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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= ]
|caption= Clockwise, starting at top left: a joint patrol in ]; the toppling of the Saddam Hussein statue in ]; an ] soldier readies his rifle during an assault; an ] detonates in South ].
|date= March 20, 2003 – present
|place= ]
|casus= War justifications:
*]
*]
*]
|status= Conflict ongoing
*Occupation of Iraq
*Overthrow of ] government and ].
*] 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=]|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3879|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref>
*] and outbreak of ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sectarian divisions change Baghdad’s image |publisher=MSNBC |date=] |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13684759/ |accessdate=2007-02-18}}</ref>
*] held in Iraq
|combatant1={{flag|Iraq|1991}} (under Saddam Hussein)<br />] ]<br />
----
– ]<br />
{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq.svg}} ]<br /><!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: ] -->]<br />– ]
<br />
----
{{flagicon image|PKK.svg}} ]
|combatant2 = {{flag|Iraq}} (post-Saddam Hussein) <br /> {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} ]<br/> {{flagicon|United States}} ]<br /> {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} ]<br /> ] ]<br/> {{flagicon|Iraq}} ]
----
{{flag|Turkey}}
|commander1 = {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} ]{{POW}}]<Br />
{{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} ] ]<br /> {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} ]]
----
– ]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Ba'ath Party.svg}} ]<br /> <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: ] -->]<br />] ]{{KIA|alt=yes}}<Br /> ] ]
----
{{flagicon image|PKK.svg}} ]
|commander2 ={{flagicon|Iraq}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|Iraq}} ]<br />{{flagicon|Kurdistan}} ]<br />{{flagicon|United States}} ]<br /> {{flagicon|United States}} ]<br />{{flagicon|United States}} ]<br />{{flagicon|Australia}} ]<br />{{flagicon|Australia}} ]<br />{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} ] <br />{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} ]<br /> {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} ] <br />{{flagicon|Iraq}} ]{{KIA|alt=yes}}<br />
----
{{flagicon|Turkey}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|Turkey}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|Turkey}} ]
|strength1 =Post-Baathist government, multi-sided conflict:<br /> ''']'''<br />~70,000<ref name=brookings>The Brookings Institution October 1, 2007</ref><br />''']'''<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=]|pages=A01}}</ref> <br />''']/others'''<br />1,300+<ref>Pincus, Walter. . ''],'' November 17, 2006.</ref>
----
PKK: ~4,000<ref>{{cite news|title=Toll rises in Turkey-PKK conflict|publisher=]|date=]|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3E14DD15-F2D1-4C65-8148-5200DFB3E975.htm}}</ref>
|strength2=''']'''<br />631,000 <small>(]: 254,000, ]: 227,000, ]: 150,000)</small><br />''']'''<br />~300,000 invasion<br />~152,000 current<br />''']'''<br />50,000 invasion<br />270,000 current<br />
''']'''<sup>*</sup><br />~182,000 (118,000 Iraqi, 43,000 Other, 21,000 US)<ref name=LATcontractors> . By T. Christian Miller. ''].'' July 4, 2007.</ref><ref name=contractorsguardian> {{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Michelle|title=Contractor deaths add up in Iraq|publisher=Associated Press|date=]|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660198347,00.html }}</ref> <br />''']'''<br />65,000-80,000<ref>{{cite news|title=A Dark Side to Iraq 'Awakening' Groups|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=]|url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,159357,00.html}}</ref>
----
''']''': ~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> . Project on Defense Alternatives Research Monograph #8. Carl Conetta. October 20, 2003.</ref><ref> . Project on Defense Alternatives. Press release October 20, 2003.</ref>
----
'''Insurgents dead''' (post-Saddam): 18,136-23,837 per ].<br/>19,429 per U.S. military (September 22, 2007)<ref name=insurgents> . By Jim Michaels. 26 Sept. 2007. ''].''</ref>

''']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>

----
]: 537 killed (Turkish claim)<br />9 killed (PKK claim)
|casualties2=''']''' (post-Saddam): 10,504 police/military killed

'''Coalition dead''' (4,201 US,<ref></ref> 176 UK, 138 other): 4,515<ref></ref><ref name=mil>Many official U.S. tables at . See . See also: .</ref>

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

'''Coalition ]:''' 30,794 US, ~400 UK<ref name=mil/><ref name=antiwarcasualties> .</ref><ref name=ukcasualties> . UK Ministry of Defense. .</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.'', .</ref><ref name=ukcasualties/>

'''Contractors dead''' (US 249): 1,193<ref name=contractors7> . By Bernd Debusmann. ''].'' July 3, 2007. 10,569 wounded and 933 deaths in Iraq. 224 are U.S. citizens.</ref><ref name=contractors1> . '']'' April 30, 2007.</ref><ref> . icasualties.org</ref>

