The timeline of confrontations between Iraq and the West since the invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 continues to a seemingly elusive end. The attack on Kuwait triggered harsh U.N. sanctions against Iraq, which are in place until the U.N. is able to locate and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Iraqi violations, says the U.N., have prolonged the crippling sanctions and brought on four military strikes since the gulf war to force compliance. Now the inspectors are once again out of Baghdad, but unlike during previous crises between Iraq and the West, it does not look like they will be returning anytime soon, if at all, and the world is bracing for yet another showdown.

The timeline above charts the course of events in Iraq over the last several years. To activate it, simply roll your mouse over the dates. Click the hands to move along the timeline.