in December 2000, expressing his regret that the world's two most dangerous individuals, including Saddam, were still at large. He warned that Saddam will "cause you a world of problems."<ref>{{cite book | author = Chollet, Derek and James Goldgeier |title = America Between the Wars | publisher = Public Affairs, Perseus Books Group | year = 2008}}</ref>

==2001–2003: Iraq disarmament crisis and pre-war intelligence==
{{see also|Rationale for the Iraq War|Public relations preparations for 2003 invasion of Iraq|Governments' pre-war positions on invasion of Iraq|Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda|10 Days to War|Iraq and weapons of mass destruction}}
{{main|Iraq disarmament crisis timeline 2001-2003|2002 in Iraq}}

According to documents provided by former Treasury Secretary [[Paul O'Neill (cabinet member)|Paul O'Neill]], Bush instructed his aides to look for a way to overthrow the Iraqi regime ten days after taking office in January, 2001. A secret memo entitled, "Plan for post-Saddam Iraq," was discussed in January and February of 2001, and a Pentagon document, dated March 5, 2001, and entitled "Foreign Suitors for Iraqi Oilfield contracts," included a map of potential areas for exploration.<ref>CBS (January 11, 2004) [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml "Bush Sought ‘Way’ To Invade Iraq?"] ''60 Minutes''</ref>

===U.N. weapons inspections resume===
The issue of [[Iraq disarmament crisis|Iraq's disarmament reached a crisis]] in 2002-2003, when President Bush demanded a complete end to alleged Iraqi production of weapons of mass destruction and full compliance with UN Resolutions requiring UN weapons inspectors unfettered access to suspected weapons production facilities. Previously, the [[United Nations Resolutions concerning Iraq|UN had prohibited]] Iraq from developing or possessing such weapons after the Gulf War and required Iraq to permit inspections confirming compliance.

During 2002, Bush repeatedly backed demands for unfettered inspection and disarmament with threats of military force. In accordance with [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441|UN Security Council Resolution 1441]] Iraq reluctantly agreed to [[United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission|new inspections in late 2002]]. The results of these inspections were mixed, with the inspectors discovering no WMD programs but concluding that Iraqi declarations failed to prove that all such weapons had been properly destroyed.

===Iraq's WMD controversy===
In the initial stages of the [[War on Terrorism|war on terror]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA), under [[George Tenet]], was rising to prominence as the lead agency in the [[Afghanistan]] war. But when Tenet insisted in his personal meetings with President Bush that there was no connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq, Vice-President [[Dick Cheney]] and Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] initiated a secret program to re-examine the evidence and marginalize the CIA and Tenet. A major part of this program was a Pentagon unit known as the [[Office of Special Plans]] (OSP), which was created by Deputy Secretary of Defense [[Paul Wolfowitz]] and headed by [[Douglas Feith]]. It was created to supply senior Bush administration officials with raw intelligence pertaining to Iraq, unvetted by intelligence analysts, and circumventing traditional intelligence gathering operations by the CIA. The questionable intelligence acquired by the OSP was "[[Stovepiping|stovepiped]]" to Cheney and presented to the public. In some cases, Cheney’s office would leak the intelligence to news correspondents, who would in turn cover it in such outlets such as ''[[The New York Times]]''. Cheney would subsequently appear on the Sunday political television talk shows to discuss the intelligence, referencing ''The New York Times'' as the source to give it credence.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kirk|first=Michael|title=The Dark Side|work=Frontline|publisher=PBS|date=[[2006-06-20]]|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside/etc/script.html }}</ref>
[[Image:Joseph Wilson.jpg|thumb|left|Ambassador [[Joseph C. Wilson]]]]
Prior to the [[Gulf War]], in 1990, Iraq had stockpiled {{convert|550|ST}} of [[yellowcake]] [[uranium]] at the Tuwaitha nuclear complex about {{convert|20|km}} south of Baghdad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Saddam's uranium headed for Ontario processing plant|publisher=Associated Press|date=[[2008-07-05]]|url=http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/455063 }}</ref> In late February 2002, the CIA sent former Ambassador [[Joseph C. Wilson|Joseph Wilson]] to investigate [[Niger uranium forgeries|reports]] that Iraq was attempting to purchase additional yellowcake from [[Niger]]. Wilson returned and informed the CIA that reports of yellowcake sales to Iraq were "unequivocally wrong." The Bush administration, however, continued to allege Iraq's attempts to obtain additional yellowcake were a justification for military action - most prominently in the January, 2003 State of the Union address when President Bush said that Iraq had sought uranium, citing British intelligence sources.<ref>{{cite news|last=Duffy|first=Michael|coauthors=James Carney|title=A Question of Trust|publisher=Time|date=[[2003-07-13]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030721-464405,00.html }}</ref> In response, Wilson wrote a critical ''New York Times'' op-ed piece in June 2003 stating that he had personally investigated claims of yellowcake purchases and believed them to be fraudulent. Wilson's report did not clarify the matter for analysts, but they found it interesting that the former Nigerien Prime Minister said an Iraqi delegation had visited Niger for what he believed was to discuss uranium sales.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Roberts|first1=Pat|last2=Rockefeller|first2=John D., IV|contribution=Niger: Former Ambassador|contribution-url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/congress/2004_rpt/iraq-wmd-intell_chapter2-b.htm|title= Report on the u.s. intelligence community's prewar intelligence assessments on iraq|year=2004|pages=39-47|place=United States Senate|publisher=Select Committee on Intelligence|url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/congress/2004_rpt/iraq-wmd_intell_09jul2004_report2.pdf }}</ref> Shortly after Wilson's op-ed, the identity of Wilson's wife, undercover CIA analyst [[Valerie Plame]], was revealed in a column by [[Robert Novak]]. Since it is [[Intelligence Identities Protection Act|a felony to reveal the identity of a CIA agent]] Novak's column launched an investigation by the Justice Department into the source of the leak. In March, 2007, Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff [[Lewis Libby|I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby]] was convicted of perjury in the [[Plame affair|Plame leak]] investigation. The source of the leak was found to be former deputy secretary of state [[Richard Armitage (politician)|Richard Armitage]], who was never charged with the crime.<ref name="newsweek-ManWhoSaid">{{cite news
|first = Michael
|last = Isikoff
|url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14533384/site/newsweek/
|title = The Man Who Said Too Much
|work = Newsweek National News
|publisher = MSNBC.com
|date = September 4, 2006 issue
|accessdate = 2007-01-27
}}</ref> In June 2008, Representative [[Henry Waxman]] called on the Justice Department to release unredacted transcripts of the FBI interviews in which Libby stated that it was "possible" that Vice President
Cheney instructed him to release the information to the press.<ref>[http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080603095914.pdf Letter from the House Oversight Committee to Justice Department] Congress of the United States June 3, 2008 pdf</ref>

On May 1, 2005 the "[[Downing Street memo]]" was published in ''[[The Sunday Times]]''. It contained an overview of a secret July 23, 2002 meeting among UK Labour government, defense, and intelligence figures who discussed the build-up to the Iraq war — including direct references to classified U.S. policy of the time. The memo stated, "Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."<ref>{{cite web|last=Rycroft|first=Matthew|title=The secret Downing Street memo|publisher=The Sunday Times|date=[[2005-05-01]]|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/election2005/article387390.ece }}</ref>

On September 18, 2002, George Tenet briefed Bush that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction. Bush dismissed this top-secret intelligence from Saddam's inner circle which was approved by two senior CIA officers, but it turned out to be completely accurate. The information was never shared with Congress or even CIA agents examining whether Saddam had such weapons.<ref>Blumenthal, S. (September 6, 2007) [http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2007/09/06/bush_wmd/ "Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction"] ''Salon.com''</ref> The CIA had contacted Saddam Hussein's foreign minister, [[Naji Sabri]], who was being paid by the French as an agent. Sabri informed them that Saddam had ambitions for a nuclear program but that it was not active, and that no biological weapons were being produced or stockpiled, although research was underway.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pincus|first=Walter|title=Ex-Iraqi Official Unveiled as Spy|publisher=Washington Post|date=[[2006-03-23]]|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/22/AR2006032202103.html }}</ref>

In September 2002, the Bush administration, the CIA and the DIA said attempts by Iraq to acquire high-strength [[Iraqi aluminum tubes|aluminum tubes]], which were prohibited under the UN monitoring program, pointed to a clandestine effort to make enriched uranium for nuclear bombs.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Silberman|first1=Laurence H.|last2=Robb|first2=Charles S.|contribution=Iraq|contribution-url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2005/wmd_report_25mar2005_chap01.htm| title=Report to the President of the United States|year=2005|page=198|publisher=The Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction|url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2005/wmd_report_31mar2005.pdf }} "Iraq was prohibited from possessing tubes composed of 7075 T6 aluminum alloy with outer diameters exceeding 75mm under Annex III to United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 because of their potential use in gas centrifuges." </ref> This analysis was opposed by the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] (DOE) and [[Bureau of Intelligence and Research|INR]] which was significant because of DOE's expertise in gas centrifuges and nuclear weapons programs. The DOE and INR argued that such tubes were poorly suited for centrifuges.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2005/wmd_report_25mar2005_chap01.htm Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction] </ref> An effort by the DOE to change Powell's comments before his UN appearance was rebuffed by the administration.<ref>[http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iraq/al_tubes.html The CIA's Aluminum Tubes' Assessment:] [[Institute for Science and International Security]] March 10, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2003/transcripts/s976015.htm Spinning The Tubes] ''[[Four Corners (TV program)|Four Corners]]'' [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] air date October 27, 2003</ref> Indeed, [[Colin Powell]], in his address to the U.N. Security Council just prior to the war, made reference to the aluminum tubes. But a report released by the [[Institute for Science and International Security]] in 2002 reported that it was highly unlikely that the tubes could be used to enrich uranium. Powell later admitted he had presented an inaccurate case to the United Nations on Iraqi weapons, and the intelligence he was relying on was, in some cases, "deliberately misleading."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36348-2002Sep18 "Evidence on Iraq Challenged,"] Joby Warrick, ''The Washington Post'', Sept. 19, 2002</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/transcripts/powelltext_020503.html Colin Powell’s speech to the UN,] Feb 5, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4992558/ '''Meet the Press,'''] NBC, May 16, 2004</ref>

===Authorization for the use of force===
[[Image:Powell-anthrax-vial.jpg|thumb|[[Colin Powell]] holding a model vial of [[anthrax]] while giving a presentation to the [[United Nations Security Council]]]]

In October 2002, a few days before the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] voted on the [[Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq]], about 75 senators were told in [[closed session]] that Saddam Hussein had the means of attacking the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with biological or chemical weapons delivered by [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s (UAVs.)<ref name=nelson>Senator [[Bill Nelson]] (January 28, 2004) [http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2004_cr/s012804b.html "New Information on Iraq's Possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction",] ''Congressional Record''</ref> On February 5, 2003, Colin Powell presented further evidence in his Iraqi WMD program presentation to the UN Security Council that UAVs were ready to be launched against the U.S. At the time, there was a vigorous dispute within the US military and intelligence community as to whether CIA conclusions about Iraqi UAVs were accurate.<ref>Lowe, C. (December 16, 2003) [http://www.defensetech.org/archives/000690.html "Senator: White House Warned of UAV Attack,"] ''Defense Tech''</ref> The [[U.S. Air Force]] agency most familiar with UAVs <!-- these don't seem to be in the sources: , the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] --> denied that Iraq possessed any offensive UAV capability, saying the few they had were designed for surveillance and intended for [[reconnaissance]].<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2005/wmd_report_25mar2005_chap01.htm Commission of the Intelligence capabilities of the United States regarding weapons of mass destruction]</ref> In fact, Iraq's UAV fleet was never deployed and consisted of a handful of outdated {{convert|24.5|ft|m|sing=on}} wingspan drones with no room for more than a camera and video recorder, and no offensive capability.<ref>Associated Press (August 24, 2003) [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/28/iraq/main570588.shtml "Iraqi Drones Not For WMD"] ''CBS News''</ref> Despite this controversy, the Senate voted to approve the Joint Resolution on October 11, 2002 providing the Bush Administration with [[Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq|the legal basis for the U.S. invasion]].

With the support of large bipartisan majorities, the US Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against [[Iraq Resolution]] of 2002. The resolution asserts the authorization by the [[Constitution of the United States]] and the [[United States Congress]] for the President to fight anti-United States terrorism. Citing the [[Iraq Liberation Act of 1998]], the resolution reiterated that it should be the policy of the United States to remove the Saddam Hussein regime and promote a democratic replacement. The resolution "supported" and "encouraged" diplomatic efforts by President [[George W. Bush]] to "strictly enforce through the U.N. Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq" and "obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq." The resolution authorized President Bush to use the [[Armed Forces of the United States]] "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" in order to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant [[United Nations Security Council]] Resolutions regarding Iraq."

Chief UN weapons inspector [[Hans Blix]] remarked in January 2003 that "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."<ref name = "IraqWatch-20030127">[http://www.iraqwatch.org/un/unmovic/unmovic-blix-012703.htm Blix's remarks] January 27, 2003</ref> Among other things he noted that {{convert|1000|ST}} of chemical agent were unaccounted for, information on Iraq's VX nerve agent program was missing, and that "no convincing evidence" was presented for the destruction of {{convert|8500|l}} of anthrax that had been declared.<ref name = "IraqWatch-20030127"/> Secretary of State Collin Powell's presentation to the U.N. on February 3, 2003 was designed to influence U.N. members that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. France even believed that Saddam had stockpiles of anthrax and botulism toxin, and the ability to produce VX.<ref>''American Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy'' (Washington D.C., 2003), 159-61.</ref> But in March, Blix said no evidence of WMDs had been found, and progress had been made in inspections.<ref name=blix />

In early 2003, the U.S., UK, and Spain proposed the so-called "eighteenth resolution" to give Iraq a deadline for compliance with previous resolutions enforced by the threat of military action. This proposed resolution was subsequently withdrawn due to lack of support on the UN Security Council. In particular, North Atlantic Treaty Organization ([[NATO]]) members France, Germany and Canada together with Russia, were opposed to military intervention in Iraq due to the high level of risk to the international community's security and defended disarmament through diplomacy.<ref>[https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/editorial/actual/ael2/bulletin.gb.asp?liste=20030211.gb.html Joint Declaration by Russia, Germany and France on Iraq] France Diplomatie February 10, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,810093,00.html Russian rebuff for Blair over Iraq] [[The Guardian]] October 11, 2002</ref>

===Opposition to invasion===

{{see|criticism of the Iraq War|legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq|legality of the Iraq War}}

On January 20, 2003, [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)|French Foreign Minister]] [[Dominique de Villepin]] declared "we believe that military intervention would be the worst solution."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ambafrance-us.org/news/statmnts/2003/vilepin012003.asp |title=Press conference of Foreign affairs Minister Dominique de Villepin (excerpts) |accessdate=2007-02-13 |date=2003-01-20 |publisher=Embassy of France in the U.S.}}</ref> Meanwhile [[List of anti-war organizations|anti-war groups]] across the world organised public protests. According to French academic Dominique Reynié between January 3 and April 12, 2003, 36 million people across the globe took part in almost 3,000 protests against war in Iraq, the demonstrations on February 15, 2003 being the largest and most prolific.<ref name="Difference"> [http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=6067 Anti-war protests do make a difference], Alex Callinicos, Socialist Worker, March 19, 2005.</ref>

In February 2003, the U.S. Army's top general, [[Eric Shinseki]], told the Senate Armed Services Committee that it would take "several hundred thousand soldiers" to secure Iraq.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-02-25-iraq-us_x.htm USATODAY.com - Army chief: Force to occupy Iraq massive]</ref> Two days later, Defense Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]] said the post-war troop commitment would be less than the number of troops required to win the war and, "the idea that it would take several hundred thousand U.S. forces is far from the mark." Deputy Defense Secretary [[Paul Wolfowitz]] said Shineski's estimate was "way off the mark," because other countries would take part in an occupying force.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/27/sprj.irq.war.cost/ CNN.com - Administration fends off demands for war estimates - Mar. 3, 2003]</ref>

In March 2003, Hans Blix reported that, "No evidence of proscribed activities have so far been found," in Iraq, saying that progress was made in inspections which would continue.<ref name=blix>Blix, H. (March 7, 2003) [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/07/sprj.irq.un.transcript.blix/index.html "Transcript of Blix's U.N. presentation"] ''CNN.com''</ref> But the U.S. government announced that "diplomacy has failed" and that it would proceed with a coalition of allied countries, named the "coalition of the willing", to rid Iraq of its alleged weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. government abruptly advised U.N. weapons inspectors to immediately pull out of [[Baghdad]].