'''Contractors ]''' (US 4): 18

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

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

----
]:<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, ] – '''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), ]''' – 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, ]''' for the '''] – '''June 2006: '''151,000''' (104,000-223,000)<ref name=nejm358/><ref name=WHOifhs/><ref name=bbcNewStudy/><ref name=guardianNewStudy/>
|notes= '''*'''] (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: ]
}}
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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 ] ] which began on March 20, 2003 with the ] of ] by a ] composed largely of ] and ] troops supported by smaller contingents from ], ], ] and other nations. All of the Arab states and a number of members of the ] 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 ] (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) ''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=]|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=]|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=]|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/06/18/russia.warning/ }}</ref> United Nations ] 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 ] 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 ] 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) ''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 ] of harboring and supporting ],<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) ''Institute for Defense Analyses'' IDA Paper P-4287, pp. ES-1</ref><ref>Kerr, R.J., ''et al.'' (29 July 2004) MORI Doc. ID 1245667 (Langley, VA: Central Intelligence Agency)</ref> Other ] stated by U.S. officials included Iraq's alleged financial support for the families of ] ]s,<ref>CNN (September 12, 2002) , "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 ] abuses,<ref>Wolfowitz, P. (May 30, 2003)</ref> spreading ],<ref> The White House, February 26, 2003</ref> and Iraq's ],<ref>Wright, G. (June 4, 2003) ''Guardian Unlimited'' (London: Guardian Newspapers Limited); this article , stating "Paul Wolfowitz 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) ''Washington Post''</ref><ref>Shih, G. and Montes, S. (October 15, 2007) ''Stanford Daily''</ref><ref name=observer /> although that was denied by other officials.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></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) ''Washington Post''</ref>

The ] 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 ]. The U.S.-led coalition ] and attempted to establish a new ] government; however, violence against coalition forces and among various sectarian groups soon led to ] with the ], strife between many ] and ] Iraqi groups, and ] ].<ref> , 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 /> ] estimates the war created 4.7 million ] through April 2008 (about 16% of the population of Iraq.)<ref name=UNHCR-04084> . Published April 29, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2008.</ref> The ] claimed in 2008 that "the security, political and economic trends in Iraq continue to be positive, however, they remain fragile, reversible and uneven."<ref></ref> Iraq was fifth on the 2008 ],<ref> The Fund for Peace. Retrieved on 2008-08-29</ref> and the ] stated in 2008 that Iraq's humanitarian situation "remains among the most critical in the world".<ref></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> ''International Herald Tribune'', October 2, 2007.</ref><ref> ] March 15, 2005</ref> U.S. and Iraqi officials are debating the timeline and magnitude of an American withdrawal, with Iraqi Prime Minister ] 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>. 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 ], the ] mandated that ] be halted and all such weapons destroyed under ] control. ] 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 ]'s belief that U.S. and UK military action was imminent. Shortly after the inspectors withdrew, the U.S. and UK launched a ]. Also, during this period the US congress and President Clinton issued a ]

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 ]. These zones were ] to ] ] in the north and the ], and were seen by the Iraqi government as an infringement of Iraq's ]. 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 ], the U.S. initiated ] 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, ] ] signed a presidential finding directing the ] to create conditions for Hussein's removal in May 1991. Coordinating anti-Saddam groups was an important element of this strategy and the ] (INC), led by ], was the main group tasked with this purpose. The name INC was reportedly coined by ] expert ] (of the ] 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 ] in 1998. Another opposition group was the ] which continues to have influence in the current Iraqi government through its leader ].

===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 ], 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) ''60 Minutes''</ref>

===U.N. weapons inspections resume===
The issue of ] 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 ] 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 ] Iraq reluctantly agreed to ]. 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 ], the ] (CIA), under ], was rising to prominence as the lead agency in the ] war. But when Tenet insisted in his personal meetings with President Bush that there was no connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq, Vice-President ] and Secretary of Defense ] 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 ] (OSP), which was created by Deputy Secretary of Defense ] and headed by ]. 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 "]" 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 '']''. 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=]|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside/etc/script.html }}</ref>
]]]
Prior to the ], in 1990, Iraq had stockpiled {{convert|550|ST}} of ] ] 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=]|url=http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/455063 }}</ref> In late February 2002, the CIA sent former Ambassador ] to investigate ] that Iraq was attempting to purchase additional yellowcake from ]. 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=]|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 ], was revealed in a column by ]. Since it is ] 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 ] was convicted of perjury in the ] investigation. The source of the leak was found to be former deputy secretary of state ], 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 ] 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> Congress of the United States June 3, 2008 pdf</ref>

