Invading Iraq (2003)

This episode will only cover the period between March 2003 and May 1 2003.

Reasons for Invading Iraq:

Iraq's possession of WMDs

Saddam's link to Al QaedaIraq's failure to respect no-fly zonesTyrannical part of the Axis of Evil

The

United States Congress supported military action against Iraq, but the

UN did not approve of it. The US launched Operation Cobra II with the

coalition of the willing (consisting of 49 countries) and many military

contractors.  The main invasion was in the South, where there were

three fronts:

Western Front: US's 3rd Infantry Division goes through Najaf and Karbala towards BaghdadCentral Front: US's 1st Marine Expeditionary Force goes through Nasiriyah towards BaghdadEastern Front: UK's 1st Armored Division goes through Basra towards Baghdad

A secondary invasion in the North was led by the 10th Special Forces

Group and the Kurdish Peshmerga.  This force pushed through Mosul and

Kirkuk towards Baghdad.

The actual invasion of Baghdad took place early in April, when Colonel

Perkins invented the concept of Thunder Runs--rapid mechanized thrusts

into the city to inspire shock and awe.  Two thunder runs were sent

into Baghdad and eventually the city (minus Saddam Hussein) was taken.

On May 1st, 2003, President Bush declared Mission Accomplished (excerpt in episode).

Sources:

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/daily/graphics/iraqMap_040103_2.gif

http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,011805_Thunder_Run,00.html

Foreign Affairs (May/June 2006): Saddam’s Delusions

http://geocities.com/saberoca/

http://icasualties.org/oif/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/iraq/casualties.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh4U-Tbqbx4

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/invasion/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soohikNdbWs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdlEcFfYZ2k

http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/Iraq.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFijzDyJnVE

Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazine