George W. Bush (2001–2009) The younger Bush’s presidency was fundamentally reshaped by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. • September 11 & The War on Terror: Following the attacks, he launched the War in Afghanistan to topple the Taliban and hunt for Osama bin Laden. He also created the Department of Homeland Security. • The Iraq War (2003): Based on intelligence that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction (which were never found), Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq. This became the most controversial and defining aspect of his foreign policy. • Education Reform: He signed the No Child Left Behind Act (2001), which introduced standardized testing and increased federal oversight of schools. • Economic Crisis: His second term ended during the 2008 Financial Crisis, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, leading to the controversial "bailouts" of major banks. #USPresident #USAHistory