Citing the risk of weapons of mass destruction, in March 2003, U.S. and British forces (together with nominal support from several other countries in a coalition) began a military campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. Although the offical stage of combat operations ended within three weeks, numerous ethnic and religious factions began fighting afterward, both against the coalition forces and each other, for control of Iraq's government. Iraq War, Updated Edition covers all the background material necessary to understand the circumstances surrounding the invasion of Iraq. This newly updated edition also includes the latest developments surrounding the Iraq War, such as the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and in-depth analysis of media coverage of the war, as well as questions concerning whether the United States shoudl maintain military operations in Iraq.

Shock and awe -- Middle East Situation; Saddam Ussein, the Baath party, and Weapons of Mass Destruction -- Persian Gulf War of 1991; September 11, Afghanistan, and Iraq - Afghanistan under the Tailban, 2001 - U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - U.S. Base at Guantanamo Bay -- Weapons of Mass Destruction -- UN Debates adn Reluctant Friends -- Americans at War: Week 1 -- Home Front -- Tides of War: Week 2; Coalition Actions and Advances, March 26-April 2, 2003 -- Battling Past Baghdad; US Forces move on and capture Baghdad's Main Airport, April 2-6, 2003; Al-Jazeera; Sunni Triangle -- Restoring Order -- Aftermath; Closure of Al-Arabiya; Occupation Zones initially assigned to coalition forces, May 2003 -- Iraq since 2004; Iraq Chronicle, 2003-2006; Enduring bases in Iraq; Multinational Force; Troop strength in Iraq, March 2005.