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In the English-speaking world, a name for the decade was never universally accepted in the same manner as for decades such as the '90s, the '80s, etc.[10][11][12]
Orthographically, the decade can be written as the "2000s" or the "'00s". Some people read "2000s" as "two-thousands", and thus simply refer to the decade as the "two-thousands". Some read it as the "00s" (pronounced "Ohs", "Oh Ohs", "Double Ohs" or "Ooze"), while others referred to it as the "Twenty-ohs". The single years within the decade are usually referred to as starting with an "Oh", such as "Oh-Seven" to refer to the year 2007. On January 1, 2000, the BBC listed "the noughties" (derived from "nought"[13] a word used for zero in many English-speaking countries), as a potential moniker for the new decade.[14] This has become a common name for the decade in the UK.[15][16][17][18][19] Others have advocated the term "the aughts", a term widely used at the beginning of the twentieth century for its first decade.[20][21]
The American Dialect Society holds a lighthearted annual poll for word of the year and related subcategories; for 2009, the winner of "least likely to succeed" was "Any name of the decade 2000–2009, such as: Naughties, Aughties, Oughties, Pot stickers, etc."[22]
[edit] Tags:World Trade Center,September 11 Attacks,Saddam Hussein,Iraq War,War In Afghanistan,War On Terror,Social Media,2008 Summer Olympics,Economic Crisis,Great Depression,A Tsunami From The Indian Ocean,Millennium,Centuries,Decades,1970s,1980s,1990s,2000s,2010s,2020s,2030s,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,Births,Deaths,Architecture,Establishments,Disestablishments,3rd Millennium,Globalization,Cold War,Modernity,Al-qaeda,Islamist,Afghanistan,European Union,Integration,Environmental,Energy Resources,Global Financial Crisis,Bbc,Noughties,American Dialect Society,Word Of The Year,War On Terrorism,International Criminal Court,Ba'ath Party,Madrid Train Bombings,London Bombings,Mumbai Attacks,Extreme Controversy,American Government,Natural Disaster,Tsunami,Hurricane Katrina,George W. Bush,Barack Obama,September 11, 2001,Terrorist Attacks,September 11, 2001 Attacks,Shanksville, Pennsylvania,2002 Bali Bombings,2003 Istanbul Bombings,2004 Madrid Train Bombings,Beslan School Hostage Crisis,2005 London Bombings,2008 Mumbai Attacks,List Of Wars 1990–2002,List Of Wars 2003–current,Armed Conflicts,Ideological,International Terrorism,Terrorist,Hezbollah,Hamas,State Sponsorship Of Terrorism,Nato,Iraq,War In Afghanistan (2001–present),Taliban,Osama Bin Laden,Navy Seals,Weapons Of Mass Destruction,Sunni,Shia,Operations In Iraq,2008–2009 Israel–gaza Conflict,Arab–israeli Conflict,2006 Lebanon War,Lebanon,Israel,Israeli Military,Israeli–palestinian Conflict,Second Intifada,Oslo Accords,Palestinian State,Al-aqsa Intifada,West Bank Fence,Green Line,Palestinian Terrorism,Qassam Rocket,Mortar,Gaza,Military Operation,Beersheba,Ashdod,Urban Warfare,Second Congo War,Democratic Republic Of The Congo,African History,Epithet,Displaced,Asylum,2008 South Ossetia War,Georgia,Second Chechen War,Russian Federation,Invasion Of Dagestan,Russian Apartment Bombings,Chechens,Chechnya,First Chechen War,Chechen Republic Of Ichkeria,Eritrean–ethiopian War,Kivu Conflict,Military Of The Democratic Republic Of The Congo,Hutu Power,Democratic Forces For The Liberation Of Rwanda,2009 Nigerian Sectarian Violence,Boko Haram,Nigerian,Sudan Liberation Army,Chad,War In Darfur,Darfur,Sudan,Sudanese Military,Militia,Janjaweed,Afro-arab,Rizeigat,Sudan Liberation Movement/army,Justice And Equality Movement,Fur,Zaghawa,Masalit,Coalition For International Justice,Mexican Drug War,Drug Cartels,Government Forces,Cali,Medellín,Illicit Drug Market,Naxalite-maoist Insurgency,April 2010 Maoist Attack In Dantewada,Jnaneswari Express Train Derailment,Rafiganj Train Disaster,Longest Continuously Active Conflict,Manmohan Singh,Naxalite,Maoist,In A Jungle Ambush,Operation Green Hunt,Colombian Armed Conflict,Colombia,Farc,Eln,Plan Colombia,Álvaro Uribe Vélez,Auc,Popular Liberation Army,Aguilas Negras,Sierra Leone Civil War,Revolutionary United Front,Sri Lankan Civil War,Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam,War In North-west Pakistan,Pakistani Armed Forces,Islamic Militants,Mujahideen,Waziristan,Federally Administered Tribal Areas,Angolan Civil War,Unita,Sa'dah Insurgency,Sa'dah Governorate,Yemen,Shī‘a,Zaidiyyah,Iran,Somali Civil War,War In Somalia (2006–2009),Ethiopian,Somali,Transitional Federal Government,Umbrella Group,Islamic Court Union,Piracy In Somalia,War In Somalia (2009 – Present),African Union,Mogadishu,Conflict In The Niger Delta,Niger Delta,Nigeria,Foreign,Oil Corporations,Ogoni,Ijaw,Ethnic Groups,Militarization,Nigerian Military,Algerian Civil War,Islamic Salvation Army,Armed Islamic Group,Civil War In Chad (1998–2002), | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Politics and wars | 2>