There were also serious [[Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq|legal questions]] surrounding the launching of the war against Iraq and the [[Bush Doctrine]] of [[preemptive war]]. On September 16, 2004 [[Kofi Annan]], the Secretary General of the United Nations, said of the invasion, "I have indicated it was not in conformity with the U.N. charter. From our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3661134.stm |title=Iraq war illegal, says Annan |accessdate=2007-02-17 |date=[[2004-09-16]] |publisher=''[[BBC News]]''}}</ref>

In November 2008 [[Thomas Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill|Lord Bingham]], the former UK [[Lord of Appeal in Ordinary|Law Lord]], described the war a serious violation of international law, and accused Britain and the US of acting like a "world vigilante". He also criticized the post-invasion record of Britain as "an occupying power in Iraq". Regarding the treatment of Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib, Bingham said: "Particularly disturbing to proponents of the rule of law is the cynical lack of concern for international legality among some top officials in the Bush administration."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/18/iraq-us-foreign-policy Top judge: US and UK acted as 'vigilantes' in Iraq invasion], ''[[The Guardian]]'', November 18 2008</ref>

==2003: Invasion==
{{main|2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 in Iraq|2003 Iraq war timeline|List of people associated with the 2003 invasion of Iraq}}
{{See also|Coalition military operations of the Iraq War|Iraq War order of battle}}

The first CIA team entered Iraq on July 10, 2002. <ref>Operation Hotel California, The Clandestine War inside Iraq, Mike Tucker and Charles Faddis, 2008.</ref> This team was composed of members of the CIA's famed [[Special Activities Division]] and was later joined by members of the U.S. Military's elite [[Joint Special Operations Command]] (JSOC). <ref>Plan of Attack, Bob Woodward, 2004.</ref> Together, they prepared for the invasion of conventional U.S. Military forces. These efforts consisted of getting several Iraqi Divisions to surrender rather than oppose the invasion and to identify all of the initial leadership targets during very high risk reconaissance missions. <ref>Plan of Attack, Bob Woodward, 2004.</ref> Most importantly, their efforts organized the Kurdish Peshmerga to become the northern front of the invasion. Together this force defeated Ansar Al-Islam in Northern Iraq prior to the invasion and than defeated Saddam's forces in the north. <ref>Plan of Attack, Bob Woodward, 2004.</ref> <ref>A NATION AT WAR: SECOND FRONT; Allied Troops Are Flown In To Airfields In North Iraq, By C. J. CHIVERS, March 24, 2003</ref> The battle against Ansar Al-Islam led to the death of a substantial number of terrorists and the uncovering of a chemical weapons facility at Sargat. These terrorists would have been in the subsequent insurgency had they not been eliminated. This battle may have been the [[Tora Bora]] of Iraq in some ways, but it was a defeat for Ansar Al Islam and their ally Al Qaeda. <ref>A NATION AT WAR: IN THE FIELD THE NORTHERN FRONT; Militants Gone, Caves in North Lie Abandoned By C. J. CHIVERS, March 30, 2003 </ref> <ref>Operation Hotel California, The Clandestine War inside Iraq, Mike Tucker and Charles Faddis, 2008.</ref>


At 5:34 AM Baghdad time on March 20, 2003 (9:34 p.m., March 19 EST) the military invasion of Iraq began.<ref name=GSorgOIF>{{cite web|title=Operation Iraqi Freedom|work=Target Iraq|publisher= GlobalSecurity.org|date=[[2005-04-27]] |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraqi_freedom.htm }}</ref> The [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], led by U.S. Army General [[Tommy Franks]], began under the codename "Operation Iraqi Freedom", the UK codename [[Operation Telic]], and the Australian codename [[Operation Falconer]]. Coalition forces also cooperated with Kurdish [[Peshmerga]] forces in the north. Approximately forty other nations, the "[[Multinational force in Iraq|coalition of the willing]]," participated by providing troops, equipment, services, security, and special forces.
[[Image:Iraq-War-Map.png|thumb|left|Map of the invasion routes and major operations/battles of the Iraq War as of 2007]]
The military objectives of the invasion were; end the Hussein regime; eliminate weapons of mass destruction; eliminate Islamic terrorists; obtain intelligence on terrorist networks; distribute humanitarian aid; secure Iraq’s oil infrastructure; and assist in creating a representative government as a model for other Middle East nations.<ref name=GSorgOIF />

The invasion was a quick and decisive operation encountering major resistance, though not what the American, British and other forces expected. The Iraqi regime had prepared to fight both a conventional and irregular war at the same time, conceding territory when faced with superior conventional forces, largely armored, but launching smaller scale attacks in the rear using fighters dressed in civilian and para-military clothes. This achieved some temporary successes and created unexpected challenges for the invading forces, especially the Americans. In the north, OIF-1 used the largest special operations force since the successful attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan just over a year earlier. The Iraqi Army was quickly overwhelmed in each engagement it faced with the Americans, with the elite [[Fedayeen Saddam]] putting up strong, sometimes suicidal, resistance before melting away into the civilian population.

On April 9 Baghdad fell, ending Saddam's 24-year rule. U.S. forces seized the deserted [[Baath Party]] ministries and helped tear down a huge iron statue of Saddam, photos and video of which became symbolic of the event, although later controversial. The abrupt fall of Baghdad was accompanied by a widespread outpouring of gratitude toward the Americans, British and their allies, but also massive civil disorder, including the looting of government buildings and drastically increased crime to due an absence of law and order.<ref>Collier, R. (April 9, 2003) [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/04/09/MN249161.DTL "Baghdad closer to collapse"] ''San Francisco Chronicle''</ref><ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=2367 Stuff Happens]</ref> According to The Pentagon, {{convert|250000|ST}} (of {{convert|650000|ST}} total) of ordnance was looted, providing a significant source of ammunition for the [[Iraqi insurgency]]. The invasion phase concluded when [[Tikrit]], Saddam's home town, fell with little resistance to the Marines of [[Task Force Tripoli]] and on April 15 the coalition declared the invasion effectively over.

In the invasion phase of the war (March 19-April 30), 9,200 Iraqi combatants were killed along with 7,299 [[Iraq Body Count project|civilians]], primarily by U.S. air and ground forces.<ref>Conetta, C. (October 20, 2003) [http://www.comw.org/pda/0310rm8.html "The Wages of War: Iraqi Combatant and Noncombatant Fatalities in the 2003 Conflict,"] Research Monograph no. 8 ''Project on Defense Alternatives''</ref> Coalition forces reported the death in combat of 139 U.S. military personnel<ref>Reuters. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102501190.html "Getting amputees back on their feet"].''[[Washington Post]].'' Oct. 25, 2005.</ref> and 33 UK military personnel.<ref>[http://www.icasualties.org/oif/SumDetails.aspx?hndRef=1 "Iraq Coalition Casualty Count"] March 19, 2003 through through May 1, 2003 (end of major combat) ''iCasualties.org''</ref>

===Coalition Provisional Authority and Iraq Survey Group===
{{see also|Iraqi Governing Council|International Advisory and Monitoring Board|Coalition Provisional Authority Program Review Board|l3=CPA Program Review Board|Development Fund for Iraq|Reconstruction of Iraq}}

Shortly after the invasion, the multinational coalition created the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA) سلطة الائتلاف الموحدة, based in the [[Green Zone]], as a [[transitional government]] of Iraq until the establishment of a democratic government. Citing [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483]] (May 22, 2003) and the [[laws of war]], the CPA vested itself with [[executive (government)|executive]], [[legislative]], and [[judicial]] authority over the Iraqi government from the period of the CPA's inception on April 21, 2003, until its dissolution on June 28, 2004.

The CPA was originally headed by [[Jay Garner]], a former U.S. military officer, but his appointment lasted only until May 11, 2003 when President Bush appointed [[L. Paul Bremer]]. He served until the CPA's dissolution in July 2004.

Another group created by the [[multinational force in Iraq]] post-invasion was the 1,400-member international [[Iraq Survey Group]] who conducted a fact-finding mission to find [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes]]. In 2004 the ISG's Duelfer Report<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd_2004/index.html ISG's Duelfer Report]</ref> stated that Iraq did not have a viable WMD program.

===Post-invasion phase===
[[Image:USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Mission Accomplished.jpg|right|thumb|The [[USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)|USS ''Abraham Lincoln'']] returning to port carrying its ''Mission Accomplished'' banner]]
{{main|Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present}}
{{see|U.S. list of most-wanted Iraqis|Terrorist attacks of the Iraq War}}
On May 1, 2003, President Bush staged a dramatic visit to the [[aircraft carrier]] [[USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)|USS ''Abraham Lincoln'']] operating a few miles west of [[San Diego, California]]. The visit climaxed at sunset with Bush's now well-known "[[Mission Accomplished]]" speech. In this nationally televised speech, delivered before the [[sailors]] and [[airmen]] on the [[flight deck]], Bush effectively declared victory due to the defeat of Iraq's conventional forces. However, [[Saddam Hussein]] remained at large and significant pockets of resistance remained.

After President Bush's speech, coalition forces noticed a gradually increasing flurry of attacks on its troops in various regions, especially in the "[[Sunni Triangle]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Operation Iraqi Freedom Maps |publisher=GlobalSecurity.Org |date=Unavailable |url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraqi_freedom-ops-maps.htm }}</ref> The initial Iraqi insurgents were supplied by hundreds of weapons caches created prior to the invasion by the conventional Iraqi army and [[Iraqi Special Republican Guard|Republican Guard]].

[[Image:VS-1.6 anti-tank mine.jpg|thumb|left|May 18, 2004: Staff Sgt. Kevin Jessen checks the underside of two anti-tank mines found in a village outside Ad Dujayl, Iraq in the [[Sunni Triangle]].]]

Initially, Iraqi resistance (known to the coalition as "Anti-Iraqi Forces") largely stemmed from [[fedayeen]] and Saddam/[[Baath Party]] loyalists, but soon religious radicals and Iraqis angered by the occupation contributed to the insurgency. The three provinces with the highest number of attacks were [[Baghdad Governorate|Baghdad]], [[Al Anbar Governorate|Al Anbar]], and [[Salah ad Din Governorate|Salah Ad Din]]. Those three provinces account for 35% of the population, but are responsible for 73% of U.S. military deaths (as of December 5, 2006), and an even higher percentage of recent U.S. military deaths (about 80%.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icasualties.org/oif/Province.aspx |title=iCasualties: Iraq Coalition Casualty Count - Deaths by Province Year/Month |publisher=Icasualties.org |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref> Insurgents use [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla tactics]] including; mortars, missiles, [[suicide attack]]s, [[Juba (sniper)|snipers]], [[improvised explosive device]]s (IEDs), car bombs, small arms fire (usually with [[assault rifle]]s), and RPGs ([[rocket propelled grenade]]s), as well as sabotage against the oil, water, and electrical infrastructure.

[[post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2007|Post-invasion Iraq]] coalition efforts commenced after the fall of the Hussein regime. The coalition nations, together with the United Nations, began to work to establish a stable [[democracy|democratic]] state capable of defending itself, as well as overcoming internal divisions.<ref name=Soriano>{{cite news|title=Poll: Iraqis out of patience |publisher=USA Today |date=[[2004-04-30]] |url= http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/1/13/232154.shtml }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Gloom descends on Iraqi leaders as civil war looms|author=Reuters |url= http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=49603 }}</ref>

Meanwhile, coalition military forces launched several operations around the [[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 "[[History of Iraqi insurgency#Ramadan Offensive (October-November 2003)|Ramadan Offensive]]", as it coincided with the beginning of the Muslim holy month of [[Ramadan]]. To counter this offensive, coalition forces begin to use air power and artillery again for the first time since the end of the invasion by striking suspected ambush sites and mortar launching positions. 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.

However, the failure to restore basic services to pre-war levels, where over a decade of sanctions, bombing, corruption, and decaying infrastructure had left major cities barely functioning, contributed to local anger at the IPA government headed by an executive council.

[[Image:Saddamcapture.jpg|thumb|right|Saddam Hussein shortly after capture]]

===Hunting down the Hussein regime===
{{see also|Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal|Trial of Saddam Hussein}}
In the summer of 2003, the multinational forces focused on [[Most-wanted Iraqi playing cards|hunting down the remaining leaders]] of the former regime. On July 22, a raid by the U.S. [[101st Airborne Division]] and soldiers from [[Task Force 20]] killed Saddam Hussein's sons ([[Uday Hussein|Uday]] and [[Qusay Hussein|Qusay]]) along with one of his grandsons. In all, over 300 top leaders of the former regime were killed or captured, as well as numerous lesser functionaries and military personnel.

Most significantly, Saddam Hussein himself was captured on December 13, 2003 on a farm near Tikrit in [[Operation Red Dawn]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pentagon: Saddam is POW |publisher=CNN |date=[[2004-01-10]] |url= http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/09/sprj.nirq.saddam/ }}</ref> The operation was conducted by the [[United States Army]]'s [[4th Infantry Division (United States)|4th Infantry Division]] and members of [[Task Force 121]]. Intelligence on Saddam’s whereabouts came from his family members and former bodyguards.<ref>{{cite news|title=Saddam 'caught like a rat' in a hole|publisher=CNN|date=[[2003-12-15]]|url= http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/12/14/sprj.irq.saddam.operation/index.html?iref=newssearch }}</ref>

With the capture of Saddam and a drop in the number of insurgent attacks, some concluded the multinational forces were prevailing in the fight against the insurgency. The provisional government began training the New Iraqi Security forces intended to defend the country, and the United States promised over $20 billion in reconstruction money in the form of credit against Iraq's future oil revenues. Oil revenue was also used for rebuilding schools and for work on the electrical and refining infrastructure.

Shortly after the capture of Saddam, elements left out of the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] began to agitate for elections and the formation of an [[Iraqi Interim Government]]. Most prominent among these was the [[Shia Islam|Shia]] cleric [[Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani]]. The Coalition Provisional Authority opposed allowing democratic elections at this time, preferring instead to eventually hand-over power to the [[Interim Iraqi Government]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Why the US is Running Scared of Elections in Iraq|publisher=Guardian (London) via Common Dreams|date=[[2004-01-19]]|url=http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0119-08.htm|accessdate=2006-11-21 }}</ref> Due to the internal fight for power in the new Iraqi government 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 ([[Sadr City]]) to Basra in the south.

==2004: The insurgency expands==

{{main|2004 in Iraq}}

:''See also: [[Military operations of the Iraq War]] for a list of all Coalition operations for this period, [[2004 in Iraq]], [[Iraqi coalition counter-insurgency operations]], [[History of Iraqi insurgency]], [[United States occupation of Fallujah]], [[Iraq Spring Fighting of 2004]]

The start of 2004 was marked by a relative lull in violence. Insurgent forces reorganised during this time, studying the multinational forces' tactics and planning a renewed offensive. However, violence did increase during the [[Iraq Spring Fighting of 2004]] with foreign fighters from around the Middle East as well as [[al-Qaeda in Iraq]] (an affiliated [[al-Qaeda]] group), led by [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] helping to drive the insurgency.

As the insurgency grew there was a distinct change in targeting from the coalition forces towards the new Iraqi Security Forces, as hundreds of Iraqi civilians and police were killed over the next few months in a series of massive bombings. An organized Sunni insurgency, with deep roots and both nationalist and Islamist motivations, was becoming more powerful throughout Iraq. The Shia [[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.

[[Image:Bremer signing.jpg|thumb|left|[[Coalition Provisional Authority]] director [[L. Paul Bremer]] signs over sovereignty to the appointed [[Iraqi Interim Government]], June 28, 2004.]]

The most serious fighting of the war so far began on March 31, 2004, when [[Iraqi insurgency|Iraqi insurgents]] in [[Fallujah]] ambushed a [[Blackwater USA]] convoy led by four American [[private military contractor]]s who were providing security for food caterers [[Eurest Support Services]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/contractors/highrisk.html|title=PBS.org}}</ref> The four armed contractors, [[Scott Helvenston]], Jerko Zovko, Wesley Batalona, and Michael Teague, were killed with grenades and small arms fire. Subsequently, their bodies were dragged from their vehicles, beaten, set ablaze, and their burned corpses hung over a bridge crossing the [[Euphrates]].<ref> [http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/31/iraq.main/ Residents hang slain Americans' bodies from bridge] - CNN.com</ref>
Photos of the event were released to [[news agency|news agencies]] worldwide, causing a great deal of indignation and [[moral panic|moral outrage]] in the United States, and prompting an unsuccessful "pacification" of the city: the [[First Battle of Fallujah]] in April 2004.

The offensive was resumed in November 2004 in the bloodiest battle of the war so far: the [[Second Battle of Fallujah]], described by the U.S. military as "the heaviest [[urban warfare|urban combat]] (that they had been involved in) since the [[battle of Hue City]] in [[Vietnam]]."<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2005/n01112005_2005011103.html ScanEagle Proves Worth in Fallujah Fight], ''DefenseLINK News''</ref> Intelligence briefings given prior to battle reported that Coalition forces would encounter Chechnyan, Filipino, Saudi, Iranian, Italian, and Syrian combatants, as well as native Iraqis.<ref name="bellavia">Bellavia, David & Bruning, John. ''House to House: An Epic Memoir of War'' Free Press. (2007) ISBN-10: 1-4165-7471-9.</ref> During the assault, U.S. forces used [[White phosphorus use in Iraq|white phosphorus]] as an incendiary weapon against insurgent personnel, attracting controversy. The 46-day battle resulted in a victory for the coalition, with 95 Americans killed along with approximately 1,350 insurgents. Fallujah was totally devastated during the fighting, though civilian casualties were low, as they had mostly fled before the fight.<ref>Thomas Ricks (2006) ''Fiasco'': 398-405</ref>

Another major event of this year was the revelation of prisoner abuse at [[Abu Ghraib]] which received international media attention in April 2004. First reports of [[Nature of Abu Ghraib abuse|the abuse]], as well as graphic pictures showing American military personnel taunting and abusing Iraqi prisoners, came to public attention from a ''[[60 Minutes II]]'' news report (April 28) and a [[Seymour M. Hersh]] article in the ''[[The New Yorker]]'' (posted online on April 30.)<ref>Hersh, S. (May 10, 2004) [http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040510fa_fact "Torture at Abu Ghraib"] ''The New Yorker''</ref> Military correspondent [[Thomas E. Ricks (journalist)|Thomas Ricks]] claimed that these revelations dealt a blow to the moral justifications for the occupation in the eyes of some Iraqis and was a turning point in the war.<ref>Thomas E. Ricks (2006) ''Fiasco, The American Military Adventure In Iraq''. Penguin</ref>

==2005: Elections and transitional government==
{{see|2005 in Iraq|Military transition team}}
On January 31, Iraqis [[Iraqi legislative election, 2005|elected]] the [[Iraqi Transitional Government]] in order to draft a permanent constitution. Although some violence and widespread Sunni boycott marred the event, most of the eligible Kurd and Shia populace participated. On February 4, [[Paul Wolfowitz]] announced that 15,000 U.S. troops whose tours of duty had been extended in order to provide election security would be pulled out of Iraq by the next month.<ref>{{cite news |title = U.S. to pull out 15,000 from Iraq |publisher = BBC News |date = [[2005-02-04]] |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4235787.stm }}</ref> February to April proved to be relatively peaceful months compared to the carnage of November and January, with insurgent attacks averaging 30 a day from the prior average of 70.

Hopes for a quick end to an insurgency and a withdrawal of U.S. troops were dashed in May, Iraq's bloodiest month since the invasion. Suicide bombers, believed to be mainly disheartened Iraqi Sunni Arabs, Syrians and Saudis, tore through Iraq. Their targets were often Shia gatherings or civilian concentrations mainly of Shias. As a result, over 700 Iraqi civilians died in that month, as well as 79 U.S. soldiers.

