The Iraq War began in March 2003 when President George W. Bush initiated Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). (In the novel, Jolene refers to herself as an OIF veteran when she returns home.) The Bush administration launched this campaign on the pretense that Iraq was harboring “weapons of mass destruction.” To launch this campaign, the Bush administration overrode US law by declaring war on executive orders, without first consulting Congress and various other bodies. The US, United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland began the invasion through a bombing campaign that evolved into a ground campaign, which quickly overran Iraqi forces.

The invading forces captured Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in December 2003; the subsequent trial condemned Hussein to death by hanging for crimes against humanity. Hussein’s execution occurred in December 2006. Hussein’s capture brought an end to the Ba’athist socialist regime while the invaders established their own interim government. However, Hussein’s death initiated a civil war between the Sunnis and Shias, which prolonged Iraq’s fight against the US and its allies.

President Bush began withdrawing American troops from the Middle East in 2008. The war ended in December 2011 under President Barack Obama, although the United States continues to maintain a military presence in Iraq.