PLS 320 Iraq war

Who was Paul Bremer and why was he important in post-2003 Iraq?

Head of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) from May 2003. Issued de-Ba’athification and dissolved the Iraqi Army, removing experienced officials and fueling the insurgency.

What was George W. Bush’s role in the Iraq War?

President who ordered the 2003 invasion, oversaw regime change, occupation strategy, and approved the 2007 Surge.

What influence did Dick Cheney have on the Iraq War?

Vice President; strong advocate of invading Iraq, emphasized WMD intelligence, and supported assertive military and executive action.

What was Donald Rumsfeld’s role in the Iraq War?

Secretary of Defense; pushed a “light footprint” strategy, resisted early troop increases, and oversaw initial occupation failures.

What was Gen. Tommy Franks’ role in the Iraq War?

CENTCOM commander; led planning and execution of the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Who was Gen. David Petraeus and what was his significance?

Commander of Multi-National Force–Iraq (2007); architect of the Surge and counterinsurgency strategy that reduced violence and rebuilt Sunni alliances.

What was Gen. Raymond Odierno’s contribution to Iraq strategy?

Commander of Multi-National Corps–Iraq; implemented the “belt strategy” around Baghdad and partnered with Sunni tribes to combat AQI.

Who was Gen. Stanley McChrystal?

Commander of JSOC in Iraq; led targeted raids against AQI and helped kill al-Zarqawi.

Who was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?

Leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI); targeted Shiite civilians, escalating sectarian conflict; killed in 2006 by a JSOC airstrike.

Who was Ibrahim al-Jaafari?

Iraq’s first elected Prime Minister (2005); struggled with political paralysis and sectarian violence; replaced by Maliki in 2006.

Who was Nouri al-Maliki?

Prime Minister (2006–2014); centralized power, suppressed Sunnis, negotiated SOFA, and his sectarian policies helped pave the way for ISIS.

Who is Muqtada al-Sadr?

Shiite cleric; leader of the Mahdi Army militia; fought U.S. forces and rival militias, later became a major political figure.

Who was Qassem Soleimani?

Commander of Iran’s IRGC-Quds Force; coordinated Iranian support for Shiite militias in Iraq and influenced Iraqi politics; killed by U.S. drone strike in 2020.

Who was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi?

Leader of Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) and later ISIS; declared a caliphate in 2014.

Who was Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi (Bayan Jabr)?

Shiite Interior Minister; accused of allowing Shiite death squads and cooperating with Iran.

Who was Gen. John Abizaid?

Commander of CENTCOM after Franks; emphasized minimizing U.S. footprint and resisted early surge calls.

Who was Iyad Allawi?

Interim Prime Minister of Iraq (2004–2005); secular Shiite; pushed security reforms and opposed militias.

Who is Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani?

Shiite religious leader; encouraged elections, discouraged revenge killings, and influenced Iraqi political decisions