The "War on Terrorism" and War in Afghanistan began after the September 11 attacks in 2001.[23][24] The International Criminal Court was formed a year later. A United States-led coalition invaded Iraq, and the Iraq war led to the end of Saddam Hussein's rule as Iraqi President and the Ba'ath Party regime in Iraq. Al-Qaeda and affiliated Islamist militant groups performed terrorist acts throughout the decade. These acts included the Madrid Train Bombings in 2004, 7/7 London Bombings in 2005, and the Mumbai attacks related to al-Qaeda in 2008. The European Union expanded in 2004 and in 2007 incorporating some former Eastern block nations. North Korea and Iran were seen as strong nuclear threats, following two North Korea nuclear tests, and Iran's failure to comply with its transparency obligations under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and UN resolutions.
The War on Terrorism generated extreme controversy around the world, with questions regarding the justification for U.S. actions leading to a loss of support for the American government, both in and outside the United States.[25] Additional armed conflict occurred in the Middle East, including between Israel and Hezbollah, then with Israel and the Hamas. The greatest loss of life due to natural disaster came from the 2004 tsunami, killing around a quarter-million people and displacing well over a million others. Cooperative international rescue missions by many countries from around the world helped in efforts by the most affected nations to rebuild and recover from the devastation. An enormous loss of life and property value came in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina flooded nearly the entire city of New Orleans. The resulting political fallout was severely damaging to the George W. Bush administration because of its perceived failure to act promptly and effectively. In 2008, Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, and became the first African-American U.S. president when he succeeded Bush in 2009.[26]
[edit] | Tags: Terrorist attacks | 3>
Main article: List of terrorist incidents#1970–present
The World Trade Center in New York City as seen on September 11, 2001.
The most prominent terrorist attacks committed against civilian population during the decade include:
September 11, 2001 attacks in Washington, D.C., New York City and Shanksville, Pennsylvania (2,996 killed)
2002 Bali bombings in Bali, Indonesia (202 killed)
2003 Istanbul bombings in Istanbul, Turkey (57 killed)
2004 Madrid train bombings (192 killed)
Beslan school hostage crisis (334 killed)
2005 London bombings (56 killed)
2008 Mumbai attacks (175 killed)
[edit] | Tags: Wars | 3>
Main articles: List of wars 1990–2002 and List of wars 2003–current
The most prominent armed conflicts of the decade include:
[edit] | Tags: International wars | 4>
The Iraq War
War on Terrorism (2001–present) – refers to several ideological, military, and diplomatic campaigns aimed at putting an end to international terrorism by preventing groups defined by the U.S. and its allies as terrorist (largely Islamist groups such as al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas) from posing a threat to the U.S. and its allies, and by putting an end to state sponsorship of terrorism. The campaigns were launched by the United States, with support from NATO and other allies, following the September 11, 2001 attacks that were carried out by al-Qaeda. Today the term has become mostly associated with Bush administration-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
War in Afghanistan (2001–present) – In 2001, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia invaded Afghanistan seeking to oust the Taliban and find al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden. In 2011, Navy Seals killed Bin Laden and buried his body at sea.
