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1993 |
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U.S.-allied forces strike Iraqi targets in response to Saddam Hussein's violations of the U.N. cease-fire agreement and after reports emerge of an Iraqi plot to kill former President Bush. |
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1994 |
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Iraq amasses troops on the Kuwaiti border, prompting the United States to respond with its own troops. Iraq withdraws. |
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1995 |
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Two of Saddam Hussein's sons-in-law escape to Jordan and reportedly reveal information about his chemical and biological weapons. They are executed on Saddam's orders when they return to Iraq. |
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1996 |
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The oil-for-food agreement is signed. The pact allows Iraq to sell its oil in exchange for money that can only be used for food, medicine and humanitarian supplies. |
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1997 |
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U.N. disarmament commission concludes Iraq is hiding information on biological and chemical weapons. U.N. weapons inspectors are expelled, but after negotiations, are then allowed to return to Iraq. |
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1998 |
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As, U.N. and Iraqi officials spar over continued inspections, the U.S. begins a military buildup in the Persian Gulf. The U.N. negotiates with Saddam Hussein in an attempt to reach a peaceful resolution. Iraq ultimately refuses to cooperate with inspectors. With the inspectors barred from entering any sites, the U.N. withdraws all personnel from the country. Days later, U.S. and British forces begin a series of air raids on Iraqi targets in Iraq, including sites the inspectors had been prevented from visiting. |
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1999 |
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Iraq rejects a U.N. resolution that would ease sanctions in return for allowing weapons inspectors to return. |
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2001 |
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Russia vetoes the U.N.-proposed adoption of "smart sanctions" against Iraq. |
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2002 |
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During his State of the Union Address, President Bush labels Iraq a member of an Axis of Evil, bent of the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Bush administration begins discussing options for ridding Saddam Hussein of his weapons and reaffirms a belief first expressed during the Clinton administration that the American position is one of "regime change" in Iraq. As the debate intensifies, Iraq announces a renewed interest in allowing weapons inspectors into the country. |
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