The summer of 2005 saw fighting around Baghdad and at [[Tall Afar]] in northwestern Iraq as US forces tried to seal off the Syrian border. This led to fighting in the autumn in the small towns of the Euphrates valley between the capital and the that border.<ref name = "Ricks-2006">Thomas Ricks (2006) ''Fiasco'': 413</ref>

A referendum was held in October 15 in which the new [[Constitution of Iraq|Iraqi constitution]] was [[Iraqi constitutional referendum, 2005|ratified]]. An [[Iraqi National Assembly|Iraqi national assembly]] was [[Iraqi legislative election, December 2005|elected in December]], with participation from the Sunnis as well as the Kurds and Shia.<ref name = "Ricks-2006"/>

Insurgent attacks increased in 2005 with 34,131 recorded incidents, compared to a total 26,496 for the previous year.<ref>Thomas Ricks (2006) ''Fiasco'': 414</ref>
==2006: Civil war and permanent Iraqi government==

{{see|2006 in Iraq|Civil war in Iraq|Operation Together Forward|Provincial Reconstruction Team}}

[[Image:Bush and al-Maliki.jpg|right|thumb|120px|Nouri al-Maliki meets with George W. Bush, June 2006]]

The beginning of 2006 was marked by government creation talks, growing sectarian violence, and continuous anti-coalition attacks. Sectarian violence expanded to a new level of intensity following the [[al-Askari Mosque bombing (2006)|al-Askari Mosque bombing]] in the Iraqi city of Samarra, on February 22, 2006. The explosion at the mosque, one of the holiest sites in Shi'a Islam, is believed to have been caused by a bomb planted by Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Although no injuries occurred in the blast, the mosque was severely damaged and the bombing resulted in violence over the following days. Over 100 dead bodies with bullet holes were found on February 23, and at least 165 people are thought to have been killed. In the aftermath of this attack the US military calculated that the average homicide rate in Baghdad tripled from 11 to 33 deaths per day. In 2006 the [[United Nations|UN]] described the environment in Iraq as a "civil war-like situation."<ref>{{cite news |title = Decrying violence in Iraq, UN envoy urges national dialogue, international support |publisher = UN News Centre |date = [[2006-11-25]] |url = http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20726&Cr=Iraq&Cr1= }}</ref>

The current government of Iraq took office on May 20, 2006 following approval by the [[Members of the 1st Iraqi Council of Representatives|members]] of the [[Iraqi National Assembly]]. This followed the [[Iraqi legislative election, December 2005|general election in December 2005]]. The government succeeded the [[Iraqi Transitional Government]] which had continued in office in a [[caretaker government|caretaker capacity]] until the formation of the permanent government.

On November 23, the deadliest attack since the beginning of the Iraq war occurred. Suspected Sunni-Arab militants used suicide car bombs and mortar rounds on the capital's Shiite Sadr City slum to kill at least 215 people and wound 257. This attack was retaliated by Shia militias who fired mortar rounds at various Sunni neighborhoods and organizations.

===Iraq Study Group report and Saddam’s execution===

{{main|Iraq Study Group|Execution of Saddam Hussein}}

The [[Iraq Study Group Report]] was released on December 6, 2006. The bipartisan Iraq Study Group was led by former secretary of state [[James Baker]] and former Democratic congressman [[Lee Hamilton]], and concludes that "the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating" and "U.S. forces seem to be caught in a mission that has no foreseeable end." The report's 79 recommendations include increasing diplomatic measures with [[Iran]] and [[Syria]] and intensifying efforts to train Iraqi troops. On December 18, a Pentagon report found that attacks on Americans and Iraqis were averaging about 960 a week, the highest since the reports had begun in 2005.<ref> {{cite news |title= Attacks in Iraq at All-Time High, Pentagon Report Says |publisher = PBS |date = [[2006-12-19]] |url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec06/iraq_12-19.html }}</ref>

Coalition forces formally transferred control of a province to the Iraqi government, the first since the war. Military prosecutors charged 8 Marines with the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in [[Haditha]] in November 2005, 10 of them women and children. Four officers were also charged with [[dereliction of duty]] in relation to the event.<ref> {{cite news |title= 8 Marines Charged With 24 Iraqi Slayings |publisher = FOX |date = [[2006-12-22]] |url = http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Dec22/0,4670,MarinesHaditha,00.html }}</ref>

Saddam Hussein was hanged on December 30, 2006 after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court, after a year-long trial.<ref> {{cite news |title= Saddam Hussein executed in Iraq |publisher = BBC |date = [[2006-12-30]] |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6218485.stm }}</ref>

==2007: U.S. troop surge==
{{see|2007 in Iraq|Iraq War troop surge of 2007|Strategic reset}}

In a January 10, 2007 televised address to the American public, Bush proposed 21,500 more troops for Iraq, a job programme for Iraqis, more reconstruction proposals, and $1.2 billion for these programmes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070110-7.html |title=President's Address to the Nation |date=2007-01-10 |publisher=The White House}}</ref> Asked why he thought his plan would work this time, Bush said: "Because it has to."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Struggle for Iraq; Bush Adding 20,000 U.S. Troops; Sets Goal of Securing Baghdad|url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E5D71230F932A25752C0A9619C8B6|author=David E. Sanger|date=January 11, 2007|publisher=New York Times}} “He put it far more bluntly when leaders of Congress visited the White House earlier on Wednesday. ‘I said to Maliki this has to work or you’re out,’ the president told the Congressional leaders, according to two officials who were in the room. Pressed on why he thought this strategy would succeed where previous efforts had failed, Mr. Bush shot back: ‘Because it has to.’”</ref> On January 23, 2007 in the [[2007 State of the Union Address]], Bush announced "deploying reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq." On February 10, 2007 [[David Petraeus]] was made commander of [[Multinational Force Iraq|Multi-National Force - Iraq]] (MNF-I), the four-star post that oversees all U.S. forces in the country, replacing General [[George William Casey Jr.|George Casey]]. In his new position, Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces in Iraq and employed them in the new [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|"Surge" strategy]] outlined by the Bush administration.<ref>{{cite news
|first=John
|last=Holusha
|title=Petraeus Calls Iraq Situation Dire
|publisher=New York Times
|date=January 23, 2007}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
|first=Michael
|last=Gordon
|title=Bush to Name a New General to Oversee Iraq
|work=The New York Times
|date=January 5, 2007}}
</ref> 2007 also saw a sharp increase in insurgent [[Chlorine bombings in Iraq|chlorine bombings]].

However, maintaining higher troop levels in the face of higher casualties required two changes in the army. Tours of duty were increased and the [[Moral Waiver|exclusions of volunteers]] with a history of criminal acts were relaxed. A defense department sponsored report described increased length of tours leading to higher stress which increase manifestations of anger and disrespect for civilians.<ref>Harben, J. (May 4, 2007) [http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/news/releases/20070504mhat.cfm "Mental Health Advisory Team IV Findings Released,"] press release ''US Army Medical Command''</ref> Statistics released in April indicated that more and more soldiers have been deserting their duty, a sharp rise from the years before.<ref>Associated Press (April 10, 2007) [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265137,00.html "Army Statistics Show More Soldiers Are Deserting Their Duty,"] ''FOXNews.com''</ref>

On May 10, 2007, 144 Iraqi Parliamentary lawmakers signed onto a legislative petition calling on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271210,00.html Iraq Bill Demands U.S. Troop Withdraw]Associated Press, ''[[Fox News]]'', May 10, 2007</ref> On June 3, 2007, the Iraqi Parliament voted 85 to 59 to require the Iraqi government to consult with Parliament before requesting additional extensions of the UN Security Council Mandate for Coalition operations in Iraq.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1180960615762&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Iraqi parliament wants say in extension of US-led forces] Associated Press, ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'', June 5, 2007</ref> Despite this, the mandate was renewed on December 18, 2007 without the approval of the Iraqi parliament.<ref>{{cite news | title=Bush, Maliki Break Iraqi Law to Renew U.N. Mandate for Occupation | url=http://www.alternet.org/story/71144/ | publisher=[[AlterNet]] | author=Raed Jarrar | coauthors=Joshua Holland | date=2007-12-20 | accessdate=2008-06-12 }}</ref>

[[Image:Land Rover Defender 110 patrol vehicles.jpg|thumb|right|British [[Land Rover Wolf]]s on patrol around [[Basra]]]]
Pressures on U.S. troops were compounded by the continuing withdrawal of British forces from the [[Basra Governorate]]. In early 2007, [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] announced that following [[Operation Sinbad]] UK troops would begin to withdraw from Basra, handing security over to the Iraqis.<ref> BBC NEWS February 21, 2007, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6380933.stm ''Blair announces Iraq troops cut'']</ref> This announcement was confirmed in the autumn by Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]], Blair's successor, who again outlined a withdrawal plan for the remaining UK forces with a complete withdrawal date sometime in late 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mark Deen |coauthors=Robert Hutton |title= Major Says Brown Playing Politics With Iraq, UK. Election|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a47f0v06F47s&refer=home |publisher=[[Bloomberg.com]] |date=October 2, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-14 }}</ref> In July Danish Prime Minister [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]] also announced the withdrawal of 441 Danish troops from Iraq, leaving only a unit of nine soldiers manning four observational helicopters.<ref>[[Al-Jazeera]] ENGLISH, February 21, 2007, [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/70F3CDDC-B326-45FC-9A2F-85F9E74FBF8C.htm Blair announces Iraq troop pullout]</ref>

===Planned troop reduction===

In a speech made to Congress on September 10, 2007, General David Petraeus "envisioned the withdrawal of roughly 30,000 U.S. troops by next summer, beginning with a Marine contingent [in September]."<ref>Flaherty, A. (September 10, 2007) [http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/09/10/759884.html "Petraeus Talks of Troop Withdrawal,"] ''Associated Press''</ref> On September 14, President Bush backed a limited withdrawal of troops from Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bush pledges Iraq troop reduction|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-09-14|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6993721.stm|accessdate=2007-09-14}}</ref> Bush said 5,700 personnel would be home by Christmas 2007, and expected thousands more to return by July 2008. The plan would take troop numbers back to their level before the surge at the beginning of 2007. Controversy arose when former Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]] announced before the surge took place that there would have to be a draw down of troops by mid-2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=DeYoung |first=Karen |title=Powell Says U.S. Losing in Iraq, Calls for Drawdown by Mid-2007 |publisher= The Washington Post |date=[2006-12-18] |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700494_pf.html |accessdate=2007-03-02}}</ref>

===Effects of the surge on security===
[[Image:army.mil-2007-03-21-084518.jpg|thumb|left|U.S. soldiers take cover during a [[firefight]] with insurgents in the [[Al Doura]] section of Baghdad March 7, 2007]]

By March 2008, violence in Iraq was reported curtailed by 40-80%, according to a Pentagon report.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/23/iraq.security/ Pentagon: Violence down in Iraq since 'surge' : CNN]</ref> Independent reports<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6983841.stm US surge has failed - Iraqi poll] [[BBC]] September 10, 2007</ref><ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3571504 Few See Security Gains] [[ABC News|ABC]] September 10, 2007</ref> raised questions about those assessments. An Iraqi military spokesman claimed that civilian deaths since the start of the troop surge plan were 265 in Baghdad, down from 1,440 in the four previous weeks. The ''New York Times'' counted more than 450 Iraqi civilians killed during the same 28-day period, based on initial daily reports from Interior Ministry and hospital officials.

Historically, the daily counts tallied by the ''NYT'' have underestimated the total death toll by 50% or more when compared to studies by the United Nations, which rely upon figures from the Iraqi Health Ministry and morgue figures.<ref> [http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070315/NEWS/703150441/1052|title=www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070315/NEWS/703150441/1052 "Baghdad violence decrease debatable"]. By Damien Cave — The ''[[New York Times]]''. March 15, 2007. ''[[Telegram & Gazette|Worcester Telegram & Gazette News]].'' </ref>

The rate of American combat deaths in Baghdad nearly doubled to 3.14/day in the first seven weeks of the "surge" in security activity, compared to previous period. Across the rest of Iraq it reduced slightly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/world/middleeast/09surge.html|title=Patterns of War Shift in Iraq Amid U.S. Buildup : nytimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icasualties.org/oif/SumDetails.aspx?hndRef=6|title=icasualties.org}}</ref>

[[Image:Houseraidiraqaug2007.jpg|thumb|An Iraqi woman looks on as U.S. soldiers search the courtyard of her house in Ameriyah, Iraq. House searches by U.S. soldiers are a common occurrence in the Iraq war.]]

On August 14, 2007 the [[2007 Qahtaniya bombings|deadliest single attack of the whole war]] occurred. Nearly 800 civilians were killed by a series of co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks on the northern Iraqi settlement of [[Qahtaniya]]. More than 100 homes and shops were destroyed in the blasts. US officials blamed [[al-Qaeda in Iraq]]. The targeted villagers belonged to the non-Muslim [[Yazidi]] ethnic minority. The attack may have represented the latest in a feud that erupted earlier that year when members of the Yazidi community stoned to death a teenage girl called [[Du’a Khalil Aswad]] accused of dating a Sunni Arab man and converting to Islam. The killing of the girl was recorded on camera-mobiles and the video was uploaded onto the internet<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2149392,00.html "Search goes on as Iraq death toll tops 250"] Guardian August 15 </ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22257645-663,00.html "Iraq toll could hit 500"]</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2151361,00.html "They won't stop until we are all wiped out"] Guardian August 18, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/world/middleeast/22iraq-top.html?_r=2&hp&oref=login&oref=slogin "Toll in Iraq Bombings Is Raised to More Than 500"]</ref>

On September 13, 2007 [[Abdul Sattar Abu Risha]] was killed in a bomb attack in the city of [[Ramadi]].<ref>{{citenews|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6993211.stm|title=Iraqi insurgents kill key US ally|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-09-13|accessdate = 2007-09-14}}</ref> He was an important US ally because he led the "[[Anbar Awakening]]", an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that opposed [[al-Qaeda in Iraq]]. The latter organisation claimed responsibility for the attack.<ref>{{cite news|last=Compton|first=Ann|coauthors=Terry McCarthy and Martha Raddatz|title=Top Sunni Sheik Killed in IED Attack|publisher=ABC News|date=[[2007-09-13]]|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3596631 }}</ref> A statement posted on the Internet by the shadowy [[Islamic State of Iraq]] called Abu Risha "one of the dogs of Bush" and described Thursday's killing as a "heroic operation that took over a month to prepare"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402539.html |title=Mourners Vow Revenge at Sheik's Funeral - washingtonpost.com<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>.

[[Image:US Troop Deaths with Surge.jpg|thumbnail|left|US Fatalities in Iraq by month. The decline in deaths following the surge has been highlighted in red.]]

There was a reported trend of decreasing US troop deaths after May 2007,<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties.htm U.S. Casualties in Iraq] [[GlobalSecurity.org]]</ref> and violence against coalition troops had fallen to the "lowest levels since the first year of the American invasion".<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oYeFwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD8TIU33G0 US General Says Iraq Violence Down] [[The Associated Press]] December 17, 2007</ref> These, and several other positive developments, were attributed to the surge by many analysts.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/tim_hames/article3059926.ece Iraq - the best story of the year] [[The Times]] December 17, 2007</ref> Data from [[The Pentagon]] and other US agencies such as the [[Government Accountability Office]] (GAO) found that daily attacks against civilians in Iraq remained “''about the same''” since February. The GAO also stated that there was no discernible trend in sectarian violence.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22366787-2703,00.html Surge hasn't curbed violence in Iraq] [[The Australian]] September 05, 2007</ref> However, this report ran counter to reports to Congress, which showed a general downward trend in civilian deaths and ethno-sectarian violence since December 2006.<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/FINAL-SecDef%20Signed-20071214.pdf "Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq"] December 2007 Report to Congress, sec. 1.3-Security Environment, p. 18-Overall trends in violence</ref> By late 2007, as the U.S. troop surge began to wind down, violence in Iraq had begun to decrease from its 2006 highs. However, political progress remained slow as the Shia-Kurd coalition government continued to stall on any significant progress on the host of issues facing Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/23386.html |title=McClatchy Washington Bureau &#124; 12/18/2007 &#124; Despite drop in violence, Pentagon finds little long-term progress in Iraq<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Mcclatchydc.com |author=Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>

Reports from the ground dispute that the surge had a significant effect on security in Iraq. While life in [[Baghdad]] improved in 2007-08, the main reason this was that the battle for Baghdad in 2006-07 between the [[Shia]] and the [[Sunni]] populations was won by the Shia, who as of September 2008 controlled three-quarters of the capital. These demographic changes appeared permanent; Sunni families who try to get their houses back faced assassination. Thus the war against the American occupation by the Sunni community, who had been favoured under Saddam Hussein, had largely ended. The Sunni have been largely defeated, not so much by the US army as by the Shia-led Iraqi government and the Shia militias.<ref>The Independent, September 15, 2008, "Iraq: Violence Is Down – But Not Because of America's 'Surge': If fewer US troops and Iraqis are being killed, it is only because the Shia community and Iran now dominate, http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/09/15 </ref> Entire neighborhoods in Baghdad were ethnically cleansed by Shia and Sunni militias and [[sectarian violence]] has broken out in every Iraqi city where there is a mixed population.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/mar/04/usa.iraq Sects slice up Iraq as US troops 'surge' misfires]</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-is-disintegrating-as-ethnic-cleansing-takes-hold-478937.html Iraq is disintegrating as ethnic cleansing takes hold]</ref><ref>[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/784/sc4.htm "There is ethnic cleansing"]</ref> This assessment is supported by a study of satelite imagery tracking the amount of light emitted by Baghdad neighborhoods at night. The interpretation of the data was that violence had declined in Baghdad due to [[ethnic cleansing]] and that intercommunal violence had reached a climax as the surge was beginning. John Agnew, an authority on ethnic conflict and leader of the project stated "''The surge really seems to have been a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.''"<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080919074830.htm Study Of Satellite Imagery Casts Doubt On Surge's Success In Baghdad] [[ScienceDaily]] September 22, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN1953066020080919 Satellite images show ethnic cleanout in Iraq], Reuters, September 19, 2008</ref>

<!--on what other hand? This is the same argument that the surge did nothing--->
On the other hand, investigative reporter [[Bob Woodward]] cites U.S. government sources according to which the US "surge" was not the primary reason for the drop in violence in 2007-2008. Instead, according to that view, the reduction of violence was due to newer covert techniques by US military and intelligence officials to find, target and kill insurgents.<ref>BBC News, September 5, 2008, "US 'Spying' on Iraqi Leadership" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7600077.stm citing the book "The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006-2008" by Bob Woodward</ref>

In the Shia region near [[Basra]], British forces turned over security for the region to Iraqi Security Forces. Basra is the ninth province of Iraq's 18 provinces to be returned to local security forces' control since the beginning of the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gW-7Ed_dRI4S2lsuyMWJ2-0GO7aw |title=AFP: Iraq takes control of Basra from British army<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Afp.google.com |author=Dec 15, 2007 |date=December 15, 2007 |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>

===Political developments===
[[Image:Congbench.PNG|thumb|right|Official Iraq-benchmark of the Congress 2007]]
More than half of the members of Iraq's parliament rejected the continuing occupation of their country for the first time. 144 of the 275 lawmakers signed onto a legislative petition that would require the Iraqi government to seek approval from Parliament before it requests an extension of the U.N. mandate for foreign forces to be in Iraq, which expires at the end of 2008. It also calls for a timetable for troop withdrawal and a freeze on the size of foreign forces. The U.N. Security Council mandate for U.S.-led forces in Iraq will terminate "if requested by the government of Iraq."<ref>Abdul-Zahra, Q. (May 10, 2007) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051000387.html "Iraqi Bill on Troop Pullout Discussed"] ''Washington Post'' accessed May 10, 2007</ref> Under Iraqi law, the speaker must present a resolution called for by a majority of lawmakers.<ref>Jarrar, R. and Holland, J. (May 9, 2007) [http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/51624/ "Majority of Iraqi Lawmakers Now Reject Occupation"] ''AlterNet.org'' retrieved May 10, 2007</ref> 59% of those polled in the U.S. support a timetable for withdrawal.<ref>Saad, L. (May 9, 2007) [http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=27532 "Americans Favor Iraq Timetable, Don't Foresee Increased Terrorism"] ''USA Today/Gallup poll'' retrieved May 10, 2007</ref>

