Timeline
Bellow is a timeline of events centered around the main character Elliot. It starts with the Iraq War highlights of 2003 (when he was deployed) and ends with a broader look at the United States' news highlights. Iraq War is colored blue for contrast.
March 20, 2003 - President Bush announces the start of a war against Iraq. Allied forces begin the campaign with strikes on military targets, including an attempt to kill Saddam Hussein.
April 9, 2003 - Saddam Hussein's rule collapses in a matter of hours as much of Baghdad comes under American control. Across much of the capital, Iraqis take to the streets to topple statues of Mr. Hussein, loot government ministries and interrogation centers, and give a cheering, often tearful welcome to advancing American troops.
May 1, 2003- Speaking from the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln beneath a banner that read "Mission Accomplished," President Bush declares that the military phase of the battle to topple Saddam Hussein's government is "one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11th, 2001, and still goes on." He argues that by vanquishing Mr. Hussein's government, he has removed "an ally of Al Qaeda," and he vows to continue to search for banned weapons in Iraq — a search that so far has been largely unsuccessful.
Aug. 19, 2003 - A suicide bomber drives a cement mixer full of explosives into the side of the United Nations compound in Baghdad and blows it up, killing 17 people and wounding at least 100 in an attack on one of the principal agencies in charge of rebuilding Iraq. Among the dead is Sergio Vieira de Mello, 55, the United Nations secretary general's special representative in Iraq. Mr. Vieira de Mello's body is pulled from the wreckage by American soldiers.
Dec. 13, 2003 - Saddam Hussein, once the all-powerful leader of Iraq, is arrested without a fight by American soldiers who find him crouching in an eight-foot hole at an isolated farm near Tikrit. He is haggard, dirty and disoriented after eluding capture for nearly nine months.
Jan. 5, 2009 - After months of delays, the enormous new United States Embassy compound is dedicated in Baghdad by Iraqi and American officials, who declare the start of a new era for relations.
January 20, 2009: Barack Obama sworn in as 44th President of the United States, first African-American president.
February 17, 2009: President Obama in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 signs a $787 billion stimulus bill, this is meant to retain and create jobs (3.5 million over 2 years).
February 27, 2009: President Obama reveals plan to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by end of August 2010, all forces out by December 31, 2011.
June 11, 2009: H1N1 virus has spread, World Health Organization raises alert, now considered a global pandemic.
June 13, 2009: Iran presidential election, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wins second term, tens of thousands protest
June 25, 2009: Michael Jackson dies at age 50.
June 30, 2009: “National Sovereignty Day” in Iraq, meaning U.S. hands over security to Iraqi forces. U.S. has gradually been handing over or shutting down bases since January to meet December 31, 2011 deadline.
August 8, 2009: U.S. Supreme Court – Sonia Sotomayor is sworn in as 111th justice, first Hispanic to hold seat on the court
September 9, 2009: President Obama addresses congress to fix U.S. health care system.
October 9, 2009: President Obama receives Nobel Peace Prize.
November 5, 2009: Fort Hood, Texas shooting, killing 13, wounding several.
December 1, 2009: Obama announces plan of sending 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan
April 9, 2003 - Saddam Hussein's rule collapses in a matter of hours as much of Baghdad comes under American control. Across much of the capital, Iraqis take to the streets to topple statues of Mr. Hussein, loot government ministries and interrogation centers, and give a cheering, often tearful welcome to advancing American troops.
May 1, 2003- Speaking from the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln beneath a banner that read "Mission Accomplished," President Bush declares that the military phase of the battle to topple Saddam Hussein's government is "one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11th, 2001, and still goes on." He argues that by vanquishing Mr. Hussein's government, he has removed "an ally of Al Qaeda," and he vows to continue to search for banned weapons in Iraq — a search that so far has been largely unsuccessful.
Aug. 19, 2003 - A suicide bomber drives a cement mixer full of explosives into the side of the United Nations compound in Baghdad and blows it up, killing 17 people and wounding at least 100 in an attack on one of the principal agencies in charge of rebuilding Iraq. Among the dead is Sergio Vieira de Mello, 55, the United Nations secretary general's special representative in Iraq. Mr. Vieira de Mello's body is pulled from the wreckage by American soldiers.
Dec. 13, 2003 - Saddam Hussein, once the all-powerful leader of Iraq, is arrested without a fight by American soldiers who find him crouching in an eight-foot hole at an isolated farm near Tikrit. He is haggard, dirty and disoriented after eluding capture for nearly nine months.
Jan. 5, 2009 - After months of delays, the enormous new United States Embassy compound is dedicated in Baghdad by Iraqi and American officials, who declare the start of a new era for relations.
January 20, 2009: Barack Obama sworn in as 44th President of the United States, first African-American president.
February 17, 2009: President Obama in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 signs a $787 billion stimulus bill, this is meant to retain and create jobs (3.5 million over 2 years).
February 27, 2009: President Obama reveals plan to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by end of August 2010, all forces out by December 31, 2011.
June 11, 2009: H1N1 virus has spread, World Health Organization raises alert, now considered a global pandemic.
June 13, 2009: Iran presidential election, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wins second term, tens of thousands protest
June 25, 2009: Michael Jackson dies at age 50.
June 30, 2009: “National Sovereignty Day” in Iraq, meaning U.S. hands over security to Iraqi forces. U.S. has gradually been handing over or shutting down bases since January to meet December 31, 2011 deadline.
August 8, 2009: U.S. Supreme Court – Sonia Sotomayor is sworn in as 111th justice, first Hispanic to hold seat on the court
September 9, 2009: President Obama addresses congress to fix U.S. health care system.
October 9, 2009: President Obama receives Nobel Peace Prize.
November 5, 2009: Fort Hood, Texas shooting, killing 13, wounding several.
December 1, 2009: Obama announces plan of sending 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan