The Iraq War; important dates By morbach Jan 15, 2001 Cheney uses settlement after Gulf War as a reason to invade Sep 11, 2001 911 Sep 12, 2001 Bush speaks to Richard Clarke about Iraq Sep 13, 2001 Paul Wolfowitz suggests the possibility of an invasion Sep 15, 2001 Bush decides to invade Afghanistan before Iraq Sep 16, 2001 Cheney refers to Iraq invansion during Interview on NBC Sep 17, 2001 War plan for Afghanistan is signed, some believe it also mentioned Iraq Sep 20, 2001 Tony Blair and Bush agree that they will eventually invade Iraq Sep 20, 2001 The Cabal is created by Cheney and Rumsfeld Oct 28, 2001 Bush declares that UN must do something about Iraq Nov 1, 2001 Is the Anthrax incident linked to Iraq? ABC News Dec 11, 2001 Fox News, Cheney, Iraq Threat Jan 29, 2002 Bush states that Iraq is an "axis of evil" Feb 5, 2002 Bush administers search for WMD. Feb 12, 2002 Hussein must be overthrown (Bush) Mar 17, 2002 Cheney--U.S. will invade Iraq Sep 20, 2002 Plans to invade Iraq are disclosed Jan 2, 2003 UN find NO WMD Feb 8, 2003 There ARE WMD and Al Quaeda is present in Iraq Mar 17, 2003 President Bush tells Saddam Hussein he has 48 hours to leave Iraq with his family Mar 19, 2003 U.S. troops invade Iraq