...Persian Gulf Crisis, 1990-1991: How Saddam Hussein's Greed and Totalitarian Quest for Power Led to the Invasion of Kuwait, World Conflicts and the Degredation of Iraq Joseph Stalin. Fidel Castro. Adolf Hitler. Saddam Hussein. These names are all those of leaders who have used a totalitarian approach to leading a nation. Stalin and Hitler ruled in the early to mid-nineteen hundreds. Like Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein is now. Saddam Hussein belongs to the Baath Party of Iraq. This party adopts many techniques similar to those used by Stalin and Hitler. Saddam Hussein conceived a plan to invade Kuwait. It was, perhaps, one of the worst mistakes he could have made for his own reputation and for his country. The invasion of Kuwait as well as the world's response to it, the environmental disaster it caused, and the degradation of Iraq were completely the fault one man and his government: Saddam Hussein and his Baath Government. One of Hussein's weaknesses is negotiating. Negotiating in his terms is to fight it out with as much carnage as possible until his side comes out "victoriously". Repeatedly, Saddam and his government break international convention laws. During his war fought with Iran, the Iraqi army used chemical weapons on the Iranian troops and even on their own Iraqi population. This was seemingly overlooked by the rest of the world because most nations didn't want to see the Ayatollah's Islamic revolution rise. Iraq often obtained foreign arms support...
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...1. SS Notes 7: Iraq-Kuwait conflict Causes of conflict Factors: Economic problems, oil production and dispute over territoryEconomic problems: Iraq had previously fought a war with Iran, which drained its reserves. As aresult, Iraq’s economy was severely weakened. Iraq also had debts to other countries such as the USand France. For example, Iraq owed about US$80 million in debts. Iraq thus had to find ways to payoff its debts and saw Kuwait as a potential solution. Thus the economic problems of Iraq are animportant cause of conflict between Iraq and Kuwait.Oil production: Iraq’s main source of income is through the sale of oil. Oil production wasmaintained by OPEC, to prevent a decline in oil prices. However, Kuwait ignored its quota, thus theprice of oil dropped from US$18 to US$7 per barrel. This loss of revenue for Iraq meant that it wasunable to pay off its debts through the sale of oil. This prompted Iraq to look for alternative ways tosettle their debts and looked to Kuwait as a potential solution. Thus oil production is an importantcause of the Iraq-Kuwait conflict.Territorial dispute: Some borders in the region were not well defined as both Iraq and Kuwaitinherited their borders from the British. There were thus clashes between the two countries as theyboth wanted certain territories for themselves. An example is the Rumaila oilfield. The Rumailaoilfield was shared between both countries as its borders were not clearly defined. However in 1990,Iraq claimed that Kuwait...
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...Realism and the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991 In the Persian Gulf War of 1991, Saddam Hussein’s quest for regional hegemony pitted his country against the forces of international law. A prime example of where realist theory falls short, Hussein’s forces were trumped by a multilateral coalition of international peacekeeping institutions in one of history’s most lopsided wars. Hussein sought power, and was willing to sacrifice his country’s foreign relations, as well as the health of his own people, to obtain it. In Gulf War I, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq was quickly dismantled in a conflict instigated by its own realist intentions. The theory of realism is based on the three factors of statism, survival, and self-help of the sovereign state. The survival of the state as a whole, rather than its citizens themselves, is the main focus of realism. The realist state is expected to enhance its national power by any means necessary; “A POLICY MAKER’S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CREATE, MAINTAIN, AND INCREASE NATIONAL POWER – THE MEANS AVAILABLE TO A STATE TO SECURE ITS NATIONAL INTERESTS – AT ALL COSTS” (Lamy 71). Oftentimes, this comes at the expense of surrounding states. A realist state is concerned with its own security first and foremost; “THE FIRST MOVE…FOR THE REALSIST IS TO ORGANIZE OWER DOMESTICALLY. ONLY AFTER POWER HAS BEEN ORGANIZED CAN COMMUNITY BEGIN” (Lamy 72). However, once domestic security has been established, the realist state will look to pursue its self-interest...
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...Bush declared war on Iraq, and issued the order for both its invasion and occupation. According to the US government, this act of war was executed in response to substantial evidence proving that Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s current president, was in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) which posed a significant threat to the security of the United States, its allies, and the people of Iraq themselves. This decision by the Bush administration proved to be a polarising one within international relations theory, with those within the profession striving to create an all-encompassing explanation for the conflict’s origins through their respective theoretical lenses. Of all of the...