On May 1, 2005 the "]" was published in '']''. 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=]|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) ''Salon.com''</ref> The CIA had contacted Saddam Hussein's foreign minister, ], 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=]|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 ], 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 ] (DOE) and ] 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> </ref> An effort by the DOE to change Powell's comments before his UN appearance was rebuffed by the administration.<ref> ] March 10, 2003</ref><ref> '']'' ] air date October 27, 2003</ref> Indeed, ], 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 ] 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> Joby Warrick, ''The Washington Post'', Sept. 19, 2002</ref><ref> Feb 5, 2003</ref><ref> NBC, May 16, 2004</ref>

===Authorization for the use of force===
] holding a model vial of ] while giving a presentation to the ]]]

In October 2002, a few days before the ] voted on the ], about 75 senators were told in ] that Saddam Hussein had the means of attacking the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with biological or chemical weapons delivered by ]s (UAVs.)<ref name=nelson>Senator ] (January 28, 2004) ''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) ''Defense Tech''</ref> The ] 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 ] --> denied that Iraq possessed any offensive UAV capability, saying the few they had were designed for surveillance and intended for ].<ref></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) ''CBS News''</ref> Despite this controversy, the Senate voted to approve the Joint Resolution on October 11, 2002 providing the Bush Administration with ].

With the support of large bipartisan majorities, the US Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ] of 2002. The resolution asserts the authorization by the ] and the ] for the President to fight anti-United States terrorism. Citing the ], 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 ] 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 ] "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 ] Resolutions regarding Iraq."

Chief UN weapons inspector ] 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"> 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 (]) 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> France Diplomatie February 10, 2003</ref><ref> ] 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, ] ] 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 ] 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"> , Alex Callinicos, Socialist Worker, March 19, 2005.</ref>

In February 2003, the U.S. Army's top general, ], told the Senate Armed Services Committee that it would take "several hundred thousand soldiers" to secure Iraq.<ref></ref> Two days later, Defense Secretary ] 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 ] said Shineski's estimate was "way off the mark," because other countries would take part in an occupying force.<ref></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) ''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 ].

There were also serious ] surrounding the launching of the war against Iraq and the ] of ]. On September 16, 2004 ], 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=] |publisher='']''}}</ref>

In November 2008 ], the former UK ], 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>, '']'', 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 ] and was later joined by members of the U.S. Military's elite ] (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 ] 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=] |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraqi_freedom.htm }}</ref> The ], led by U.S. Army General ], began under the codename "Operation Iraqi Freedom", the UK codename ], and the Australian codename ]. Coalition forces also cooperated with Kurdish ] forces in the north. Approximately forty other nations, the "]," participated by providing troops, equipment, services, security, and special forces.
]
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 ] 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 ] 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) ''San Francisco Chronicle''</ref><ref></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 ]. The invasion phase concluded when ], Saddam's home town, fell with little resistance to the Marines of ] 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 ], primarily by U.S. air and ground forces.<ref>Conetta, C. (October 20, 2003) Research Monograph no. 8 ''Project on Defense Alternatives''</ref> Coalition forces reported the death in combat of 139 U.S. military personnel<ref>Reuters. .''].'' Oct. 25, 2005.</ref> and 33 UK military personnel.<ref> 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 ] (CPA) سلطة الائتلاف الموحدة, based in the ], as a ] of Iraq until the establishment of a democratic government. Citing ] (May 22, 2003) and the ], the CPA vested itself with ], ], and ] 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 ], a former U.S. military officer, but his appointment lasted only until May 11, 2003 when President Bush appointed ]. He served until the CPA's dissolution in July 2004.

Another group created by the ] post-invasion was the 1,400-member international ] who conducted a fact-finding mission to find ]. In 2004 the ISG's Duelfer Report<ref></ref> stated that Iraq did not have a viable WMD program.

===Post-invasion phase===
] 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 ] ] operating a few miles west of ]. The visit climaxed at sunset with Bush's now well-known "]" speech. In this nationally televised speech, delivered before the ] and ] on the ], Bush effectively declared victory due to the defeat of Iraq's conventional forces. However, ] 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 "]".<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 ].

].]]

Initially, Iraqi resistance (known to the coalition as "Anti-Iraqi Forces") largely stemmed from ] and Saddam/] 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 ], ], and ]. 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 ] including; mortars, missiles, ]s, ], ]s (IEDs), car bombs, small arms fire (usually with ]s), and RPGs (]s), as well as sabotage against the oil, water, and electrical infrastructure.

] 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 ] 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=] |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 ] 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 "]", as it coincided with the beginning of the Muslim holy month of ]. 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 ] 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.