Iraq War (2003–2011) – In 2003, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded and occupied Iraq, following what was ultimately shown to be a false claim that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction at its disposal.[27] The war, which ended the rule of Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party, also led to violence against the coalition forces and between many Sunni and Shia Iraqi groups, and to al-Qaeda operations in Iraq.
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
Arab–Israeli conflict (Early 20th century–present)
2006 Lebanon War (summer 2006) – took place in southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The principal parties were Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the Israeli military. The war that began as military operation in response to the abduction of two Israeli reserve soldiers by the Hezbollah, gradually strengthened and became a wider confrontation.
Israeli–Palestinian conflict (Early 20th century–present)
Second Intifada (2000–2005) – After the signing of the Oslo Accords failed to bring about a Palestinian state, in September 2000 the Second Intifada (uprising) broke out, a period of intensified Palestinian-Israeli violence, which has been taking place until the present day. As a result of the significant increase of suicide bombing attacks within Israeli population centers during the first years of the Al-Aqsa Intifada,[28] in June 2002 Israel began the construction of the West Bank Fence along the Green Line border arguing that the barrier is necessary to protect Israeli civilians from Palestinian terrorism. The significantly reduced number of incidents of suicide bombings from 2002 to 2005 has been partly attributed to the barrier.[29] The barrier's construction, which has been highly controversial, became a major issue of contention between the two sides. The Second Intifada has caused thousands of victims on both sides, both among combatants and among civilians – The death toll, including both military and civilian, is estimated to be 5,500 Palestinians and over 1,000 Israelis, as well as 64 foreign citizens.[30] Many Palestinians consider the Second Intifada to be a legitimate war of national liberation against foreign occupation, whereas many Israelis consider it to be a terrorist campaign.[31]
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict – the frequent Hamas Qassam rocket and mortar fire launched from within civilian population centers in Gaza towards the Israeli southern civilian communities led to an Israeli military operation in Gaza, which had the stated aim of reducing the Hamas rocket attacks and stopping the arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip. Throughout the conflict Hamas further intensified its rocket and mortar attacks against Israel, hitting civilian targets and reaching major Israeli cities Beersheba and Ashdod for the first time. The intense urban warfare in densely populated Gaza combined with the use of heavy firepower by the Israeli side[32] and the intensified Hamas rocket attacks towards populated Israeli civilian targets led to a high toll on the Palestinian side and among civilians.[33]
The Second Congo War (1998–2003) – took place largely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The widest interstate war in modern African history, it directly involved nine African nations, as well as about twenty armed groups, and earned the epithet of "Africa's World War" and the "Great War of Africa." An estimated 3.8 million people died, mostly from starvation and disease brought about by the deadliest conflict since World War II. Millions more were displaced from their homes or sought asylum in neighboring countries.
2008 South Ossetia war – Russia invaded Georgia in response to Georgian aggression towards civilians and attack on South Ossetia. Both Russia and Georgia were condemned internationally for their actions.
The Second Chechen War (1999–2000) – the war was launched by the Russian Federation at August 26, 1999 in response to the Invasion of Dagestan and the Russian apartment bombings, which were blamed on the Chechens. During the war Russian forces largely recaptured the separatist region of Chechnya.[34] The campaign largely reversed the outcome of the First Chechen War, in which the region gained de facto independence as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
The Eritrean–Ethiopian War came to a close in 2000.
Kivu conflict (2004–2009) – an armed conflict between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Hutu Power group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
2009 Nigerian sectarian violence – an armed conflict between Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group and Nigerian security forces.