In mid-2007, the Coalition began a controversial program to recruit Iraqi Sunnis for the formation of "Guardian" militias. These Guardian militias are intended to support and secure various Sunni neighborhoods unable to provide internal security themselves.<ref>{{cite news|title=US uses Sunnis to patrol streets|publisher=New York Times|date=[[2007-08-20]]|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-uses-sunnis-to-patrol-streets/2007/08/19/1187462082102.html }}</ref>

===Tensions with Iran===
{{see|United States-Iran relations|Karbala provincial headquarters raid}}
In 2007, tensions increased greatly between [[Iran]] and [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] due to the latter's giving sanctuary to the militant anti-Iranian group [[Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan]] (PEJAK.) According to reports, Iran had been shelling PEJAK positions in Iraqi Kurdistan since August 16. These tensions further increased with an alleged border incursion on August 23 by Iranian troops who attacked several Kurdish villages killing an unknown number of civilians and militants.<ref>{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Chris|coauthors=Yaseen Taha|title=Iranians attack Kurdish rebels in Iraq|publisher=McClatchy Washington Bureau|date=[[2007-08-23]]|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/19172.html }}</ref>

Coalition forces also [[Kill or Capture strategy|began to target]] alleged Iranian [[Quds force]] operatives in Iraq, either [[US raid on Iranian liaison office in Arbil|arresting or killing suspected members]]. The Bush administration and coalition leaders began to publicly state that Iran was supplying weapons, particularly [[Explosively formed penetrator|EFP]] devices, to Iraqi insurgents and militias although to date have failed to provide any proof for these allegations. Further sanctions on Iranian organizations were also announced by the Bush administration in the Autumn of 2007. On November 21, 2007 Lieutenant General James Dubik, who is in charge of training Iraqi security forces, praised Iran for its "contribution to the reduction of violence" in Iraq by upholding its pledge to stop the flow of weapons, explosives and training of extremists in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gyE_23JcWcBZt06lpBqxSXqpkOXg |title=US general says Iran helping stop Iraq bloodshed|publisher=Agence France Presse |date=[[2007-11-21]] }}</ref>

In April 2008, the United States accused an alleged Iranian backed insurgency of launching attacks on Iraqi civilians and US-led multinational forces and claimed that approximately 90 percent of foreign terrorists entered Iraq through Syria.

"Iran and Syria must stop the flow of weapons and foreign fighters into Iraq, and their malign interference in Iraq," U.S. [[Ambassador]] [[Zalmay Khalilzad]] said Monday in a report to the U.N. Security Council on behalf of the multinational force in Iraq.
The Iranian and Syrian governments, however, have repeatedly denied trying to destabilize Iraq and insist there is no proof.<ref>{{cite news|title=US accuses Iran and Syria of trying to destabilize Iraq|publisher=Associated Press|date=[[2008-04-29]]|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/29/news/UN-GEN-UN-Iraq.php }}</ref>

On May 2, 2008, An Iraqi delegation in Iran confronted the Iranian security officials with evidence that Tehran was providing support for Shi'ite militias battling Iraqi government forces. According to Haidar al-Ibadi, a member of Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nuri al-Maliki]]'s [[Islamic Dawa Party|Dawah party]], list of names, training camps and cells linked to Iran were presented to the Iranian officials.<ref>{{cite news|last=al-Ansary|first=Khalid|title=Iraq presents proof of Iranian meddling-official|publisher=Reuters|date=[[2008-05-02]]|url= http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSCOL245002 }}</ref> The Iranian officials denied the accusations and the Iraqi government has since announced that there is no hard evidence against Iran.<ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/05/iraq-the-elusiv.html IRAQ: The elusive Iranian weapons] [[Los Angeles Times]] May 8, 2008</ref>

===Tensions with Turkey===
{{see|2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq}}

[[Image:December 2007 bombing of northern Iraq.jpg|left|thumb|Turkish aircraft on an attack mission during the [[2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq]]]]

Border incursions by [[PKK]] militants based in Iraqi Kurdistan have continued to harass Turkish forces, with casualties on both sides increasing tensions between Turkey, a [[NATO]] ally, and Iraqi Kurdistan.

In the fall of 2007, the Turkish military stated their right to cross the Iraqi Kurdistan border in "hot pursuit" of PKK militants and began shelling Kurdish villages in Iraq and attacking PKK bases in the [[Mount Cudi]] region with aircraft.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119203192366554757.html?mod=googlenews_wsj, link inactive</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Robertson|first=Nic|coauthors=Ingrid Formanek and Talia Kayali|title=Attacks cross Iraq-Turkey border|publisher=CNN|date=[[2007-10-14]]|url= http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/10/14/iraq.turkey/ }}</ref>
The Turkish parliament approved a resolution permitting the military to pursue the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan.<ref>{{cite news|last=Meixler|first=Louis|title=Turkey May Attack Kurds Using Airstrikes, Troops|publisher=Bloomberg|date=[[2007-10-23]]|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aa16LVehMeiU&refer=home }}</ref> In November, Turkish gunships attacked parts of northern Iraq in the first such attack by Turkish aircraft since the border tensions escalated.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barazanji|first=Yahya|title=Turkish Helicopters Strike Inside Iraq|publisher=Huffington Post|date=[[2007-11-13]]|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071113/iraq-turkey-kurds/ }}</ref> Another series of attacks in mid-December hit PKK targets in the Qandil, Zap, Avashin and Hakurk regions. The latest series of attacks involved at least 50 aircraft and artillery and Kurdish officials reported one civilian killed and two wounded.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tavernise|first=Sabrina|title=Turkey Bombs Kurdish Militant Targets in Iraq|publisher=New York Times|date=[[2007-12-16]]|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/world/middleeast/16cnd-turkey.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin }}</ref>

Additionally, weapons that were originally given to Iraqi security forces by the American military are being recovered by authorities in Turkey after being used in violent crimes in that country.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cloud|first=David S.|coauthors=Eric Schmitt|title=U.S. Weapons, Given to Iraqis, Move to Turkey|publisher=New York Times|date=[[2007-08-30]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/washington/30contract.html }}</ref>

===Private security firm controversy===
{{main|Blackwater Baghdad shootings}}
On September 17, 2007, the Iraqi government announced that it was revoking the license of the American security firm [[Blackwater USA]] over the firm's involvement in the deaths of eight civilians, including a woman and an infant,<ref>{{cite news|last=Glanz|first=James|coauthors=Sabrina Tavernise|title=Blackwater Shooting Scene Was Chaotic|publisher=New York Times|date=[[2007-09-28]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/world/middleeast/28blackwater.html?em&ex=1191124800&en=4f97093bf0477829&ei=5087%0A }}</ref> in a firefight that followed a car bomb explosion near a State Department motorcade. Additional investigations of [[Blackwater USA arms smuggling allegations|alleged arms smuggling]] involving the firm was also under way. Blackwater is currently one of the most high-profile firms operating in Iraq, with around 1,000 employees as well as a fleet of helicopters in the country. Whether the group may be legally prosecuted is still [[Unlawful combatant#Mercenaries and private military companies|a matter of debate]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mroue|first=Bassem|title=Blackwater License Being Revoked in Iraq|publisher=The Guardian (London)|date=[[2007-09-17]]|url=http://saywhen.wordpress.com/2007/09/17/blackwater-license-being-revoked-in-iraq/ }}</ref>

==2008==
{{see|2008 in Iraq}}
In early January, the Maliki government began consideration of a new law to politically rehabilitate former [[Baath Party]] members.<ref>{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Dan|title=In Baghdad, Rice praises law reintegrating former Baathists|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|date=[[2008-01-15]]|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0115/p99s01-duts.html }}</ref>

[[Image:Turkey South (3d).gif|thumb|right|200px|3D Map of Southern Turkey and Northern Iraq]]The ongoing conflict between Turkey and [[PKK]]<ref>http://www.statewatch.org/terrorlists/docs/EUterrorlist-May-06.pdf EU terror list</ref><ref>http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm US terror list</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=NATO chief declares PKK terrorist group|publisher=Xinhua|date=[[2005-12-20]]|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200512/20/eng20051220_229424.html }}</ref> intensified on February 21, when Turkey [[2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq|launched a ground attack]] into the Quandeel Mountains of Northern Iraq. In the nine day long operation, around 10,000 Turkish troops advanced up to 25 km into Northern Iraq. This was the first substantial ground incursion by Turkish forces since 1995.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bentley|first=Mark|title=Turkish Army Begins Ground Assault on PKK in Iraq|publisher=Bloomberg|date=[[2008-02-22]]|url= http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aAwz3G7kM9rE&refer=home }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Gov't gives no timetable for return |publisher= Turkish Daily News|date=[[2008-02-26]]|url=http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=97414 }}</ref> Shortly after the incursion began, both the Iraqi cabinet and the Kurdistan regional government condemned Turkey's actions and called for the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops from the region.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kamber|first=Michael|title=Iraq Cabinet Demands Turks Leave Kurdish Area in North|publisher=New York Times|date=[[2008-02-27]]|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/world/middleeast/27iraq.html?bl&ex=1204261200&en=0667d0ff53b714a8&ei=5087%0A }}</ref> Turkish troops withdrew on February 29.<ref>{{cite news|last=Torchia|first=Christopher|title=Turkish Troops Withdraw from Iraq|publisher=Associated Press|date=[[2008-02-29]]|url= http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hHDG79AIius7McB6xz3lTQFLIdhQD8V479B00 }}</ref>

The fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war on March 20 was marked by a speech by George Bush declaring that the surge strategy had been a success and that America was headed for victory. Critics of the war were less optimistic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Spetalnick|first=Matt|title=Bush again talks of Iraq victory five years on|publisher=Reuters|date= [[2008-03-20]]|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN1929611920080320?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 }}</ref>

Meanwhile the war went on, with American forces targeting al-Qaeda strongholds in Mosul.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dozens die in attacks across Iraq|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2008-03-23]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7310173.stm }}</ref> In late March, the [[Green Zone]] in Baghdad came under repeated rocket attack, killing two U.S. government officials and injuring several others.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Matthew|title=Diplomats Told to Take Cover in Baghdad|publisher=Town Hall|date=[[2008-03-27]]|url= http://www.townhall.com/news/us/2008/03/27/diplomats_told_to_take_cover_in_baghdad }}</ref> According to General David Petraeus, Iranian-trained insurgents were responsible for the attack.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iran 'behind Green Zone attack'|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2008-03-24]]|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7311565.stm }}</ref> On a day of increased [[violence]] and [[List of suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003|suicide bombings across Iraq]], the death of four soldiers brought the total death toll of American forces, since the beginning of the war, to 4000.<ref>{{cite news|title=US army deaths in Iraq hit 4,000|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2008-03-24]]|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7310924.stm }}</ref>

===Spring offensives on Shia militias===
{{see|Iraq Spring Fighting of 2008|Battle of Basra (2008)}}
At the end of March, the Iraqi Army, with Coalition air support, launched an offensive, dubbed "Charge of the Knights", in Basra to secure the area from militias. This was the first major operation where the Iraqi Army did not have direct combat support from conventional coalition ground troops. The offensive was opposed by the [[Mahdi Army]], one of the militias, which controlled much of the region.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dagher|first=Sam|title=Across Iraq, battles erupt with Mahdi Army|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|date= [[2008-03-26]]|page=2|url= http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0326/p01s13-woiq.html?page=2 }}</ref><ref name=driveinbasra>{{cite news|author=Stephen Farrell and Ahmar Karim|title=Drive in Basra by Iraqi Army Makes Gains|publisher=The New York Times|date=[[2008-05-12]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/world/middleeast/12basra.html?ref=middleeast|accessdate= 2008-05-12 }}</ref> Fighting quickly spread to other parts of Iraq: including [[Sadr City]], [[Al Kut]], [[Al Hillah]] and others. During the fighting Iraqi forces met stiff resistance from militiamen in Basra to the point that the Iraqi military offensive slowed to a crawl, with the high attrition rates finally forcing the Sadrists to the negotiating table.

Following talks with Brig. Gen. [[Qassem Suleimani]], commander of the [[Quds Force|Qods brigades]] of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the intercession of the Iranian government, on March 31, 2008, al-Sadr ordered his followers to ceasefire.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fadel|first=Leila|title=After Iranian mediation, firebrand Iraqi cleric orders halt to attacks|publisher=McClatchy Newspapers|date=[[2008-03-30]]|url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20080331/wl_mcclatchy/2895005_1 }}</ref> The militiamen did keep their weapons and blended back into the population.

By May 12, 2008, Basra "residents overwhelmingly reported a substantial improvement in their everyday lives" according to ''[[The New York Times]]''. "Government forces have now taken over Islamic militants’ headquarters and halted the death squads and 'vice enforcers’ who attacked women, Christians, musicians, alcohol sellers and anyone suspected of collaborating with Westerners", according to the report; however, when asked how long it would take for lawlessness to resume if the Iraqi army left, one resident replied, "one day".<ref name=driveinbasra />

In late April roadside bombings continued to rise from a low in January of 114 to over 250, surpassing the May 2007 high.

In early May, the Iraqi government called on the residents of Sadr City to flee after more than 40 days of fighting, which left between 500-1,000 people dead. Due to the nearly constant violence, there are ongoing shortages of food, water, and other supplies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fadel|first=Leila|title=Iraqi military orders Sadr City residents to evacuate|publisher=McClatchy Newspapers|date=[[2008-05-08]]|url= http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/36436.html }}</ref>

===Congressional testimony===

[[Image:General David Petraeus in testimony before Congress.jpg|thumb|left|General [[David Petraeus]] in testimony before Congress]]

Speaking before the U.S. Congress on April 8, 2008, General [[David Petraeus]] urged delaying troop withdrawals, saying, "I’ve repeatedly noted that we haven’t turned any corners, we haven’t seen any lights at the end of the tunnel," referencing the comments of President Bush and former Vietnam-era General [[William Westmoreland]].<ref>Zremski, J. (4/09/08) [http://www.buffalonews.com/180/story/318826.html "Petraeus urges withdrawal delay"] ''Buffalo News''</ref> When asked by Senator [[Evan Bayh]] if reasonable people could disagree on the way forward, Petraeus responded, "I don’t know if I would go that far."<ref>Grim, R. (April 8, 2008) [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/08/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4001976.shtml "Petraeus: No Corners Turned Or Lights At The End Of The Tunnel"] ''CBS News''</ref> When asked twice again about that point, Petraeus said, "We fight for the right of people to have other opinions."<ref>Smith, S.A. (April 9, 2008) [http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080409/NEWS03/804090318/1002/LOCAL "Senators grill Petraeus,"] Indiana ''Journal-Gazette''</ref>

Presidential candidate and Senator [[John McCain]] said that it was reckless and irresponsible to call for troop withdrawals. Senator [[Hillary Clinton]], disagreed, saying it may be more irresponsible to leave troops in. Senator [[Barack Obama]] remarked, "if the definition of success is so high: no traces of Al Qaida and no possibility of reconstitution, a highly effective Iraqi government, a democratic multi-ethnic, multi-sectarian functioning democracy with no Iranian influence, at least not of the kind that we don't like, then that portends the possibility of us staying for 20 or 30 years. If, on the other hand, our criteria is a messy, sloppy status quo but there's not huge outbreaks of violence, there's still corruption, but the country is struggling along, but it's not a threat to its neighbors and it's not an Al Qaida base, that seems to me an achievable goal within a measurable timeframe."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040802607_pf.html "Obama Questions Petraeus at Senate Hearing,"] April 8, 2008, ''CQ Transcripts''</ref>

Upon questioning by Senate committee chair [[Joe Biden]], Ambassador Crocker admitted that [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]] was less important than the separate [[Al-Qaeda]] organization led by [[Osama bin Laden]] along the Afghan-Pakistani border.<ref>Ambinder, M. (April 9, 2002) [http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/04/bidens_audition.php "Biden's Audition?"] ''The Atlantic''</ref> Lawmakers from both parties complained that U.S. taxpayers are carrying Iraq's burden as it earns billions of dollars in oil revenues. Democrats plan to push legislation this spring that would force the Iraqi government to spend its own surplus to rebuild.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/politics/17417284.html]{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref>

When asked by Republican Senator [[John Warner]] whether the Iraq War is making the U.S. safer, Petraeus stated that it would ultimately be up to history.<ref>Bennen, S. (April 9, 2007) [http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15152.html "The central front in the ‘war on terror’?"] ''The Carpetbagger Report''</ref> Senator [[George Voinovich]], a broke with his Republican party line saying the country is, "kind of bankrupted ... in a recession."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/biden_treads_li.html |title=Biden treads lightly at Iraq hearing - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com |publisher=Boston.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref> Republican Senator [[Chuck Hagel]] asked about Ambassador [[Ryan Crocker]]'s "diplomatic surge," and its apparent lack of results in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june08/hearings_04-08.html |title=Online NewsHour: Report &#124; Congress Hears Iraq Status Report &#124; April 8, 2008 &#124; PBS |publisher=Pbs.org |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref> Republican Senator [[Bob Corker]] asked for an articulated exit strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/apr/08/lawmakers-seek-answers-iraq-strategy-during-petrae/ |title=Chattanooga Times Free Press &#124; Lawmakers to seek answers on Iraq strategy during Petraeus testimony |publisher=Timesfreepress.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref>

===Status of forces agreement===

Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] told U.S. President George W. Bush on April 9, 2008 that Iraqi security forces are capable of their duties and U.S. troops should be pulled out as the situation allows.<ref>Associated Press (April 10, 2008) [http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/middle_east/view.bg?articleid=1086271&srvc=rss "US airstrikes target militants in Iraq, clashes leave 15 dead"]</ref> In May 2007, Bush said, "We are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government. This is a sovereign nation. Twelve million people went to the polls to approve a constitution. It's their government's choice. If they were to say, leave, we would leave."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070524.html "Press Conference by the President"] May 24, 2007</ref>

Bush said on April 11, 2008, that he is not ready to order further troop withdrawals from Iraq. The last of the surge troops are expected to return home in July. Any further withdrawals will be suspended for at least 45 days while General David Petraeus decides if they are possible.<ref>Voice of America (April 11, 2008) [http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2008-04-11-voa1.cfm "Bush Gives General 'All the Time He Needs' to Decide on Iraq Troop Reductions"]</ref>

