Election of 2000:
· Republican George W. Bush beat Democratic challenger Al Gore in one of the closest elections in American history.
· Gore received more of the popular vote, but Bush received more of the electoral votes, winning the election.
· The election had been contested to due controversial election results in Florida.
9/11/01:
· On September 11, 2001, the international terrorist group al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, attacked the U.S. in the New York City and Washington, D.C.
· With the use of airliners, the World Trade Center in New York City was destroyed, and the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C. was severely damaged.
· Approximately 3,000 Americans lost their lives in these attacks.
Invasion of Afghanistan:
· In response to the attacks of 9/11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, which had been providing shelter for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
· We defeated the Afghan government, known as the Taliban, and we continue to hunt the country for bin Laden and his supporters.
Invasion of Iraq:
· In 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq, overthrowing and capturing their leader, Saddam Hussein.
· Pres. Bush stated that the war in Iraq was necessary in order to prevent Hussein from using weapons of mass destruction against the U.S. or our allies in the future.
