This Day in History: , The War in Iraq Begins.<br />March 19, 2003.<br />In a televised address to the American people, <br />U.S. President George W. Bush announced the <br />beginning of a war that would end up lasting eight years.<br />48 hours earlier, the <br />U.S. had issued an ultimatum <br />to Iraqi dictator Saddam <br />Hussein to leave his country.<br />As justification for the war, Bush cited the <br />existence of weapons of mass destruction and <br />the country's support of terrorist groups.<br />The Hussein regime was toppled within <br />just a few weeks, but insurgents continued <br />a bloody guerrilla war against coalition forces.<br />In 2006, U.S. soldiers captured <br />Saddam Hussein while he was hiding in <br />a hole not far from his hometown.<br />He was tried, found guilty and executed <br />for crimes against the Iraqi people.<br />On December 15, 2011, the U.S. military <br />declared the end of its mission in Iraq.<br />Despite an extended investigation, U.N. inspectors <br />found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq
