Iran-Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War
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Iraqi History
A. British Mandate
B. British Backed Monarchy
•Post WWII British colony
•King chosen by England
C. Dictatorships
•1958 Baath Revolution
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Thinking Slide:How might Iraqi history affect how they view the Americans & their British allies in the current war in Iraq?
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Baath PartyB. What does it do?
•Secular (non-religious) government
•Uses oil $ for government projects
•Hussein begins to eliminate opponents
HUSSEIN CARD AS PART OF DECK OF 55 CARDS OF US CHARACTERS WANTED Reuters/CORBIS
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That all changes with the Iran-Iraq War•Iranian Revolution
A. Why?
•Pro-western Shah unpopular because of his alliance w/US & secret police
B. How?
•Religious (Shiite) revolution
C. Results
Fear in most neighboring Middle Eastern countries, especially majority Shiite Iraq
Iraq-Iran War
The World Takes Sides
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
1) Key Players? -Iraq & Iran2) Cause?
Immediate- border dispute (oil)3) Saddam’s Invasion?
-Hoped to gain control of rich oil fields on border
-“Church & State” argument-Iraq was secular-Iran was Islamic
4) Assumptions?-Saddam believed victory would be easy
5) Cease-Fire? -Attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf
attracted U.S. and U.N. Oil exports were reduced leaving Iraq and Iran struggling economically. Both agreed to a cease-fire in Aug 1988.
Operation Desert Storm
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Persian Gulf War (the 1st one!)•Why?
1.Iraq’s claimed to the land 2. Claimed
Kuwait was stealing oil (“slant drilling”)3. $ owed to
countries Kuwait 4.Hussein
thought no one would stop him
Persian Gulf War
• Claimed Kuwait as part of Iraq• Saudi Arabia threaten • United Nations – United States and Arab coalition
• Within days Iraqi forces surrender
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Persian Gulf War (the 1st one!)•What happened??
•US invades w/full UN backing
• US bombs Iraqi military & civilian infrastructure
• We make no attempt to hold Iraqi towns or capture Saddam Hussein
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Persian Gulf War Pictures
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Persian Gulf War (the 1st one!)•Results?
UN Embargo & Oil for Food Program
Peace Terms:
•Iraq accepts border with Kuwait, surrenders all WMDs, destroys all WMD production capability
•Iraq can sell oil in exchange for food & medicine
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Thinking Slide:
Do you think a program like the “oil for food” program was a good one given the situation at the time?
Afterwards
• Saddam is still is power• Trade sanctions
– Removed only if UN inspectors can visit
• What do you think UN inspectors were looking for?– Chemical Weapons and
WMDs
• Causes US and British to do air raids
Gulf War Syndrome
• Joint pain, fatigue, loss of muscle control, headaches
• Causes? No one really knows– Nerve gas– Oil well fires– Anthrax Vaccine