Negotiations have begun between the Maliki government and the U.S. on the [[Status of Forces Agreement]] (SOFA) for U.S. forces in Iraq. In an interview January 24, 2008, US Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] indicated that work on a SOFA had barely been started.
<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080125/wl_afp/usiraqmilitarybases_080124233954
|title=US not interested in permanent Iraq bases: Gates
|month=January
|year=2008
|publisher=AFP
|accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref> The current U.N. authorization allowing coalition troops in Iraq expires at the end of 2008.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}

The U.S. is pushing for an agreement that allows the continued presence of the U.S. military along with several supporting bases. The Maliki government is considering the agreement, but required the U.S. to provide a timetable for the withdrawal of its military from Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR2008070801311.html |title=Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In U.S. Pact - washingtonpost.com<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref> [[Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani]] suggested to Maliki that the issue be either voted on by the Iraqi Parliament or through a referendum. As the negotiations have progressed, one issue was resolved, civilian contractors will no longer receive immunity from Iraqi prosecution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/07/iraq.security/index.html?eref=rss_topstories |title=Iraq security improving, top U.S. officer says - CNN.com<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Cnn.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref> Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pushed for a complete U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq by 2011.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/25/AR2008082500771.html ''Washington Post'': Maliki Demands All U.S. Troops Pull Out by 2011]</ref>

On June 13, 2008, [[Iraqi]] Prime Minister [[Nuri al-Maliki]] said that negotiations with the United States on a long-term security pact were deadlocked because of concern the deal infringes Iraqi sovereignty. "We have reached an impasse because when we opened these negotiations we did not realize that the US demands would so deeply affect Iraqi sovereignty and this is something we can never accept," he said in [[Amman]], [[Jordan]]. "We cannot allow US forces to have the right to jail Iraqis or assume, alone, the responsibility of fighting against terrorism," Maliki told Jordanian newspaper editors, according to a journalist present at the meeting.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gK64eeNme-jyZF-g9qsIQhGe64vA
|title=Maliki says talks on Iraq-US security pact deadlocked
|month=June
|year=2008
|publisher=AFP
|accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref>
However, on June 15, 2008, Iraqi Foreign Minister [[Hoshyar Zebari]] said that US-Iraqi negotiations for a long-term security pact were not dead and that despite difficulties, a deal would be signed "by the end of July. . . these talks are ongoing. They're not dead," Zebari said of negotiations to decide the future of the US military presence in Iraq after the current UN mandate expires in December 2008.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMuh0pKIVij2MxkeHqkzMtDMfmnQ
|title=US-Iraq security pact 'not dead,' deal ready in July: Iraqi FM
|month=June
|year=2008
|publisher=AFP
|accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref>

On July 1, 2008, Zebari said he briefed members of the [[Iraqi Parliament]] that US contractors would no longer have immunity from Iraqi prosecution under negotiated terms of the long-term security pact. [[US State Department]] officials could not be immediately reached for comment, but Iraqi member of parliament [[Mahmoud Othman]] said he attended the meeting and that Iraqi representatives were very pleased with the immunity agreement.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/01/iraq.main/index.html
|title=Iraqi minister: Deal seeks to end security contractors' immunity
|month=July
|year=2008
|publisher=CNN
|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref>

On July 8, 2008, Grand Ayatollah [[Ali al-Sistani]] rejected the proposed agreement on the basis that it violates Iraqi sovereignty, following a meeting with Iraq National Security Advisor [[Mowaffak al-Rubaie]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.upi.com/Emerging_Threats/2008/07/08/Grand_Ayatollah_Ali_Sistani_rejects_SOFA/UPI-69541215548391/
|title=Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani rejects SOFA
|month=July
|year=2008
|publisher=UPI
|accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref>
Rubaie, clarifying remarks by Maliki on [[July 7]] that Iraq would accept a [[memorandum of understanding]] in lieu of a SOFA, stated "We will not accept any memorandum of understanding if it does not give a specific date for a complete withdrawal of foreign troops."<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g0y8zU3BoV5ZmVfC_cwPwEUJIMWw
|title=Iraq to reject US deal without pullout timetable
|month=July
|year=2008
|publisher=AFP
|accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref>
Deputy speaker [[Khaled al-Attiyah]] also said on [[July 8]] that the Iraqi parliament would insist on vetting any agreement with the U.S. and would likely veto the agreement if American troops were immune from Iraqi law: "Without doubt, if the two sides reach an agreement, this is between two countries, and according to the Iraqi constitution a national agreement must be agreed by parliament by a majority of two thirds."<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL08473884
|title=INTERVIEW-Iraq parl't must approve any US security deal -MP
|month=July
|year=2008
|publisher=Reuters
|accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref>

On October 16, 2008, after several more months of negotiations, U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]] and Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] briefed senior U.S. lawmakers on the draft SOFA, and Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki prepared to circulate it with Iraq's [[Political National Security Council]] before going on to the Council of Ministers and the Iraqi parliament. Despite a compromise on the issue of jurisdiction over off-duty U.S. troops who commit crimes under Iraqi law, issues related to the timeline for U.S. withdrawal and Iraqi insistence on "absolute sovereignty" remain.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/16/AR2008101603793.html
|author=[[Karen DeYoung]]
|title=Gates, Rice Brief Lawmakers On Draft Accord With Iraq
|month=October
|year=2008
|publisher=The [[Washington Post]]
|accessdate=2008-10-17}}</ref>

===Iraqi security forces rearm===

Iraq became one of the top current purchasers of U.S. military equipment with their army trading its [[AK-47]] assault rifles for the more accurate U.S. [[M16 rifle|M-16]] and [[M4 Carbine|M-4]] rifles, among other equipment.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-05-21-iraqarms_N.htm Iraqi forces load up on U.S. arms]</ref> This year alone, Iraq accounts for more than $12.5 billion of the $34 billion US weapon sales to foreign countries (not including the potential F-16 fighter planes.)<ref>[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JI24Ak02.html Business as usual for US arms sales]</ref>

Iraq sought 36 [[F-16]]’s, the most sophisticated weapons system Iraq has attempted to purchase. The Pentagon notified Congress that it had approved the sale of 24 American attack helicopters to Iraq, valued at as much as $2.4 billion. Including the helicopters, Iraq announced plans to purchase at least $10 billion in U.S. tanks and armored vehicles, transport planes and other battlefield equipment and services. Over the summer, the Defense Department announced that the Iraqi government wanted to order more than 400 armored vehicles and other equipment worth up to $3 billion, and six C-130J transport planes, worth up to $1.5 billion.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122056503871901333.html.html Iraq Seeks F-16 Fighters]</ref>

==Coalition troop deployment==
{{main|Multinational Force in Iraq}}
{{see also|Dancon/Irak|Deployment of Japanese troops to Iraq|Polish involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq|Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq|Operation Telic order of battle|Plus Ultra Brigade}}

[[Image:Multi-National Force-Iraq ShoulderSIeeveInsignia.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Distinctive unit insignia of the [[Multinational Force Iraq]] (MNF-I)]]

The Multinational Force in Iraq is a military [[command (military formation)|command]] led by the United States fighting the Iraq War against Iraqi insurgents. "Multi-National Force — Iraq" replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on May 15, 2004. The media in the U.S. has used the term '''U.S.-led coalition''' to describe this force, as around 93% of the troops are from the United States.<ref name=willinglist>{{cite news|last=Partlow|first=Joshua|publisher=Washington Post|date= [[2007-12-07]]|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120702585.html |title=List of 'Willing' U.S. Allies Shrinks Steadily in Iraq }}</ref> Due to the expiration of the UN authorization on foreign troops in Iraq, the end of 2008 will mark the end of the Multinational Force in Iraq force with all of the remaining coalition partners withdrawing their armed forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090903043.html?hpid=topnews |title=Most Members of Iraq Coalition Preparing to Pull Up Stakes - washingtonpost.com |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref>
===United Nations===
The [[United Nations]] deployed a small contingent to Iraq to protect UN staff and guard their compounds. The U.N. mandate for this force expires in August 2009.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}

'''United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq ([[UNAMI]])'''

*{{flagicon|Fiji}} [[Fiji]]: 219 blue-helmets
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark]]: 2 military observers
* {{flag|New Zealand}} - 1 military observer
* {{flag|United Kingdom}} - 1 military observer
* {{flag|Austria}} - 1 military observer


===NATO===
Several NATO member-states have deployed instructors to Iraq to train Iraqi security and military forces in conjuction with the MNF: '''[[NATO Training Mission - Iraq]]''' (NTM-I).

==Armed Iraqi groups==
{{see|History of Iraqi insurgency|Sectarian violence in Iraq|Iraqi coalition counter-insurgency operations}}

The [[Iraqi insurgency]] is the armed resistance, by diverse groups, including [[Private militias in Iraq|private militias]], within Iraq opposed to the US occupation and the U.S.-supported [[Government of Iraq from 2006|Iraqi government]]. The fighting has clear sectarian overtones and significant international implications (see [[Civil war in Iraq]].) This campaign has been called the ''Iraqi resistance'' by its supporters and the ''anti-Iraqi forces''(AIF)<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2610633&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 Insurgent Ambush Kills 24 Iraqi Police] October 27, 2006</ref> by [[Multinational force in Iraq|Coalition forces]].

===Insurgents===
[[Image:Iraq attacks.jpg|right|thumb|Most of the insurgent attacks are against Coalition forces.]]
{{main|Iraqi insurgency}}

By fall 2003 these insurgent groups began using typical [[guerrilla]] tactics: ambushes, bombings, kidnappings, and the use of [[improvised explosive device|IEDs]]. Other actions include mortars and suicide attacks, [[explosively formed penetrator]]s, small arms fire, anti-aircraft missiles ([[SA-7]], [[SA-14]], [[SA-16]]) and [[Rocket propelled grenade|RPGs]]. The insurgents also conduct [[sabotage]] against the oil, water, and electrical infrastructure of Iraq. Multi-national Force-Iraq statistics (see detailed [[BBC]] [http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41982000/gif/_41982058_insurg_att_08_06_graph416.gif graphic]) show that the insurgents primarily targeted coalition forces, Iraqi security forces and infrastructure, and lastly civilians and government officials. These [[Irregular military|irregular forces]] favored attacking unarmored or lightly armored [[Humvee]] vehicles, the U.S. military's primary transport vehicle, primarily through the use of roadside IED.<ref>{{cite news |last = Washburn |first = Mark |title = More Americans Dying from Roadside Bombs in Iraq |publisher = [[Knight-Ridder]] |date = [[2005-06-10]] |url = http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0610-05.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last = Arun |first = Neil |title = Shaped bombs magnify Iraq attacks |publisher = BBC News |date = [[2005-10-10]] |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4320818.stm }}</ref> Insurgent groups such as the [[al-Abud Network]] have also attempted to constitute their own chemical weapons programs, trying to weaponise traditional mortar rounds with [[ricin]] and [[Sulfur mustard|mustard toxin]].<ref>{{cite paper|url =http://www.npr.org/documents/2004/cia_wmd/vol3.pdf|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|title=Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to the DCI on Iraq's WMD|format = PDF}}</ref>

There is evidence that some guerrilla groups are organised, perhaps by the fedayeen and other Saddam Hussein or Baath loyalists, religious radicals, Iraqis angered by the occupation, and foreign fighters.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=guerrilla30&date=20030630 |title=Iraqi attacks could signal wide revolt|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=[[2003-06-30]]}}</ref> On February 23, 2005

===Militias===

Two of the most powerful current militias are the [[Mahdi Army]] and the [[Badr Organization]], with both militias having substantial political support in the current Iraqi government. Initially, both organisations were involved in the Iraqi insurgency, most clearly seen with the Mahdi Army at the [[Battle of Najaf (2004)|Battle of Najaf]]. However in recent months, there has been a split between the two groups.

[[Image:Hakim.jpg|thumb|left|Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the [[United Iraqi Alliance]]]]

This violent break between [[Muqtada al-Sadr]]'s Mahdi Army and the rival Badr Organization of [[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]], was seen in the fighting in the town of [[Amarah]] on October 20, 2006, would severely complicate the efforts of Iraqi and American officials to quell the soaring violence.<ref>{{cite news |last = Semple |first = Kirk |title=Attack on Iraqi City Shows Militia’s Power |publisher = New York Times |date=[[2006-10-20]] |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/world/middleeast/21iraqcnd.html?ex=1318996800&en=a542d37a1dff56f9&ei=5088 }}</ref>

More recently in late 2005 and 2006, due to increasing sectarian violence based on either tribal/ethnic distinctions or simply due to increased criminal violence, various militias have formed, with whole neighborhoods and cities sometimes being protected or attacked by ethnic or neighborhood militias. One such group, known as the Anbar Awakening, was formed in September 2006 to fight against Al Qaeda and other radical islamist groups in particularly violent Anbar province. Led by Sheik and Abdul Sattar Buzaigh al-Rishawi, who heads the Sunni Anbar Salvation Council, the [[Awakening movements in Iraq|Anbar Awakening]] has more than 60,000 troops and is seen by key U.S. officials such as Condoleezza Rice as a potential ally to U.S. occupation forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E2DD1731F930A35750C0A9619C8B63|title=In Lawless Sunni Heartland of Iraq, a Tribal Chief Opposes the Jihadists, and Prays}}</ref>

===Al-Qaeda in Iraq===
[[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]] (AQI) is a term to describe a group which is playing an active role in the [[Iraqi insurgency]]. The group was led by [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] until his death in 2006; it is now believed to be led by [[Abu Hamza al-Muhajir]]<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5073092.stm Al-Qaeda in Iraq names new head]", [[BBC News]], June 12, 2006.</ref> (aka [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]].<ref name="Al Masri">Tran, Mark. "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2069653,00.html Al-Qaida in Iraq leader believed dead]", ''[[The Guardian]]'', May 1, 2007.</ref>)

==Casualty estimates==

{{main|Casualties of the Iraq War}}
{{see also|Suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003|Foreign hostages in Iraq|List of Coalition forces killed in Iraq in 2006|List of insurgents killed in Iraq}}

For coalition death totals see the infobox at the top right. See also [[Casualties of the Iraq War]], which has casualty numbers for coalition nations, contractors, non-Iraqi civilians, journalists, media helpers, aid workers, wounded, etc.. The main article also gives explanations for the wide variation in estimates and counts, and shows many ways in which undercounting occurs. Casualty figures, especially Iraqi ones, are highly disputed. This section gives a brief overview.

U.S. General [[Tommy Franks]] reportedly estimated soon after the invasion that there had been 30,000 Iraqi casualties as of April 9, 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040419-secdef1362.html |title = Secretary of Defense Interview with Bob Woodward - 23 Oct, 2003 |work = United States Department of Defense: News Transcript |date = [[2004-04-19]] |accessdate = 2006-08-09 }}</ref> After this initial estimate he made no further public estimates.

In December 2005 President Bush said there were 30,000 Iraqi dead. White House spokesman Scott McClellan later said it was "not an official government estimate", and was based on media reports.<ref> [http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/12/bush.iraq/index.html Bush: Iraqi democracy making progress]. [[CNN]]' December 12, 2005.</ref>

There have been several attempts by the media, coalition governments and others to estimate the Iraqi casualties:

