The following are events related to the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) that took place on this day.

2002

• H.J.Res. 114 was signed into law as P.L. 107-243, Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. This law authorized the President to use military force to “defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq” and “to enforce all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions against Iraq.”

2005

• Start of Operation Pil in Afghanistan

Casualties on October 16:

• BELLAVIA, JOSEPH PAUL – October 16, 2003
• GRILLEY, SEAN RICHARD – October 16, 2003
• ORLANDO, KIM SALVATORE – October 16, 2003
• BRENNAN, WILLIAM IGNATIUS – October 16, 2004
• JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER BRANDEN – October 16, 2004
• CRUZ, JOSEPH – October 16, 2005
• BROWN, MICHEAL DEAN – October 16, 2007
• BORJAS, FEDERICO GUERRA – October 16, 2008
• PENICH, JOHN MICHAEL – October 16, 2008
• PICKARD, HEATH KAYNE – October 16, 2008
• GREEN, ANTHONY GABRIEL – October 16, 2009
• RUDZINSKI, CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL – October 16, 2009
• STAATS, CHRIS NEIL – October 16, 2009
• TAWNEY, IAN MATTHEW – October 16, 2010
• REID, DYLAN THOMAS – October 16, 2010