On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush announced that U.S. and coalition forces had begun military operations in Iraq. The stated goals included disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and ending Saddam Hussein’s rule. Within weeks, Baghdad fell and the regime collapsed. However, no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction were found. The war led to a long insurgency, heavy casualties, and major political debates at home and abroad. Its consequences for regional stability and U.S. foreign policy are still widely discussed.
