Building a Democracy

2003

• Jan. 20. President Bush signs National Security Presidential Directive 24, creating the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance to support the stabilization and recovery of Iraq in the event of war.
• February-March. Retired Army Gen. Jay Garner assembles ORHA and deploys his team to Kuwait.
• March 20. Coalition forces invade Iraq.
• May 1. President Bush declares an end to major combat in Iraq.
• May 13. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld designates Ambassador L. Paul Bremer as the top administrator for the Coalition Provisional Authority.
• June 1. The CPA assumes control of ORHA.
• June 16. Rumsfeld dissolves ORHA, CPA takes over.

2004

• March 8. Transitional Administrative Law is signed to provide the framework for Iraqi governance until a constitution is developed.
• June 1. Sheik Ghazi al-Yawar is named the new president of Iraq, and Dr. Ayad Alawi, the new prime minister. Alawi will oversee a council of ministers who will govern Iraq until national elections are held.
• June 30. Iraqi Interim Government assumes power; the CPA is dissolved; the U.S. Mission to Iraq, under Ambassador John Negroponte, continues to manage rebuilding programs funded by the United States.
• Dec. 31. Elections for National Assembly (goal).

2005

• Jan. 31. Elections for National Assembly completed.
• Early 2005. Iraqi Transitional Government takes power.
• Aug. 15. National Assembly completes draft of permanent constitution.
• Oct. 15. Referendum for permanent constitution.
• Dec. 15. Elections for government completed.
• Dec. 31. The elected government assumes office.

Sources: Defense Department, CPA