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Major Events of March 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from March 2004 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of March 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Mar 2004 Terry Nichols Convicted in Oklahoma City Bombing: Terry Nichols was convicted of state murder charges and found to be an accomplice to Timothy McVeigh in the devastating Oklahoma City bombing, a domestic terrorist attack that killed 168 people in 1995.
  • 02 Mar 2004 NASA Confirms Water on Mars: NASA announced that the Mars rover Opportunity confirmed its landing area was once submerged in liquid water, providing crucial evidence of potential past habitability on the Red Planet.
  • 03 Mar 2004 David Kay Criticizes Iraq WMD Intelligence: Former U.S. and U.N. weapons inspector David Kay publicly called on the Bush administration to acknowledge the error in claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Kay emphasized the importance of transparency and confronting the American people with the truth.
  • 04 Mar 2004 Israeli Military Operation in Rafah: Israeli military forces, consisting of 15 armored vehicles and bulldozers, entered Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, engaging in gunfire and demolishing a four-story building.
  • 05 Mar 2004 Tony Blair Defends Iraq War Policy: British Prime Minister Tony Blair strongly defended the war in Iraq, asserting that the 'global threat' facing Britain is real and existential. He emphasized that leadership requires exposing and combating such threats, regardless of potential political consequences.
  • 06 Mar 2004 Violent Attack at Gaza-Israel Border Crossing: A deadly attack occurred at the main crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Israel, resulting in Palestinian casualties. Militant groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the incident.
  • 07 Mar 2004 Libya's Nuclear Weapons Equipment Removal: The White House announced that all nuclear weapons-related equipment from Libya had been shipped to the United States, signaling a major diplomatic breakthrough in nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
  • 08 Mar 2004 Iraq's New Interim Constitution: The Iraqi Governing Council signed a landmark interim constitution, marking a critical step in establishing a new governmental framework following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. This constitution was designed to provide a transitional roadmap for Iraq's political reconstruction.
  • 09 Mar 2004 Hubble Space Telescope Captures Unprecedented Universe View: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured the most detailed and comprehensive images of the universe to date, providing astronomers with unprecedented insights into cosmic structures and distant galaxies.
  • 10 Mar 2004 Madrid Train Bombings Aftermath: The investigation continued into the devastating Madrid train bombings, which occurred on March 11, 2004, causing significant casualties and widespread shock across Spain.
  • 11 Mar 2004 Madrid Train Bombings: On March 11, 2004, ten coordinated terrorist explosions struck commuter trains and rail stations in Madrid, Spain, resulting in 190 fatalities and causing widespread devastation. This tragic terrorist attack was one of the deadliest in European history, targeting rush hour transportation infrastructure.
  • 12 Mar 2004 Spanish Legislative Election 2004: In a significant political shift, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of the Socialist Party defeats incumbent José María Aznar's government, marking a change in Spain's political landscape.
  • 13 Mar 2004 Madrid Train Bombings: On March 13, 2004, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks targeted the commuter train system in Madrid, Spain, resulting in 200 fatalities. Investigators continued to search for the perpetrators, and five foreign nationals were arrested in connection with the terror attacks in Morocco.
  • 14 Mar 2004 Putin's Second Presidential Term: Vladimir Putin was re-elected as President of Russia, securing a second consecutive term and consolidating his political power in the post-Soviet era.
  • 15 Mar 2004 Iran to Allow UN Nuclear Inspections: According to Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran committed to allowing UN nuclear inspectors to return and examine its nuclear program after March 27.
  • 16 Mar 2004 Madrid Train Bombings: Terrorists conducted simultaneous bombings on Madrid's rail network on March 11, 2004, resulting in 190 deaths and over 500 people wounded, a tragic terrorist attack that shocked Spain and the world.
  • 17 Mar 2004 Kosovo Ethnic Violence: A severe outbreak of organized ethnic violence occurred in Kosovo, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. Nineteen people were killed, 139 Serbian homes were burned, and numerous schools, businesses, and over 30 Orthodox monasteries and churches were destroyed or vandalized.
  • 18 Mar 2004 Pakistani Military Targets Al-Qaida in Waziristan: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf reported a military operation against Al-Qaida militants in the Waziristan region, specifically targeting a group believed to be protecting Ayman al-Zawahiri, a key Al-Qaida leader.
  • 19 Mar 2004 Taiwan Presidential Shooting Incident: During campaign activities in Tainan, Taiwanese President Chen Shuibian and Vice-President Annette Lu were shot. Lu was hit in the knee, and the bullet subsequently struck Chen in the stomach. Both were treated and released from the hospital. The incident occurred just before the presidential election, with the People's Republic of China announcing joint military exercises near Taiwan.
  • 20 Mar 2004 Global Protests Against Iraq War Anniversary: Millions of people worldwide participated in protests marking the first anniversary of the 2003 Iraq invasion. In London, two Greenpeace activists dramatically scaled the Houses of Parliament Clock Tower to display a banner challenging the UK government's narrative about the war.
  • 21 Mar 2004 Jimmy Carter Criticizes Iraq War: Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter strongly condemns the Iraq War, criticizing President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair for their military intervention, suggesting Blair was unduly influenced by Bush's personal motivations.
  • 22 Mar 2004 Israeli Targeted Killing of Hamas Leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin: On March 22, 2004, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's entourage in Gaza City, killing him, two bodyguards, and nine civilian bystanders. This targeted assassination of the Hamas spiritual leader sparked widespread Palestinian protests and international condemnation.
  • 23 Mar 2004 9/11 Commission Hearings: Defense Officials Testify: US Defense and State Department officials Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell testified before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, defending their pre-September 11 actions. They argued that even if Osama bin Laden had been killed, the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon would have still occurred. Former officials Madeleine Albright and William Cohen also provided testimony.
  • 24 Mar 2004 Failed Suicide Attack by Minor: A deeply tragic incident involving Hussam Abdo, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, who was sent by Fatah's armed wing to carry out a suicide attack at an Israeli checkpoint near Nablus. The boy failed to detonate his bomb-vest. He was reportedly promised $23 and the mythical reward of sexual gratification in heaven, highlighting the complex and disturbing recruitment tactics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • 25 Mar 2004 Major NATO Expansion: NATO experienced its largest expansion to date, with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania joining the organization, significantly reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe.
  • 26 Mar 2004 Controversial Taiwan Presidential Election: The 2004 Republic of China (Taiwan) presidential election resulted in a highly contentious victory for incumbent Chen Shuibian. He won by a razor-thin margin of just 29,518 votes (0.2% of total), leading to protests by Pan-Blue opposition supporters who stormed the Central Electoral Commission building.
  • 27 Mar 2004 NASA's Record-Breaking Hypersonic Flight: NASA achieved a groundbreaking milestone with its X-43A experimental aircraft from the Hyper-X program, successfully reaching unprecedented speeds exceeding Mach 7. This flight represented the fastest air-breathing hypersonic flight in aviation history.
  • 28 Mar 2004 French Regional Elections Shock Conservative Government: In France, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's government suffered an unprecedented and stunning defeat in regional elections, marking a significant political shift in the country's electoral landscape.
  • 29 Mar 2004 NATO's Largest Expansion: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) undergoes its most significant expansion to date, integrating seven Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
  • 30 Mar 2004 9/11 Commission Testimony: Condoleezza Rice, then National Security Advisor, was permitted to testify publicly and under oath before the 9/11 Commission, a pivotal moment in the investigation of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
  • 31 Mar 2004 Fallujah Contractor Killings: In a tragic incident during the Iraq War, four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA were ambushed and killed in Fallujah, marking a significant escalation of violence in the Anbar Province.