Struggles and showdowns
Iraq was a recurrent theme through many of the stories chosen by Associated Press as the 10 biggest of the year.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published December 31, 2006
IRAQ: What started in 2003 as a drive to topple Saddam Hussein turned during 2006 into a complex and savage struggle, with Iraqis by the thousands killed in sectarian reprisal attacks and the U.S. military death toll nearing 3,000. President Bush dropped talk of "staying the course," but balked at embracing many of the key suggestions of a bipartisan study group; Iraqi authorities struggled to assert control and avoid fracture, even as they executed their former dictator.
HUSSEIN EXECUTED: Saddam Hussein was hanged Saturday after being convicted in the slaying of 148 Shiite Muslims in retaliation for a 1982 assassination attempt. "Saddam is paying the price for murdering tens of thousands of Iraqis. This is an unprecedented feeling of happiness," said Baghdad resident Abu Sinan. At Hussein's death, he was in the midst of a second trial, charged with genocide in the deaths of an estimated 180,000 Kurds. The trial of his co-defendants is likely to continue despite his execution.
U.S. ELECTION: Unhappiness with events in Iraq was one of the driving forces behind the Democrats' surge in the Nov. 7 election. They took over the House with a large majority, gaining a narrow edge in the Senate.
NUCLEAR STANDOFFS: The United States and its allies were frustrated in their efforts to rein in nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran. North Korea tested a nuclear bomb in October, and Iran pushed ahead with plans to bring its first nuclear power plant on line in late 2007.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Congress tried to confront the influx of illegal immigrants from Latin America, but the effort collapsed amid deep divisions over whether to stress a crackdown or include provisions to help some illegal immigrants work toward citizenship. The get-tough approach triggered huge protests.
SCANDALS IN CONGRESS: Several Republicans were brought down by scandals. Mark Foley resigned over sexually explicit messages sent to pages, Randy Cunningham pleaded guilty to accepting bribes, Tom DeLay resigned after being indicted on campaign finance charges, and Bob Ney pleaded guilty in connection to lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
MIDEAST FIGHTING: Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia fought a monthlong war in the summer; more than 900 people were killed and much of southern Lebanon was battered.
RUMSFELD RESIGNS: As conditions worsened in Iraq, President Bush publicly stuck by his defense secretary. But a day after Democrats won control of Congress, Bush announced Donald Rumsfeld's departure.
AIRLINER PLOT: British authorities said they narrowly thwarted a terrorist plot to bomb several jets over the Atlantic. The disclosure led to tough new restrictions on the contents of carry-on luggage.
DISASTER IN DARFUR: Violence worsened in Sudan's Darfur region, where fighting between rebels and government forces has killed more than 200,000 people.