US Involvement In The War: Page 2
Assault on Fallujah
November 8th 2004
The Assault on Fallujah was a critical attack and the largest single military offensive in the year in Iraq. Over 15,000 american troops joined by Iraqi forces went into the town of Fallujah. The city had been under the control of insurgents (rebels) since may. This invasion was called “Operation Phantom Fury”. It lasted until January but by a month in US troops had killed an estimated 1,600 rebels. Due to this invasion America was able to recover Iraqi weapons. They entered the city of Fallujah slowly and under heavy fire. Many air bombardments from the US were used and the ground fighting was sporadic. Fallujah is in the heart of the Sunni triangle. Previous this assault, Iraqi officials there were trying to get the insurgents out of the city. But that failed so they called in the attack. The Military created battle lines shooting in the general direction of fire that was coming back at them, not seeing the insurgent attackers. Both the US troops and the insurgents had mortars and were firing at each other. The Iraqi prime minister was in favor of this attack saying that it was necessary. It was one of the heaviest combat missions in the war. In late January 2005, US combat units were reported leaving the area and attempting to help the local population return to their city, which was at that point damaged greatly.
November 8th 2004
The Assault on Fallujah was a critical attack and the largest single military offensive in the year in Iraq. Over 15,000 american troops joined by Iraqi forces went into the town of Fallujah. The city had been under the control of insurgents (rebels) since may. This invasion was called “Operation Phantom Fury”. It lasted until January but by a month in US troops had killed an estimated 1,600 rebels. Due to this invasion America was able to recover Iraqi weapons. They entered the city of Fallujah slowly and under heavy fire. Many air bombardments from the US were used and the ground fighting was sporadic. Fallujah is in the heart of the Sunni triangle. Previous this assault, Iraqi officials there were trying to get the insurgents out of the city. But that failed so they called in the attack. The Military created battle lines shooting in the general direction of fire that was coming back at them, not seeing the insurgent attackers. Both the US troops and the insurgents had mortars and were firing at each other. The Iraqi prime minister was in favor of this attack saying that it was necessary. It was one of the heaviest combat missions in the war. In late January 2005, US combat units were reported leaving the area and attempting to help the local population return to their city, which was at that point damaged greatly.
Iraqi Elections for Transitional Government
January 31 2005
On January 31st 2005, a free National election took place for a transitional government in Iraq. This was the first voting to take place in decades in Iraq. The Election was for a group of people to form a transitional government that would draft a permanent constitution. This took place through the war while battles were going on. Many of the candidates were greeted with so much violence and so many threats that they were afraid to show their faces in public. There were an estimated 8.5 million ballots cast even despite the violence and boycotts that the event was shown. The Shi’ite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance got the majority of assembly seats and the Kurdish parties came in second. This was called the Iraqi National Assembly that on April 28 approved the new government. The Transitional Government replaced the Iraqi Interim Government on may 3 2005. Despite all this, relatively soon after, it was replaced by another form of government.
January 31 2005
On January 31st 2005, a free National election took place for a transitional government in Iraq. This was the first voting to take place in decades in Iraq. The Election was for a group of people to form a transitional government that would draft a permanent constitution. This took place through the war while battles were going on. Many of the candidates were greeted with so much violence and so many threats that they were afraid to show their faces in public. There were an estimated 8.5 million ballots cast even despite the violence and boycotts that the event was shown. The Shi’ite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance got the majority of assembly seats and the Kurdish parties came in second. This was called the Iraqi National Assembly that on April 28 approved the new government. The Transitional Government replaced the Iraqi Interim Government on may 3 2005. Despite all this, relatively soon after, it was replaced by another form of government.