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...Do? XXXXXX University Abstract The invasion of Iraq was unconstitutional, had no real justification for happening and has severely damaged relations with our allies. Most importantly, Saddam Hussein was considered a threat and it was believed that he had weapons of mass destruction, would take on the U.S in an instant and was accused of having ties to the events of September 11, 2006 and the Al-Quaeda terrorist network. None of this could be proved and it appears as if it were all just convenient statements made by the administration to find a way to make it a justifiable cause. The Iraqi War: Was it the Right Thing to Do? The invasion was unconstitutional, against international law, violated the Christian doctrine of "just war" and has damaged U.S. relations with its allies. It has wreaked havoc in the Muslim world, where there's plenty of havoc already, and most importantly, it has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people. Frankly, it’s surprising it hasn’t resulted in dropping a nuclear bomb on Baghdad. Claims made prewar regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction have all proved to be wrong; the number of terrorists in Iraq has increased rather than decreased and the abuse inflicted on Iraqi detainees contradicts the most basic values the Administration claimed it would bring to Iraq (Savoy, 2004). President Bush’s actions portray him as an individual that has the right to attack Iraq anytime he wants to due to his position...
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...Iraq War Thesis Statement: What are the different reviews on the war? I. Debate over War with Iraq A. Pros of the Iraq war 1 .The U.S. has a duty to disarm a nation like Iraq. 2. Saddam Hussein is a tyrant that has demonstrated a complete disregard for human life and should be brought to justice. 3. The people of Iraq are oppressed people, and the U.S. has a duty to save these people. 4. The oil reserves of the region are necessary to the U.S. economy. A rogue element like Saddam threatens the oil reserves of the entire region. 5. The practice of appeasement only fosters even bigger tyrants. 6. By removing Saddam Hussein, the U.S. is safer in the future from terrorist attacks. 7. The creation of another nation favorable to U.S. interests in the Middle-east. 8. The removal of Saddam Hussein would uphold previous UN resolutions and give the body some credibility. B. Cons of the Iraq war 1. A pre-emptive strike lacks moral authority and violates previous U.S policy. 2. The war will create civilian casualties. 3. The UN inspectors may be able to resolve this issue. 4. The liberating military will lose troops as well as the U.S. 5. The country of Iraq could disintegrate. 6. The U.S. and allies will be responsible for rebuilding a new nation. 7. There is very little proof of a connection to Al-Qaeda. 8. The world consensus doesn’t exist for war. 9. Allied relationships will be damaged. II.U.S. Occupation of Iraq Will Increase Terrorism ...
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...Was the invasion of Iraq, justified? That is a question that American society struggles with today. It is a highly debatable issue, with some for and some against. But what led up to it and why did we invade Iraq? In this paper, I will look at the facts, rumors, and mere coincidences that overshadow this highly controversial debate. I will also speak on personal experience, when I was deployed to that region. As we all know, in September of 2001 a great tragedy struck this great nation. On the morning of September 11th, terrorists hijacked four passenger planes. Two of the planes, struck one of the World Trade Center Tower’s. One plane hit the pentagon, while the fourth plane was enroute to Washington D.C., crashed in Pennsylvania. Nearly three thousand people lost their lives in these horrible events. It has been since Pearl Harbor since that large of an attack happened on American soil. President George W. Bush was our Commander-in- Chief, his approval ratings before these attacks were not bad, but not great. His rating, which was done by the Gallup poll was around 55%, give or take. The economy was heading into a recession. How this all comes into play, is the theory that war boosts the economy. Companies are given contracts to build equipment and clothing for the military in return they hire more employees to keep up with the demand. Not only do unemployment numbers decrease, spending increases which help boost an ailing economy. There are a lot of conspiracy theories...
