The year the US-led invasion of Iraq began
March 20 2003
Primary justification given by the Bush administration for the invasion
Alleged possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)
Official name of the US military operation in Iraq
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The Iraqi leader and dictator overthrown in 2003
Saddam Hussein
Term used for the intense initial aerial bombing campaign in 2003
Shock and Awe
Famous speech title where President Bush declared an end to major combat operations
Mission Accomplished
City where 4 US contractors were killed in 2004; sparking a major battle
Fallujah
The 2004 scandal involving the mistreatment of Iraqi detainees by US personnel
Abu Ghraib
The year Saddam Hussein was executed by the Iraqi government
2006
Strategic 2007 troop increase designed to stabilize Baghdad and Anbar
The Surge
US General credited with overseeing the 2007 “Surge” strategy
David Petraeus
Primary insurgent group that later evolved into ISIS
Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)
Year the US formally completed its initial troop withdrawal from Iraq
December 15 2011
Successor operation to “Operation Iraqi Freedom” focused on training (2010)
Operation New Dawn
Specific location where Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003
A “hole” near Tikrit
