The document provides a historical overview of Iraq, including its origins in ancient Mesopotamia and periods of rule under various empires. It discusses Iraq's establishment as a monarchy in 1921 and as a republic in 1958, followed by rule under Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath party from 1968-2003. Major events covered include the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, the US-led invasion in 2003, and the subsequent insurgency and civil war. The document also summarizes key policies and outcomes of the Iraq War under US Presidents Bush and Obama.

1. Iraq

2. Iraq
• The Cradle of Civilization
• The Fertile Crescent
• The birthplace of writing, law and the
wheel
• Historically, known as Mesopotamia (Land
between the rivers)

4. • At different periods in its history, Iraq was the
center of the indigenous Akkadian, Sumerian,
Assyrian, Babylonian, and Abbasid empires.
• It was also part of the Achaemenid, Hellenistic,
Parthian, Sassanid, Roman, Rashidun,
Umayyad, Mongol, Safavid, Afsharid, and
Ottoman empires
• It came under British control after WWI(1918)as
a League of Nations mandate.

5. • A monarchy was established in 1921.
• Iraq gained independence from Britain in
1932
• In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown and
the Republic of Iraq was created.
• Iraq was controlled by the Ba'ath Party from
1968 until 2003(Saddam Hussein’s party).
• After the invasion in 2003 by American and
British forces, the Ba'ath Party was removed
from power.
• Iraq came under a military occupation by a
multinational coalition(led by US).
• Power was transferred to the Iraqi Interim
Government in June, 2004.

6. Saddam Hussein-1979-2003

7. Genocide against the Kurds
• Series of military and gas
attacks against the
Kurdish civilian population
of rural Northern Iraq
• Conducted between 1986
and 1989
• Some reports cite
Saddam Hussein's army
being responsible for
200,000 civilian deaths

10. December 30, 2006

11. • A new constitution was then approved by vote
and a new government of Iraq was elected.
• Foreign troops remained in Iraq after the
establishment of a new government due to an
insurgency/civil war that developed shortly
after the invasion
• In August 2010, the U.S. became the last
member of the coalition to cease combat
operations in Iraq
• In December 2011, the last U.S. troops left the
country.
• US Military advisors sent back in late 2014 to
assist Iraq against ISIS

12. Iran-Iraq War-1980-1988
• The war began when Iraq invaded Iran
• What caused it?
1. Border disputes
2. Fears of Shia Muslim uprising among
Iraq's long-suppressed Shia majority
influenced by the Iranian Revolution-
-Saddam Hussein was Sunni Muslim
3. Iraq wanted to replace Iran as the
dominant Persian Gulf state-wanted
Iran’s oil fields

14. Iran-Iraq War Cont.
• Iraq did not fair too well
• Iran was able to regain most lost territory by
1982
• For the next six years, Iran was on the
offensive and actually entered Iraq
• The war finally ended with a United Nations
ceasefire which was accepted by both sides
• A million Iraqi and Iranian soldiers as well as
civilians are believed to have died in the war
• Nothing really changed as a result of the war
• US supported Iraq in this war

15. Persian Gulf War
• August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991
• Codenamed Operation Desert Storm (17
January 17, 1991 – February 28,1991)
• It was a war waged by a UN-authorized
coalition force from 34 nations led by the United
States
• The war started when Iraq invaded and
annexed Kuwait
• Goal for UN: Free Kuwait from Iraqi control

18. Why did Iraq Invade Kuwait?
1. Iraq was bankrupt after the war with Iran, with
most of its debt owed to Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait
• Iraq pressured both nations to forgive the
debts, but they refused.
2. Iraq also accused Kuwait producing too much
oil and driving down it’s price, hurting the Iraqi
economy.

19. 3. Iraqi claimed that Kuwait was a territory
of Iraq
4. Iraq claimed that Kuwait was drilling for
oil across the border into Iraq's oil fields

20. UN Reaction
• UN condemned the invasion and demanded
an immediate withdrawal of Iraqi troops
• UN authorized a naval blockade to enforce
the economic sanctions against Iraq
• U.N. gave Iraq until January 15, 1991 to
withdraw from Kuwait
• After deadline, UN could use "all necessary
means" to force Iraq out of Kuwait

21. Operation Desert Shield
• US troops were sent to Saudi Arabia to
prevent an Iraqi invasion

23. Aftermath
• By March, 1991, 540,000 American troops
began to move out of the Persian Gulf area
• Saddam Hussein was allowed to remain in
power
• Coalition killed: 392
• Iraq killed: 20,000-35,000

24. Consequences on Iraq
• Economic sanctions remained
• Weapons inspectors
• No fly zone

25. No Fly Zone

26. Iraq War-2003-2011
• Called Operation Iraqi Freedom by the United
States military
• Conflict that occurred in Iraq from March 20,
2003 to December 18, 2011

27. Main Cause
• The United States and the United Kingdom
claimed that Iraq had weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) which was a threat to our
security
• In 2002, the United Nations Security Council
called for Iraq to completely cooperate with UN
weapon inspectors to verify that Iraq was not in
possession of WMD
• The United Nations found no evidence of WMD
but believed that Hussein was trying to get
WMD from Africa
• Due to the above intelligence, we invaded Iraq
on March 20, 2003

28. • After the Iraqi invasion, it was concluded
that Iraq had ended its WMD program in
1991 and had no active programs at the
time of the invasion
• The invasion of Iraq led to an occupation
and the eventual capture of President
Hussein
• Hussein was later tried in an Iraqi court of
law and executed by the new Iraqi
government

30. Other “Possible” Causes
• Some accused Saddam Hussein of
harboring and supporting al-Qaeda but no
evidence was ever found
• Iraqi government human rights abuses
• Wanted to spread democracy to the country
• Oil interests
• President Bush wanted to “fix what his daddy
messed up”

31. Issues in Iraq after Invasion
• Violence against coalition forces
• Civil war and sectarian violence
• The emergence of Al-Qaeda in Iraq(ISIS)
• Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse-
2004
• We got rid of Saddam Hussein, now
what??

35. President Bush’s Policies
• Started the war in 2003
• War was supported at first but no WMD’s found
led to war becoming very unpopular
• Abu Ghraib
• Accused of not having an “exit strategy”
• Helped establish a new democratic government
in Iraq
• “The surge” took place in 2007. It helped get
the violence under control in Iraq.
• Started troop reduction in 2008

37. President Obama’s Policies
• Opposed to war at the outset as a Senator
• After being elected President, Obama switched
the focus to the war in Afghanistan
• Pulled out all US combat troops in August 2010
• Pulled all US troops out in December, 2011
thus ending the Iraq War
• After we left, ISIS, formerly al-Qaeda in Iraq,
moved in and has taken over much of Northern
Iraq(2014-present)
– Obama sent 1500 military advisors back in late
2014

38. Iraq War Casualties
• Iraqi Combatants: Total dead- 28,736-37,120
• Coalition Forces: Total dead- 24,219
Total wounded: 117,961
• US Dead: 4,487

41. 4,487 Total Deaths and 32,223
Wounded in Action