]

===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 ] of the former regime. On July 22, a raid by the U.S. ] and soldiers from ] killed Saddam Hussein's sons (] and ]) 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 ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pentagon: Saddam is POW |publisher=CNN |date=] |url= http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/09/sprj.nirq.saddam/ }}</ref> The operation was conducted by the ]'s ] and members of ]. 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=]|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 ] began to agitate for elections and the formation of an ]. Most prominent among these was the ] cleric ]. The Coalition Provisional Authority opposed allowing democratic elections at this time, preferring instead to eventually hand-over power to the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Why the US is Running Scared of Elections in Iraq|publisher=Guardian (London) via Common Dreams|date=]|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 (]) to Basra in the south.

==2004: The insurgency expands==

{{main|2004 in Iraq}}

:''See also: ] for a list of all Coalition operations for this period, ], ], ], ], ]

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 ] with foreign fighters from around the Middle East as well as ] (an affiliated ] group), led by ] 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 ] 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.

] director ] signs over sovereignty to the appointed ], June 28, 2004.]]

The most serious fighting of the war so far began on March 31, 2004, when ] in ] ambushed a ] convoy led by four American ]s who were providing security for food caterers ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/contractors/highrisk.html|title=PBS.org}}</ref> The four armed contractors, ], 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 ].<ref> - CNN.com</ref>
Photos of the event were released to ] worldwide, causing a great deal of indignation and ] in the United States, and prompting an unsuccessful "pacification" of the city: the ] in April 2004.

The offensive was resumed in November 2004 in the bloodiest battle of the war so far: the ], described by the U.S. military as "the heaviest ] (that they had been involved in) since the ] in ]."<ref>, ''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 ] 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 ] which received international media attention in April 2004. First reports of ], as well as graphic pictures showing American military personnel taunting and abusing Iraqi prisoners, came to public attention from a '']'' news report (April 28) and a ] article in the '']'' (posted online on April 30.)<ref>Hersh, S. (May 10, 2004) ''The New Yorker''</ref> Military correspondent ] 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 ] the ] 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, ] 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 = ] |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 ] 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 ] was ]. An ] was ], 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}}

]

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 ] 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 ] 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 = ] |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 ] of the ]. This followed the ]. The government succeeded the ] which had continued in office in a ] 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 ] was released on December 6, 2006. The bipartisan Iraq Study Group was led by former secretary of state ] and former Democratic congressman ], 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 ] and ] 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 = ] |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 ] in November 2005, 10 of them women and children. Four officers were also charged with ] in relation to the event.<ref> {{cite news |title= 8 Marines Charged With 24 Iraqi Slayings |publisher = FOX |date = ] |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 = ] |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 ], Bush announced "deploying reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq." On February 10, 2007 ] was made commander of ] (MNF-I), the four-star post that oversees all U.S. forces in the country, replacing General ]. In his new position, Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces in Iraq and employed them in the new ] 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 ].

However, maintaining higher troop levels in the face of higher casualties required two changes in the army. Tours of duty were increased and the ] 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) 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) ''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>Associated Press, '']'', 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> Associated Press, '']'', 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=] | author=Raed Jarrar | coauthors=Joshua Holland | date=2007-12-20 | accessdate=2008-06-12 }}</ref>

]s on patrol around ]]]
Pressures on U.S. troops were compounded by the continuing withdrawal of British forces from the ]. In early 2007, ] ] announced that following ] UK troops would begin to withdraw from Basra, handing security over to the Iraqis.<ref> BBC NEWS February 21, 2007, </ref> This announcement was confirmed in the autumn by Prime Minister ], 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=] |date=October 2, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-14 }}</ref> In July Danish Prime Minister ] also announced the withdrawal of 441 Danish troops from Iraq, leaving only a unit of nine soldiers manning four observational helicopters.<ref>] ENGLISH, February 21, 2007, </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 ."<ref>Flaherty, A. (September 10, 2007) ''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 ] 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= |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===
] with insurgents in the ] section of Baghdad March 7, 2007]]

By March 2008, violence in Iraq was reported curtailed by 40-80%, according to a Pentagon report.<ref></ref> Independent reports<ref> ] September 10, 2007</ref><ref> ] 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> . By Damien Cave — The '']''. March 15, 2007. ''].'' </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>

]

On August 14, 2007 the ] occurred. Nearly 800 civilians were killed by a series of co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks on the northern Iraqi settlement of ]. More than 100 homes and shops were destroyed in the blasts. US officials blamed ]. The targeted villagers belonged to the non-Muslim ] 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 ] 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> Guardian August 15 </ref><ref></ref><ref> Guardian August 18, 2007</ref><ref></ref>

On September 13, 2007 ] was killed in a bomb attack in the city of ].<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 "]", an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that opposed ]. 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=]|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3596631 }}</ref> A statement posted on the Internet by the shadowy ] 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>.

