The American Vision: Modern Times © 2008

"The lraq War"

Introduction
Prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, various officials in the Bush administration promised the war would be short. However, four years later, lraq was still the site of daily violence and insurgent activity. Supporters of the war claim that, despite the violence, lraq has seen much progress, such as free elections, life without Saddam Hussein, and some reconstruction. Critics in 2007 could point to daily violence, an ineffective Iraqi government, and limited reconstruction. A massive amount of information on the lraq War-from stories about why the United States went to war to details about recent insurgent activity-can be found on the Internet. Explore various web sites to learn more detailed information about the lraq War

Sample web sites:
PBS -- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/iraq/
CBS News -- http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/iraq/main500257.shtml
BBC News -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2002/conflict_with_iraq/default.stm

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Read through the information, and then answer the following questions.

1			How did President Bush and his officials motivate the country to invade Iraq?
2			Describe the tactics the insurgents used against U.S. troops in lraq in 2007.
3			How do the early estimates of the costs of the war differ from what the war has actually cost?
4			How did President Bush's job get more difficult after November of 2006?
5			The lraq War has put major stresses on the U.S. military. Soldiers often have to serve extended tours of duty and return to lraq multiple times. Some say that a draft would solve this problem. Knowing what you do about the lraq War, how would you feel about being drafted and sent to fight in Iraq? Conclusion The lraq War has become the most controversial topic of the first decade of this century. More than fours years after it started, it dominates headlines and sways elections. Why is it important for citizens to learn as much as they can about the war?