The Iraq War
2003 – 2011
2003 – 2011
What year did the Iraq War happen?
The year the Iraq War happened was 2003 - 2011.
What year did the U.S. War in Afghanistan happen?
The U.S. War in Afghanistan officially began on October 7, 2001, and the U.S. military completed its withdrawal from the country on August 30, 2021.
What year did the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks happen?
The 9/11 terrorist attacks happened on September 11, 2001.
When did Iraq invade Kuwait and what year did Persian Gulf War happen?
Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, which is considered the start of the crisis that led to the war. The Persian Gulf War happened in 1991.
When did Arab- Israeli Conflicts happen?
It wasn't just one event, but a series of conflicts happening over many years, starting in the mid-20th century and continuing even today.
What are weapons of mass destruction. Why did the U.S. think Iraq had these weapons?
The U.S. thought Iraq had these weapons because some intelligence groups believed Saddam Hussein was still making or hiding them from a previous time he had used chemical weapons. 1 They were worried he might use them again or give them to terrorists. However, after the war, they didn't find any of these big weapons.
Who were the Taliban, and why were they connected to al-Qaeda?
The Taliban were a group that took control of most of Afghanistan in the 1990s. They are a very strict Islamic group. They were connected to al-Qaeda because the Taliban allowed al-Qaeda, a terrorist group responsible for the 9/11 attacks, to stay and operate in Afghanistan. The Taliban gave al-Qaeda a safe place to plan and train. Because the Taliban wouldn't hand over al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden, to the U.S. after 9/11, the U.S. and its allies went to war in Afghanistan.
What places were first attacked in the 9/11 Terrorists Attacks?
The first places attacked were the North Tower of the World Trade Center, followed shortly by the South Tower of the World Trade Center, then the Pentagon, and finally a field in Pennsylvania where the passengers and crew fought back.
Why did Saddam Hussein want to invade Kuwait and take its oil fields?
Saddam Hussein wanted Kuwait's oil fields to get richer, become more powerful, and because he thought it should have belonged to Iraq anyway. It was like wanting to take over your neighbor's successful lemonade stand for your own benefit.
Why did some Arabs feel that Muslims should control Palestine? What was the history of this land before 1948?
Some Arabs felt that Muslims should control Palestine because Muslims had lived in and governed the area for many centuries before the creation of Israel in 1948. They saw it as their historical homeland.
Who were the "allied forces"?
The "allied forces" in the Iraq War were the countries that joined the United States in the invasion and fighting. The main ones were: United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, and other countries also sent smaller numbers of troops or provided support. These countries worked together with the U.S. military.
The passage talks about the "Northern Alliance." Who were they, and why were they helping the U.S.?
The "Northern Alliance" was a group of people in Afghanistan who did not like the Taliban. They were made up of different ethnic groups from the northern part of the country. They helped the U.S. because they were already fighting against the Taliban before the U.S. got involved after the 9/11 attacks. So, they became allies with the U.S. to fight a common enemy. The Northern Alliance knew the land and the local people, which was helpful to the U.S. military.
Had there been terrorist attacks in the U.S. before 9/11?
Yes, there had been terrorist attacks in the U.S. before 9/11.
What were some of the main things that happened during the war? What kind of fighting was involved?
The main kind of fighting involved air attacks to weaken the enemy, followed by ground troops moving in to push them out of Kuwait. It was a big show of force by many countries working together to solve a problem.
Why did people have to leave their homes during this war? What were the Gaza Strip and the West Bank at that time?
During the 1948 war between Israel and Arab countries, many people had to leave their homes because of the fighting and violence. Both Arabs living in what became Israel and Jewish people living in Arab countries felt unsafe and were sometimes forced out or fled to find safety.
The passage mentions the Abu Ghraib prison. What happened there that was controversial?
The Abu Ghraib prison, run by the U.S. in Iraq, became controversial because there was evidence of prisoner abuse. Photos showed soldiers torturing and humiliating detainees, leading to jail sentences for some. Critics felt that higher-ranking officials also should have been punished.
There were efforts to make peace with the Taliban. Why would the U.S. try to talk to the group they initially went to war against?
The U.S. went to war with the Taliban because they were helping the bad guys (al-Qaeda). But after fighting for a long time, the U.S. realized that just fighting might not solve the problem for good.
What changed in airport security after 9/11?
The change in the airport security after 9/11 was more security checkpoints, stricter rules about what you can bring, taking off shoes, more advanced scanners, federal security screeners, increased security on planes, and more checks before you fly.
The war ended with Iraq being forced out of Kuwait, but Saddam Hussein stayed in power in Iraq. Why wasn't he removed from power at that time?
The mission had a specific goal (free Kuwait), and once that was achieved, there wasn't a clear agreement or desire among the allies to go further and try to overthrow Saddam Hussein at that time. They were worried about the potential problems that could cause.
Why was the Suez Canal so important? Why did these countries want control of it?
Because it made trade much faster and cheaper, countries like Great Britain and France wanted to control it. They had used the canal a lot to manage their colonies and to get resources. When Egypt took control of the canal, these countries felt their trade and power were threatened, which is why they tried to take it back.
The passage says the war "lost public support." Why do you think people in the U.S. stopped supporting the war?
The people in the U.S. stopped supporting the war because as time went on and the reasons for the war were questioned, the high costs and the lack of clear success made many people in the U.S. feel like it wasn't worth it anymore.
The passage calls it the "United States' longest war." Why did it last so long?
Basically, it wasn't just one quick fight. It became a long effort to find enemies, stop fighting, and help build a whole new country, which turned out to be a really difficult and lengthy process.
How did the terrorists get on the planes with weapons?
The terrorists were able to smuggle these items through security at the airports where they boarded the planes. This was a serious weakness in the security system that was quickly changed after the attacks to prevent anything like that from happening again.
Did the Persian Gulf War in 1991 also lead to a lot of fighting and instability in Iraq afterwards?
While the Persian Gulf War in 1991 successfully pushed Iraq out of Kuwait, it did lead to some fighting and instability in Iraq afterwards, but not on the same massive scale as the later Iraq War in 2003.
Why was it a big deal for Egypt and Israel to make peace? What did Israel give back to Egypt as part of this agreement?
It was a big deal for Egypt and Israel to make peace because they had been in many wars and there was a lot of bitterness and fighting. Making peace was a huge step towards stopping the violence and trying to have a more stable region. As part of the peace agreement (the Camp David Accords), Israel gave back the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. Israel had taken control of this land during a previous war, and returning it was a key part of the deal to achieve peace between the two countries.