[edit] | Tags: Civil wars and guerrilla wars | 4>
Irregular combatants in North Darfur. The Arabic text on the bumper reads "The Sudan Liberation Army" (SLA).
Darfur refugee camp in Chad
War in Darfur (2003–2009) – an armed conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The conflict began when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Darfur took up arms, accusing the government of oppressing black Africans in favor of Arabs. One side was composed mainly of the Sudanese military and the Sudanese militia group Janjaweed, recruited mostly from the Afro-Arab Abbala tribes of the northern Rizeigat region in Sudan. The other side was made up of rebel groups, notably the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, recruited primarily from the non-Arab Muslim Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit ethnic groups. Millions of people were displaced from their homes during the conflict.[35] There are various estimates on the number of human casualties – Sudanese authorities claim a death toll of roughly 19,500 civilians[36] while certain non-governmental organizations, such as the Coalition for International Justice, controversially claim that over 400,000 people have been killed during the conflict.[37]
Mexican Drug War (2006 – present) – an armed conflict fought between rival drug cartels and government forces in Mexico. Although Mexican drug cartels, or drug trafficking organizations, have existed for quite some time, they have become more powerful since the demise of Colombia's Cali and Medellín cartels in the 1990s. Mexican drug cartels now dominate the wholesale illicit drug market in the United States.[38] Arrests of key cartel leaders, particularly in the Tijuana and Gulf cartels, have led to increasing drug violence as cartels fight for control of the trafficking routes into the United States.[39][40][41] Roughly more than 16,851 people in total were killed between December 2006 until November 2009.[42]
Map showing the districts where the Naxalite movement is active (2007)
In India, Naxalite-Maoist insurgency (1967– present) has grown alarmingly with attacks such as April 2010 Maoist attack in Dantewada, Jnaneswari Express train derailment, and Rafiganj train disaster. Naxalites are a group of far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology. It is presently the longest continuously active conflict worldwide. In 2006 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the Naxalites "The single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country."[43] In 2009, he said the country was "losing the battle against Maoist rebels".[44] According to standard definitions the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency is an ongoing conflict[45] between Maoist groups, known as Naxalites or Naxals, and the Indian government.[43] On April 6, 2010, Maoist rebels killed 75 security forces in a jungle ambush in central India in the worst-ever massacre of security forces by the insurgents. On the same day, Gopal, a top Maoist leader, said the attack was a "direct consequence" of the government's Operation Green Hunt offensive. This raised some voices of use of Indian Air Force against Naxalites, which were however declined citing "We can't use oppressive force against our own people".[46]
The Colombian Armed Conflict continues causing deaths and terror in Colombia. Beginning in 1964, the FARC and ELN narcoterrorist groups were taking control of rural areas of the country by the beginning of the decade, while terrorist paramilitaries grew in other places as businesspeople and politicians thought the State would lose the war against guerrillas. However, after the failure of the peace process and the activation of Plan Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Vélez was elected President in 2002, starting a massive attack on terrorist groups, with cooperation from civil population, foreign aid and legal armed forces. The AUC paramilitary organization disbanded in 2006, while ELN guerrillas have been weakened. The Popular Liberation Army demobilized while the country's biggest terrorist group, FARC has been weakened and most of their top commanders have been killed or died during the decade. During the second half of the decade, a new criminal band has been formed by former members of AUC who did not demobilize, calling themselves Aguilas Negras. Although the Colombian State has taken back control over most of the country, narcoterrorism still causes pain in the country. Since 2008, the Internet has become a new field of battle. Facebook has gained nationwide popularity and has become the birthplace of many civil movements against narcoterrorism such as "Colombia Soy Yo" (I am Colombia) or "Fundación Un Millón de Voces" (One Million Voices Foundation), responsible for the international protests against illegal groups during the last years.
