Today in Canada’s Political History: U.S.-led invasion of Iraq begins

United States’ forces, joined by the British, Australian and Polish contingents, began the invasion of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq on this date in 2003. Approximately 160,000 armed forces personnel would be involved in this part of the military campaign. By March 1 President George W. Bush had announced “mission accomplished” and the end of hostilities. Canada, led by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, chose not to participate in the war.Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist.  He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy.  A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.