*[[Associated Press]] count (August 9, 2008): 4,136 members of the U.S. military.<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gqgQCcv26kB1dkgZRZNHmbn_1J8gD92EEB9G4]{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5928753.html]{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref> The AP count is one fewer than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Friday at 10 a.m. EDT.
The British military has reported 176 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia and Georgia, three each; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, Romania, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, South Korea, one death each.
*[[Iraqi Health Ministry casualty survey]]: in January 2008 the [[Council of Ministers of Iraq|Iraqi health minister]], Dr Salih Mahdi Motlab Al-Hasanawi, reported the results of the "Iraq Family Health Survey" of 9,345 households across Iraq which was carried out in 2006 and 2007. It estimated 151,000 violence-related Iraqi deaths (95% uncertainty range, 104,000 to 223,000) from March 2003 through June 2006. Employees of the Iraqi Health Ministry carried out the survey for the [[World Health Organization]].<ref name=WHOifhs> [http://www.emro.who.int/iraq/ifhs.htm WHO country office in Iraq. Iraq Family Health Survey]. [[World Health Organization]] (WHO.)</ref> The results were published in the [[New England Journal of Medicine]].<ref name=nejm358>{{cite journal |author=Alkhuzai AH, Ahmad IJ, Hweel MJ, Ismail TW, ''et al.'' |title=Violence-Related Mortality in Iraq from 2002 to 2006 |journal=N Engl J Med |volume=358 |issue=2 |pages=484–93 |year=2008 |pmid=18184950 |doi=10.1056/NEJMsa0707782}}</ref><ref name=bbcNewStudy>{{cite news |title=New study says 151,000 Iraqi dead |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7180055.stm |publisher=[[BBC News Online]] |date=January 10, 2008}}</ref><ref name=guardianNewStudy>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2238250,00.html "151,000 civilians killed since Iraq invasion"]. By Sarah Boseley. January 10, 2008. ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref>
*[[Council of Ministers of Iraq|Iraq's Health Minister]] [[Ali al-Shemari]] said in November 2006 that since the March 2003 invasion between 100,000-150,000 Iraqis have been killed.<ref name=tribune> [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/09/europe/EU_GEN_Austria_Iraqis_Killed.php "Iraqi health minister estimates as many as 150,000 Iraqis killed by insurgents"]. ''[[International Herald Tribune]].'' Nov. 9, 2006.</ref> Al-Shemari said on Thursday, Nov. 9, that he based his figure on an estimate of 100 bodies per day brought to morgues and hospitals.<ref name=taipei>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/11/11/2003335773 "Iraqi death toll estimates go as high as 150,000"]. ''[[Taipei Times]].'' Nov 11, 2006.</ref>
*The [[United Nations]] found that 34,452 violent civilian deaths were reported by morgues, hospitals, and municipal authorities across Iraq in 2006.<ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/world/middleeast/17iraq.html "Iraqi Death Toll Exceeded 34,000 in '06, U.N. Says"]. By Sabrina Tavernise. ''[[New York Times]].'' Jan. 17, 2007.</ref><ref> [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/16/america/NA-GEN-US-Iraq-Casualty-Counts.php "Many organisations keep track of Iraqi casualties — but no one knows the correct number for sure"]. By [[Associated Press]]. ''[[International Herald Tribune]]''. Jan. 16, 2007.</ref>
*The [[Council of Ministers of Iraq|Iraqi ministries of Health, Defence and Interior]] said that 14,298 civilians, 1,348 police, and 627 soldiers were killed in 2006.<ref> [http://www.indianexpress.com/story/19960.html "Bruised and battered: Iraqi toll crosses 16000 in ’06"]. By the [[Associated Press]] January 2, 2007. ''[[The Indian Express]]'' Jan. 3, 2007.</ref> The Iraqi government does not count deaths classed as "criminal", nor those from kidnappings, nor wounded persons who die later as the result of attacks. However "a figure of 3,700 civilian deaths in October 2006, the latest tally given by the UN based on data from the Health Ministry and the Baghdad morgue, was branded exaggerated by the Iraqi Government."<ref name=Australian> [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21001252-23109,00.html "Iraq civilian deaths hit new record]. By Alastair Macdonald. ''[[The Australian]].'' Jan. 2, 2007.</ref>
*The [[Iraq Body Count project]] (IBC) has documented 86,663 - 94,560 violent, non-combatant civilian deaths since the beginning of the war as of August 24, 2008.<ref>[http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ Iraq Body Count project].</ref> However, the IBC has been criticized for counting only a small percentage of the number of actual deaths because they only include deaths reported by specific media agencies.<ref name=medialens> [http://www.medialens.org/alerts/07/070918_the_media_ignore.php "The Media Ignore Credible Poll Revealing 1.2 Million Violent Deaths In Iraq"]. Sept. 18, 2007. ''[[MediaLens]].''</ref><ref name=medialens2> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4951508.stm "Iraq Body Count - Media Lens responds"]. [[BBC]]. April 28, 2006.</ref> IBC Director John Sloboda admits, "We've always said our work is an undercount, you can't possibly expect that a media-based analysis will get all the deaths."<ref>Fuller, David. (April 28, 2006) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4951320.stm "Virtual war follows Iraq conflict"]. ''BBC [[Newsnight]]''</ref>
*The [[Lancet surveys of Iraq War casualties|2006 Lancet survey of casualties of the Iraq War]] estimated 654,965 Iraqi deaths (range of 392,979-942,636) from March 2003 to the end of June 2006.<ref name="Second Lancet Study">{{PDFlink|[http://www.thelancet.com/webfiles/images/journals/lancet/s0140673606694919.pdf "Mortality after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a cross-sectional cluster sample survey"]|242&nbsp;KB}}. By Gilbert Burnham, Riyadh Lafta, Shannon Doocy, and Les Roberts. ''[[The Lancet]],'' October 11, 2006</ref><ref name="Lancet supplement">{{PDFlink|[http://web.mit.edu/CIS/pdf/Human_Cost_of_War.pdf The Human Cost of the War in Iraq: A Mortality Study, 2002-2006]|603&nbsp;KB}}. By Gilbert Burnham, Shannon Doocy, Elizabeth Dzeng, Riyadh Lafta, and Les Roberts. A supplement to the second ''Lancet'' study.</ref> That total number of deaths (all Iraqis) includes all excess deaths due to increased lawlessness, degraded infrastructure, poorer healthcare, etc, and includes civilians, military deaths and insurgent deaths. 601,027 were violent deaths (31% attributed to Coalition, 24% to others, 46% unknown.) A copy of a death certificate was available for a high proportion of the reported deaths (92 per cent of surveyed households produced one.)<ref name="Second Lancet Study"/><ref> [http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/the-iraq-deaths-study-was-valid-and-correct/2006/10/20/1160851135985.html "The Iraq deaths study was valid and correct"]. ''[[The Age]]''. October 21, 2006</ref> The causes of violent deaths were gunshot (56%), car bomb (13%), other explosion/ordnance (14%), air strike (13%), accident (2%), unknown (2%.) The survey results have been criticized as "ridiculous" and "extreme and improbable" by various critics such as the Iraqi government and [[Iraq Body Count project]].<ref> [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1469636.ece "Could 650,000 Iraqis really have died because of the invasion?"]. By Anjana Ahuja. ''[[The Times]].'' March 5, 2007.</ref><ref name=observer/><ref> [http://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/reality-checks/ Reality checks: some responses to the latest Lancet estimates] Iraq Body Count. October 16, 2006.</ref> However, in a letter to The Age, published Oct. 21, 2006, 27 epidemiologists and health professionals defended the methods of the study, writing that the study's "methodology is sound and its conclusions should be taken seriously."
*An [[ORB survey of Iraq War casualties|Opinion Research Business (ORB) survey]] conducted August 12-19, 2007 estimated 1,220,580 violent deaths due to the Iraq War (range of 733,158 to 1,446,063.) Out of a national sample of 1,499 Iraqi adults, 22% had one or more members of their household killed due to the Iraq War (poll accuracy +/-2.4%.)<ref name=ORB> [http://www.opinion.co.uk/Newsroom_details.aspx?NewsId=78 "More than 1,000,000 Iraqis murdered"]. September 2007. Opinion Research Business. PDF report: [http://www.opinion.co.uk/Documents/TABLES.pdf]</ref> ORB reported that 48% died from a gunshot wound, 20% from car bombs, 9% from aerial bombardment, 6% as a result of an accident and 6% from another blast/ordnance. It is the highest estimate given so far of civilian deaths in Iraq and is consistent with the [[Lancet surveys of Iraq War casualties|Lancet study]].<ref name=LAtimes>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq14sep14,1,3979621.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=2&cset=true "Poll: Civilian Death Toll in Iraq May Top 1 Million"]. By Tina Susman. Sept. 14, 2007. ''[[Los Angeles Times]].'' ([http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/14/3839/ Convenience link at Commondreams.org])</ref><ref name=observer> [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2170237,00.html "Greenspan Admits Iraq was About Oil, As Deaths Put at 1.2 Million"]. By Peter Beaumont and Joanna Walters. Sept. 16, 2007. ''[[The Observer|The Observer (UK)]].''</ref> On January 28, 2008, ORB published an update based on additional work carried out in rural areas of Iraq. Some 600 additional interviews were undertaken and as a result of this the death estimate was revised to 1,033,000 with a given range of 946,000 to 1,120,000.<ref name=orbupdate>[http://www.opinion.co.uk/Newsroom_details.aspx?NewsId=88 Update on Iraqi Casualty Data] by Opinion Research Business, January 2008</ref>

==Criticisms and costs==
{{criticism-section}}
{{see|Criticism of the Iraq War|Opposition to the Iraq War|Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq|Legality of the Iraq War|Views on the 2003 invasion of Iraq|Protests against the Iraq War|American popular opinion on invasion of Iraq|Governments' positions pre-2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 invasion of Iraq media coverage}}
{{see also|Iraq War misappropriations|Habbush letter|The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism}}

[[Image:Us troop iraq casualty memorial.jpg|thumb|right|A local memorial in North Carolina in December 2007; US casualty count can be seen in the background.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iraq|work=Forces: U.S. & Coalition/Casualties |publisher=CNN |month=May | year=2008|url=http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/2008.05.html }}</ref>]]

The U.S. [[rationale for the Iraq War]] has faced heavy criticism from an array of popular and official sources both inside and outside the United States, with many American citizens finding many parallels with the [[Vietnam War]]. According to the [[Center for Public Integrity]], President Bush's administration made a total of 935 false statements between 2001 and 2003 about Iraq's alleged threat to the United States.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/misinformation_study Yahoo! news]. Retrieved on Jan 2008</ref> Both [[American government position on invasion of Iraq|proponents]] and [[Opposition to the Iraq War|opponents]] of the invasion have also criticized the prosecution of the war effort along a number of other lines. Most significantly, critics have assailed the U.S. and its allies for not devoting enough troops to the mission, not adequately planning for [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present|post-invasion Iraq]], and for permitting and perpetrating widespread human rights abuses. As the war has progressed, critics have also railed against the high human and financial costs.

The [[court-martial]] of [[Ehren Watada]], the first U.S. officer to refuse to serve in Iraq, ended in a [[mistrial]] because the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps]] would not consider the question of whether orders could be illegal. A federal district court judge ruled that Watada cannot face [[double jeopardy]] on three of his five charges, but abstained from ruling on whether the two remaining charges of [[conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman|conduct unbecoming an officer]] may still go forward.<ref>Bernton, H. (October 22, 2008) [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008295492_watadaruling22m.html "Watada won't be retried on 3 of 5 counts"] ''Seattle Times''</ref>

Another criticism of the initial intelligence leading up to the Iraq war comes from a former CIA officer who described the Office of Special Plans as a group of ideologues who were dangerous for U.S. national security and a threat to world peace, and that the group lied and manipulated intelligence to further its agenda of removing Saddam Hussein.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20030608/ai_n12583062 "Revealed: The Secret Cabal Which Spun for Blair,"] ''Sunday Herald'', Neil Mackay, June 8, 2003</ref> Subsequently, in 2008, the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity has enumerated a total of 935 false statements made by George Bush and six other top members of his administration in what it termed a "carefully launched campaign of misinformation" during the two year period following 9-11, in order to rally support for the invasion of Iraq.<ref>[http://www.publicintegrity.org/WarCard/ False Pretenses,] [[Center for Public Integrity]] Jan 23, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/01/23/BL2008012301758.html?hpid=opinionsbox1/ 935 Iraq Falsehoods,] Dan Froomkin, Jan 23, 2008</ref>

[[Image:Iraq-oil-power.jpg|thumb|An oil power plant in Iraq, which has world's second largest proven [[oil reserves]].<ref>[http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aairaqioil.htm Iraq: Oil and Economy]</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/20/iraq.oil Oil giants to sign contracts with Iraq], The Guardian</ref> Some analysts have argued that the implementation of the [[Carter Doctrine]] and the ''Reagan Corollary'' played a role in the outbreak of the Iraq War.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/996605.html What if the Chinese were to apply the Carter Doctrine?], Haaretz - Israel News</ref><ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921819,00.html Selling the Carter Doctrine], TIME</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2461214.ece Alan Greenspan claims Iraq war was really for oil], Times Online</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/20/iraq.oil Oil giants to sign contracts with Iraq], The Guardian</ref>]]

The [[Financial cost of the Iraq War|financial cost of the war]] has been more than £4.5 billion ($9 billion) to the UK,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aZiloVkUJNrw&refer=uk |title=UK. Spending on War in Iraq, Afghanistan Rises to $16 Bln (December 2006) |publisher=Bloomberg |date=[[2006-12-06]] |accessdate=2007-01-22}}</ref> and over $845 billion to the U.S., with the total cost to the U.S. economy estimated at $3 trillion.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2921527420080302?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&sp=true Iraq war hits U.S. economy: Nobel winner]</ref>

Criticisms include:

*[[Legality of the Iraq War|Legality]] of the [[invasion]]<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/nov/20/usa.iraq1 War critics astonished as US hawk admits invasion was illegal], The Guardian, November 20, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/18/iraq-us-foreign-policy Top judge: US and UK acted as 'vigilantes' in Iraq invasion], The Guardian, November 18 2008</ref>
*Inadequate troop levels (a RAND study stated that 500,000 troops would be required for success)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rand.org/publications/randreview/issues/summer2003/burden.html |title=RAND Review &#124; Summer 2003 - Burden of Victory<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Rand.org |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>
*Insufficient post-invasion plans
*Human casualties
*[[Financial cost of the 2003 Iraq Conflict|Financial costs]] with approximately $474 billion spent as of 12/07 the [[Congressional Budget Office|CBO]] has estimated the total cost of the war in Iraq to U.S. taxpayers will be around $1.9 trillion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2450753720071024 |title=U.S. CBO estimates $2.4 trillion long-term war costs &#124; Politics &#124; Reuters<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Reuters.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>
*Adverse effect on global [[war on terror]]<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/sep/28/pakistan.iraq Iraq war was terrorism 'recruiting sergeant'], The Guardian, September 28, 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/23/AR2006092301130.html Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Hurting U.S. Terror Fight], The Washington Post, September 23, 2006</ref>
*Negative impact on [[Israel]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2736283.stm Israel warns of Iraq war 'earthquake'], BBC News</ref>
*Negative impact on [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2773759.stm Saudis warn US over Iraq war], BBC News</ref>
*Endangerment and [[ethnic cleansing]] of religious and ethnic minorities<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6412453.stm Iraq's Mandaeans 'face extinction']</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20294868/ Iraq's Yazidis fear annihilation]</ref><ref name="independent1">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-is-disintegrating-as-ethnic-cleansing-takes-hold-478937.html Iraq is disintegrating as ethnic cleansing takes hold]</ref><ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-03-22-christians-iraq_N.htm Christians, targeted and suffering, flee Iraq]</ref><ref>[http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33109 Assyrians Face Escalating Abuses in "New Iraq"]</ref>
*Damage to America's traditional alliances and influence
*Disruption of Iraqi [[Petroleum|oil]] production and related energy security concerns (the [[Oil price increases since 2003|price of oil has quadrupled since 2002]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/CO/M |title=Light Crude Oil (CL, NYMEX): Monthly Price Chart<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Futures.tradingcharts.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref><ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/10/business/ME-Iraq-China-Oil.php Iraq to revive oil deal with China]</ref>

==Humanitarian crises==
===Iraqi health care deterioration===
{{seealso|Health in Iraq}}
[[Image:Iraqicasualty2003.jpg|thumb|left|A US Navy (USN) Hospital Corpsman and Iraqi doctor, provide medical aid to an Iraqi civilian, injured during fighting between Insurgents and Coalition forces near Umm Qasr, Iraq, in March 2003.]]

In a report entitled "Civilians without Protection: The Ever-Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq", produced well after the stepped-up American-led military operations in Baghdad began February 14, 2007, the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]] said that millions of Iraqis are in a disastrous situation that is getting worse, with medical professionals fleeing the country after their colleagues were killed or abducted. Mothers are appealing for someone to pick up the bodies on the street so their children will be spared the horror of looking at them on their way to school. Red Cross Director of Operations Pierre Kraehenbuehl said that hospitals and other key services are desperately short of staff, with more than half the doctors said to have already left the country.<ref>Higgins, A.G. (April 11, 2007) [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-red-cross-iraq,1,6355149.story "Red Cross: Iraqi Situation Getting Worse"] ''Associated Press''</ref>

According to an anonymous Iraqi government official, 1,944 civilians and at least 174 soldiers and policemen were killed in May, 2007, a 29% increase in civilian deaths over April. The Iraqi government's estimate of the number of civilian deaths has always been much lower than reports from independent researchers, such as the [[Lancet surveys of Iraq War casualties]]. Mortar attacks in the capital are becoming deadlier.<ref>Reuters (June 2, 2007) [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL241131.htm "Civilian death toll in Iraq spikes in May"] accessed June 3, 2007</ref>

Between June 18 and July 18, 2007, up to 592 unidentified bodies were found dumped in Baghdad. Most of the approximately 20 per day found by the police have been bound, blindfolded and shot execution style. The police attribute these deaths to Sunni and Shi’ite death squads. According to Baghdad medical sources, many have also shown signs of torture and mutilation. Despite official Iraqi and U.S. statements to the contrary, the reports indicated that the number of unidentified bodies in the capital rose to pre-surge levels in July. Media reports have indicated that the U.S. military has usually focused on areas where they have been attacked rather than districts witnessing such sectarian reprisal killings.<ref>Kasem, Z. (July 24, 2007) [http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3703/Patterns_of_Sectarian_Violence_in_Baghdad "Patterns of Sectarian Violence in Baghdad"] ''IraqSlogger'' (Praedict) accessed July 24, 2007</ref>

Iraq's health has deteriorated to a level not seen since the 1950s, said Joseph Chamie, former director of the U.N. Population Division and an Iraq specialist. "They were at the forefront", he said, referring to health care just before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. "Now they're looking more and more like a country in [[sub-Saharan Africa]]."<ref>[http://www.iraq-war.ru/article/108687 Decrepit health care adds to toll in Iraq]. Louise Roug, ''[[Los Angeles Times]],'' November 11, 2006.</ref> [[Malnutrition]] rates have risen from 19% before the US-led invasion to a national average of 28% four years later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L3048136.htm|title=Hunger, disease spread in Iraq}}</ref> Some 60-70% of Iraqi children are suffering from psychological problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/4ef14e3c0bd5ad74baf903a1b1ad849c.htm|title=Traumatised Iraqi children suffer psychological damage}}</ref> 68% of Iraqis have no access to safe drinking water. A [[cholera]] outbreak in northern Iraq is thought to be the result of poor water
quality.<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2914413.ece Cholera spreads in Iraq as health services collapse]</ref> As many as half of Iraqi doctors have left the country since 2003.<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article1904962.ece Medics beg for help as Iraqis die needlessly]</ref>

In December 2007 the Iraqi government announced plans to cut food rations and subsidies by almost 50 per cent as part of its overall 2008 budget because of insufficient funds and rising inflation. Apart from the cut in subsidies, Baghdad also wants to reduce the number of people dependent on the rationing system by five million. Rationing was first introduced in 1991 after the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Iraq but the country has seen an alarming rise in poverty since the 2003 invasion. Nearly 10 million Iraqi's living in poverty now depend heavily on the rationing system.

