There were many winners and losers in 2004 -- most notably, President Bush and John Kerry, respectively -- but many more found themselves in muddy middle ground. Coalition forces had success and failure in Iraq, and terrorists struck in Spain and Russia. Debate raged over same-sex marriage, media standards and other "moral values" issues. The 9/11 Commission hearings and reports; Yasser Arafat, Ronald Reagan and others' deaths; and court cases involving Kobe Bryant, Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson left uneasiness as a new year dawned. 2004's final days were dominated by an earthquake and tsunamis that left more than 150,000 dead from Thailand to Somalia.
Overview »
1. Election 2004
2. War in Iraq
3. Terrorism
4. (tie) 9/11 Commission
4. (tie) Natural disasters
6. Yasser Arafat dies
7. Morality split
8. Ronald Reagan dies
9. Sudanese crisis
10. Red Sox win World Series
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