This Day in History: , The War in Iraq Begins.br March 19, 2003.br In a televised address to the American people, br U.S. President George W. Bush announced the br beginning of a war that would end up lasting eight years.br 48 hours earlier, the br U.S. had issued an ultimatum br to Iraqi dictator Saddam br Hussein to leave his country.br As justification for the war, Bush cited the br existence of weapons of mass destruction and br the country's support of terrorist groups.br The Hussein regime was toppled within br just a few weeks, but insurgents continued br a bloody guerrilla war against coalition forces.br In 2006, U.S. soldiers captured br Saddam Hussein while he was hiding in br a hole not far from his hometown.br He was tried, found guilty and executed br for crimes against the Iraqi people.br On December 15, 2011, the U.S. military br declared the end of its mission in Iraq.br Despite an extended investigation, U.N.