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Events Leading Up to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

2476 events in this timeline

Open-Content investigative project managed by Derek, KJF, blackmax

This is the home page for the Events Leading Up to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq investigative project, one of several grassroots investigations being hosted on the History Commons website. The data published as part of this investigation has been collected, organized, and published by members of the public who are registered users of this website.

Showing 51–100 of 2476

  1. 1990-08-02 August 2, 1990: UN Adopts Resolution Authorizing Members to Defend Kuwait
  2. 1990-08-02 August 2, 1990: Iraq Invades Kuwait
  3. 1990-08-04 August 4, 1990: Iraqis Hold Hundreds of Americans Hostage; US Reluctant to Take Action
  4. 1990-08-05 August 5, 1990: US Media Arrives in Baghdad to Cover Invasion
  5. 1990-08-06 August 6, 1990: US Begins UN-Sanctioned Embargo against Iraq
  6. 1990-08-06 August 6, 1990: US Diplomat Discusses Iraq’s Occupation of Kuwait with Hussein; Dictator Promises Cheap Oil if US Will Allow Occupation to Stand
  7. 1990-08-07 August 7, 1990: ’Operation Desert Shield’ Begins; First US Forces Deploy in Saudi Arabia to Protect Large Oil Field
  8. 1990-08-08 August 8-9, 1990: US Diplomats Decide to Confront Hussein Rather than Negotiate
  9. 1990-08-08 August 8, 1990: Iraqis Use Americans as Human Shields
  10. 1990-08-08 August 8, 1990: Iraq Says It Is Annexing Kuwait
  11. 1990-08-08 August 8, 1990: New York Times Prints Details of Meeting between Hussein and US Diplomat Wilson
  12. 1990-08-10 August 10, 1990: Hussein Declares Jihad against US
  13. 1990-08-11 August 11, 1990: PR Firm Creates Front Group to Handle ‘Marketing’ of US Strike against Iraq
  14. 1990-08-12 August 12, 1990: US Navy Blockades Iraq; Suffers First Desert Shield Casualty
  15. 1990-08-17 August 17, 1990: Iraq Promises that All Americans Can Leave Region under Geneva, Vienna Conventions
  16. 1990-08-17 August 17-23, 1990: Iraq Announces All Foreign Citizens in Iraq and Kuwait to be Held Hostage
  17. 1990-08-22 August 22, 1990: Bush Calls Up US Reservists for ‘Desert Shield’
  18. 1990-08-24 August 24, 1990: Iraqis Renege on Promise to Let US Diplomats, Families Leave
  19. 1990-08-28 August 28, 1990: Iraqis Free Women and Children Hostages
  20. 1990-09-14 September 14-15, 1990: Deployment of British, French Forces to Join US Troops in Persian Gulf Announced
  21. 1990-09-20 September 20, 1990: US Diplomat Joseph Wilson Faces Down Iraqis, Prevents Americans from Being Taken Hostage
  22. 1990-10-10 October 10, 1990 and After: Fabricated Story of Iraqi Atrocities Sparks Outrage among US Lawmakers, Citizens
  23. 1990-10-10 October 10, 1990: False Allegation of Iraqi Depredations against Kuwaiti Children Inflames Public Opinion
  24. 1990-11-08 November 8, 1990: Bush Announces Massive Troop Deployment in Persian Gulf
  25. 1990-11-20 November 20-22, 1990: US Diplomat Joseph Wilson Uses Thanksgiving to Pressure Iraq to Release American Hostages
  26. 1990-11-28 November 28, 1990: Former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Supports Continued Sanctions; US Diplomats in Baghdad Disagree
  27. 1990-11-29 November 29, 1990: Bush Praises Acting Ambassador in Iraq for Heroism
  28. 1990-11-29 November 29, 1990: UN Resolution Leads to ‘Coalition’ of Nations Opposing Iraq Occupation of Kuwait
  29. 1990-12-06 December 6, 1990: Hussein Releases American Hostages
  30. 1991-01-03 January 3, 1991: Pentagon Censors War Reporting
  31. 1991-01-09 January 9, 1991: Final Talks between US and Iraq Break Down
  32. 1991-01-09 January 9-13, 1991: Congress Authorizes War with Iraq
  33. 1991-01-12 January 12, 1991: US Embassy Shuts Down on Eve of Iraq War
  34. 1991-01-16 January 16, 1991 and After: ’Operation Desert Storm’: US Launches Massive Air Assault against Iraq
  35. 1991-01-17 January 17, 1991: Iraq Launches Scud Missile Attack against Israel
  36. 1991-01-18 January 18, 1991: One Million National Guardsmen, Reservists Authorized for Call-up
  37. 1991-01-19 January 19-24, 1991: Multiple Reports of Chemical Toxin Releases in Saudi Arabia; None Verified
  38. 1991-01-19 January 19, 1991: Iraqi Scud Missile Fired at Saudi Airport
  39. 1991-01-25 January 25, 1991: Iraq Releases Oil Spill into Persian Gulf
  40. 1991-01-29 January 29-30, 1991: Iraq Attacks Saudi Target
  41. 1991-01-31 January 31, 1991: Iraq Captures Female US POW
  42. 1991-02-01 February 1, 1991: Cheney: US Will Retaliate against Chemical or Biological Warfare
  43. 1991-02-08 February 8, 1991: US Deployment in Persian Gulf Reaches Half Million Troops, Personnel
  44. 1991-02-12 February 12-13, 1991: US Kills 400 Iraqi Civilians in Air Strike
  45. 1991-02-19 February 19, 1991: US Rejects Soviet-Iraqi Peace Plan
  46. 1991-02-21 February 21, 1991: Iraq Fires Scuds at US/Saudi Military Base
  47. 1991-02-22 February 22, 1991: Bush Gives Iraq 24 Hours to Avoid Ground Assault
  48. 1991-02-23 January 22-February 23, 1991: Iraq Sets Kuwait Oil Wells Aflame
  49. 1991-02-23 February 23, 1991 and After: US-Led Coalition Launches Ground Assault
  50. 1991-02-25 February 25, 1991: Iraqi Scud Kills 28 US Soldiers in Saudi Arabia