Timeline

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Oct. 12, 2002 Terrorist attacks carried out by a group affiliated with al-Qaeda kill 202 at a nightclub strip on the Indonesian island of Bali

Nov. 12, 2002 An audio recording surfaces in which bin Laden refers to the string of October attacks attributed to al-Qaeda and its allies, as well as a synagogue bombing in Tunisia in April and a car-bomb attack in Pakistan in May. Bin Laden threatens nations that have supported the U.S. in the aftermath of 9/11

Nov. 25, 2002 The Department of Homeland Security, a Cabinet-level organization comprising 22 agencies, including the Secret Service, TSA and FEMA, is created

Nov. 27, 2002 The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, or 9/11 commission, is established at the request of the President and Congress

Nov. 28, 2002 Suicide car bombers attack an Israeli-owned hotel near Mombasa, Kenya, leaving 13 civilians and the three suicide bombers dead. Two missiles narrowly miss hitting an Israeli charter jet--a Boeing 757 carrying 261 passengers--as it is taking off from the Mombasa airport. Al-Qaeda claims responsibility

Feb. 5, 2003 Secretary of State Colin Powell appears before the U.N. Security Council to lobby in favor of military action in Iraq. He says, "There can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more."

Feb. 26, 2003 A design by Daniel Libeskind is chosen from among nine semifinalists for the rebuilding of the Trade Center site

March 16, 2003 Days before the U.S. launches the invasion of Iraq, Vice President Dick Cheney says, "My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators."

March 19, 2003 The U.S. begins its "shock and awe" campaign of bombings in Baghdad

March 20, 2003 Chicago Tribune: "We Will Accept No Outcome But Victory." New York Times: "Bush Orders Start of War on Iraq; Missiles Apparently Miss Hussein"

April 1, 2003 Private First Class Jessica Lynch, who was taken captive by Iraqi forces on March 23, is rescued by U.S. Special Ops. Lynch later blames the Pentagon for exaggerating her story for propaganda purposes. Four years later, she tells a congressional committee, "I am still confused as to why they chose to lie and tried to make me a legend, when the real heroics of my fellow soldiers that day were, in fact, legendary ... The bottom line is, the American people are capable of determining their own ideals of heroes."

April 9, 2003 U.S.-led coalition forces take over Baghdad; Marines, along with Iraqi civilians, topple a massive statue of Saddam that stands in the main square. TIME cover: a red X over Saddam's face

April 28, 2003 The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation launches a 9/11-memorial-design competition

May 1, 2003 Under a banner reading "Mission Accomplished," Bush declares an end to major combat operations in Iraq

Oct. 6, 2003 TIME cover: "Mission Not Accomplished: How Bush Misjudged the Task of Fixing Iraq"

Dec. 13, 2003 Saddam is captured by U.S. soldiers in a hole near Tikrit, Iraq. TIME cover: "We Got Him!"