]

There was a reported trend of decreasing US troop deaths after May 2007,<ref> ]</ref> and violence against coalition troops had fallen to the "lowest levels since the first year of the American invasion".<ref> ] December 17, 2007</ref> These, and several other positive developments, were attributed to the surge by many analysts.<ref> ] December 17, 2007</ref> Data from ] and other US agencies such as the ] (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> ] 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> 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 ] improved in 2007-08, the main reason this was that the battle for Baghdad in 2006-07 between the ] and the ] 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 ] has broken out in every Iraqi city where there is a mixed population.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></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 ] 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> ] September 22, 2008</ref><ref>, 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 ] 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 ], 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===
]
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) ''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) ''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) ''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=]|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 ] and ] due to the latter's giving sanctuary to the militant anti-Iranian group ] (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=]|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/19172.html }}</ref>

Coalition forces also ] alleged Iranian ] operatives in Iraq, either ]. The Bush administration and coalition leaders began to publicly state that Iran was supplying weapons, particularly ] 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=] }}</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. ] ] 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=]|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 ]'s ], 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=]|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> ] May 8, 2008</ref>

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

]]]

Border incursions by ] militants based in Iraqi Kurdistan have continued to harass Turkish forces, with casualties on both sides increasing tensions between Turkey, a ] 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 ] 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=]|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=]|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=]|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=]|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=]|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 ] 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=]|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 ] 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 ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mroue|first=Bassem|title=Blackwater License Being Revoked in Iraq|publisher=The Guardian (London)|date=]|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 ] members.<ref>{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Dan|title=In Baghdad, Rice praises law reintegrating former Baathists|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|date=]|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0115/p99s01-duts.html }}</ref>

]The ongoing conflict between Turkey and ]<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=]|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200512/20/eng20051220_229424.html }}</ref> intensified on February 21, when Turkey ] 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=]|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=]|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=]|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=]|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= ]|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=] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7310173.stm }}</ref> In late March, the ] 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=]|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=]|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7311565.stm }}</ref> On a day of increased ] and ], 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=]|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 ], 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= ]|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=]|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 ], ], ] 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. ], commander of the ] 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=]|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 '']''. "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=]|url= http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/36436.html }}</ref>

===Congressional testimony===

] in testimony before Congress]]

Speaking before the U.S. Congress on April 8, 2008, General ] 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 ].<ref>Zremski, J. (4/09/08) ''Buffalo News''</ref> When asked by Senator ] 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) ''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) Indiana ''Journal-Gazette''</ref>

Presidential candidate and Senator ] said that it was reckless and irresponsible to call for troop withdrawals. Senator ], disagreed, saying it may be more irresponsible to leave troops in. Senator ] 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> April 8, 2008, ''CQ Transcripts''</ref>

Upon questioning by Senate committee chair ], Ambassador Crocker admitted that ] was less important than the separate ] organization led by ] along the Afghan-Pakistani border.<ref>Ambinder, M. (April 9, 2002) ''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>{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref>

When asked by Republican Senator ] 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) ''The Carpetbagger Report''</ref> Senator ], 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 ] asked about Ambassador ]'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 ] 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 ] 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) </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> 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) </ref>

Negotiations have begun between the Maliki government and the U.S. on the ] (SOFA) for U.S. forces in Iraq. In an interview January 24, 2008, US Defense Secretary ] 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> ] 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></ref>

On June 13, 2008, ] Prime Minister ] 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 ], ]. "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 ] 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 ] that US contractors would no longer have immunity from Iraqi prosecution under negotiated terms of the long-term security pact. ] officials could not be immediately reached for comment, but Iraqi member of parliament ] 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 ] rejected the proposed agreement on the basis that it violates Iraqi sovereignty, following a meeting with Iraq National Security Advisor ].<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 ] that Iraq would accept a ] 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 ] also said on ] 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 ] and Secretary of State ] briefed senior U.S. lawmakers on the draft SOFA, and Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki prepared to circulate it with Iraq's ] 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=]
|title=Gates, Rice Brief Lawmakers On Draft Accord With Iraq
|month=October
|year=2008
|publisher=The ]
|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 ] assault rifles for the more accurate U.S. ] and ] rifles, among other equipment.<ref></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></ref>

Iraq sought 36 ]’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></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}}

] (MNF-I)]]

The Multinational Force in Iraq is a military ] 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= ]|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 ] 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 (])'''

*{{flagicon|Fiji}} ]: 219 blue-helmets
*{{flagicon|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: ''']''' (NTM-I).