The Sierra Leone Civil War (1991–2002) came to an end when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) finally laid down their arms. More than two million people were displaced from their homes because of the conflict (well over one-third of the population) many of whom became refugees in neighboring countries. Tens of thousands were killed during the conflict.[47]
The Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009) came to an end after the government defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Over 80,000 people were killed during the course of the conflict.[48]
War in North-West Pakistan (2004–present) – an armed conflict between the Pakistani Armed Forces and Islamic militants made up of local tribesmen, the Taliban, and foreign Mujahideen (Holy Warriors). It began in 2004 when tensions rooted in the Pakistani Army's search for al-Qaeda members in Pakistan's mountainous Waziristan area (in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas) escalated into armed resistance by local tribesmen. The violence has displaced 3.44 million civilians[49] and led to more than 7,000 civilians being killed.[50]
The Angolan Civil War (1975–2002), once a major proxy conflict of the Cold War, the conflict ended after the anti-Communist organization UNITA disbanded to become a political party. By the time the 27-year conflict was formally brought to an end, an estimated 500,000 people had been killed.[51]
Sa'dah insurgency (2004 – present) – a civil war in the Sa'dah Governorate of Yemen. It began after the Shī‘a Zaidiyyah sect launched an uprising against the Yemeni government. The Yemeni government has accused Iran of directing and financing the insurgency.[52] Thousands of rebels and civilians have been killed during the conflict.[53][54]
Somali Civil War (1991–present)
War in Somalia (2006–2009) – involved largely Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces whom fought against the Somali Islamist umbrella group, the Islamic Court Union (ICU), and other affiliated militias for control of the country. The war spawned pirates who hijacked hundreds of ships off the coast of Somalia, holding ships and crew for ransom often for months (see also Piracy in Somalia). 1.9 million people were displaced from their homes during the conflict[55] and the number of civilian casualties during the conflict is estimated at 16,724.[56]
War in Somalia (2009 – present) – involved largely the forces of the Somali Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops, whom fought against various militant Islamist factions for control of the country. The violence has displaced thousands of people residing in Mogadishu, the nation's capital. 1,739 people in total were killed between January 1, 2009 until January 1, 2010.[57]
Conflict in the Niger Delta (2004 – present) – an ongoing conflict in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The conflict was caused due to the tensions between the foreign oil corporations and a number of the Niger Delta's minority ethnic groups who felt they were being exploited, particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw. The competition for oil wealth has led to an endless violence cycle between innumerable ethnic groups, causing the militarization of nearly the entire region that was occupied by militia groups as well as Nigerian military and the forces of the Nigerian Police.
Algerian Civil War (1991–2002) – the conflict effectively ended with a government victory, following the surrender of the Islamic Salvation Army and the 2002 defeat of the Armed Islamic Group. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people were killed during the course of the conflict.
Civil war in Chad (1998–present)
Civil war in Chad (1998–2002) – involved the Movement for Justice and Democracy in Chad (MDJT) rebels that skirmished periodically with government troops in the Tibesti region, resulting in hundreds of civilian, government, and rebel casualties.
Civil war in Chad (2005–present) – involved Chadian government forces and several Chadian rebel groups. The Government of Chad estimated in January 2006 that 614 Chadian citizens had been killed in cross-border raids.[58] The fighting still continues despite several attempts to reach agreements.
Nepalese Civil War (1996–2006) – the conflict ended with a peace agreement was reached between the government and the Maoist party in which it was set that the Maoists would take part in the new government in return for surrendering their weapons to the UN. It is estimated that more than 12,700 people were killed during the course of the conflict.[59]
Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003) – The conflict began in 1999 when a rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), with support from the Government of Guinea, took over northern Liberia through a coup. In early 2003, a different rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south. As a result, by June–July 2003, president Charles Taylor's government controlled only a third of the country. The capital Monrovia was besieged by LURD, and that group's shelling of the city resulted in the deaths of many civilians. Thousands of people were displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict.
Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present) – Algeria has been the subject of an Islamic insurgency since 2002 waged by the Sunni Islamic Jihadist militant group Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). GSPC allied itself with the Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb against the Algerian government. The conflict has since spread to other neighboring countries.
