This second War in Iraq has morphed from an event supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans to one opposed by a slim majority. What are the issues surrounding the war as it enters its fourth year?
LtG (ret) Ricardo S. Sanchez on Iraq and the Press, speech given 12 October 2007
Amendment by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) would establish dwell time for US military engaged in Iraq.
The Boxer Amendment condemned all attacks on the honor, integrity, and patriotism of any individual who is serving or has served honorably in the United States Armed Forces, by any person or organization.
The Levin Amendment would reduce the number of US troops in Iraq.
iraq war withdraw troops 2008
To express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.
On 1 May 2003, President Bush declared the end of "major combat operations" in Iraq from aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Above his head on the deck of the ship was a "Mission Accomplished" sign.
Presidential speech to the nation on the launch of the US invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003.
This table reports on current coalition
troop levels in Iraq, based on published news reports.
President Bush addresses the nation on 13 September 2007 and announces that the "surge" will end summer of 2008 with the withdrawal of the additional 30,000 troops announced in January 2007.
Pat Tillman -- high profile volunteer, multi-million-dollar pro-football player -- was killed in Afghanistan in April 2004. He was killed by "friendly fire." This is a timeline of events surrounding his death and subsequent investigations.
In July 2007, the Senate considered the Graham-McCain amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill.
In July 2007, the Senate considered the Levin-Reed amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill.
In July 2007, the Senate considered the Levin-Reed amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill.
On 20 March 2003, the United States launched a war against Iraq, with President Bush saying the attack was to "disarm Iraq and to free its people." The data in these charts provide an insight into current conditions in Iraq.
Selected quality of life indicators in Iraq show a mixed picture.
In January 2007, President Bush announced a troop surge in Iraq. This article attempts to document rhetoric and deployment numbers.
Statistical information on American military fatalities -- by gender, branch, age, race/ethnicity.
A timeline of key Bush Strategies in Iraq.
US and Coalition Troops in Iraq
Both the House has voted on a resolution opposing troop escalation in Iraq; the Senate remains under filibuster on this issue. Here are the Republicans who voted with the majority and the Democrats who voted with the minority.
Overview of Senate race in 2008 election in light of 2007 vote opposing troop escalation.
Text of House Resolution 63 opposing additional troop deployment in Iraq; passed 16 February 2007.
US and Coalition Troops in Iraq
We should reflect on the rhetoric coming from the White House four years ago, at the start of this extended military action ... as well as that of only seven months ago ... and then compare that with the rhetoric of January 2007, as President Bush escalates the conflict by announcing he will send more troops to Iraq.
Text of speech given by President Bush on Iraq, 10 January 2007.
A bi-partisan effort, the Iraq Study Group provided an independent assessment of the situation in Iraq in a report released 6 December 2006.
US military deaths in Iraq, by month; annotated chart.
US military deaths in Iraq, by month
This news archive records events surrounding the second War in Iraq, which has morphed from an event supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans to one opposed by a majority.
8 Sept 2006. A newly-declassified (but redacted) 400-page Senate Intelligence Committee analysis of pre-war Iraq reports no evidence of a link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. It concludes that Hussein "distrusted" al Qaeda and "viewed Islamic extremists as a threat to his regime."
The fevered rhetoric surrounding defense of the US heartland against terrorists is reaching new heights as we approach both the five-year anniversary of 9-11 and another mid-term election. To put the rhetoric in context, fire up your VCR or DVD player and watch Why We Fight. Learn why Eisenhower was concerned about the military-industrial complex.
2 September 2006. The President is firm: "Our commanders and diplomats on the ground believe that Iraq has not descended into a civil war." At almost the same time, the Pentagon reports that "a cesspool of sectarian violence ... has skyrocketed since the formation of the country's unity government." The Navy Times calls it the "gloomiest view yet of progress in Iraq."
Examination of the facts and fiction surrounding the intelligence community and allegations that Iraq attempted to purchase yellowcake from Niger.
US and Coalition Troops in Iraq, June 2005
Historical look at the $87 billion vote on Iraqi reconstruction.
Overview of issues surrounding the War in Iraq.
Text of the 2002 Joint Resolution of Congress authorizing military force in Iraq.
Using the official Congressional budget number of $135 billion by September 30, 2004, this web site "counts off" the cost of the war in Iraq and shows how that money might have been spent on housing, education, or health care. The data do not include interest, which would add about 40% to the cost over a 10 year period. Great for visualizing just how much money we're spending.
This August 2004 article from American Progress outlines how we could spent the dollars that have gone to the Iraq War on internal terrorist prevention. Opportunity cost is an economic term that means "what I could have done with my money had I not bought xyz."
Find official Iraq casualty data here, "information that has been scrupulously culled from government sources and cross-checked against other existing lists to ensure the most accurate and complete accounting of deaths that we can possibly assemble." Tabular data show month-by-month trends. View data on US, Afghanistan and Iraqi fatalities as well as coalition members. Keep up-to-date with RSS.
