Five Years in Iraq

Shock and Awe - Five years ago today President George W. Bush launched "Operation Iraqi Freedom" at 9:30 p.m. on March 19, 2003 in the United States, when it was already 5:30 a.m. in Baghdad on March 20.

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Shock and Awe - Five years ago today President George W. Bush launched "Operation Iraqi Freedom" at 9:30 p.m. on March 19, 2003 in the United States, when it was already 5:30 a.m. in Baghdad on March 20.

Casualties - The U.S. now has about 158,000 troops in Iraq. As of March 18, 2008, at least 3,990 U.S. troops have been killed. The U.S. death toll was the worst last year with 901 troops killed. Nearly 90,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the beginning of the war.

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Casualties - The U.S. now has about 158,000 troops in Iraq. As of March 18, 2008, at least 3,990 U.S. troops have been killed. The U.S. death toll was the worst last year with 901 troops killed. Nearly 90,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the beginning of the war.

The Costs - So far, the war has cost taxpayers $406.2 billion, according to the Pentagon. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglizt and Harvard University public finance expert Linda Bilmes have estimated the eventual cost at $3 trillion when all the expenses, including long-term care for veterans, are calculated.

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The Costs - So far, the war has cost taxpayers $406.2 billion, according to the Pentagon. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglizt and Harvard University public finance expert Linda Bilmes have estimated the eventual cost at $3 trillion when all the expenses, including long-term care for veterans, are calculated.

"Toppling" Saddam - Looking back, Bush said, "Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting ... whether the fight is worth winning ... and whether we can win it. The answers are clear to me: Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision and this is a fight America can and must win.''

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"Toppling" Saddam - Looking back, Bush said, "Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting ... whether the fight is worth winning ... and whether we can win it. The answers are clear to me: Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision and this is a fight America can and must win.''

A President's Role - A new CNN poll reveals that 61 percent of Americans believe that the next president of the United States should remove most of the troops, while 33 percent believe he or she should keep the same number of troops in Iraq.

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A President's Role - A new CNN poll reveals that 61 percent of Americans believe that the next president of the United States should remove most of the troops, while 33 percent believe he or she should keep the same number of troops in Iraq.

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Iraqi Thoughts on Pullout - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says he's totally against a quick U.S. troop pullout. He says if U.S. troops were leave Iraq tomorrow, next month or three months from now, that the country would be in trouble because "we are still not ready. Our forces have not reached a level of preparedness or readiness to be self-reliant."

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Iraqi Thoughts on Pullout - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says he's totally against a quick U.S. troop pullout. He says if U.S. troops were leave Iraq tomorrow, next month or three months from now, that the country would be in trouble because "we are still not ready. Our forces have not reached a level of preparedness or readiness to be self-reliant."

Barack Obama - Obama, an Illinois US Senator, has the best chance of all the previous African American candidates to win his party’s nomination. He’s written two best selling books: “The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream” and “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance” by Barack Obama.

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Obama's Plans - Obama said without ending the war in Iraq, the US can't address its national security and foreign policy needs. He called for a renewed focus on Afghanistan to finish the fight against the Taliban and root out al Qaeda, including $1 billion more a year in non-military assistance to help the Afghan people.

Alabama Rally - In Birmingham, Ala., Sen. McCain speaks to a crowd during his rally. REUTERS/Dave Martin

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McCain's Thoughts - McCain issued a statement today that warned of dire consequences if the US withdraws from Iraq too soon. Clinton and Obama both propose a phased withdrawal of combat troops. "America and our allies stand on the precipice of winning a major victory against radical Islamic extremism," McCain's statement said.

Clinton's Belief - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the increase in U.S. troops in Iraq over the last year has "not accomplished its goals" in a speech touting her plans to end the war in Iraq. "By the middle of this summer, when the additional surge forces have been sent home, we'll be right back at square one: 130,000 or more troops on the ground in Iraq," she said.

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Clinton's Belief - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the increase in U.S. troops in Iraq over the last year has "not accomplished its goals" in a speech touting her plans to end the war in Iraq. "By the middle of this summer, when the additional surge forces have been sent home, we'll be right back at square one: 130,000 or more troops on the ground in Iraq," she said.