Iraq war which countries were involved

At that meeting, against U. After the fall of the regime, these leaders appeared to be competing for power in post-war Iraq rather than cooperating. The Bush Administration asserted that it wants Iraqis who stayed in Iraq and were not part of the exiled opposition to participate in an interim government, and that it would not play a major role in choosing who leads Iraq next.

However, the U. The Administration organized an April 15 meeting, in Nasiriyah, to begin a process of selecting an interim administration. However, SCIRI, along with several Shiite clerics that have appropriated authority throughout much of southern Iraq since the fall of the regime, boycotted the meeting and called for an Islamic state and the withdrawal of U. At the same time, some recent violence in the Shiite-dominated areas of Iraq, including the early April killing of prominent cleric Abd al-Majid Khoi, could be connected with a jockeying for power within the Shiite community, and between it and other contenders.

Reconstruction and Oil Industry Issues. It is widely assumed that Iraq's vast oil reserves, believed second only to those of Saudi Arabia, will be used to fund reconstruction. Presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer said on February 18, , referring to Iraq's oil reserves, that Iraq has "a variety of means All fires have been extinguished. The remaining problems for the United States and Britain are to get Iraqi oil workers to return to work and to establish a successor government with legal authority to contract for sales of Iraq's oil to international buyers.

Press reports on April 14, said the United States is considering former senior Iraqi oil professional Fadhil Othman to be an interim oil minister, reportedly with some oversight by a U.

A related issue is long-term development of Iraq's oil industry, and which foreign energy firms, if any, might receive preference for contracts to explore Iraq's vast reserves. Russia, China, and others are said to fear that the United States will seek to develop Iraq's oil industry with minimal participation of firms from other countries.

Some press reports suggest the Administration is planning to exert such control, 59 although some observers speculate that the Administration had initially sought to create such an impression in order to persuade Russia to support use of force against Iraq. The program, which is an exception to the comprehensive U. It was suspended just before hostilities began, when U. On March 28, , the U. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution that restarted the program's operations and empowered the United Nations, for a day period, to take direct control of all aspects of the program.

Under the resolution, the United Nations set priorities for and directed the delivery of already-contracted supplies.

On April 17, , President Bush called for the lifting of U. In an FY supplemental appropriation P. In November , the U. On March 18, , the Administration released a list of 30 countries that had publicly stated their support for U. Nevertheless, only three countries supplied ground combat troops in significant numbers- in contrast to the Gulf war when more than 30 countries provided military support or to the campaign in Afghanistan, when 21 sent armed forces.

Political and Military Factors. On the international political front, analysts contend that it was important for the United States to enlist allies in order to demonstrate that it was not acting unilaterally-that its use of force to disarm Iraq had been endorsed by a broad global coalition. Although the political leaders of some Islamic countries were reportedly sympathetic to the Bush Administration's aims, they had to consider hostility to U.

Analysts have suggested that some countries sided with the United States out of mixed motives; former U. From a strictly military standpoint, active allied participation was not critical. NATO invoked Article 5 mutual defense shortly after the September 11, attacks against the United States, but during the subsequent war in Afghanistan, the United States initially relied mainly on its own military resources, accepting only small contingents of special forces from a handful of other countries.

Allied combat and peacekeeping forces arrived in larger numbers only after the Taliban had been defeated. Analysts speculate that the Administration chose to "go it alone" because the unique nature of U. An opposing view is that the United States lost an opportunity in Afghanistan to lay the political groundwork for an allied coalition in the conflict against terrorism.

Another military rationale for having primarily U. Direct and Indirect Contributions. Britain, the only other country that had warplanes patrolling the no-fly zones in Iraq, sent or committed 45, ground troops, as well as air and naval forces, and Australia committed 2, special forces troops, naval vessels, and fighter aircraft.

Poland authorized troops, including both special forces and non-combat personnel. In a non-combat capacity, Denmark sent two warships and a medical unit, South Korea approved the deployment of engineers and medics, and Spain dispatched three naval vessels. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine pledged contingents of anti-chemical and -biological weapons specialists.

Japan, constitutionally barred from sending ground troops, was reportedly prepared to help in the disposal of chemical and biological weapons, and also reinforced its naval fleet patrolling the Indian Ocean. Other forms of support were also valuable. For example, countries granted overflight rights or back-filled for U.

In addition, gaining permission to launch air strikes from countries close to Iraq reduced the need for mid-air refueling, allowed aircraft to re-arm sooner, and enabled planes to respond more quickly to ground force calls for air strikes; several countries, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kuwait, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Bulgaria allowed the use of their airbases and seaports. At the Bush Administration's request, Hungary approved the use of its Taszar airbase for the training of Iraqi dissidents as non-combatant interpreters and administrators; the initial plan was to train up to 3, Iraqi expatriates, but on April 1 it was announced that the program had been suspended after had been trained.

On January 15, the United States formally requested several measures of assistance from the NATO allies, such as airborne warning and control systems aircraft AWACS , refueling, and overflight privileges; the request was deferred.

The impasse was broken by an agreement over language indicating that such assistance "relates only to the defense of Turkey" and would not imply NATO support for a military operation against Iraq. On April 16, NATO announced that, since Turkey no longer believed itself to be threatened, the defensive missiles and surveillance aircraft would be returned to their home bases. The Bush Administration asked permission of the Turkish government to use Turkish bases and ports and to move American troops through southeast Turkey to establish a northern front against Iraq.

The talks over troop access proceeded in tandem with negotiations over a U. On March 1, however, the Turkish parliament rejected the deal by a three-vote margin.

On March 20, the Turkish parliament authorized overflight rights but also agreed to send Turkish troops into Iraq, a move opposed by the United States and other countries. After an early April visit by Secretary Powell, it was announced that Turkey would permit the transshipment of nonlethal military supplies and equipment to U. See above, Diplomatic Issues. Some Members of Congress criticized Turkey, claiming it sought to leverage U. Ankara also was concerned that the Iraq conflict might re-kindle efforts of Kurdish separatists to carve out a Kurdish state; such a move would likely prompt Turkish intervention.

Finally, Turkey has sought assurances that Iraq's million ethnic Turkmen would be able to play a post-war role in Iraq. In late February , Jordan's prime minister acknowledged the presence of several hundred U.

Although the Persian Gulf states generally opposed an attack on Iraq in public statements, more than , U. The Saudis also pledged to step up their oil output to compensate for any drop in Iraqi production. Kuwait served as the launch pad for the U. In addition, five U. Post-Conflict Assistance. After the Gulf War, several nations - notably Japan, Saudi Arabia and Germany - provided monetary contributions to offset the costs of the conflict; it is not yet known if such will be the case for the Iraq war.

Before hostilities, several countries, including France, Japan, Sweden, Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Romania indicated that they might play a role. In late April, it was announced that U. Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz stated that the Bush Administration would "pressure all our friends and allies to contribute as much as they can.

In addition, Denmark has proposed the creation of an ad hoc peacekeeping force. The opportunity to craft a new government and new institutions in Iraq is likely to increase U. Conversely, U. Middle East governments that provided support to the U.

Allegations by senior U. Such warnings could encourage more cooperation on the part of other Middle Eastern countries with U. On the other hand, the U. Democracy and Governance. Some commentators, including officials in the Bush Administration, believe that the war with Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein will lead to a democratic revolution in large parts of the Middle East.

Some link democracy in the Middle East with a broader effort to pursue development in a region that has lagged behind much of the world in economic and social spheres, as well as in individual freedom and political empowerment.

In a speech at the Heritage Foundation on December 12, , Secretary of State Colin Powell announced a three-pronged "Partnership for Peace" initiative designed to enhance economic development, improve education, and build institutions of civil society in the Middle East.

