Buildup to the Iraq War

1979O Saddam Hussein

became president of IraqO Began to suppress

political groups that opposed him

1980sO Iran & Iraq in

warO US gives

military & financial aid to Iraq

O Saddam commits genocide against Kurdish population

1990O Saddam invades KuwaitO 1991 - US & many other nations drive

Iraq out of Kuwait: “Gulf War”O Iraq must end weapons programs

2000O Saddam

does not allow UN weapons inspectors in the country

2001O Al-Qaeda attacks World Trade

CentersO US attacks Afghanistan