Events listed on this post may include historical information.
- The Arab Spring movement begins in Tunisia on Jan 11 followed by a string of countries: Egypt Jan 25; Bahrain Feb 14; Libya Feb 16; & Syria as on Aug 18 a joint statement is released from France, Germany, and Britain saying that the Syrian President, Bashar al-assad has lost legitimacy as a leader and must step down. President Obama calls for him to step down.
- May 2: U.S. troops and CIA operatives shoot and kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a city of 500,000 people that houses a military base and a military academy.
- June 3: Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh barely survives an attack when a bomb hits the mosque at the presidential compound where he and other government officials are praying. Days later he travels to Saudi Arabia for treatment.
- On July 21, 2011, the U.S. retired the Space Shuttle from service after Atlantis’s final flight. On this date, the Atlantis rolled to a stop at the Kennedy Space Center and the program was retired.
- July 22, Norway is hit with 2 consecutive terrorist attacks. A bomb explodes outside government offices in Oslo and 2 hours later, a gunman opens fire on campers.
- Oct 17: Occupy Wall Street protest.
- Oct. 20: Libya’s interim government announces that Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi has been killed by rebel troops in Surt, his hometown.