Separately, Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has reportedly proposed an "Arab Charter" that would encourage wider political participation, economic integration, and mutual security measures. In his ultimatum to Saddam Hussein on March 17, , President Bush commented that after Saddam's departure from the scene, the Iraqi people "can set an example to all the Middle East of a vital and peaceful and self-governing nation.

Skeptics, however, charge that U. Middle Eastern policy has traditionally been tolerant of autocratic or corrupt regimes as long as they provide support for U. Still others fear that more open political systems could lead to a takeover by Islamic fundamentalist groups, who often constitute the most viable opposition in Middle East countries, or by other groups whose goals might be inimical to U.

Some commentators are concerned that lack of prior experience with democracy may inhibit the growth of democratic institutions in the Middle East. Finally, a U. Arab-Israeli Peacemaking. Administration officials and other commentators argue that resolving the crisis with Iraq may have created a more favorable climate for future initiatives to resume currently stalled Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.

Proponents of this view cite the experience of the first Bush Administration, which brought Arabs and Israelis together in a landmark peace conference at Madrid in , after first disposing of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. Officials of the present Bush Administration have continued to speak of their vision of pursuing an Arab-Israeli peace settlement after eliminating threats from Iraq. In a statement to the press on March 14, , President Bush affirmed that "America is committed, and I am personally committed, to implementing our road map toward peace" between Arabs and Israelis.

Others believe, however, that resentment within the region over the U. Security Arrangements in the Gulf Region. Large-scale deployment of U. However, some fear that long-lasting major U. Even friendly Middle East countries may eventually seek a reduction in U. Defense officials reportedly are contemplating a significant reduction in U. Large-scale humanitarian and reconstruction assistance programs are expected to be undertaken by the United States during and following the war in Iraq.

Initial U. The United States has pledged to release , tons of food. However, with the main fighting now finished in Iraq, attention is also quickly turning to plans for reconstruction. FY Supplemental. The President, however, must consult with the Appropriations Committees prior to allocation of funds, and all obligations must be notified to the Committees five days in advance.

Reportedly, there are still tensions between the State Department and DOD over policy matters in the reconstruction of Iraq; however, USAID has pointed out that the same coordinated delivery system applied to other conflicts is being used in Iraq. On March 28, the U. Security Council unanimously approved Resolution , which gives Secretary General Annan authority to prioritize and coordinate the immediate humanitarian needs of Iraqi civilians for an initial day period, or until May 12, under an expanded OFFP.

The debate over the reactivation of the OFFP has also been highlighted by the larger question of what role the U. The ability of the United States to use oil resources for more long-term reconstruction purposes would require a Security Council resolution providing legitimacy to any interim Iraqi authority that might be the recipient of oil profits.

On April 16, President Bush urged the U. In addition, the United States has initiated an effort to obtain support from creditors for Iraq debt relief. On March 20, President Bush issued an executive order confiscating non-diplomatic Iraqi assets held in the United States. Other Donors. On March 28, , U. The EU has designated million euros for humanitarian relief agencies. International contributions have been pledged or received from a number of other donors in funds for Iraq, for humanitarian relief in neighboring countries, and for in-kind emergency supplies.

Aid Policy Structure in Iraq. To prepare for the use of aid, a post-war planning office was established on January 20, , by a presidential directive. While immediate overall responsibility for the war and management of U. In addition, it is responsible for implementing U. The Office, headed by retired Army Lt. Jay M. Garner, has three civilian coordinators - for reconstruction, civil administration, and humanitarian relief.

Indigenous Iraqi groups are expected to be formed in each province to propose assistance activities to be implemented in their area. He toured Baghdad and other parts of Iraq on April According to planners, U. Reportedly, some U. They are concerned that operating under DOD jurisdiction complicates their ability to help the Iraqis, jeopardizes their neutrality, and increases the risk to aid workers because they will be perceived as being closely allied with the U.

