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Jessica Kane Mrs. Downey CP American Writer 5 May 2008 "US Involvement with Iraq Through Time" "You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war" Albert Einstein once said. Throughout time, the United States has always been involved with the Middle East. However, we have had a constant unofficial war going with Iraq since the 1990's. There has always been tension. Many don't know that and believe that September 11, 2001 is what started everything. Long before this horrible date in American history the United States has been involved in Iraq. Now in 2008, we ask ourselves, what really did start this ongoing conflict? In 1979 the United States Department of State recognizes Iraq as a country that sponsors terrorism (MidEastWeb).In a way, this is foreshadowed for the next 25 years, especially the year 2001. In September 1980, the Iran-Iraq war began and US was involved by helping out both sides. The US was definitely more on the Iraq side, however. It was stated that in 1983 a National Security Directive said that the United States would do "whatever was necessary and legal" to make sure that Iraq would not lose their war against Iran (Cooperative Research). During the Reagan Administration in the mid-eighties, the United States began to show support for Iraq more than ever before. On several occasions, our country sent supplies over to them, and leaders in our country including Reagan and George H.W. Bush gave military advice to Sudam Hussein. This along with most of the actions the United States did in the 1980s regarding Iraq is ironic. It makes one wonder about how those once prestigious leaders of our country would feel if they knew back then what would be to come in the future with our country’s relationship with that man and that country. Things would only get worse in terms of the United States and Iraq’s relationship with each other. In August 1990, there was a turning point and a definite end to the “friendship” between Iraq and the United States. The Iraqi Republican Guard invaded Kuwait, initiating the Gulf War. In response to this, President George H.W. Bush began Operation Desert Shield, which mobilized forces to contain the Iraqi Army. This operation made sure that Saudi Arabia was not invaded by any means. A few days after Iraq invaded Kuwait, the U.S. troops began to be deployed. In early 1991, a cease fire took effect. The United States began to bomb Iraq when Saddam Hussein stated that he would not pull troops out of Kuwait after the deadline was passed. Many people believe Iraq losing the Gulf War to the United States in 1991, began the still going feud between the two countries. Things would only get worse in terms of the United States and Iraq’s relationship with each other. There is not one fundamental reason recognized about why we seem to not get along. After everything so far happening with Iraq and the United States, what was about to happen was so very unexpected. September 11, 2001. To Americans, that date will never be the same in our minds and in our lives. A day in American and even world history that changed our country drastically in a matter of hours. America was under attack. Many believe that Saddam Hussein and the al Qaeda were responsible for this disaster. Two planes went through the World Trade Centers in New York City. The third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Immediately following the shock of this horrible attack on our country, George W. Bush declared War on Terror, targeting Iraq as one of the members of the “Axis of Evil.” The United States continued to search for both Saddam and another key terrorist: Osama bin Laden. After years of searching, in December 2003 Saddam was finally captured and eventually killed. Shortly after President Bush ended the War on Terror, preparations for a new mission: Operation Iraqi Freedom came about. This mission was created to help the Iraqi people and give them the government they deserve. The war continues to this date and the [|American soliders]are slowing rebuilding Iraq into a safe place to live for the Iraqi people. Through the years, the United States has been through a lot with Iraq. We have fought with them, got along with them, and even helped them in one way or another. Through researching hours on end to come up with an answer to the question, “What started the feud between Iraq and the United States?” I have found a lot of back round information about what the United States has been through with Iraq. It used to be hard for me to understand why the American soldiers would be helping Iraq out after what they put our country through with September 11. After researching so much about our history with Iraq, I have come to find out that it is certain people that conducted that horrible day in our lives as Americans, not the innocent Iraqi people. This ongoing conflict was created by a series of events, not just one event like I assumed there would be. With the history of civilization, comes the history of war, not only with Iraq. [|The war is still going on in Iraq today] and one can only learn from this time of war.

Works Cited "American History Timeline." __American History.__ 6 May 2008. . "Arming Iraq: A Chronology of US Involvement." __Iran Chamber Society.__ 2003. 5 May 2008 . "Donald Rumsfeld in 2003:"Iraq War will last 6 days." __Youtube.__ 2003. 7 May 2008. .

"The Iraq Crisis - Timeline. Chronology of Modern Iraqi History." __MidEastWeb.__ 2003. 3 May 2008. <[|http://www.mideastweb.org/iraqtimeline.htm>.] "Timeline: Iraq." __BBC News.__ 2 May 2008. 5 May 2008. <[|http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/737483.stm>.] "US-Iraq 1980s." __Cooperative Research.__ 6 May 2008 . "US Marines-Iraq." 2007. .