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

The ] is the armed resistance, by diverse groups, including ], within Iraq opposed to the US occupation and the U.S.-supported ]. The fighting has clear sectarian overtones and significant international implications (see ].) This campaign has been called the ''Iraqi resistance'' by its supporters and the ''anti-Iraqi forces''(AIF)<ref> October 27, 2006</ref> by ].

===Insurgents===
]
{{main|Iraqi insurgency}}

By fall 2003 these insurgent groups began using typical ] tactics: ambushes, bombings, kidnappings, and the use of ]. Other actions include mortars and suicide attacks, ]s, small arms fire, anti-aircraft missiles (], ], ]) and ]. The insurgents also conduct ] against the oil, water, and electrical infrastructure of Iraq. Multi-national Force-Iraq statistics (see detailed ] ) show that the insurgents primarily targeted coalition forces, Iraqi security forces and infrastructure, and lastly civilians and government officials. These ] favored attacking unarmored or lightly armored ] 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 = ] |date = ] |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 = ] |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4320818.stm }}</ref> Insurgent groups such as the ] have also attempted to constitute their own chemical weapons programs, trying to weaponise traditional mortar rounds with ] and ].<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=]}}</ref> On February 23, 2005

===Militias===

Two of the most powerful current militias are the ] and the ], 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 ]. However in recent months, there has been a split between the two groups.

]]]

This violent break between ]'s Mahdi Army and the rival Badr Organization of ], was seen in the fighting in the town of ] 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=] |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 ] 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===
] (AQI) is a term to describe a group which is playing an active role in the ]. The group was led by ] until his death in 2006; it is now believed to be led by ]<ref>"", ], June 12, 2006.</ref> (aka ].<ref name="Al Masri">Tran, Mark. "", '']'', 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 ], 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 ] 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 = ] |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> . ]' December 12, 2005.</ref>

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

*] count (August 9, 2008): 4,136 members of the U.S. military.<ref>{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{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.
*]: in January 2008 the ], 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 ].<ref name=WHOifhs> . ] (WHO.)</ref> The results were published in the ].<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=] |date=January 10, 2008}}</ref><ref name=guardianNewStudy>. By Sarah Boseley. January 10, 2008. '']''.</ref>
*] ] said in November 2006 that since the March 2003 invasion between 100,000-150,000 Iraqis have been killed.<ref name=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>. ''].'' Nov 11, 2006.</ref>
*The ] found that 34,452 violent civilian deaths were reported by morgues, hospitals, and municipal authorities across Iraq in 2006.<ref> . By Sabrina Tavernise. ''].'' Jan. 17, 2007.</ref><ref> . By ]. '']''. Jan. 16, 2007.</ref>
*The ] said that 14,298 civilians, 1,348 police, and 627 soldiers were killed in 2006.<ref> . By the ] January 2, 2007. '']'' 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> . By Alastair Macdonald. ''].'' Jan. 2, 2007.</ref>
*The ] (IBC) has documented 86,663 - 94,560 violent, non-combatant civilian deaths since the beginning of the war as of August 24, 2008.<ref>.</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> . Sept. 18, 2007. ''].''</ref><ref name=medialens2> . ]. 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) . ''BBC ]''</ref>
*The ] 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||242&nbsp;KB}}. By Gilbert Burnham, Riyadh Lafta, Shannon Doocy, and Les Roberts. ''],'' October 11, 2006</ref><ref name="Lancet supplement">{{PDFlink||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> . '']''. 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 ].<ref> . By Anjana Ahuja. ''].'' March 5, 2007.</ref><ref name=observer/><ref> 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 ] 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> . September 2007. Opinion Research Business. PDF report: </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 ].<ref name=LAtimes>. By Tina Susman. Sept. 14, 2007. ''].'' ()</ref><ref name=observer> . By Peter Beaumont and Joanna Walters. Sept. 16, 2007. ''].''</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> 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}}

]

The U.S. ] 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 ]. According to the ], 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>. Retrieved on Jan 2008</ref> Both ] and ] 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 ], 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 ] of ], the first U.S. officer to refuse to serve in Iraq, ended in a ] because the ] would not consider the question of whether orders could be illegal. A federal district court judge ruled that Watada cannot face ] on three of his five charges, but abstained from ruling on whether the two remaining charges of ] may still go forward.<ref>Bernton, H. (October 22, 2008) ''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> ''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> ] Jan 23, 2008</ref><ref> Dan Froomkin, Jan 23, 2008</ref>

].<ref></ref><ref>, The Guardian</ref> Some analysts have argued that the implementation of the ] and the ''Reagan Corollary'' played a role in the outbreak of the Iraq War.<ref>, Haaretz - Israel News</ref><ref>, TIME</ref><ref>, Times Online</ref><ref>, The Guardian</ref>]]