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...Iraq Monica Brown History January 23, 2012 Mr. Fitzsimmons Fact sheet National name: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah Current government officials Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian Ethnicity/race: Arab 75%–80%, Kurdish 15%–20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5% Religions: Islam 97% (Shiite 60%–65%, Sunni 32%–37%), Christian or other 3% National Holiday: Revolution Day, July 17 Literacy rate: 74% (2003 est.) Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2009 est.): $112 billion; per capita $3,600. Real growth rate: 4.3%. Inflation: 6.8%. Unemployment: 15.2%. Arable land: 13%. Agriculture: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry. Labor force: 7.4 million; agriculture n.a., industry n.a., services n.a. Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing. Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur. Exports: $38 billion (2009): crude oil (83.9%), crude materials excluding fuels (8.0%), food and live animals (5.0%). Imports: $55.4 billion (2009): food, medicine, manufactures. Major trading partners: U.S., Spain, Italy, Canada, Syria, Turkey, Jordan (2006). Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.547 million (2005); mobile cellular: 10.9 million (2007). Radio broadcast stations: after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are approximately 80 radio stations on the air inside...
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...The Persian Gulf War Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of neighboring Kuwait in early August 1990. Alarmed by actions, fellow Arab powers such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt called on the United States and other Western nations to interfere. Hussein refused United Nations Security Council demands removed from Kuwait by January 1991, and the Persian Gulf War began with a massive U.S. led air offensive known as Operation Desert Storm. After 42 days of constant attacks by the allied coalition in the air and on the ground. U.S. President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28. By that time, most Iraqi forces in Kuwait had either surrendered or fled. Even though the Persian Gulf War was initially considered an unqualified success for the international coalition, firing conflict in that region led to a second Gulf War known as the Iraq War, that began in 2003. Adding to Hussein’s speech, Iraq had begun amassing troops on Kuwait’s border. Surprised by these actions, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt initiated negotiations between Iraq and Kuwait in an effort to avoid intervention by the United States or other powers from outside the Gulf region. Hussein broke off the negotiations after only two hours. On August 2, 1990 he ordered the invasion of Kuwait. Hussein’s assumption that his fellow Arab states would stand by in the face of his invasion of Kuwait, and by not calling in outside help to stop it. Two-thirds of the 21 members of the Arab League...
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...Address to the Nation on the Invasion of Iraq (January 16, 1991) George H. W. Bush Bush explains that the aerial invasion of Iraq comes after months of failed negotiations with Saddam Hussein. The United States enters Iraq with the support of twenty-eight nations and the United Nations. Transcript Just 2 hours ago, allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait. These attacks continue as I speak. Ground forces are not engaged. This conflict started August 2d when the dictator of Iraq invaded a small and helpless neighbor. Kuwait�a member of the Arab League and a member of the United Nations�was crushed; its people, brutalized. Five months ago, Saddam Hussein started this cruel war against Kuwait. Tonight, the battle has been joined. This military action, taken in accord with United Nations resolutions and with the consent of the United States Congress, follows months of constant and virtually endless diplomatic activity on the part of the United Nations, the United States, and many, many other countries. Arab leaders sought what became known as an Arab solution, only to conclude that Saddam Hussein was unwilling to leave Kuwait. Others traveled to Baghdad in a variety of efforts to restore peace and justice. Our Secretary of State, James Baker, held an historic meeting in Geneva, only to be totally rebuffed. This past weekend, in a last-ditch effort, the Secretary-General of the United Nations went to the Middle East with peace in his...
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...objectives are clear. Saddam Hussein's forces will leave Kuwait. The legitimate government of Kuwait will be restored to its rightful place and Kuwait once again will be free. Iraq will eventually comply with all relevant United Nations resolutions...” George H. W. Bush In order to analyze the Gulf Crisis between Iraq and Kuwait, the factors must first understand which contributed to the conflict. In 1980, Iraq carried out a major air and land attack on Iran. For eight years, the Iran-Iraq War grew more intense, until the U.S. “accidentally” downed an Iranian plane, killing 290 passengers. Some major factors with many others conduce to this war in time: territorial dispute, religious disputes between Islamic moderates and fundamentalists, and more importantly, a personality conflict between Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s president, and Ayatollah Khomein, the leader of Iran. During this war, the U.S. began to provide protection to Kuwaiti tankers, and hence, resulted in military conflicts with Iranian speedboats. Indirectly, the U.S. supported Iraq’s actions in this war. While the U.S. was busy protecting Kuwait, Kuwait supported Iraq financially by giving it more than $10 billion. At the close of the Iran-Iraq War in 1990, Iraq was eager to pay its international debt. But, how? Iraq’s chief export was petroleum. According to Iraq, Kuwait was providing a surplus of oil in the international community by exceeding it assigned OPEC quota. Furthermore, Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing...
