“WWI first Air Combat Mission for Pancho Villa” and “President Bush’s Operation Iraqi Freedom”- This Day in History – Mar 19th

First U.S. air-combat mission for capture of Francisco Pancho Villa

Back in 1916 during the outbreak of WWI, President Woodrow Wilson gave the orders to allow the first U.S. air-combat mission for the dead or alive capture of Mexican revolutionary Francisco Pancho Villa. The First Aero Squadron was used for this mission, which flew in support of the of 7,000 U.S. troops involved in the invasion of Mexico. 

According to history.com, “The aggressive U.S. pursuit of Villa and the popular support Villa enjoyed in Mexico had led Germany's foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, to think Mexico might welcome the opportunity to launch a full-scale invasion of Texas. This thought led directly to the famous Zimmermann Telegram, a secret message sent by Zimmermann in January 1917 to the German ambassador to Mexico proposing a Mexican-German alliance in the case of war between the United States and Germany and promising Mexico financial aid and territory—including Texas, New Mexico and Arizona—in return for its support.” 

Concerned of the possibility of a full-scale invasion of Villas’ revolutionaries in Texas, Germany's foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, penned the famous “Zimmermann Telegram.” 

This message was intercepted and decoded by British intelligence. History.com stated that, “The aggressive U.S. pursuit of Villa and the popular support Villa enjoyed in proposing a Mexican-German alliance in the case of war between the United States and Germany and promising Mexico financial aid and territory—including Texas, New Mexico and Arizona—in return for its support.” 

In a show of support of this telegram, President Wilson agreed with this message and withdrew American troops from Mexico.  This decision angered many American citizens.  President Wilson was more concerned about the oversees problems with WWI than the Mexican territory and the Francisco Poncho Villa issue. 

With the removal of the American soldiers, Villa continued his guerrilla activities until Adolfo de la Huerta took power over the Mexican government.  After the reformist constitution was drafted, Villa and Huerta reached an agreement and retired from politics in 1920.  Villa continued to created resistance against the government and in 1923 was executed by an unknown assailant at his ranch in Parral, Mexico.

President George W. Bush launches “Operation Iraqi Freedom”

Back in 2003, after the September 11^th terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center, Pentagon and the deaths of the passengers on flight of United 93, President George W. Bush launched “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” 

According to history.com, “President George W. Bush addresses the nation via live television and announces that Operation Iraqi Freedom has begun. Bush authorized the mission to rid Iraq of tyrannical dictator Saddam Hussein and eliminate Hussein's ability to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Operation Iraqi Freedom illustrated the Bush administration's pledge to use unilateral, pre-emptive strikes if necessary against nations believed dangerous to American national security.”

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bush-announces-the-launch-of-operation-iraqi-freedom?catId=9