THE WAR IN IRAQ

By: GT Salamone

Why the war started

The United States and United Kingdom believed that Iraq was in possession of weapons of mass destruction.

The United States thought that Iraq had connections with Al Qaida.

There is dispute on whether one of the real reasons was over oil.

US Support Now

Right thing41%Should have stayed out55%

Feb. 2005Right thing46%Should have stayed out50%

Sept. 2004 Right thing54%Should have stayed out39%

July 2004 Right thing45%Should have stayed out47%

March 2004 Right thing58%Should have stayed out37%

Dec. 2003 Right thing63%Should have stayed out31%

March 2003 Right thing69%Should have stayed out25%

Statistics

Spent & Approved War-Spending - About $900 billion of US taxpayers' funds spent or approved for spending through November 2010.

Lost & Unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers' money and $549.7 milion in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors.

Troops in Iraq - Total 47,000 U.S. troops as of Nov 30, 2010. All other nations have withdrawn their troops.

U.S. Troop Casualties - 4,439 US troops Non-U.S. Troop Casualties - Total 316 US Troops Wounded - 32,033 US Troops with Serious Mental Health Problems - 30% of

US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home

Current Situation

In 2010 Barrack Obama announced that U.S. combat operations in Iraq would end on August 31, 2010

Troops are still currently in Iraq to assist if needed.

In September U.S. Troops invaded a neighborhood killing six.

On January 15, two U.S. Soldiers were killed and one was wounded by an Iraqi Soldier.

The Future

All U.S. troops are scheduled to be removed from Iraq on or before December 31, 2011.

With the effects of the war many people have turned their views to anti-war and want to focus on other things, such as green technology and education.

Many say the U.S. now supports the independence of Middle Eastern countries but we will see if this is true.

Works Cited "History of Attacks on Coalition and Iraqi Forces Since January 2004 | Institute for the

Study of War." Home | Institute for the Study of War. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.understandingwar.org/press-media/graphs-and-stats/history-attacks-coalition-and-iraqi-forces-january-2004>.

"Iraq War Over in 2011? Maybe. Maybe Not. (Updated) | Danger Room | Wired.com." Wired.com . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/11/iraq-war-over-i/#>.

"Lawrence-Lai.ca - Lawrence-Lai.ca Blog." Lawrence-Lai.ca - Lawrence-Lai.ca Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.lawrence-lai.ca/blog.html>.

"NUMBERS & PRIORITIES: The costs of war, healthcare, and climate change to the United States « The Conservation Report." The Conservation Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://conservationreport.com/2009/07/23/numbers-priorities-the-costs-of-war-healthcare-and-climate-change-to-the-united-states/>.

"Nato Review." NATO - Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2003/issue2/english/art1.html>.

"The Hindu : News / International : Last U.S. combat brigade leaves Iraq." The Hindu : Home Page News & Features. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article582064.ece>.

White, Deborah. "Iraq War Facts, Statistics at January 30, 2011 - Iraq War Casualties, Spending." Liberal & Progressive Politics & Perspectives. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/IraqNumbers.htm>.