===Orphans===
On December 15, 2007 a conference dedicated to orphans in Iraq was held in Baghdad. Iraq's anti-corruption board reported that official government statistics revealed that five million (or 35%) of Iraqi children were orphans. The term 'orphan' applies in Arabic to a child whose father or both his or her parents have died.<ref>[http://www.jstor.org/pss/3632324 Muslim orphans and the shari’a...]</ref> Wijdan Salem Mikhail, the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, stated the phenomenon "is one of the most passive things that grew immensely during the past few years due to destructive wars and unbridled violence in the country." The Iraqi parliament's women and family committee have proposed a draft law to set up a fund for the orphans.<ref>[http://gorillasguides.com/2007/12/15/5-million-orphans/ 5 million Iraqi orphans, anti-corruption board reveals] English translation of Aswat Al Iraq newspaper December 15, 2007</ref>

On January 21, 2008 the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs released a report estimating that there were 4.5 millions Iraqi orphans, with 500,000 living on the streets without any home or family care. The report further said there were only 459 orphans in governmental houses of orphans while there were 800 Iraqi orphans in American Iraqi prisons. Amal Kashefal-Ghetaa, the president of the Islamic Foundation of Woman and Child, explained that "a massive change took place in the lives of children that forced many of them to leave their schools and friends to go to work; a matter that affects them mentally.” Sociologist Atheer Kareem said the negative situation that children in Iraq are experiencing would increase their suffering unless the government in Iraq responds by issuing legislation.<ref>[http://www.mhrinet.splinder.com/post/15607775/4.5+millions+Orphans+in+Iraq,+ Monitoring Net of Human Rights in Iraq (MHRI): 4.5 millions Orphans in Iraq, a tragic situation]</ref>

===Iraqi refugees===
{{main|Refugees of Iraq}}
[[Image:Chaldeansinjordan.jpg|thumb|right|Iraqis fleeing to neighboring countries.]]
There are more than 4.7 million refugees of Iraq, more than 16% of the population. Two million [[Iraqi diaspora|fled Iraq]] while approximately 2.7 million are [[internally displaced people]].<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/29/news/UN-GEN-UN-Iraq-Refugees.php UN survey finds few Iraqi refugees plan to return]</ref> The [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] estimated on April 29, 2008 that 2 million Iraqis had fled to neighboring countries and 2.7 million were displaced internally, with nearly 100,000 Iraqis fleeing to Syria and Jordan each month.<ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/iraq.html UNHCR | Iraq], April 29, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Damon|first=Arwa|title=Iraq refugees chased from home, struggle to cope|publisher=CNN|date=[[2007-06-21]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/20/damon.iraqrefugees/index.html}}</ref><ref> [http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/11/03/un_nearly_100000_flee_iraq_monthly/ U.N.: 100,000 Iraq refugees flee monthly]. Alexander G. Higgins, ''[[Boston Globe]],'' November 3, 2006</ref>

Roughly 40% of Iraq's [[middle class]] is believed to have fled, the U.N. said. Most are fleeing systematic persecution and have no desire to return.<ref>{{cite news|last=Arnove|first=Anthony|title=Billboarding the Iraq disaster|publisher=[[Asia Times Online]]|date=[[2007-03-20]]|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IC20Ak01.html}}</ref> All kinds of people, from university professors to bakers, have been targeted by [[militias]], [[insurgents]] and criminals. An estimated 331 school teachers were slain in the first four months of 2006, according to [[Human Rights Watch]], and at least 2,000 Iraqi doctors have been murdered and 250 kidnapped since the 2003 U.S. invasion.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lochhead|first=Carolyn|title=Iraq refugee crisis exploding|work=Conflict in Iraq|publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=[[2007-01-16]]|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/01/16/MNG2MNJBIS1.DTL}}</ref> Iraqi refugees in [[Syria]] and [[Jordan]] live in impoverished communities with little international attention to their plight and little legal protection.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tavernise|first=Sabrina|title=Iraq's middle class escapes, only to find poverty in Jordan|publisher=[[International Herald Tribune]]|date=[[2007-08-09]]|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/09/asia/refugees.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lyon|first=Alistair|title=Iraqi refugees in Syria face poverty trap|publisher=Reuters|date=[[2007-06-19]]|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL12735263 }}</ref> Many of the Iraqi women fleeing the war in Iraq are turning to [[prostitution]].<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2701324.ece '50,000 Iraqi refugees' forced into prostitution]</ref>

Although [[Christians]] represent less than 5% of the total Iraqi population, they make up 40% of the refugees now living in nearby countries, according to U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sabah|first=Zaid|coauthors=Rick Jervis|title=Christians, targeted and suffering, flee Iraq|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=[[2007-03-22]]|url= http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-03-22-christians-iraq_N.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Shea|first=Nina|title=Iraq's Endangered Minorities|publisher=Washington Post|date=[[2007-08-26]]|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601004.html }}</ref> [[UNHCR]] estimates that Christians comprise 24% of Iraqis currently seeking asylum in [[Syria]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Redmond|first=Ron|url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/iraq?page=briefing&id=45389c564|title=Iraq: Mortar attack targets Baghdad Palestinians|date=[[2006-10-20]]|work=The Iraq Situation|publisher=UN High Commissioner for Refugees }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Iraq Team|first=UNHCR Berlin| publisher=UN High Commissioner for Refugees|month=October | year=2005|url= http://www.unhcr.se/Pdf/Position_countryinfo_2007/Iraqinfo102005.pdf |title=Background Information on the Situation of Non-Muslim Religious Minorities in Iraq|format=PDF }}</ref> The census in 1987 counted 1.4 million Christians, however since the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 invasion]] radicalized Iraqi culture, the total number of Christians dropped to about 500,000, half of which live in Baghdad.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=IRIN News|date=[[2006-10-19]]|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=61897 |title=Christians live in fear of death squads }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Steele|first=Jonathan|publisher=Guardian (London)|date=[[2006-11-30]]|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/pope/story/0,,1961207,00.html|title='We're staying and we will resist' }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bensman|first=Todd|title=Out of Iraq, a flight of Christians|publisher=San Antonio Express-News|date=[[2007-05-27]]|url= http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA052707.01A.chaldean_christians.3555f3e.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20288055/ |title=Iraq religious minorities caught in ‘fault lines’|publisher=Associated Press|date=[[2007-08-15]] }}</ref>

===Ethnic cleansing===
{{main|Sectarian violence in Iraq}}
Between October 2003 and March 2005 alone, 36% of the 700,000 Iraqis who fled to Syria were [[Assyrians]] and other [[Iraqi Christians]], judging from a sample of those registering for asylum on political or religious grounds.<ref>{{cite news|last=Söderlindh|first=Lisa|url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33109|title=Assyrians Face Escalating Abuses in "New Iraq"|publisher=Inter-Press Service |date=[[2006-05-03]] }}</ref> Furthermore, the small [[Mandaeans|Mandaean]] and [[Yazidi]] communities are at the risk of elimination due to [[ethnic cleansing]] by [[Islam]]ic militants.<ref>{{cite news|last=Crawford|first=Angus|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6412453.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2007-03-04]]|title=Iraq's Mandaeans 'face extinction' }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Damon|first=Arwa|coauthors=Mohammed Tawfeeq and Raja Razek|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/15/iraq.main/index.html?iref=topnews |title= Iraqi officials: Truck bombings killed at least 500|publisher=CNN|date=[[2007-08-15]] }}</ref>

Entire neighborhoods in [[Baghdad]] were ethnically cleansed by [[Shia]] and [[Sunni]] militias and [[sectarian violence]] has broken out in every Iraqi city where there is a mixed population.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/mar/04/usa.iraq Sects slice up Iraq as US troops 'surge' misfires]</ref> Sunnis have fled [[Basra]], while Shias were driven out of cities and towns north of Baghdad such as [[Samarra]] or [[Baquba]].<ref name="independent1"/><ref>[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/784/sc4.htm "There is ethnic cleansing"]</ref> Satellite shows ethnic cleansing in Iraq was key factor in "surge" success.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN1953066020080919 Satellite images show ethnic cleanout in Iraq], Reuters, September 19, 2008</ref> Some areas are being evacuated by every member of a particular secular group due to lack of security, moving into new areas because of fear of reprisal killings.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/20/damon.iraqrefugees/index.html Iraq refugees chased from home, struggle to cope]</ref><ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/11/03/un_nearly_100000_flee_iraq_monthly/ U.N.: 100,000 Iraq refugees flee monthly]. Alexander G. Higgins, ''[[Boston Globe]],'' November 3, 2006</ref>

For decades, Saddam Hussein '[[Arabization|Arabised]]' northern Iraq.<ref>[http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/iraq0804/4.htm _Toc78803800
Forced Displacement and Arabization of Northern Iraq]</ref> Now his ethnic cleansing is being reversed.<ref>[http://www.parapundit.com/archives/cat_iraq_ethnic_cleansing.html Iraq Ethnic Cleansing Archives]</ref> Thousands of ethnic [[Kurds]] pushed into lands formerly held by Iraqi [[Arab]]s, forcing at least 100,000 of them to flee to refugee camps.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D91539F933A15755C0A9629C8B63 THE REACH OF WAR: NORTHERN IRAQ; KURDS ADVANCING TO RECLAIM LAND IN NORTHERN IRAQ], New York Times</ref> Sunni Arabs have driven out at least 70,000 Kurds from the [[Mosul]]’s western half.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/30/africa/30mosul.php Sunni Arabs driving out Kurds in northern Iraq]</ref> Nowadays, eastern Mosul is Kurdish and western Mosul is Sunni Arab.<ref>[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JD03Ak01.html The other Iraqi civil war], Asia Times</ref> The policies of [[Kurdification]] by [[KDP]] and [[PUK]] after 2003 (with non-Kurds being pressured to move, in particular [[Assyrian people|Assyrian Christians]] and [[Iraqi Turkmen]]) have prompted serious inter-ethnic problems.<ref>Stansfield, Gareth. (2007). Iraq: People, History, Politics. p71</ref>

==Human rights abuses==

{{main|Human rights in occupied Iraq|Suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003}}

Throughout the entire Iraq war there have been [[human rights]] abuses on all sides of the conflict.

===Iraqi government===

*The use of torture by Iraqi security forces.<ref>{{cite news|url =http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/26/iraq10053.htm |title=Iraq: Torture Continues at Hands of New Government|publisher=Human Rights News|date=[[2005-01-25]]}}</ref>

*Iraqi police from the Interior Ministry accused of forming [[Death Squads]] and committing numerous massacres and tortures of Sunni Arabs<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1129-08.htm |publisher=The New York Times|title=Sunnis Accuse Iraqi Military of Kidnappings and Slayings|author=Dexter Filkins|date=[[2005-11-29]]}}</ref> and the [[police collusion with militias in Iraq]] have compounded the problems.

===Coalition forces and private contractors===

[[Image:Abu-ghraib-leash.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army Private [[Lynndie England]] holding a leash attached to a prisoner collapsed on the floor in the [[Abu Ghraib prison]]. England was convicted by a US Army court martial for abusing prison detainees.]]

*Alleged Gang-rape. [[Jamie Leigh Jones]]

*[[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse]]

*[[Haditha killings]] of 24 civilians (ongoing with some charges dropped)

*[[White phosphorus use in Iraq]]

*[[Mahmudiyah incident|Gang-rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl and the murder of her family]], in [[Mahmoudiyah, Iraq|Mahmoudiyah]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6156656.stm |title=BBC NEWS &#124; Americas &#124; Iraq rape soldier jailed for life<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=News.bbc.co.uk |date=Last Updated: |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>

*The torture and killing of prisoner of war, Iraqi Air Force commander, [[Abed Hamed Mowhoush]]

*[[wedding party massacre|Bombing and shooting of 42 civilians in Mukaradeeb]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sundayherald.com/42229|title=Iraq: The Wedding Party Massacre|publisher=Sunday Herald|date=[[2004-03-14]]|author=Neil Mackay}}</ref> (under investigation)

*Controversy over whether disproportionate force was used, during the [[Second Battle of Fallujah|assaults]] by Coalition and (mostly Shia and Kurdish) Iraqi government forces on the Sunni insurgent stronghold of [[Fallujah during the Iraq War|Fallujah]] in 2004.

*Planting weapons on noncombatant, unarmed Iraqis by three US Marines after killing them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/01/africa/01iraq.php |title=2 GI's charged with murder of Iraqis - International Herald Tribune<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Iht.com |author= |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12658&Itemid=128 |title=Multi-National Force - Iraq - Additional Soldier charged with murder<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Mnf-iraq.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref> According to a report by [[The Nation]], other similar acts have been witnessed by US soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20070730&s=hedges |title=The Other War: Iraq Vets Bear Witness<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Thenation.com |author=About Chris Hedges Chris Hedges, former Middle East bureau chief for the New York Times , is a senior fellow at The Nation Institute. His is the author, with Laila Al-Arian, of Collateral Damage and an earlier book, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America (Free Press). more... About Laila Al-Arian Laila Al-Arian is a freelance journalist and co-author, with Chris Hedges, of Collateral Damage: America's War Against Iraqi Civilians (Nation Books), based on their 2007 Nation article "The Other War." more... |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref> Members of [[Iraq Veterans Against the War]] tell similar stories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Antiwar_veterans_group_War_crimes_are_0121.html |title=The Raw Story &#124; Anti-war veterans' group: War crimes are 'encouraged'<!- Bot generated title -> |publisher=Rawstory.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref>

===Insurgent and terrorist groups===
[[Image:Car bomb in Iraq.jpg|thumb|left|Car bombings are a frequently used tactic by insurgents in Iraq.]]
{{main|Terrorist attacks of the Iraq War}}
{{further|[[Tactics of the Iraqi insurgency]]}}
*Killing over 12,000 Iraqis from January 2005 - June 2006, according to Iraqi Interior Minister [[Bayan Jabr]], giving the first official count for the victims of bombings, ambushes and other deadly attacks.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/02/AR2005060201098.html |title=Iraq Puts Civilian Toll at 12,000|publisher=The Washington Post|author=Ellen Knickmeyer|date=[[2005-06-03]]}}</ref> The insurgents have also conducted numerous [[suicide attack]]s on the Iraqi civilian population, mostly targeting the majority Shia community.<ref>{{cite news|author=Paul McGeough|url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/After-Saddam/Handicapped-boy-made-into-bomb/2005/02/01/1107228705132.html |title=Handicapped boy who was made into a bomb|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=[[2005-02-02]]}}</ref><ref> [http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/iraq-bombing-toll-rises/2006/07/02/1151778799144.html Iraq bombing toll rises]. ''[[The Age]]'' July 2, 2006</ref> An October 2005 report from [[Human Rights Watch]] examines the range of civilian attacks and their purported justification.<ref> [http://hrw.org/reports/2005/iraq1005/ A Face and a Name. Civilian Victims of Insurgent Groups in Iraq]. [[Human Rights Watch]] October 2005.</ref>

*Attacks against civilians including children through bombing of market places and other locations reachable by car bombs.

*Attacks on diplomats and diplomatic facilities including; the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad in August 2003 killing the top U.N. representative in Iraq and 21 other UN staff members;<ref>{{cite news|url =http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june06/iraq_6-12.html|title=Who are the Iraq Insurgents?|publisher=NewsHour with Jim Lehrer|date=[[2006-06-12]]}}</ref> beheading several diplomats: two Algerian diplomatic envoys Ali Belaroussi and Azzedine Belkadi,<ref>{{cite news|url =https://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=4107|title=Kidnappers Kill Algerian Diplomats|publisher=Free Internet Press|date=[[2005-07-27]]}}</ref> Egyptian diplomatic envoy al-Sherif,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4660909.stm |title=Captors kill Egypt envoy to Iraq|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2005-07-08]]}}</ref> and four Russian diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5118702.stm|title=Russian diplomat deaths confirmed|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2006-06-26]]}}</ref>

*The February 2006 bombing of the al-Askari Mosque, destroying one of the holiest Shiite shrines, killing over 165 worshipers and igniting [[sectarian strife]] and reprisal killings.<ref>Alex Rodriguez, [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1068767901.html?dids=1068767901:1068767901&FMT=ABS&type=current Iraqi shrine blast suspect caught] (paid archive), ''The Chicago Tribune'' June 29, 2006.</ref>

*The publicised killing of several contractors; [[Eugene Armstrong]], [[Jack Hensley]], [[Kenneth Bigley]], Ivaylo Kepov and Georgi Lazov (Bulgarian truck drivers.)<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/07/13/bulgarian_iraq040713.html |title=Insurgents kill Bulgarian hostage: Al-Jazeera|publisher=CBC News|date=[[2004-07-14]]}}</ref> Other non-military personnel murdered include: translator [[Kim Sun-il]], [[Shosei Koda]], [[Fabrizio Quattrocchi]] (Italian), charity worker [[Margaret Hassan]], reconstruction engineer [[Nick Berg]], photographer Salvatore Santoro (Italian)<ref>{{cite news|url =http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/iraq/hostages.html#killed|title=Foreign hostages in Iraq|publisher=CBC News|date=[[2006-06-22]]}}</ref> and supply worker [[Seif Adnan Kanaan]] (Iraqi.) Four private armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerko Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, were killed with grenades and small arms fire, their bodies dragged from their vehicles, beaten and set ablaze. Their burned corpses were then dragged through the streets before being hung over a bridge crossing the Euphrates.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/apdaily/033104-11v.htm 4 Contractors murdered by al Qaeda]</ref>

*Attacks against coalition convoys and bases.

*Torture or killing of members of the [[New Iraqi Army]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Sabrina Tavernise|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/19/international/middleeast/19torture.html?ex=1276833600&en=8711248f5a2b9fe6&ei=5088 |title=Iraqis Found in Torture House Tell of Brutality of Insurgents|publisher=The New York Times |date=[[2005-06-19]]}}</ref> and assassination of civilians associated with the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]], such as [[Fern Holland]], or the [[Iraqi Governing Council]], such as [[Aqila al-Hashimi]] and [[Ezzedine Salim]], or other foreign civilians, such as those from Kenya.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3920119.stm |title=Iraq kidnappings stun Kenya press|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2004-07-23]]}}</ref>

==Public opinion on the war==
===International opinion===
According to a January 2007 [[BBC World Service]] poll of more than 26,000 people in 25 countries, 73% of the global population disapproves of the U.S. handling of the Iraq War.<ref>{{cite web
|title = World View of US Role Goes from Bad to Worse
|publisher = [[BBC World Service]] |date=2007-01-23
|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/23_01_07_us_poll.pdf
|format =PDF
|accessdate =2007-05-23 }}</ref> A September 2007 poll conducted by the BBC found that 2/3rds of the world's population believed the U.S. should withdraw its forces from Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6981553.stm |publisher=BBC NEWS |title=Most people 'want Iraq pull-out'|date=[[2007-09-07]] }}</ref> According to an April 2004 USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll, only a third of the Iraqi people believed that "the American-led occupation of their country is doing more good than harm, and a solid majority support an immediate military pullout even though they fear that could put them in greater danger."<ref>{{cite news
|last = Soriano |first = Cesar |coauthors =Komarow, Steven
|title = Poll: Iraqis out of patience
|work = USA Today |publisher = Gannett Co |date=2004-04-28
|url =http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-04-28-poll-cover_x.htm
|accessdate = 2007-05-24 }}</ref>
Majorities in the UK and Canada believe the war in Iraq is "unjustified" and - in the UK - are critical of their government's support of U.S. policies in Iraq (Canada opposed the U.S.-led invasion force and has one observer blue helmet in Iraq.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/pdfs/2006_july_guardian_july_poll.pdf|title=Guardian July Poll|month=July | year=2006|publisher=ICM Research|format=PDF }}</ref> According to polls conducted by [[The Arab American Institute]], four years after the invasion of Iraq, 83% of Egyptians had a negative view of the U.S.'s role in Iraq; 68% of Saudi Arabians had a negative view; 96% of the Jordanian population had a negative view; 70% of the UAE and 76% of the Lebanese population also described their view as negative.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zogby|first=James|publisher=[[Arab American Institute]]|month=March | year=2007|url= http://www.aaiusa.org/page/-/Polls/2007_poll_four_years_later_arab_opinion.pdf|title=Four Years Later: Arab Opinion Troubled by Consequences of Iraq War|format=PDF }}</ref> The Pew Global Attitudes Project reports that in 2006 majorities in the Netherlands, Germany, Jordan, France, Lebanon, China, Spain, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Morocco believed the world was safer before the Iraq War and the toppling of [[Saddam Hussein]]. However, pluralities in the U.S. and India believe the world is safer without [[Saddam Hussein]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Pew Research Center|work=Pew Global Attitudes Project|date=[[2006-02-28]]|url= http://pewglobal.org/commentary/display.php?AnalysisID=1002|title= India: Pro-America, Pro-Bush }}</ref>

