Iraq

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Iraq
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The Early Years

• Socialist Baath Party takes control / Sunni
  minority has all the power over the Kurds and
  Shiite majority.
• Guess who takes over in 1979?

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Saddam Hussein

• 1980 Iraq declares war on Iran (Sunni vs.
  Shiite) (secular govt vs. religious govt)
• Iraq supported by US and its allies.
• 1988 war finally ends in a stalemate (Iraqs
  economy is a mess!!)

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Halabja Massacre

• Some Kurds in Iraq supported Iran in the war.
• March 1988 Saddam orders a chemical attack on
  Kurd town killing thousands.

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Persian Gulf War

• 1990 Saddam decides to take over Kuwait (use
  their oil to restore Iraqs economy)
• 1991 UN votes for military action
• Within weeks, the UN forces led by the US
  military had removed Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
• Loss in war led to no-fly zones, UN weapons
  inspections and oil embargo.

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Saddam is still in power!

• US hoped that the Iraqi people would overthrow
  Saddam.
• Shiite Muslims tried but failed and faced the
  consequences!! Thousands were rounded up and
  killed.
• 1993 US uncovers a plot to assassinate
  President Bush.
• 1998 Saddam kicks out UN weapons inspectors.
  Pres. Clinton responds with air strikes.

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Invasion of Iraq

• March 2003 US led forces invade Iraq stating
  that Iraq was continuing to develop WMDs
• April 2003 US forces enter Baghdad / Saddam is
  on the run.
• US begins establishing a new democratic
  government.

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What happened to Saddam?

• Dec. 2003 Saddam captured by US forces.
• Nov. 2006 Saddam sentenced to death for crimes
  against the people of Iraq
• Dec. 2006 Saddam executed.

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What now?

• Despite the creation of democracy and successful
  elections, there is still a growing insurgency
  (rebels) that looks to slow down the progress
  towards change.
• ALSO, threat of civil war looms as Sunnis,
  Shiites and Kurds sometimes dont cooperate.