Timeline

Iraq, the UN Security Council; Coalitions and Deadlocks

2003-04-09:

DoD News Briefing: The Fall of Baghdad

2003-03-28:

Rumsfeld warns Syria and Iran: Military Shipments to Iraq are "Hostile Acts", Iran responsible for Islamic Revolutionary Guard 'Badr Corps' Activity inside Iraq

2003-03-20:

Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers: First Iraq-War DoD-Briefing

2003-03-19:

War on Iraq is launched: President Bush: "We will accept no Outcome but Victory."

Whitehouse: The opening Stages of the Disarmament of the Iraqi Regime have begun.

2003-03-17:

Exile or War: President Bush gives Saddam Hussein and his Sons 48 Hours to leave Iraq or face "Military Conflict."

US Terror Alert raised to second-highest Level "Orange" because of concern that Terrorists will attack due to possible military Action against Iraq. [ext.]

2003-03-16:

After Azores Meeting, President Bush and PM Blair give the United Nations a 24-hour ultimatum to enforce the demands for an immediate Iraqi disarmament, or face an American-/ British-led coalition going to war within days

President Bush: "Monday 'Moment of Truth' for World on Iraq." [ext.]

2003-03-15:

President Bush: "Crucial days lie ahead for the free nations of the world. Governments are now showing whether their stated commitments to liberty and security are words alone."

Radio Address [ext.]

2003-03-13:

The Pentagon is looking for: "Companies interested in providing specialized services related to firefighting or assessing damage to oil facilities in the event of military action in Iraq."

2003-03-11:

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: "If the US and others were to go outside the Council and take Military Action, it would not be in Conformity with the Charter."

Air Force Tests Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB)

2003-03-10:

Veto Threat by France and Russia: Igor Ivanov, Russian FM: "Russia is openly stating that if that draft of the resolution containing categorical, unfulfillable demands that was submitted to the UN is put to the vote, Russia will vote against it."

2003-03-09:

The US and Great-Britain agree to set out the precise Acts of Disarmament that Iraq would have to fulfill by March 17 to avoid War.

2003-03-08:

Joschka Fischer, German FM: "The Security Council - in fact, we all - face an important decision, probably a historic turning point."

Beyond Iraq, UN is Issue [ext.]

2003-03-07:

Hans Blix gives an ambivalent Report to the UNSC on Iraqi Compliance, followed by a tense Debate that further deepens the Divide within the UNSC.

Introduction of the March 7 Report by Dr. Hans Blix [ext.]

"Cluster" Document -- Unresolved Disarmament Issues [pdf -- 1490kB]

Jack Straw, British FS, proposes the UN sets an Ultimatum that Iraq will be invaded unless the Country demonstrates "full, unconditional, immediate and active cooperation" by March 17.

France clearly threats to veto a Resolution.

2003-03-06:

President Bush discusses Iraq in National Press Conference

2003-03-05:

Joint Declaration by the FMs of France, Russia and Germany stating that they will "not allow" a Resolution authorizing Military Action to pass the UNSC.

2003-03-03:

Igor Ivanov, Russian FM, states that his Country may use its UN Veto to block a Resolution authorizing War.

2003-03-01:

The Turkish Parliament narrowly rejects a Plan to deploy 62,000 US-Troops in the Country.

2003-02-28:

Hans Blix's interim Report to the UN gives a mixed Assessment of Iraqi Cooperation with Weapons Inspectors, it hails Saddam Hussein's Commitment to comply with the 2003-03-01 Deadline for the Destruction of Iraq's illegal Samoud 2 Missiles.

2003-02-26:

"A new Regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring Example of Freedom for other Nations in the Region." President Bush discusses the Future of Iraq at the American Enterprise Institute

2003-02-24:

Russia, France and Germany put forward a Counter-proposal to America and Britain's Draft Resolution: A step-by-step Program for Iraqi Disarmament.

2003-02-17:

Amid growing domestic Opposition to War, the Turkish Government delays a parliamentary Vote on whether to allow US Troops into the Country, intended to form a Northern Front in the Event of War.

