It's About Coalitions, Not Purity Part Thirty-Nine

This is the link to "Part Thirty-Eight," for those needing it:  http://pontificating-randy.blogspot.com/2013/02/its-about-coalitions-not-purity-part_25.html

"Combat Operations in Iraq Go On.. and On"

The initial phase of military operations in Iraq brought rapid success and Saddam Hussein became a wanted man as he fell from power. He was captured in late 2003 hiding in a hole in the general vicinity of the place of his birth. Months earlier, his sons had been killed in northern Iraq after being surrounded by U.S. Special Forces. Hussein was later turned over to Iraqi authorities for trial. He was found guilty of numerous crimes and he was hanged in late 2006.

After Hussein fell from power, the U.S. and its allies began the search for Saddam's chemical and biological weapons, as well as for evidence of his nuclear weapons program. As the search went on without success, the Bush-Cheney administration began to feel the pressure, as their credibility with Americans began to slide. The President and Vice President began to try to sell the idea that the war had still been a success, as it had removed a brutal dictator from power. All the while, various Iraqi groups, some connected to al Qaeda, others from religious factions, began attacks on the occupying military forces, on the developing Iraqi government and on each other, as Iraq descended into something of a civil war. The failure to find weapons of mass destruction and escalating American casualties saw support for the war erode, as Americans began to seriously question U.S. involvement in Iraq. President Bush would continue the war effort in Iraq until he left office in January 2009, but the divisiveness of the war made it difficult for him in an increasingly turbulent Congress. Was the Republican coalition breaking apart?

Next... "The Election of 2004"

WORD HISTORY:
On-This common preposition goes back to Indo European "ano," which meant "on." This gave its Old Germanic offspring "ana," which meant "on, upon, at." This gave Old English (Anglo-Saxon) "an/on," with the same meanings. This later just became "on," where it has remained for centuries. The other Germanic languages have: German and Low German "an," with the "a" is pronounced like the "a" in "father," so very close to English "on" (it generally means "on," but also "at," just as its English cousin once did); Dutch "aan" (meaning "on, at, to"); West Frisian "oan" (meaning "at, to"); Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish "á" (meaning "on, at"), but it is also used in "på," a contraction of  "opp á," for "upon, on."