Cindy Sheehan Vigil
August 7th 2005
A standoff outside of President Bush’s ranch in Texas occurred when Cindy Sheehan refused to leave until President George Bush would speak with her. Cindy Sheehan had a son named Casey who was killed during his service in Iraq in early 2004. She began a protest because she believed the war in Iraq was wrong. She had met with Bush in June 2004 at Fort Lewis Washington where she told him of her thoughts on war. In August 2005, she camped out near the ranch for weeks demanding to speak with him but he never did. Two of the President’s top advisers came out to meet with the group of protestors for almost an hour. That was not good enough for Cindy Sheehan who continued to sit there refusing to leave until the president would talk to her. On some days she had as many as 1,500 supporters visiting the location. She released a TV commercial with Gold Star Families for Peace onto the cable television channels in the towns by Bush’s ranch. On August 16 she moved closer to his land due to a supporter, Fred Mattlage, offering his land as a protest spot. She later announced that she would continue her anti-war campaign even if she was granted a meeting with The President. She launched a “Bring Them Home Tour” protest that was supposed to cover 42 cities but what shut down by police on the third day. She and 370 other activists were arrested for demonstrating on the Whitehouse sidewalk.
August 7th 2005
A standoff outside of President Bush’s ranch in Texas occurred when Cindy Sheehan refused to leave until President George Bush would speak with her. Cindy Sheehan had a son named Casey who was killed during his service in Iraq in early 2004. She began a protest because she believed the war in Iraq was wrong. She had met with Bush in June 2004 at Fort Lewis Washington where she told him of her thoughts on war. In August 2005, she camped out near the ranch for weeks demanding to speak with him but he never did. Two of the President’s top advisers came out to meet with the group of protestors for almost an hour. That was not good enough for Cindy Sheehan who continued to sit there refusing to leave until the president would talk to her. On some days she had as many as 1,500 supporters visiting the location. She released a TV commercial with Gold Star Families for Peace onto the cable television channels in the towns by Bush’s ranch. On August 16 she moved closer to his land due to a supporter, Fred Mattlage, offering his land as a protest spot. She later announced that she would continue her anti-war campaign even if she was granted a meeting with The President. She launched a “Bring Them Home Tour” protest that was supposed to cover 42 cities but what shut down by police on the third day. She and 370 other activists were arrested for demonstrating on the Whitehouse sidewalk.
Iraq Study Group ReportThe Iraq Study Group report is an assessment of the state of war in Iraq. It was released on December 6, 2006. This 160 page report contains 79 separate policy suggestions. It outlined the problems occurring and contained recommendations as to what should be done next. There were many different expectations from people and government officials before the report was released. The Iraq Study Group report suggested budget funding ideas, withdrawing the troops, addressing foreign political issues, ways to help unify the Iraqi government, other diplomatic issues, and much more. For economic issues, the report focused on the oil industry in Iraq. They were going to provide assistance and investments in to the industry. The report received mixed reactions from people. Supporters of President Bush and the war criticized the report. These people said the report was “not a serious document” and “an evasion.” They believed that if we withdrew from the war then it would be considered as surrendering. However, most people opposing Bush's actions supported the report. They believed that it was a smarter and more sensible than what President Bush had chosen to do. For most people, the report signified change and an end to the war.
Saddam Hussein Executed
Dec. 30, 2006
Saddam Hussein was a ruthless dictator of Iraq. He was the 5th president and was in office from July 16, 1979 to April 9, 2003. He was a merciless dictator and used fear and terror to stay in power. His whereabouts became unknown in April 2003. He was found December 13, 2003 at a farmhouse in a hole in the ground and was taken in to custody. Hussein was put to trial for his crimes. He was charged with crimes committed against humanity such as murder and torture. He was found guilty and was sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam Hussein was executed on this December 30, 2006. There is a video tape that the Iraqi government released of his execution. It shows him walking up to the gallows and stepping up to the rope, but nothing more. He asked for his body to be buried in his home town alongside the graves of his other family members. The death of Hussein signified an end of the terror for everyone. It showed that a dictator could be Celebratory gunfire had broken out in Baghdad and in the southern city of Najaf. The people began to rejoice and were relieved that the ruthless dictator was dead.