Many NGOs view the U. Until it was suspended on the eve of war, U. Prior to the war, sources said the average Iraqi had food supplies lasting a few months, but food security remains uncertain, just as the amount of food stored in OFFP warehouses is also unclear. Contingency Preparations. In the weeks leading up to the war, aid organizations planned for humanitarian needs amid great uncertainty about conditions in the aftermath of conflict.

While some argued initially that there was still a huge shortfall of resources and funding available for humanitarian assistance, the fact that the borders have remained quiet has allowed more time for further preparation.

Although population movements now appear less likely, there were concerns about the absorptive capacity of neighboring countries, whether they could provide adequately for these populations, and the impact of refugee flows on stability in the region. Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait have all publicly stated that they will prevent refugees from entering their countries, although each has continued to make preparations for assistance either within Iraq's borders or at transit areas at border crossing points.

Although NGOs have also been putting together plans, the absence of international organizations and NGOs with experience operating in and around Iraq means there are few networks in place and some concern over the implementation of relief operations.

Current Operating Environment. The war is destroying critical infrastructure, disrupting delivery of basic services and food supplies, and affecting the humanitarian situation inside Iraq.

So far it has not reached the crisis levels predicted before the start of hostilities. Widespread hunger and massive population movements have not materialized. Still, lack of electricity, water shortages, inadequate sanitation, and greatly reduced medical care are creating hardship for many. The humanitarian situation continues to evolve as the war progresses. The amount of assistance that is ultimately needed will obviously depend on the nature and duration of the conflict.

Relief and Security. In the short term, security of humanitarian aid delivery and distribution is a top priority. During the height of the military campaign, when small amounts of aid got through, logistical problems and unruly mobs made distribution very difficult. Since then, looting and lawlessness, particularly in places where heavy fighting took place, have been widespread and even included hospitals and water supply installations, which is having an increased impact on health care.

Most aid agencies remain on Iraq's border unwilling to enter for security reasons. Some U. Deliveries of water, food, and medical supplies are slowly getting through, even though at times the chaos and violence hampers the efforts of those trying to provide the most minimal vital assistance.

In general, the overall situation still has not not resulted in consistent, comprehensive provision of aid. Regular non-military flights into Baghdad are pending approval by the military. Although pockets of resistance continue throughout the country, coalition troops are now also patrolling cities and appear to be controlling much of the looting.

In addition, they are beginning to assist with the restoration of basic public services. Despite the obvious destruction from bombing and looting, in some places, such as Baghdad, there are signs of a return to normal life in the form of traffic jams, lines at gas stations, and food stalls with produce. The United States has not yet declared victory in Iraq, but a new phase, to bring about law and order and humanitarian relief, appears to be underway.

Throughout the country, logistical problems continue to complicate the security of supply routes. Once security is established, questions remain about delivery of aid whether roads used by the military will be usable or whether separate supply routes will need to be put in place ; availability of cargo and water trucks currently in short supply ; and distribution particularly in cities where the military is may not have gained full control over population centers.

Aid agencies plan to establish bases within Iraq to support relief operations. However, they fear that receiving protection from coalition-led forces could mean an increase in security risks for their staff. The EU is also concerned about the "independence and integrity of delivering humanitarian aid.

The apparent bitterness towards the coalition forces also remains an issue. Water and Sanitation. An insufficient water supply is proving to be one of the biggest humanitarian challenges. Deliveries by tanker to some towns, building an extension to the pipeline from Kuwait to Umm Qasr, and mobile teams working to repair and maintain generators are mechanisms underway to address the problem. Shortages of fuel have also been reported. Many sewer treatment plants are not functioning, allowing sewage to drain into water systems.

They have now been joined by a handful of NGOs. ICRC teams report that hospitals have varying levels of capacity and security. Some have been overwhelmed by casualties and are in need of additional medical supplies and staff. It is impossible to get accurate statistics on casualties and treatment provided.