Ituri conflict (1999–2007) – a conflict fought between the Lendu and Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While there have been many phases to the conflict, the most recent armed clashes ran from 1999 to 2003, with a low-level conflict continuing until 2007. More than 50,000 people have been killed in the conflict and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes.[60]
Central African Republic Bush War (2004–2007) – began with the rebellion by the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels, after the current president of the Central African Republic, François Bozizé, seized power in a 2003 coup. The violence has displaced around 10,000 civilians and has led to hundreds of civilians being killed.
Civil war in Afghanistan (1996–2001) – an armed conflict that continued after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban, in which the formation of the Afghan Northern Alliance attempted to oust the Taliban. It proved largely unsuccessful, as the Taliban continued to make gains and eliminated much of the Alliance's leadership.
[edit] | Tags: Coups | 3>
Main article: List of coups d'état and coup attempts#2000 - 2009
2006 Thai coup d'état
The most prominent coups d'état of the decade include:
2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt – a failed military coup d'état on April 11, 2002, which aimed to overthrow the president of Venezuela Hugo Chávez. During the coup Hugo Chávez was arrested and Pedro Carmona became the interim President for 47 hours. The coup led to a pro-Chávez uprising that the Metropolitan Police attempted to suppress. The pro-Chávez Presidential Guard eventually retook the Miraflores presidential palace without firing a shot, leading to the collapse of the Carmona government.
2004 Haitian coup d'état – a conflict fought for several weeks in Haiti during February 2004 that resulted in the premature end of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's second term, and the installment of an interim government led by Gerard Latortue.
2006 Thai coup d'état – on September 19, 2006, while the elected Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York for a meeting of the UN, Army Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin launched a bloodless coup d'état.
Fatah–Hamas conflict (2006–2009) – an armed conflict fought between the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas with each vying to assume political control of the Palestinian territories. In June 2007, Hamas took control of the entire Gaza Strip, and established a separate government while Fatah remained in control of the West Bank. This in practice divided the Palestinian Authority into two. Various forces affiliated with Fatah engaged in combat with Hamas, in numerous gun battles. Most Fatah leaders eventually escaped to Egypt and the West Bank, while some were captured and killed.
2009 Honduras coup d'état – The armed forces of the country entered the president's residence and threw president Manuel Zelaya
[edit] | Tags: Nuclear threats | 3>
Anti-aircraft guns guarding Natanz Nuclear Facility in Iran
Since 2005, Iran's nuclear program has become the subject of contention with the Western world due to suspicions that Iran could divert the civilian nuclear technology to a weapons program. This has led the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against Iran on select companies linked to this program, thus furthering its economic isolation on the international scene. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence said in February 2009 that Iran would not realistically be able to a get a nuclear weapon until 2013, if it chose to develop one.[61]
In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq over concerns leader Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction including chemical and biological weapons. The Iraq Inquiry (still ongoing) may explain more on this situation, but in the meantime, the U.S. ended the regime of Saddam Hussein. However a lot of controversy rages around the fact that no evidence of any nuclear programs has been found in Iraq, leading some to believe that the Bush administration declared war simply to gain influence over Middle-Eastern oil supplies.
North Korea successfully performed two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
Operation Orchard – during the operation, Israel bombed what was believed to be a Syrian nuclear reactor on September 6, 2007 which was thought to be built with the aid of North Korea.[62] The White House and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) later declared that American intelligence indicated the site was a nuclear facility with a military purpose, though Syria denies this.[63]
The Doomsday Clock, the symbolic representation of the threat of nuclear annihilation, moved four minutes closer to midnight: two minutes in 2002 and two minutes in 2007 to 5 minutes to midnight.
[edit] | Tags: National sovereignty | 3>
East Timor regains independence from Indonesia in 2002. Portugal granted independence to East Timor in 1975, but it was soon after invaded by Indonesia, which only recognized East Timorese independence in 2002.
Montenegro gains independence from State union with Serbia in 2006
Kosovo gains independence from Serbia in 2008, though its independence remains unrecognized by many countries even today.
On August 23, 2005, Israel's unilateral disengagement from 25 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank ends.
On August 26, 2008 Russia formally recognises the disputed Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.[64] The vast majority of United Nations member states maintain that the areas belong to Georgia.