2003-02-16:

The Nato Deadlock over Turkey is broken after the Organisation strikes a Deal to send military Hardware into the Country for its Defense in the Event of War.

2003-02-15:

Millions of Anti-war Protesters take to the Streets of Cities around the World.

2003-02-15:

Hans Blix delivers Report on Iraqi Compliance with Resolution 1441 to the UNSC.

Excerpts: What did Hans Blix really say?
"The Iraqis have Missiles that violate the Restrictions and haven't explained what happened to huge Quantities of Chemical and Nerve Agents"

2003-02-12:

The UN Weapons Inspectors announce the Discovery of illegal Missiles in Iraqi Possession: The Samoud 2 Rockets exceed the maximum Range of 150km set down in the 1991 Gulf War Ceasefire Agreement.

2003-02-11:

Nato's Plans to defend Turkey in case of War with Iraq remain deadlocked. France, Germany and Belgium ignore Entreaties of their fellow Allies to back down.

2003-02-10:

France, Germany and Belgium veto a US Request for Nato to make Plans to protect Turkey against Iraqi Attacks, throwing the Atlantic Alliance into one of its worst-ever Crises.

2003-02-09:

The US reacts furiously to a Franco-German Peace Initiative to triple the Number of Arms Inspectors in Iraq backed up with Surveillance Flights. The Bush Administration sees it as a thinly-disguised Attempt to derail the US Timetable for War.

Chancellor Schroeder: No "Secret Plan" between Germany, France

2003-02-08:

Secretary Rumsfeld Address to the Munich Conference on European Security Policy [ext.]

2003-02-05:

Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, uses Satellite Photographs, Tapes of intercepted Conversations and newly opened CIA Files in an Attempt to win over international Opinion.

Colin Powell's Speech to the United Nations on Iraq

2003-01-28:

President Bush delivers State of the Union Speech [ext.]

2003-01-22:

"Germany and France have the same judgment on this crisis," French President Jacques Chirac said after he and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder held a news conference at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday. The French president said their mutual stance is based on two ideas. "The first is that any decision belongs to the Security Council and the Security Council alone, which will address the issue after having examined the latest inspectors' report. "Secondly, as far as we're concerned, war always means failure," Chirac said. "Everything must be done to avoid war." [ext.]

2003-01-21:

Chancellor Schroeder: "Don't expect Germany to approve a Resolution legitimizing War, don't expect it."

2003-01-13:

Mohammed el-Baradei, Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says that UN Weapons Inspectors would need "a few Months" to finish their Work in Iraq.

2002-12-19:

The United States accuses Baghdad of being in "Material Breach" of the UNSC Resolution after Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix says the Iraqi Arms Declaration contains little new Information about its Weapons of Mass Destruction Capability.

2002-12-17:

Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, hints that the White House will reject the Iraqi Weapons Declaration.

2002-12-07:

As demanded by UNSC Resolution 1441, Iraqi Officials in Baghdad present the UN with a Dossier disclosing Iraq's Programs for Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Table of Contents of the 12,200-page Declaration that Iraq submitted to the UN Security Council [pdf -- 730kB]

2002-12-02:

The British Government publishes a Dossier documenting Human Rights Issues in Iraq.

2002-11-27:

Start of United Nations Weapons Inspections.

2002-11-13:

President Saddam Hussein accepts the UN Resolution.

2002-11-08:

UN Security Council (UNSC) votes unanimously to back US-British Resolution requiring Iraq to reinstate Weapons Inspections.

UN Security Council Resolution [1441] on Iraq

2002-09-23:

Publication of a British Dossier about Iraqi Capabilities to produce "Nuclear Weapons within one or two Years" [pdf -- 430kB]

2002-09-12:

"Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant?"

President Bush addresses the UN to make the Case against Iraq [ext.]

2002-01-30:

Iraq is Part of an "Axis of Evil"

US President George Bush delivers State of the Union Speech [ext.]

NewCatch > Security > Iraq