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https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/baghdad-falls-iraq-war?cmpid=email-hist-tdih-2023-0 [login to see] 3&om_rid=
On April 9, 2003, just three weeks into the invasion of Iraq, U.S. forces pull down a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad’s Firdos Square, symbolizing the end of the Iraqi president’s long, often brutal reign, and a major early victory for the United States.
Dramatic images of the toppled statue and celebrating citizens were instantly beamed around the world. With Hussein in hiding and much of the city now under U.S. control, the day’s events later became known as the Fall of Baghdad.
“Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom,” then-Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said in a Pentagon briefing.
On April 9, 2003, just three weeks into the invasion of Iraq, U.S. forces pull down a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad’s Firdos Square, symbolizing the end of the Iraqi president’s long, often brutal reign, and a major early victory for the United States.
Dramatic images of the toppled statue and celebrating citizens were instantly beamed around the world. With Hussein in hiding and much of the city now under U.S. control, the day’s events later became known as the Fall of Baghdad.
“Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of failed brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom,” then-Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said in a Pentagon briefing.
Baghdad falls to U.S. forces
Posted from history.com
Baghdad
Iraq
Military History
World History
Conflict
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Taking out Saddam and problem officials was one thing but disassembling everything and giving those with experience no place in their own land didn't make friends and that came back to bite us. Punishing everyone for the sins of their leader didn't work out very well.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SMSgt, I fully agree, I was V Corps Rear G3 SGM. Went to Balad first, then to Camp Victory, Baghdad. There was no Phase IV. Then when Bremer took over and we turned into CJTF-7, there were lots of the "Officials" just waiting in the wings to be contacted to help govern and control, but they had been part of the Baathists party so they were not included. These people were member to survive. If they had not been, Sadam would have killed or removed them, so it was survival. This was the greatest mistake made, in my opinion - but hey, I was just a SGM not a diplomat!!
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CPT (Join to see)
SGM Mikel Dawson - A SGM with good ole' common sense. A totally foreign concept inside the beltway and in the "non-square building".
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Three years after I retired from the MIARNG, 4 days after my wife'sand my 23rd anniversary ma'am Lt Col Charlie Brown
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Remember it well but we screwed up. I had folks from my office in and out of Iraq when we were still allies. Lots of good people who supported us and just tolerated Saddam should have moved up, not been ignored.
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