World Events North Korea withdraws from treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons (Jan. 10). In State of the Union address, Bush announces that he is ready to at
…tack Iraq even without a UN mandate (Jan. 28). (For an account of the U.S. build-up to war in Iraq, see News of the Nation, 2003.) Ariel Sharon elected Israeli prime minister (Jan. 29). Nine-week general strike in Venezuela calling for President Chavez's resignation ends in defeat (Feb. 2). U.S. Secretary of State Powell presents Iraq war rationale to UN, citing its WMD as imminent threat to world security (Feb. 5) U.S. and Britain launch war against Iraq (March 19). See also Iraq war timeline. Baghdad falls to U.S. troops (April 9). First Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, sworn in (April 29). U.S.-backed "road map" for peace proposed for Middle East (April 30). Background The U.S. declares official end to combat operations in Iraq (May 1). Terrorists strike in Saudi Arabia, killing 34 at Western compound; Al-Qaeda suspected (May 12). Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi again placed under house arrest by military regime (May 30). International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovers Iran's concealed nuclear activities and calls for intensified inspections (June 18). Palestinian militant groups announce ceasefire toward Israel (June 29). Liberia's autocratic president Charles Taylor forced to leave civil-war ravaged country (Aug. 11). Suicide bombing destroys UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing 24, including top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello (Aug. 19). After Israel retaliates for suicide bombing by killing top member of Hamas, militant Palestinian groups formally withdraw from cease-fire in effect since June 29 (Aug. 24). The Bush administration reverses policy, agreeing to transfer power to an interim Iraqi government in early 2004 (Nov. 14). Suicide bombers attack two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 25 (Nov. 15). Saddam Hussein is captured by American troops (Dec. 13). Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi announces he will give up weapons program (Dec. 19). U.S. Events Space shuttle Columbia explodes, killing all 7 astronauts (Feb. 1). Bush signs ten-year, $350-billion tax cut package, the third-largest tax cut in U.S. history (May 28). In one of the most important rulings on the issue of affirmative action in twenty-five years-the Supreme Court decisively upholds the right of affirmative action in higher education (June 23). California governor Gray Davis ousted in recall vote; actor Arnold Schwarzenegger elected in his place (Oct. 7). John A. Muhammad, convicted in the 2002 Washington, DC, area shootings, receives death sentence (Nov. 24). President Bush eliminates steel tariffs after WTO says U.S. violated trade laws (Dec. 4). Source: Year by Year (MORE)