2004

2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2004th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 4th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 5th year of the 2000s decade. Global politics was focused on the American occupation of Iraq and the Iraqi insurgency. The United States transferred control to the Iraqi Interim Government, and former ruler Saddam Hussein was put on trial for crimes against humanity. American involvement became more controversial as it was revealed that American soldiers were committing acts of torture against Iraqi prisoners and doubts grew about whether American claims of an Iraqi weapons of mass destruction program were accurate. Afghanistan held its first presidential election, which was won by Hamid Karzai. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti was overthrown in a coup, and President Yasser Arafat of Palestine died in office. The International Criminal Court commenced operations and opened its first two investigations. NATO grew by seven members in 2004 and the European Union grew by ten.