Dedicated staff have continued to work under difficult conditions, even protecting records and equipment from looting. Civilian casualties have been reported as a result of hostilities and also from unexploded ordinance and land mines. Summer heat, poor sanitation, and lack of electricity have some concerned about the high risks of epidemic disease. There are reports of dramatic increases in diarrheal cases, especially among children.

The WHO is making plans to conduct a full assessment of hospital situations. Army hospital is treating both wounded and sick Iraqis. Food Security. At present, food supplies appear to be adequate, in part because extra rations were distributed prior to the war. The WFP has increased its delivery of food from Turkey into northern Iraq and has made plans to open another humanitarian corridor in Iran and to dispatch food through Syria and Jordan.

The WFP predicts that the food program in Iraq will be the largest in history, providing four times the amount supplied to Afghanistan after the Taliban was ousted.

The WFP wants to reach a target of having enough food for 27 million people by early May but has a long way to go to meet this objective, partly because it needs to secure warehouses and make mills and silos operational. It will also need to reactivate the OFFP distribution system, which relies on 44, outlets throughout Iraq, by reestablishing contact with recent or active suppliers to begin providing food and other humanitarian assistance.

Population Movements. Limited or no access by the United Nations and aid agencies makes it difficult to confirm reports of population displacement. According to the United Nations, there is a reported increase in the number of people leaving Baghdad for the countryside and small towns. Many have either returned home or were able to find local accommodation with friends and relatives. There are reports of Arab families under pressure to leave because they are being displaced by Kurds.

Few refugees have been moving out of Iraq. Since the fall of Baghdad, up to 30, displaced Iraqi have reportedly gathered at the Iraqi border near western Iran. And more recently, approximately 1, people have fled to a no-man's land on Jordan's border. Jordanian authorities are requiring those admitted to sign waivers agreeing to return to Iraq.

In response to U. Asylum seekers have been reported at several border areas, but there are no confirmed arrivals. Transition Initiatives. The now coalition-controlled port of Umm Qasr, Iraq's main outlet to the Persian Gulf, is a crucial gateway for humanitarian supplies.

British and Australian forces continue to sweep it for mines, but massive dredging and rebuilding is required to prepare the port for large cargo ships. Two Australian cargo ships carrying food aid have been delayed entry into the port because they are unable to dock due to their size. The food will be stored in a warehouse until the OFFP can be revived. It is quite possible that the situation in Iraq may move more quickly than anticipated through the humanitarian phase to reconstruction.

Already transition initiatives are underway. And plans are being developed for long-term reconstruction: reestablishing the educational system and health sector, restarting the economy, rebuilding the infrastructure such as airports, water, and electric systems, road, railroads, and ports , and promoting democratic governance.

Richard Grimmett [phone number scrubbed]; David Ackerman [phone number scrubbed]. The following subsections give brief overviews of these issues and provide links to reports that discuss these matters in greater detail.

The Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Domestic legal issues raised by the use of military force against Iraq concerned both the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution confers on Congress the power to "declare War"; and historically Congress has employed this authority to enact both declarations of war and authorizations for the use of force.

While all commentators agree that the President has the constitutional authority to defend the United States from sudden attack without congressional authorization, dispute still arises concerning whether, and the extent to which, the use of offensive force in a given situation, as in Iraq, must be authorized by Congress in order to be constitutional. The WPR requires, inter alia , that the President, in the absence of a declaration of war, file a report with Congress within 48 hours of introducing U.

With respect to Iraq, these legal requirements were met. As noted earlier in this report, P. On March 18, , President Bush sent a letter to Congress making these determinations. The statute also required the President to make periodic reports to Congress "on matters relevant to this joint resolution. The authorization did not contain any time limitation. Subsequent to enactment of the authorization but prior to the initiation of military action, twelve members of the House of Representatives, along with a number of U.

