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Summary:
Operation Iraqi Freedom accomplished a long-standing U.S. objective, the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but replacing his regime with a stable, moderate, democratic political structure has been complicated by a persistent Sunni Muslim-led insurgency. The Bush Administration asserts that establishing democracy in Iraq will catalyze the promotion of democracy throughout the Middle East. The desired outcome would also likely prevent Iraq from becoming a sanctuary for terrorists, a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission report (Chapter 12, Section 2). On the other hand, U.S. commanders and senior intelligence officials say that Islamic militants have entered Iraq since Saddam Hussein fell, to fight what they see as a new "jihad" (Islamic war) against the United States. The Bush Administration asserts that U.S. policy in Iraq is now showing substantial success, demonstrated by January 30, 2005 elections that chose a National Assembly, a decline in the insurgency, and progress in building Iraq's various security forces. Plans are for votes on a permanent constitution by October 31, 2005, and for a permanent government by December 15, 2005. Others believe the insurgency is still widespread and that the Iraqi government could not stand on its own were U.S. and allied international forces to withdraw from Iraq. During the 1990s, following the 1991 Gulf war to oust Iraqi forces from Kuwait, U.S. efforts to change Iraq's regime failed because of limited U.S. commitment, disorganization of the Iraqi opposition, and the vigilance of Iraq's overlapping security services. After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, President George W. Bush decided against continuing to contain Iraq, characterizing it as a grave and gathering threat because of its refusal to abandon its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs and its potential to transfer WMD to terrorist groups. After a November 2002-March 2003 round of U.N. WMD inspections in which Iraq's cooperation was mixed, on March 19, 2003, the United States launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to disarm and change Iraq's regime. The regime fell on April 9, 2003. This report will be updated as warranted by major developments. See also CRS Report RS21968, Iraq: Post-Saddam National Elections, CRS Report RS22079, the Kurds in Post-Saddam Iraq; CRS Report RL32783, FY2005 Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan, Tsunami Relief, and Other Activities; and CRS Report RL31833, Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance.
