2003
Events 2003
- The new United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation
- United States plans for an invasion of Iraq due to an imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction
- The United States and the United Kingdom start with their shock and awe campaign with a massive air strikes on military targets in Baghdad before the invasion of Iraq by Land Forces.
- Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, is captured in Tikrit by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.
- A major severe weather outbreak spawned more tornadoes than any week in U.S. history. 393 tornadoes were reported in 19 states
- Earthquake in Boumerdès region of northern Algeria - 2,200 killed
- Lance Armstrong wins his fifth Tour De France
- Armed undercover "sky marshals" are used on Aircraft to prevent terrorist attacks following 9/11
- The last old-style Volkswagen Beetle rolls off its production line in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
- The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK - 38.5°C (101.3°F) at Brogdale near Faversham in Kent
- Voters recall Governor Gray Davis from office and elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to succeed him.
- The wanted terrorist Abul Abbas is captured in Baghdad
- Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch is amongst those captured US Troops free her 9 days later
- A massive earthquake devastates southeastern Iran. Over 40,000 killed
- President George W. Bush on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln announces major combat in Iraq is over
Technology 2003
- The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas upon reentry, killing all seven astronauts onboard.
- The highly infectious disease SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) spreads from China, Singapore and Vietnam, Worldwide nerly 9,000 People are effected in 15 countries and over 800 die from the effects.
- Human Genome Project successfully completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to 99.99% accuracy.
- Secretary of State Colin Powell urges the U.N. Security Council to move against Iraq due to possession of weapons of mass destruction
- In the biggest blackout in the history of the north America some 50 million people in the northeastern states of US and southern Canada lose power.
- The birth of Prometea, the first cloned horse by Italian scientists.
- The space probe Galileo makes a fiery dive into Jupitors atmosphere it was launched in 1989 and is one of the most successfull NASA Projects.
- Justice Roy Moore, is suspended when he refused to take down the Ten Commandments from an Alabama state justice building.
- Concorde makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner supersonic travel to a close, at least for the time being
- Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected Governor of California
- Libya agrees to give Up Chemical Weapons
- Saddam Hussein is captured by U.S. forces
- Concerns continue to grow over possible Asian bird flu outbreak also known as avian influenza.
Popular Culture 2003
- The ABC's 20/20 airs the controversial Granada Television documentary Living with Michael Jackson
- Michael Jackson is booked on suspicion of multiple counts of child molestation ( later aquitted )
Popular Films
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- Finding Nemo
- The Matrix Reloaded
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- Bruce Almighty
- The Last Samurai
- Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
- The Matrix Revolutions
- X2: X-Men United
- Bad Boys II
- Lost in Translation
What do you remember ? Did you go to a Concert that year ?
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Popular Musicians
- Amanda Perez
- Elton John
- Beyoncé
- Christina Aguilera
- Travis
- David Gray
- Limp Bizkit
- Evanescence
- Coldplay
- Sheryl Crow
- Hilary Duff
- Norah Jones
- blink-182
- Pink
- Shania Twain
- Madonna
- Avril Lavigne
- 50 Cent
- Clay Aiken
- Kylie Minogue
- Stereophonics
- Kelly Clarkson
- Blur
- Ashanti
- Justin Timberlake
- Fleetwood Mac
- Eminem
- Nelly
- P. Diddy