Dec. 30, 2006
Saddam Hussein was a ruthless dictator of Iraq. He was the 5th president and was in office from July 16, 1979 to April 9, 2003. He was a merciless dictator and used fear and terror to stay in power. His whereabouts became unknown in April 2003. He was found December 13, 2003 at a farmhouse in a hole in the ground and was taken in to custody. Hussein was put to trial for his crimes. He was charged with crimes committed against humanity such as murder and torture. He was found guilty and was sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam Hussein was executed on this December 30, 2006. There is a video tape that the Iraqi government released of his execution. It shows him walking up to the gallows and stepping up to the rope, but nothing more. He asked for his body to be buried in his home town alongside the graves of his other family members. The death of Hussein signified an end of the terror for everyone. It showed that a dictator could be Celebratory gunfire had broken out in Baghdad and in the southern city of Najaf. The people began to rejoice and were relieved that the ruthless dictator was dead.
Death Toll Reaches 3,000
On January 3, 2007 the United States death toll reached 3,000 people from troops. Most of the deaths occurred in western and central Iraq. Around 2,400 deaths occurred in hostile situations. Explosive devices had accounted for over one-third of the deaths. Only 600 people had died from non-hostile situations. The army had suffered the most losses out of all the branches of United States Military. Over two-thirds of the deaths were among those in the army which includes reservists and Army National Guard. However, smaller branches also suffered greatly. The Marine corps had lost 900 people. The navy had lost 60 sailors and the air force lost around 30 people. More than 2,900 of the deaths were men and the rest women. Many people in the United States had been affected and changed from the deaths. The loss of these Americans had an impact on people back home in the United States. The losses of these people still negatively effect their family and friends today. The deaths of these soldiers had created an incentive for the United States to pull out of the war to prevent any more deaths from occurring. The loss of the soldiers had touched us all.
On January 3, 2007 the United States death toll reached 3,000 people from troops. Most of the deaths occurred in western and central Iraq. Around 2,400 deaths occurred in hostile situations. Explosive devices had accounted for over one-third of the deaths. Only 600 people had died from non-hostile situations. The army had suffered the most losses out of all the branches of United States Military. Over two-thirds of the deaths were among those in the army which includes reservists and Army National Guard. However, smaller branches also suffered greatly. The Marine corps had lost 900 people. The navy had lost 60 sailors and the air force lost around 30 people. More than 2,900 of the deaths were men and the rest women. Many people in the United States had been affected and changed from the deaths. The loss of these Americans had an impact on people back home in the United States. The losses of these people still negatively effect their family and friends today. The deaths of these soldiers had created an incentive for the United States to pull out of the war to prevent any more deaths from occurring. The loss of the soldiers had touched us all.
Troop Surge Announced
January 10, 2007 Bush announced that the United States government would increase the number of American Troops in order to provide better security in Baghdad and the Al Anbar Province. 20,000 American soldiers were deployed in Iraq to help establish, In Bush’s words, "...unified, democratic federal Iraq that can govern itself, defend itself, and sustain itself, and is an ally in the War on Terror." Bush, running out of Time to secure Iraq, made a dramatic change in U.S Military tactics. Though this “new way forward”, a title used by Whitehouse officials, seemed to most to be a rash decision made out of fear of loosing control over Iraq, it looked to be helping. By early August that year, reports of better cooperation from citizens in Iraq and a lower death toll for American soldiers.
January 10, 2007 Bush announced that the United States government would increase the number of American Troops in order to provide better security in Baghdad and the Al Anbar Province. 20,000 American soldiers were deployed in Iraq to help establish, In Bush’s words, "...unified, democratic federal Iraq that can govern itself, defend itself, and sustain itself, and is an ally in the War on Terror." Bush, running out of Time to secure Iraq, made a dramatic change in U.S Military tactics. Though this “new way forward”, a title used by Whitehouse officials, seemed to most to be a rash decision made out of fear of loosing control over Iraq, it looked to be helping. By early August that year, reports of better cooperation from citizens in Iraq and a lower death toll for American soldiers.