Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 US troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa.

The 51-day siege of the Branch Davidian building outside Waco, Texas, USA, ends when a fire breaks out. Eighty-one people die.

In the United States, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is ratified by the House of Representatives.

North Korea nuclear weapons program: North Korea and the United States sign an agreement that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections.

Oklahoma City bombing: The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, is bombed, killing 168. That same day convicted murderer Richard Wayne Snell, who had ties to one of the bombers, Timothy McVeigh, is executed in Arkansas.

Full diplomatic relations are established between the United States and Vietnam.

A truck-bomb explodes outside of a US-operated Saudi Arabian National Guard training center in Riyadh, killing five Americans and two Indians. A group called the Islamic Movement for Change claims responsibility.

Major snowstorm paralyzes Midwestern United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin ties all-time record low temperature at -26°F (-32.2°C)

Suspected "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski is arrested at his cabin in Montana, United States.

Osama bin Laden issues message entitled 'A declaration of war against the Americans occupying the land of the two holy places.'

United States media magnate Ted Turner donates USD $1 billion to the United Nations.

In Ottawa, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign The Ottawa treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia do not sign the treaty, however.

A massive ice storm hits eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, continuing through January 10 and causing widespread destruction.

Lewinsky scandal: On American television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denies having had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Karla Faye Tucker is executed in Texas becoming the first woman executed in the United States since 1984.

Disney's Animal Kingdom opens at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, United States.

Nuclear testing: Pakistan responds to a series of nuclear tests by India with five of its own, prompting the United States, Japan, and other nations to impose economic sanctions.

Japan launches a probe to Mars, and thus joins the United States and Russia as a space exploring nation.

U.S. embassy bombings: the United States launches cruise missile attacks against alleged al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical plant in Sudan in retaliation for the August 7 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Brokerage houses are ordered to pay 1.03 billion USD to cheated NASDAQ investors to compensate for their price-fixing. This is the largest civil settlement in United States history.

The World Trade Organisation rules in favor of the United States in its long-running trade dispute with the European Union over bananas.

In Seattle, Washington, United States, protests against the WTO meeting by anti-globalization protesters catch police unprepared and force the cancellation of opening ceremonies.

The United States Government hands control of the Panama Canal (as well all the adjacent land to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone) to Panama. This act complied with the signing of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

The American submarine USS Greeneville accidentally strikes and sinks the ''Ehime-Maru'', a Japanese training vessel operated by the Uwajima Fishery High School.

The September 11 attacks take place in the United States. Airplane hijackings result in the collapse of the World Trade Center in New York City, damage to The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the crashing of a passenger airliner in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Civilian aircraft traffic resumes in the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The United States passes the USA PATRIOT Act into law.

War on Terrorism: In the first such act since World War II, US President George W. Bush signs an executive order allowing military tribunals against foreigners suspected of connections to terrorist acts or planned acts on the United States.

The People's Republic of China is granted permanent normal trade relations with the United States.

Kmart becomes the largest retailer in United States history to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

"American Taliban" John Walker Lindh returns to the United States in FBI custody.

US Secretary of Energy makes the decision that Yucca Mountain is a suitable site for a deep geological repository for the United States.

The United States of America withdraws from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Iran bans advertising of United States products.

United States President George W. Bush orders the start of war against Iraq.

2003 invasion of Iraq: In the early hours of the morning, the United States and three other countries begin military operations in Iraq.

The Arab League votes 21-1 in favor of a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional removal of U.S. and British soldiers from Iraq.

In a "friendly fire" incident, two A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft from the United States Idaho Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron attack British tanks participating in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, killing British soldier Matty Hull.

2003 invasion of Iraq: Baghdad falls to American forces;Saddam Hussein statue topples as Iraqis turn on symbols of their former leader, pulling down the statue and tearing it to pieces.

Members of 101st Airborne of the United States, aided by Special Forces, attack a compound in Iraq, killing Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay, along with Mustapha Hussein, Qusay's 14-year old son, and a bodyguard.