a surprise Thanksgiving dinner with soldiers in Baghdad with Condoleezza Rice. December December 9 - Japan promises 1,000 troops to help with the reconstruction effort. December 13 - Saddam Hussein is captured by members of the 4th infantry division, 1st brigade. He was hiding in a spider hole in Ad Dawr, near Tikrit, his hometown. Saddam was captured in a hole below a two-room mud shack. When he was captured only a Styrofoam square and a rug were between Saddam and U.S. forces. Major General Raymond Odierno commented, “he was caught like a rat.” "I am Saddam Hussein. I am the president of Iraq. I want to negotiate." - Saddam Hussein, upon surrendering. "President Bush sends his regards." - Response from American soldiers accepting Saddam's surrender. "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him." - Paul Bremer, announcing the capture at a press conference. December 27 - 2003 Karbala bombings Notable deaths March 22 - Terry Lloyd, 50, ITN reporter killed in southern Iraq April 6 - Lance Corporal Ian Malone, Dublin-born soldier in the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army, killed in Iraq July 22 - Uday Hussein, Mosul July 22 - Qusay Hussein, Mosul August 19 - Sérgio Vieira de Mello, Brazilians United Nations diplomat September 25 - Aquila al-Hashimi, Iraq Interim Governing Council member December 26, 2003 Sgt. Michael Miholikis (United States National Guard) See also Iraq War 2003 invasion of Iraq Iraq disarmament crisis References External links Years of the 21st century in Iraq Iraq 2000s in Iraq Iraq