Prehistory Babylonian Persian Greek Persian rule C 3

Pre-history: Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Persian rule C 3 AD: C 9 AD: 1258: C 16 AD: Arabic name al-ʿIrāq used to describe region Baghdad centre of the "Islamic Golden Age" Mongol invasion Absorbed into the Ottoman Empire 1914 -1918: World War One 1922: 1933: 1958: 1971: 1979 -2003: 1990: Iraq borders created and administered by the British Kingdom of Iraq established – King Faisal (British military bases) Military coup establishes Republic of Iraq British withdraw troops and advisors Saddam Hussein dictatorship Iraq invasion of Kuwait and Persian Gulf War

Iraq 2003 – Facts to consider Population: 23 million Land area: 435, 000 square kilometres Capital: Baghdad Ethnicity: Arabic Religion: Islam (99%: Shia 51%, Sunni 42%, 6% other – Christian 0. 8%) Political Leadership: Dictatorship – Saddam Hussein and the Ba’ath party

“Saddam Hussein has chemical and biological weapons and even nuclear weapons that he plans to give to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda who will then smuggle them into the United States and kill tens of thousands of people. ” George Bush, US President Public reasons… • Remove Saddam Hussein from power • Create a democracy • Prevent Iraq from acquiring weapons of mass destruction • Take revenge on Al Quaeda/Arab insurgents for September 11, 2001 attacks on the US • Protect the world from evil: mission from God • Protect the Kurdish population from Iraqi acts of genocide Conspiracy reasons… • Protect Israel • Protect US interests in oil production • Protect the US dollar from the Euro as the key world trading currency • Keep the US war industry profitable • Bush Jnr trying to achieve what Bush Snr said couldn’t be done

SAUDI ARABIA UNSTABLE/HOSTILE GOVERNMENTS AND GROUPS DEMOCRACY ISRAEL OIL RUSSIA ECONOMIC CONTROL

‘Coalition of the willing’ USA, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland supplied troops for invasion Originally a list of 46 countries March 20, 2003 US aircraft dropped precision-guided bombs on a bunker complex where Hussein and chief members of staff were meant to be meeting. US armed forces advanced from Kuwait. April 9, 2003 US troops occupied Baghdad. May 1, 2003 George Bush declared an end to major combat. December 13, 2003 Saddam Hussein captured.

US Military Numbers 4, 488 US soldiers killed in action 32, 223 US soldiers injured in action Unknown number of soldiers suffered PTDS Iraq War by the Numbers Civilian Numbers 150 reporters killed 134, 000 civilians killed 655, 000 people died since the 2003 invasion 2, 800, 000 people forced to become refugees US Financial Numbers $5000/sec spent on military action $350, 000 spent personnel deployment $1, 700, 000 spent on military costs 1. 6 million gallons of oil used every day Business Numbers 40% increase in oil production from Iraq $5, 000, 000 revenue from Iraq oil in 2003 $20, 000, 000 paid to KBR contractors $75, 000, 000 investment profit to go to US subcontracting companies Interesting Numbers $546, 000 of spare parts missing 110, 000 AK-47 s unaccounted for 0 weapons of mass destruction found