By 2003, the United States knows that Saddam Hussein is in Iraq, and they also have intelligence that he has weapons of mass destruction. US troops begin the campaign by launching airstrikes, including one attempt to kill Hussein. Within days of the troops arrival, Hussein's rule collapses and Iraqi citizens celebrate their new found freedom in the streets. Eliminating Hussein's rule over Iraq was a major victory for the United States, but Hussein was still on the run and the weapons of mass destruction had not been found. However nine months later Saddam Hussein is finally captured by US troops, he is found crouching in an eight foot hole near an isolated farm, he appears tired and disoriented. Fifteen months after Hussein's capture, the United States hands control over the nation to Iraq's new leaders. By 2004 Americans have taken on 1,000 casualties and the war continues to rage on. In 2005 Iraq holds it's first democratic elections in over 50 years, that same year Saddam Hussein is tried and found guilty and the next year he is executed. By 2009 an American embassy is set up in Iraq and troops begin to withdraw Iraq, by 2011 all troops have been withdrawn.
HOW THE Invasion Of Iraq CONTRIBUTED TO THE WAR ON TERROR
The United States invasion of Iraq ultimately met it's goal of removing Saddam Hussein from power, and in doing so it also suppressed terrorism. However the United States also hurt its relationship with some Middle Eastern nations because they opposed the United States heavy involvement in the Middle East. The United States also lost valuable lives and spent lot's of money while fighting in Iraq, the invasion of Iraq ultimately lost support for the war on terror from many Americans.