On February 24, , the trial court dismissed the suit on the grounds it raised a nonjusticiable political question; and on March 13, , the U. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed, albeit on different grounds. The appellate court stated that, although the mobilization of U. On the delegation issue, the appellate court ruled that the Constitution allows Congress to confer substantial discretionary authority on the President, particularly with respect to foreign affairs, and that in this instance there was no "clear evidence of congressional abandonment of the authority to declare war to the President.

But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! In an attempt to lift the state out of the hard times of the Great Depression, the Nevada state legislature votes to legalize gambling. Located in the Great Basin desert, few settlers chose to live in Nevada after the United States acquired the territory at the end of the Mexican This marked the first time an all-black starting five had won the NCAA championship. The top-ranked University of In the spring of , Elvis Presley was completing his second Hollywood movie, Loving You, and his first movie soundtrack album.

He had two studio albums and 48 singles already under his belt and two years of nearly nonstop live appearances behind him. If his life had taken a Organized in May , the Academy of Motion Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox.

On March 19, , law enforcement officials discover the charred bodies of forty-two-year-old Carol Sund and sixteen-year-old Silvina Pelosso in the trunk of their burned-out rental car, a day after the vehicle was located in a remote area several hours from Yosemite National The British deployment in Iraq was termed Operation Telic.

The name was derived from the Greek for purposeful or defined action. Special forces were also deployed along with specialised personnel tasked with locating and making safe WMD. While they may have served in peacekeeping operations, such as in Bosnia and Kosovo, the majority of British personnel would not have experienced anything like the show of military force that was about to be unleashed.

US and British engineers breached defensive banks to allow coalition forces to cross into Iraq on the night of 20 March The Iraqi defences soon collapsed in the face of the main US assault of armoured vehicles supported by artillery, attack helicopters and air strikes.

An early objective in securing the route to the capital was to seize the Al Faw peninsula and gain access to the vital port of Umm Qasr. Coalition forces, including 40 and 42 Royal Marine Commandos, launched a successful assault and secured key sites, including the Rumaila oilfields. The bulk of British armour rolled into Iraq on March.

To avoid delay and needless casualties, it was decided that Basra - Iraq's second largest city - was not to be occupied immediately. But the surrounding territory had to be secured.

British troops reinforcing and relieving US Marines encountered significant Iraqi resistance and had to deal with increasing numbers of prisoners.

Iraqi armour was quickly eliminated and regular Iraqi forces abandoned their bases. British units, having suffered casualties, responded to ambushes and sniper fire with aggressive armoured patrols and raids. Using information from anti-regime sympathisers in the area, and with special forces directing precision air strikes on resistance positions, Zubayr was largely secured within a week.

The British established strongpoints controlling the bridges into Basra and used Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones, and special forces to target enemy positions.

In the west of Iraq, special forces units, supported by the Royal Air Force, were part of an operation to eliminate Iraqi mobile Scud missiles. There turned out to be no missiles. But the raids, which penetrated close to Baghdad, led the Iraqi leadership to divert attention and resources away from the main coalition attack. Within four days of the start of the operation, the US Army was at Najaf, some 95 kilometres 60 miles from Baghdad, while US Marines were pressing north along a different route towards Kut.

After several days of consolidating their position, while attacking Iraqi forces with artillery and aircraft, US forces engaged the Iraqi Republican Guard divisions around Baghdad. By 4 April , they had seized the city outskirts, including the airport. Back in the south, by 6 April, British commanders judged that conditions were right to enter Basra in strength.

Armoured probes encountered only limited resistance and so these were escalated into a full-scale assault. British forces had to contend with widespread looting in the city, but order was gradually restored. Contacts were made with local leaders and attempts were made to improve power, food and water supplies. By 8 April , US troops had secured the approaches to Baghdad.

The following day, crowds gathered in the centre of the city to welcome coalition forces and destroy symbols of the old regime. By now, the west and north of Iraq had largely been secured.

A few days later, the northern cities of Tikrit, Mosul and Kirkuk fell to coalition troops. Meanwhile, Saddam had gone on the run. He would eventually be caught and executed in But attempts to establish stability failed.