The document discusses events in Iraq and Iceland between 2003-2010. In Iraq, the U.S. invasion was followed by an appointed transitional government and elections, though many Iraqis did not see real change. Protests continued against the U.S. occupation. In Iceland, a financial crisis in 2008 led to mass protests and resignations, but the president remained, showing it was more protest than revolution. Dissatisfaction with new leaders in both countries showed the events did not fully constitute revolutions.

1. Really Revolution?

2. Photo: www.upi.com In March, 2003 a multinational force led by the United States invades Iraq to find and destroy weapons of mass destruction.

3. Photo: www.upi.com / Early April 2003: Revolution or Invasion?

4. In May 2003, new leaders were appointed to run the government of Iraq until the establishment of a democratic government. However, the transitional government was appointed by the United Nations, not the Iraqi people. Revolution or Occupation? Photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_Provisional_Authority

5. December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein is captured. With the tyrant gone Early 2004: CPA begins using presidential palace as headquarters. Photo: www.upi.com Revolution or Imperialism?

6. “In recent times, we have witnessed landmark events in the history of liberty, a Rose Revolution in Georgia, an Orange Revolution in Ukraine, and now, a Purple Revolution in Iraq.” - President G. W. Bush In early 2005 the so called “Purple Revolution” occured with the first democratic vote being held in Iraq. This term was coined by President Bush and American media. It has not been adopted by the Iraqi people. Photo: misskelly.typepad.com

7. Americans who supported the war saw the revolutionary rhetoric as a positive thing. Photos: blogs.denverpost.com The so called “revolution” brought democracy to a country in turmoil. Yet, the Iraqi people experiencing the war first hand did not see an end to the suffering the new revolution was supposed to bring.

8. January2008: President Bush gives his last State of the Union Address during which he speaks of the status of Iraq. His demeanor is positive even though the situation in Iraq had not changed drastically since he announced the “revolution” three years prior. Photo: blogs.denverpost.com

9. Photo: www.upi.com An anti-American group of Iraqi citizens protest the continued presence of American troops . The children hold up signs asking “where is the freedom?” because the coalition forces still occupy Iraq despite the formation of a new democratic government.

10. “In October of 2008 it became evident that a group of people with economical and political powers had ruined Iceland’s economic system, making the country bankrupt by relentlessly attacking it from the inside.” Source: grapevine.is

11. November, 2008 January, 2009 Photo: en.wikipedia.org Photo: www.guardian.co.uk The people of Iceland became more disheartened as the economic crisis worsened. Their distaste and lack of confidence in the current leaders grew as did the size and intensity of their protests. When the three major banks of Iceland collapsed thousands of citizens met in front of parliament demanding the resignation of the government they thought were responsible.

12. “The Icelandic president has no formal powers over foreign policy issues.” Quoted from: http://www.barentsobserver.com/russia-invited-to-icelands-airbase.4525408.html Many of the officials of the Icelandic government were forced to resign and new leaders were voted for. However, to truly be a revolution the entirety of the government must be overturned to make way for a new one. The fact that the President of Iceland continues to hold his position to this day shows that the “Kitchenware Revolution” was more political protest than a true revolution. Photo: en.wikipedia.org

13. October 4, 2010: Even with the voting of new government officials, the citizens continue to protest at parliament over the same issue. Their lack of confidence of the new leaders they voted for shows that the officials do not have the political myth to legitimately lead therefore not fitting the characteristic of true revolution. Photo: iceland-dori.blogspot.com

14. Sources http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/gallery/Six_Years_of_War_in_Iraq/1692 http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5528427/2/istockphoto_5528427-revolution-fist.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_Provisional_Authority http://www.apfn.org/Saddam-Hussein/captured.htm http://misskelly.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/14/iraq_vote_purple_finger.jpg http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/03/20/on-war-seven-years-of-war-in-iraq/1609/ http://www.grapevine.is/Home/ReadArticle/The-Kitchenware-Revolution-Two-Years-later- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:W07_Protesters_8727.JPG http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/21/iceland-globalrecession http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Olafur_Ragnar_Grimsson_-_World_Economic_Forum_Annual_Meeting_Davos_2010.jpg http://www.barentsobserver.com/russia-invited-to-icelands-airbase.4525408.html http://iceland-dori.blogspot.com/2010/10/protest-tonight-in-reykjaviklots-of.html