The ] 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=] |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></ref>

Criticisms include:

*] of the ]<ref>, The Guardian, November 20, 2003</ref><ref>, 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
*] with approximately $474 billion spent as of 12/07 the ] 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 ]<ref>, The Guardian, September 28, 2006</ref><ref>, The Washington Post, September 23, 2006</ref>
*Negative impact on ]<ref>, BBC News</ref>
*Negative impact on ]<ref>, BBC News</ref>
*Endangerment and ] of religious and ethnic minorities<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref name="independent1"></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>
*Damage to America's traditional alliances and influence
*Disruption of Iraqi ] production and related energy security concerns (the ])<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></ref>

==Humanitarian crises==
===Iraqi health care deterioration===
{{seealso|Health in Iraq}}
]

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 ] 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) ''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 ]. Mortar attacks in the capital are becoming deadlier.<ref>Reuters (June 2, 2007) 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) ''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 ]."<ref>. Louise Roug, ''],'' November 11, 2006.</ref> ] 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 ] outbreak in northern Iraq is thought to be the result of poor water
quality.<ref></ref> As many as half of Iraqi doctors have left the country since 2003.<ref></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></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> 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></ref>

===Iraqi refugees===
{{main|Refugees of Iraq}}
]
There are more than 4.7 million refugees of Iraq, more than 16% of the population. Two million ] while approximately 2.7 million are ].<ref></ref> The ] 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>, April 29, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Damon|first=Arwa|title=Iraq refugees chased from home, struggle to cope|publisher=CNN|date=]|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/20/damon.iraqrefugees/index.html}}</ref><ref> . Alexander G. Higgins, ''],'' November 3, 2006</ref>

Roughly 40% of Iraq's ] 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=]|date=]|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IC20Ak01.html}}</ref> All kinds of people, from university professors to bakers, have been targeted by ], ] and criminals. An estimated 331 school teachers were slain in the first four months of 2006, according to ], 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=]|date=]|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/01/16/MNG2MNJBIS1.DTL}}</ref> Iraqi refugees in ] and ] 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=]|date=]|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=]|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL12735263 }}</ref> Many of the Iraqi women fleeing the war in Iraq are turning to ].<ref></ref>

Although ] 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=]|date=]|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=]|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601004.html }}</ref> ] estimates that Christians comprise 24% of Iraqis currently seeking asylum in ].<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=]|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 ] 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=]|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=]|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=]|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=] }}</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 ] and other ], 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=] }}</ref> Furthermore, the small ] and ] communities are at the risk of elimination due to ] by ]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=]|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=] }}</ref>

Entire neighborhoods in ] were ethnically cleansed by ] and ] militias and ] has broken out in every Iraqi city where there is a mixed population.<ref></ref> Sunnis have fled ], while Shias were driven out of cities and towns north of Baghdad such as ] or ].<ref name="independent1"/><ref></ref> Satellite shows ethnic cleansing in Iraq was key factor in "surge" success.<ref>, 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></ref><ref>. Alexander G. Higgins, ''],'' November 3, 2006</ref>

For decades, Saddam Hussein ']' 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></ref> Thousands of ethnic ] pushed into lands formerly held by Iraqi ]s, forcing at least 100,000 of them to flee to refugee camps.<ref>, New York Times</ref> Sunni Arabs have driven out at least 70,000 Kurds from the ]’s western half.<ref></ref> Nowadays, eastern Mosul is Kurdish and western Mosul is Sunni Arab.<ref>, Asia Times</ref> The policies of ] by ] and ] after 2003 (with non-Kurds being pressured to move, in particular ] and ]) 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 ] 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=]}}</ref>

*Iraqi police from the Interior Ministry accused of forming ] 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=]}}</ref> and the ] have compounded the problems.

===Coalition forces and private contractors===

] holding a leash attached to a prisoner collapsed on the floor in the ]. England was convicted by a US Army court martial for abusing prison detainees.]]