===Iraqi opinion===

[[Image:Pleadingforfreedom.jpg|thumb|right|A woman pleads to an Iraqi army soldier from 2nd Company, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division to let a suspected insurgent free during a raid near Tafaria, Iraq]]

The U.S. has long maintained its involvement there is with the support of the Iraqi people, but in 2005 when asked directly, 82–87% of the Iraqi populace was opposed to U.S. occupation and wanted U.S. troops to leave. 47% of Iraqis supported attacking U.S. troops.<ref>[http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/jan06/Iraq_Jan06_rpt.pdf "What the Iraqi Public Wants"] -A WorldPublicOpinion.org Poll-, Program on International Policy Attitudes, January 31, 2006</ref> Another poll conducted on September 27, 2006, found that seven out of ten Iraqis want U.S.-led forces to withdraw from Iraq within one year. Overall, 78% of those polled said they believed that the presence of U.S. forces is "provoking more conflict than it's preventing." 53% of those polled believed the Iraqi government would be strengthened if U.S. forces left Iraq (versus 23% who believed it would be weakened), and 71% wanted this to happen in 1 year or less. All of these positions were more prevalent amongst Sunni and Shia respondents than among Kurds. 61% of respondents said that they approve of attacks on U.S.-led forces, while 94% still had an unfavorable opinion of al-Qaeda.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/sep06/Iraq_Sep06_rpt.pdf|title=www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/sep06/Iraq_Sep06_rpt.pdf<!--INSERT TITLE-->|format=PDF}}</ref>

A March 7, 2007 survey of more than 2,000 Iraqis found that 78% of the population opposed the presence of Coalition forces in Iraq, that 69% believed the presence of U.S. forces is making things worse, and that 51% of the population considered attacks on coalition forces acceptable, up from 17% in 2004 and 35% in 2006. In addition:<ref name="bbcpoll">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/19_03_07_iraqpollnew.pdf Iraq Poll] conducted by D3 Systems for the BBC, ABC News, ARD German TV and USA Today. More than 2,000 people were questioned in more than 450 neighbourhoods and villages across all 18 provinces of Iraq between February 25 and March 5, 2007. The margin of error is + or – 2.5%.</ref>
*64% described their family's economic situation as being somewhat or very bad, up from 30% in 2005.
*88% described the availability of electricity as being either somewhat or very bad, up from 65% in 2004.
*69% described the availability of clean water as somewhat or very bad, up from 48% in 2004.
*88% described the availability of fuel for cooking and driving as being somewhat or very bad.
*58% described reconstruction efforts in the area in which they live as either somewhat or very ineffective, and 9% described them as being totally nonexistent.

A 2007 survey for the first time asked ordinary Iraqis their view on the highly contentious draft oil law. According to the poll, 76 percent of Iraqis feel inadequately informed about the contents of the proposed law. Nonetheless, 63 percent responded that they would prefer Iraqi state-owned companies – and not foreign corporations – to develop Iraq’s extensive oil fields.<ref>[http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/poll/2007/0806oildevt.htm Iraqis Oppose Oil Development Plans, Poll Finds (August 6, 2007)] (Oil Change International, Institute for Policy Studies, War on Want, PLATFORM and Global Policy Forum)</ref>

==Relation to the Global War on Terror==
{{main|Iraq War and U.S. Global War on Terror}}

President Bush has consistently referred to the Iraq war as "the central front in the [[War on Terrorism|War on Terror]]", and has argued that if the U.S. pulls out of Iraq, "terrorists will follow us here."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bush|first=President George W.|work=Global Message|publisher=The White House|date=[[2003-09-09]]|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030909.html|title=A Central Front in the War on Terror }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Garamone|first=Jim|publisher=American Forces Press Service|date=[[2002-09-19]]|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2002/n09192002_200209194.html|title=Iraq Part of Global War on Terrorism, Rumsfeld Says }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bush|first=President George W.|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060821.html |title=Press Conference by the President |date= [[2006-08-21]]|work=Peace in the Middle East|publisher=The White House }}</ref> While other proponents of the war have regularly echoed this assertion, as the conflict has dragged on, members of the U.S. Congress, the American public, and even U.S. troops have begun to question the connection between Iraq and the fight against terrorism. In particular, a consensus has developed among intelligence experts that the Iraq war has increased terrorism. Counterterrorism expert [[Rohan Gunaratna]] frequently refers to the invasion of Iraq as a "fatal mistake."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gunaratna|first=Rohan|title=The Post-Madrid Face of Al Qaeda|journal=Washington Quarterly|volume=27|issue=3|date=Summer 2004|url=http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/016366004323090278|doi=10.1162/016366004323090278|pages=98 }}</ref> London's conservative [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] concluded in 2004 that the occupation of Iraq had become "a potent global recruitment pretext" for jihadists and that the invasion "galvanised" al-Qaeda and "perversely inspired insurgent violence" there.<ref>{{cite news |last = Sengupta |first = Kim |title = Occupation Made World Less Safe, Pro-War Institute Says |publisher = [[The Independent]]|date = [[2004-05-26]] |url = http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0526-05.htm }}</ref> The U.S. [[National Intelligence Council]] concluded in a January 2005 report that the war in Iraq had become a breeding ground for a new generation of terrorists; [[David B. Low]], the national intelligence officer for transnational threats, indicated that the report concluded that the war in Iraq provided terrorists with "a training ground, a recruitment ground, the opportunity for enhancing technical skills... There is even, under the best scenario, over time, the likelihood that some of the jihadists who are not killed there will, in a sense, go home, wherever home is, and will therefore disperse to various other countries." The Council's Chairman Robert L. Hutchings said, "At the moment, Iraq is a magnet for international terrorist activity."<ref>{{cite news |last = Priest |first = Dana |title = Iraq New Terror Breeding Ground |publisher = Washington Post |date = [[2005-01-14]] |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7460-2005Jan13.html }}</ref> And the 2006 [[National Intelligence Estimate]], which outlined the considered judgment of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, held that "The Iraq conflict has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement."<ref>{{cite press release |title=Declassified Key Judgments of the National Intelligence Estimate “Trends in Global Terrorism: Implications for the United States”|publisher=Office of the Director of National Intelligence|date=April 2006|url=http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/Declassified_NIE_Key_Judgments.pdf }}</ref>

Regarding [[Saddam Hussein]]'s ties to terrorist groups such as [[Al-Qaeda]], the Bush administration has produced inconsistent statements. Asked to describe the connection between the Iraqi leader and the al-Qaeda terror network at an appearance on October 5, 2004 at the [[Council on Foreign Relations]], Defense Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]] first refused to answer, then said: "To my knowledge, I have not seen any strong, hard evidence that links the two." Several hours after his appearance, Rumsfeld issued a statement from the Pentagon saying his comment "regrettably was misunderstood" by some. He said he has said since September 2002 that there were ties between [[Osama bin Laden]]'s terror group and Iraq.<ref>{{ cite news|title=Rumsfeld backtracks on al-Qaida, Iraq links|publisher=Associated Press via MSNBC|date=[[2004-10-05]]|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6180176/ }}</ref> Despite statements from the Bush administration, inspectors never found hidden stockpiles of WMD in Iraq, and the September 11 Commission reported no collaborative relationship between Al Qaeda and the Iraqi leadership.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Report Finds No Evidence of Iraq WMD|publisher=Associated Press|date=[[2004-10-06]]|url=http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/100704U.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Shenon|first=Philip|coauthors=Christopher Marquis and Mark Glassman|title=Panel Finds No Qaeda-Iraq Tie|work=Threats and Responses: The Overview|publisher=[[New York Times]]|date=[[2004-06-17]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/17/politics/17panel.html}}</ref> However, several months prior to the commencement of military action, Saddam Hussein had began providing financial assistance to the families of [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] militants killed in fighting with, or civilians killed by, the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]] (including relatives of suicide bombers.)<ref>{{cite news|title=Palestinians get Saddam funds|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|date=[[2003-03-13]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2846365.stm}}</ref> He also sponsored a small number of regional groups, designated [[U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations|terrorist organisations]] by the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]], among them, the [[People's Mujahedin of Iran]].<ref>[http://www.cfr.org/publication/7702/ IRAQ: Iraqi Ties to Terrorism] April 29, 2003. Retrieved September 21, 2007. "Iraq has helped the Iranian dissident group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a separatist organization fighting the Turkish government, and several far-left Palestinian splinter groups that oppose peace with Israel."</ref> Former National Intelligence Officer [[Paul R. Pillar]] notes:
<blockquote>Iraq did provide other kinds of sponsorship to terrorist groups, some of the Palestinian groups that aren't so active anymore... But in terms of it having provided support or sustenance or strength, or having anything close to an alliance with al Qaeda, it simply wasn't there.<ref>[[Paul R. Pillar]], ''[[Charlie Rose (talk show)|The Charlie Rose Show]]'', [[PBS]] February 16, 2006 [http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2006/02/16/1/a-conversation-with-paul-pillar-of-the-cia]</ref></blockquote>

In October 2003, Osama bin Laden announced: "Be glad of the good news: America is mired in the swamps of the Tigris and Euphrates. Bush is, through Iraq and its oil, easy prey. Here is he now, thank God, in an embarrassing situation and here is America today being ruined before the eyes of the whole world."<ref>{{cite web|last=bin Ladin|first=Usama|authorlink=Osama bin Laden|title=Message to Iraqis October 2003|work=News Archive|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English]] via the Internet Archive|date=[[2003-10-19]]|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20071114184942/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=40703 }}</ref> Al-Qaeda commander [[Seif al-Adl]] gloated about the war in Iraq, indicating, "The Americans took the bait and fell into our trap."<ref>{{cite news |last = Gerges |first = Fawaz A. |title = The Iraq War: Planting the Seeds of Al Qaeda's Second Generation |publisher = Toward Freedom |date = [[2005-10-10]] |url = http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/623/60/ }}</ref> A letter thought to be from al-Qaeda leader [[Atiyah Abd al-Rahman]] found in Iraq among the rubble where [[al-Zarqawi]] was killed and released by the U.S. military in October 2006, indicated that al-Qaeda perceived the war as beneficial to its goals: "The most important thing is that the jihad continues with steadfastness ... indeed, prolonging the war is in our interest."<ref>{{cite news |last = Murphy |first = Dan |title = How Al Qaeda views a long Iraq war |publisher = Christian Science Monitor |date = [[2006-10-06]] |url = http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1006/p01s04-woiq.html }}</ref>

{{see|Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda|Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda timeline|Criticism of the War on Terrorism}}

==See also==
{{Wikinewscat|Iraq War}}
{{commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{portal|Iraq War|Flag_of Iraq.svg}}
{{portal|Iraq|Flag of Iraq.svg}}
*[[Iraq War misappropriations]]
*[[White House Iraq-War forgery allegations]]/''[[The Way of the World (book)]]''
*[[2008 Mosul offensive]]
*[[Curveball (informant)|"Curveball"]]
*[[Suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003]]
*[[List of wars 2003-current]]
*[[Al-Anfal Campaign]]
*[[Anthony Pratkanis]] Pyschologist studying social world influences
*[[Iran–Iraq War]]
*[[Carter Doctrine]]
*[[Oil reserves#Iraq|Oil reserves in Iraq]]
*[[Energy crisis]]
*[[Foreign policy of the United States]]
*[[Petrodollar warfare]]
*[[Immigration to the United States#Asylum for refugees|Asylum in the United States]]
*[[United States Army]]
*[[Ayad Rahim]], Iraqi-American journalist who reports on Middle East affairs
*[[Vietnam war]]
*[[List of British gallantry awards for the Iraq War]]
*[[United States military in Iraq]]
*[[Iraq Campaign Medal]]
*[[Counterinsurgency in Iraq: 2003-2006]]

==Image gallery==
<gallery>

Image:Iraq.A2003060.0750.500m.jpg|A satellite image of Iraq.

Image:Iraq demography.jpg|The ethno-religious makeup of Iraq.

<!--no idea where this one went: Image:Saddamstatue.jpg|The famous April 9, 2003 toppling of [[Saddam Hussein]]’s statue in [[Firdos Square]] in [[Baghdad]]. -->

Image:19 Mar 2007 Seattle Demo 50.jpg|Anti-war demonstration, [[Seattle, Washington]], March 19, 2007. "Veterans for Peace" sign.

Image:Latvian Army soldier Diwaniyah 2006.jpg|A [[Latvia]]n army soldier with [[:Image:Iraq 2003 occupation.png|Multinational Division (Central South)]] at a checkpoint on Tampa Road in [[Diwaniyah]], Iraq.

Image:Iraq operation 3 soldiers.jpg|A group of [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]] in [[Haditha]], Iraq.

Image:Iraq protests before UK Parliament 501588 fh000036.jpg|An anti-war demonstration in [[London]], in the UK.

Image:IrakKriegM1A1USA.jpg|A destroyed Coalition M1A1 Abrams tank.

Image:Iraqi military men riding on tank.jpg|February 28, 2003. Iraqi troops on an [[Armored personnel carrier|APC]] before the Iraq War.

Image:IrakDiwaniyahT55.jpg|Several destroyed Iraqi T55 tanks

Image:Iraq 2003 occupation.png|The various occupation zones in Iraq.

Image:George W Bush on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.jpg|[[George W. Bush]] on the deck of the [[USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)|USS ''Abraham Lincoln'']] on May 1, 2003 to deliver the "[[Mission Accomplished]]" speech.

</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
<div class="references-small">
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;Books
*David Bellavia (2007) ''House to House: an Epic of Urban Warfare''. Simon and Schuster. About the 2nd Battle of Fallujah - written by a participant.
*[[Michael R. Gordon]] (2006) ''[[Cobra II]]: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq''
*[[Thomas E. Ricks]] (2006) ''[[Fiasco (book)|Fiasco, The American Military Adventure In Iraq]]''. Penguin.
*[[Edward O'Connell]] (2008) ''[[Counterinsurgency in Iraq: 2003-2006]].'' RAND.

;News
*[http://www.electroniciraq.net/ Electronic Iraq]: Daily news and analysis from Iraq with a special focus on the Iraqi experience of war.
*[http://www.iraq-war.ru/ News from Iraq]: Aggregated news on the war, including politics and economics.
*[http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/iraq.transition/ Iraq: Transition of Power]: CNN Special Report: Three years later, debate rages.

;Economics
*[http://costofwar.com/ Dollar cost of war]: total U.S. cost of the Iraq War

{{Multicol-break}}

;Analysis
*[http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2362747.ece "Bleak Pentagon study admits 'civil war' in Iraq,] by Rupert Cornwell, ''[[The Independent]]'', March 16, 2007

;Maps of Iraq
*[http://www.gulfwarrior.org/iraq/iraq_maps.htm High resolution maps of Iraq], GulfWarrior.org.

;Road to War
*[http://www.channel4.com/news/special-reports/whitehouse_meeting_memo.html "White House Meeting Memorandum,"] details of January 31, 2003 private meeting between George W. Bush and [[Tony Blair]] in which they discussed using U.S. spyplanes in UN colours to lure Saddam Hussein into war.
*[http://www.channel4.com/news/special-reports/special-reports-storypage.jsp?id=1383 UK Attorney-General leak], legal advice given to British Prime Minister Tony Blair weeks before the 2003 invasion, Channel 4, Great Britain.
*[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-17.html Presidential address by George W. Bush] on the evening of March 19, 2003, announcing war against Iraq.

{{Multicol-break}}

;Iraqi sources
*[http://electroniciraq.net/news/iraqdiaries.shtml "Iraq Diaries,"] Iraqis writing about their experiences of war at ElectronicIraq.net.

;Opinions and polls
*"''[http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=734 1st Major Survey of Iraq]''". Zogby International, September 10, 2003.
*[http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm Iraq at Polling Report.com]. Chronological polls of Americans 18 & older
*Public Agenda [http://www.publicagenda.org/foreignpolicy/index.cfm Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index] – Tracking survey of Americans' attitudes on international relations, conducted for ''[[Foreign Affairs]]''

; Combat operations related
*[http://www.psywar.org/apdsearchform.php?war=Iraqi%20Freedom Aerial Propaganda Leaflet Database]. Psywar.org, November 06, 2005. (Iraq War PSYOP leaflets and posters)

;Judiciary
*[http://dyhr.com/speciale/JustWarInIraq2003.pdf Just War in Iraq 2003] pdf Legal dissertation by Thomas Dyhr from University of Copenhagen.

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</div>
{{Iraq War}}
{{American conflicts}}

[[Category:2003 Iraq conflict| ]]
[[Category:2003 in Iraq]]
[[Category:2004 in Iraq]]
[[Category:2005 in Iraq]]
[[Category:2006 in Iraq]]
[[Category:2007 in Iraq]]
[[Category:2008 in Iraq]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2003]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2004]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2005]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2006]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2007]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2008]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration controversies]]
[[Category:History of Iraq]]
[[Category:Modern history]]
[[Category:Occupation of Iraq]]
[[Category:Politics of Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraq–United States relations]]

[[bg:Война в Ирак (2003)]]
[[ca:Guerra d'Iraq]]
[[cs:Válka v Iráku]]
[[cy:Rhyfel Irac Dau]]
[[da:Irakkrigen]]
[[de:Irakkrieg]]
[[et:Iraagi sõda]]
[[es:Guerra de Iraq]]
[[fr:Guerre en Irak]]
[[hr:Rat u Iraku 2003.]]
[[it:Guerra d'Iraq]]
[[he:מלחמת עיראק]]
[[la:Bellum Iracense Alterum]]
[[hu:Iraki háború]]
[[mk:Ирачка војна]]
[[nl:Irakoorlog]]
[[ja:イラク戦争]]
[[no:Krigen i Irak]]
[[nds:Situatschoon in'n Irak]]
[[pl:II wojna w Zatoce Perskiej]]
[[pt:Guerra do Iraque]]
[[ro:Invazia Irakului din 2003]]
[[ru:Иракская война]]
[[sr:Рат у Ираку]]
[[fi:Irakin sota]]
[[sv:Irakkriget]]
[[th:สงครามอิรัก]]
[[vi:Chiến tranh Iraq]]
[[tr:Irak Savaşı]]
[[uk:Війна в Іраку]]
[[wa:Guere d' Irak]]
[[zh:美伊战争]]

Revision as of 14:38, 21 November 2008

all your base are belong to us!


sincerely,

Lotz of Mudkipz

p.s. we herd u liek

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