This Week in History: Week 12 (19 March 2003)
American-led Forces Invade Iraq
Iraq is invaded in order to destroy weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons are found.
In 2003, forces led by the USA invaded Iraq without the backing of the United Nations. The invasion was based on intelligence which supposedly indicated that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. This intelligence was later found to be inaccurate and no such weapons were ever found. Tens of thousands of Iraqis died during the invasion and subsequent occupation. In 2004 the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, declared the invasion illegal.
weapons of mass destruction (noun): bombs etc that can kill hundreds of people
backing (noun): support
inaccurate (adjective): not correct; not precise
invasion (noun): forceful entry into an area
subsequent (adjective): occurring later in time; following
Test your understanding:
1. The official reason for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was in order to
a) gain control of Iraqi oil reserves
b) find and destroy weapons of mass destruction
c) punish the people who attacked the US in 2001
2. How many weapons of mass destruction were found and destroyed in Iraq after the invasion?
a) around 10,000
b) around 1,000
3. Which of the following countries are known to have nuclear, biological or chemical weapons of mass destruction?
a) the USA