September 11, 2001 was a terrible tragedy for the United States and the world. Thousands of innocent people were killed and a new chapter of warfare began. The world and the United States as the world's leader, was faced with an unprecedented enemy that had to be dealt with. President Bush singled out a few countries as the Axis of Evil and the need to go after regimes that financed and harbored terrorism. The removal of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan (the only country that openly supported terrorism) was deemed necessary. Subsequently a decision was made to go after Iraq as one country that could use its vast oil wealth to finance terrorist activities. The world had to be persuaded that Iraq posed a real and imminent threat to the world security.
In the months that led up to March 19, 2003 invasion, George Bush was faced with a problem regarding the country of Iraq. During this time Bush said countless times that he had evidence that Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president, had been in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Bush also claimed that Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), a clear violation of UN Security Council resolution 1441. Bush was threatening to impose a war on Hussein unless he surrendered these weapons. However, Hussein adamantly denied these accusations and allowed the return of the Arms Inspectors in Iraq for verification. On Bush's side was British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Together, they demanded the disarmament of Iraq otherwise the president of the United States would not hesitate to unleash the most powerful army in the world on Iraq. Bush also said that the Hussein regime was harboring terrorists, and in a post September 11 United States he considered it a priority to intervene with a country aiding them in any way. The establishment of democracy and the liberation of the Iraqi people from the brutal dictatorship of Sadam Hussein was another goal.