*Alleged Gang-rape. ]

*]

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

*]

*], in ] <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, ]

*]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sundayherald.com/42229|title=Iraq: The Wedding Party Massacre|publisher=Sunday Herald|date=]|author=Neil Mackay}}</ref> (under investigation)

*Controversy over whether disproportionate force was used, during the ] by Coalition and (mostly Shia and Kurdish) Iraqi government forces on the Sunni insurgent stronghold of ] 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 ], 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 ] 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===
]
{{main|Terrorist attacks of the Iraq War}}
{{further|]}}
*Killing over 12,000 Iraqis from January 2005 - June 2006, according to Iraqi Interior Minister ], 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=]}}</ref> The insurgents have also conducted numerous ]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=]}}</ref><ref> . '']'' July 2, 2006</ref> An October 2005 report from ] examines the range of civilian attacks and their purported justification.<ref> . ] 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=]}}</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=]}}</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=]}}</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=]}}</ref>

*The February 2006 bombing of the al-Askari Mosque, destroying one of the holiest Shiite shrines, killing over 165 worshipers and igniting ] and reprisal killings.<ref>Alex Rodriguez, (paid archive), ''The Chicago Tribune'' June 29, 2006.</ref>

*The publicised killing of several contractors; ], ], ], 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=]}}</ref> Other non-military personnel murdered include: translator ], ], ] (Italian), charity worker ], reconstruction engineer ], 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=]}}</ref> and supply worker ] (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></ref>

*Attacks against coalition convoys and bases.

*Torture or killing of members of the ],<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=]}}</ref> and assassination of civilians associated with the ], such as ], or the ], such as ] and ], 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=]}}</ref>

==Public opinion on the war==
===International opinion===
According to a January 2007 ] 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 = ] |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=] }}</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 ], 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=]|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 ]. However, pluralities in the U.S. and India believe the world is safer without ].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Pew Research Center|work=Pew Global Attitudes Project|date=]|url= http://pewglobal.org/commentary/display.php?AnalysisID=1002|title= India: Pro-America, Pro-Bush }}</ref>

===Iraqi opinion===

]

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> -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"> 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> (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 ]", 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=]|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=]|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= ]|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 ] 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 ] 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 = ]|date = ] |url = http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0526-05.htm }}</ref> The U.S. ] concluded in a January 2005 report that the war in Iraq had become a breeding ground for a new generation of terrorists; ], 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 = ] |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7460-2005Jan13.html }}</ref> And the 2006 ], 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 ]'s ties to terrorist groups such as ], 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 ], Defense Secretary ] 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 ]'s terror group and Iraq.<ref>{{ cite news|title=Rumsfeld backtracks on al-Qaida, Iraq links|publisher=Associated Press via MSNBC|date=]|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=]|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=]|date=]|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 ] militants killed in fighting with, or civilians killed by, the ] (including relatives of suicide bombers.)<ref>{{cite news|title=Palestinians get Saddam funds|publisher=]|date=]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2846365.stm}}</ref> He also sponsored a small number of regional groups, designated ] by the ], among them, the ].<ref> 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 ] 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>], '']'', ] February 16, 2006 </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=] via the Internet Archive|date=]|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20071114184942/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=40703 }}</ref> Al-Qaeda commander ] 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 = ] |url = http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/623/60/ }}</ref> A letter thought to be from al-Qaeda leader ] found in Iraq among the rubble where ] 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 = ] |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}}
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*] Pyschologist studying social world influences
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==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 ]’s statue in ] in ]. -->

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

Image:Latvian Army soldier Diwaniyah 2006.jpg|A ]n army soldier with ] at a checkpoint on Tampa Road in ], Iraq.

Image:Iraq operation 3 soldiers.jpg|A group of ] in ], Iraq.

Image:Iraq protests before UK Parliament 501588 fh000036.jpg|An anti-war demonstration in ], 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 ] 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|] on the deck of the ] on May 1, 2003 to deliver the "]" 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.
*] (2006) '']: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq''
*] (2006) '']''. Penguin.
*] (2008) ''].'' RAND.

;News
*: Daily news and analysis from Iraq with a special focus on the Iraqi experience of war.
*: Aggregated news on the war, including politics and economics.
*: CNN Special Report: Three years later, debate rages.

;Economics
*: total U.S. cost of the Iraq War

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;Analysis
* by Rupert Cornwell, '']'', March 16, 2007

;Maps of Iraq
*, GulfWarrior.org.

;Road to War
* details of January 31, 2003 private meeting between George W. Bush and ] in which they discussed using U.S. spyplanes in UN colours to lure Saddam Hussein into war.
*, legal advice given to British Prime Minister Tony Blair weeks before the 2003 invasion, Channel 4, Great Britain.
* on the evening of March 19, 2003, announcing war against Iraq.

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;Iraqi sources
* Iraqis writing about their experiences of war at ElectronicIraq.net.

;Opinions and polls
*"''''". Zogby International, September 10, 2003.
*. Chronological polls of Americans 18 & older
*Public Agenda – Tracking survey of Americans' attitudes on international relations, conducted for '']''

; Combat operations related
*. Psywar.org, November 06, 2005. (Iraq War PSYOP leaflets and posters)

;Judiciary
* pdf Legal dissertation by Thomas Dyhr from University of Copenhagen.

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

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Revision as of 14:35, 21 November 2008

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