[edit] | Tags: Democracy | 3>
During this decade, the peaceful transfer of power through elections first occurred in Mexico, Indonesia, Taiwan, Colombia, and several other countries. (See below.)
[edit] | Tags: Political events | 3>
The prominent political events of the decade include:
Americas
George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, 2001–2009
Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the United States, was inaugurated in 2009
Vicente Fox was elected President of Mexico in the 2000 presidential election, making him the first president elected from an opposition party in 71 years, defeating the then-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
George W. Bush was sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States on January 20, 2001 following a sharply contested election.
On October 26, 2001 U.S. President George W. Bush signs the USA PATRIOT Act into law.
On February 15, 2003 anti-war protests break out around the world in opposition to the U.S. Invasion of Iraq, in what the Guinness Book of World Records called the largest anti-war rally in human history.[65]
Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in 2009, becoming the nation's first African American president.
Álvaro Uribe is elected President of Colombia in 2002, the first political independent to do so in more than a century and a half. creating the centre-right political movement known as uribism. Uribe was re-elected in 2006.
In 2006, Michele Bachelet is elected as the first female President of Chile.[66]
Left-wing governments emerge in South American countries. These governments include those of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela since 1999, Fernando Lugo in Paraguay, Rafael Correa in Ecuador, and Evo Morales in Bolivia. With the creation of the ALBA, Fidel Castro—leader of Cuba since 1959—and Hugo Chávez reaffirmed their opposition to the perceived imperialism of the United States.
Fidel Castro resigns in 2011 on health reasons. Castro's brother Raúl is elected to succeed him.
Paul Martin replaces Jean Chrétien as Prime Minister of Canada in 2003 by becoming the new leader of the Liberal Party. Stephen Harper was elected Prime Minister in 2006 following the defeat of Paul Martin's government in a motion of no confidence.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was elected (2002) and reelected (2006) President of Brazil.
May 23, 2008 – The Union of South American Nations, a supranational union, is made from joining together the Andean Community and Mercosur.[67]
Asia
Protesters in Tehran during the 2009 Iranian election protests
Israel's prime minister Ehud Barak and PLO head Yasser Arafat with the president of the United States Bill Clinton at Camp David Summit, 2000
On May 18th, 2000, Chen Shui-bian was elected to be the president of Taiwan, ending the half-century rule of the KMT on the island, and became the first president of the DPP.
Israeli withdrawal from the Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon – on May 25, 2000 Israel withdrew IDF forces from the Israeli Security Zone in southern Lebanon after 22 years.
In July 2000 the Camp David 2000 Summit was held which was aimed at reaching a "final status" agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The summit collapsed after Yasser Arafat would not accept a proposal drafted by American and Israeli negotiators. Barak was prepared to offer the entire Gaza Strip, a Palestinian capital in a part of East Jerusalem, 73% of the West Bank (excluding eastern Jerusalem) raising to 90–94% after 10–25 years, and financial reparations for Palestinian refugees for peace. Arafat turned down the offer without making a counter-offer.[68]
January 4, 2006 – Powers are transferred from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to his deputy, Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, after Sharon suffers a massive hemorrhagic stroke.
In 2003 the 12 year self-government in Iraqi Kurdistan ends, developed under the protection of the UN "No-fly zone" during the now-ousted Saddam Hussein regime.
CPC General Secretary, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, replaced former People's Republic of China leaders Jiang Zemin and Zhu Rongji.
Manmohan Singh was elected (2004) and reelected (2009) Prime Minister in India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. Singh previously carried out economic reforms in India in 1991, during his tenure as the Finance Minister.[69]
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was elected as Prime Minister of Turkey in 2002. Abdullah Gul was elected as President of Turkey.
2007 political crisis in Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf retired after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
January 9, 2005 – Mahmoud Abbas is elected to succeed Yasser Arafat as Palestinian Authority President.[70]
2008–2009 Thai political crisis
2009 Iranian election protests – The 2009 Iranian presidential election sparked massive protests in Iran and around the world against alleged electoral fraud and in support of defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. During the protests the Iranian authorities closed universities in Tehran, blocked web sites, blocked cell phone transmissions and text messaging,[71] and banned rallies.[72] Several demonstrators in Iran were killed or imprisoned during the protests. Dozens of human casualties were reported or confirmed.[73][74][75]
Europe
Treaty of Lisbon
European integration makes progress with the definitive circulation of the euro in twelve countries in 2002 and the widening of European Union to 27 countries in 2007. A European Constitution bill is rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, but a similar text, the Treaty of Lisbon, is drafted in 2007 and finally adopted by the 27 members countries.