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...The Iraq war wasn’t justified The 2003 invasion of Iraq (March 20 – May 1, 2003), was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War or Operation Iraqi Freedom in which a combined force of troops from the United States, alongside the United Kingdom, and smaller contingents from Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations. This phase (March–April 2003) consisted of a conventionally fought war which concluded with the fall of Baghdad that marked the beginning of the second phase, the current Iraq War, and was a continuation of the Gulf War of 1991, prior to which Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait, and after defeat by Coalition Forces had agreed to surrender and/or destroy several types of weapons, including SCUD missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). According to then President of the United States George W. Bush and then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, the reasons for the invasion were "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's alleged support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people. According to Blair, the trigger was Iraq's failure to take a "final opportunity" to disarm itself of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that U.S. and British officials called an immediate and intolerable threat to world peace. Although some remnants of pre-1991 production were found after the end of the war. US government spokespeople confirmed that these were...
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...nation may not be engaging into battle against a uniformed militia of a particular state, nor are they engaged in conflict against a ruling government or regime of a state. However many of the laws and rules in place are still relevant and effective even in today’s extremely complex international arena. This topic is one that requires discussion because states need to know when it is legal for them to invade another state and when it is not. Also to outline the consequences of an illegal action in regards to these laws as well as other problems and dilemmas that may arise from this topic. But sometimes situations can call for action immediately. When you must wait on a committee of representatives to vote on the legality of the proposed invasion, you may stand the chance of losing valuable time and effectiveness against enemy combatants. Legal Background The legal background regarding this topic is vague and confusing in some instances. International law prohibits the use of military force, unless it is being used in a manner of self-defense or as a preemptive maneuver to avoid being attacked by another state. However it must be decided what is considered self-defense or if an action is deemed a preemptive strike, was there and eminent threat serious enough for the use of military force? The...
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...Making things worse in the Middle East Over the past few months, the Middle East has become an even more violent place than usual. Iraq is now once again home to one of the most bloody civil wars in the world, after Syria of course, which is the worst. Watching these horrors unfold, many in the United States are convinced that this is Washington’s fault or that, at the very least, the Obama administration’s “passive” approach toward the region has allowed instability to build. In fact, the last thing the region needs is more U.S. intervention. The Middle East is in the midst of a sectarian struggle, like those between Catholics and Protestants in Europe in the age of the Reformation. These tensions are rooted in history and politics and will not easily go away. Three factors have led us to this state of affairs. First, the structure of Middle Eastern states. The modern Middle East was created by the colonial powers at the end of World War I. The states the British and French created, often with little forethought, were composed of disparate groups that had no history of being governed as one entity. Iraq, for example, was formed by putting together three Ottoman provinces that had little in common. The colonial powers often chose a set of rulers who came from a minority group. (It was a cunning strategy. A minority regime always needs the help of some outside force to rule.) Thus the French, when facing a nationalist insurgency in Syria in the 1930s and 1940s, recruited...
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...IRAQ-KUWAIT War Negotiation Style and Frameworks by Steven Roberts A case study that shows how important it is to consider whether or not to accept concessions by taking a reasonable perspective and framework. | Bottom of Form On a scorching summer day in August,1990, the citizens of Kuwait stared in puzzlement at the encroaching, dusty streams of what appeared to be a pending desert sandstorm, creeping ominously towards them from across the forbidding dessert. To their dismay and horror filled eyes, the quaking citizenry had become helpless witnesses to the advancing units of Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi army, relentlessly engaged in the illegal invasion of their homeland. There had been no warning of this pending disaster. Kuwaiti resistance was swept aside much like one casually brushes away a crumb from one’s lapel. After six days, Hussein declared that he had annexed Kuwait. The world was stunned by Hussein’s audacity, and the Middle East became very anxious about what the future may hold for this unsettled region. By August 30, the Arab League, called by President Mubarak of Egypt, attempted to defuse this potentially explosive crisis through deft negotiation. The Arab League proposed to Hussein that if he would withdraw his troops, they were prepared to offer him several concessions. Through several negotiations, the Arab League eventually framed a very generous negotiation proposal that they attempted to present to Hussein in a packaged offer. The three major negotiation...
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