Before the War - Iraq War Timeline... for those who forgot...

[AlexRS]

People tend to forget the timeline before US attacked Iraq:

Oct. 11, 2002 Congress authorizes an attack on Iraq.

"The resolution requires Bush to declare to Congress either before or within 48 hours after beginning military action that diplomatic efforts to enforce the U.N. resolutions have failed."

Nov. 8, 2002 The UN Security Council unanimously approves resolution 1441

Nov. 18, 2002 UN weapons inspectors return to Iraq, for the first time in almost four years.

Dec. 7, 2002 Iraq submits a 12,000-page declaration on its chemical, biological and nuclear activities, claiming it has no banned weapons.

Dec. 21, 2002 President Bush approves the deployment of U.S. troops to the Gulf region.

Jan. 16, 2003 UN inspectors discover 11 undeclared empty chemical warheads in Iraq.

Jan. 27, 2003 The UN's formal report on Iraqi inspections is highly critical, though not damning, with chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix stating that "Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance, not even today, of the disarmament that was demanded of it."

Jan. 28, 2003 In his state of the union address, President Bush announces that he is ready to attack Iraq even without a UN mandate.

Feb. 14, 2003 In a February UN report, chief UN inspector Hans Blix indicated that slight progress had been made in Iraq's cooperation. Both pro- and anti-war nations felt the report supported their point of view.

Feb. 22, 2003 Hans Blix orders Iraq to destroy its Al Samoud 2 missiles by March 1. The UN inspectors have determined that the missiles have an illegal range limit.

Feb. 24, 2003 The U.S., Britain, and Spain submit a proposed resolution to the UN Security Council that states that "Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it in Resolution 1441,"

Mar. 1, 2003 Iraq begins to destroy its Al Samoud missiles.

Feb. 24–

Mar. 14, 2003 The U.S. and Britain's intense lobbying efforts among the other UN Security Council members yield only four supporters (in addition to the U.S. and Britain, Spain and Bulgaria); nine votes (and no vetoes from the five permanent members) out of fifteen are required for the resolution's passage. The U.S. decides not to call for a vote on the resolution.

Mar. 17, 2003 All diplomatic efforts cease when President Bush delivers an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein to leave the country within 48 hours or else face an attack.

Mar. 19, 2003 President Bush declares war on Iraq.

[AlexRS]

Saddam started cooperating... It seems between Mar 14 and Mar 16 the Bush administration decided that the situation is of the "attack now or attack never" type.

They decided to attack now. After all, we were so ready to start the party.

Hopefully this information will re-surface to the public eye soon.

Would anybody care to argue that the war was necessary?

[AlexRS]

Or that it was an "honest mistake?"

Or that we went in because of WMDs?

Anybody?

[Redskins Diehard]

I think an accurate timeline would begin at least this far back:

2 Aug 1990 - Iraq invades Kuwait

Since the UN resolution dictating the end of those hostilities actually gave the authority to resume hostilities.

[AlexRS]

I think an accurate timeline would begin at least this far back:

2 Aug 1990 - Iraq invades Kuwait

Since the UN resolution dictating the end of those hostilities actually gave the authority to resume hostilities.

I am not denying that you can justify the war in logical terms.

Try justifying deaths of 2000+ American soldiers in those terms while you are at it. The War should be the LAST RESORT.

Based on available evidence it seems WAR was the GOAL. not MEANS to achieve a goal but THE GOAL.

Please put forth any evidence that points to war not being the goal.