Gordon Brown succeeds Tony Blair as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2007.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero replaced José María Aznar as President of the Government of Spain in 2004.
Dmitry Medvedev succeeded Vladimir Putin as the President of Russia in 2008.
Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany in 2005.
Nicolas Sarkozy is elected President of France in 2007 succeeding Jacques Chirac, who had held the position for 12 years.
Silvio Berlusconi becomes President of the Council of Ministers of Italy in 2001 and again in 2008, after two years of a government held by Romano Prodi.
Parties broadly characterised by political scientists as being right-wing populist soar throughout the 2000s, in the wake of increasing anti-Islam and anti-immigration sentiment in most Western European countries.[76] By 2010, such parties (albeit often significant differences between them) were present in the national parliaments of Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Greece.[76] In Austria, Italy and Switzerland, the Freedom Party of Austria, Lega Nord and Swiss People's Party, respectively, were at times also part of the national governments, and in Denmark, the Danish People's Party tolerated a right-liberal minority government from 2001 throughout the decade.[76] While not being present in the national parliaments of France and the United Kingdom, Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front came second in the first round of the 2002 French presidential elections, and in the 2009 European Parliament election, the UK Independence Party came second, beating even the Labour Party, while the British National Party managed to win two seats for the first time.
[edit] | Tags: Assassinations | 2>
Benazir Bhutto
The prominent assassinations of the decade included:
Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi was assassinated by three Palestinian assailants, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, on October 17, 2001.
Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was assassinated by environmentalist activist Volkert van der Graaf, on May 6, 2002.
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated on March 12, 2003.
Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh was assassinated on September 10, 2003, after being stabbed in the chest, stomach, and arms by Serbian national Mijailo Mijailović while shopping in a Stockholm department store.
Ahmed Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of the militant Islamist group Hamas, was killed in a targeted killing in the Gaza Strip in an operation conducted by the Israeli Air Force on March 22, 2004.
Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh, a critic of Islamic culture, was assassinated in Amsterdam by Mohammed Bouyeri on November 2, 2004.
Former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005, when explosives equivalent to around 1,000 kg of TNT were detonated as his motorcade drove past the St. George Hotel in Beirut. The assassination attempt killed also at least 16 other people and injured 120 others.
Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007, by a bomb blast. The assassination attempt killed also at least 20 other people.
The President of Guinea-Bissau, João Bernardo Vieira, was assassinated on March 2, 2009, during an armed attack on his residence in Bissau.
Anti-abortion extremist[77] Scott Roeder assassinates George Tiller, a pro-choice advocate and late-term abortion provider, on May 31, 2009, at Tiller's church in Wichita, Kansas.
[edit] | Tags: Natural disasters | 3>
See also: Category:2000 natural disasters, Countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, and Economic effects of Hurricane Katrina
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The tsunami caused by the December 26, 2004 earthquake strikes Ao Nang, Thailand.
The 2000s experienced some of the worst and most destructive natural disasters in history.
[edit] | Tags: Earthquakes (including tsunamis) | 4>
On January 13, 2001, a 7.6 earthquake strikes El Salvador, killing 944 people.
On January 26, 2001, an earthquake hits Gujarat, India, killing more than 12,000.
On February 28, 2001, the Nisqually Earthquake hits the Seattle metro area. It caused major damage to the old highway standing in the urban center of Seattle.
On February 13, 2001, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hits El Salvador, killing at least 400.
On May 21, 2003, an earthquake in the Boumerdès region of northern Algeria kills 2,200.
On December 26, 2003, the massive | Tags: World Trade Center,September 11 Attacks,Websites related to: Mining 1-99 Runescape Mining 1-99 Runescape |