AND
THE PERSIAN GULF WAR (1990 –
1991)
Modern Iraq formed in 1932 after
Ottoman Empire breaks apart
During ancient
times, lands that
now constitute
Iraq were known
as Mesopotamia
(“Land Between
the Rivers”)
Who divided the
Middle East and
‘drew the
borders’ after the
fall of the
Ottoman Empire?
OPEC’s Power and 1973 Oil Embargo
Initially formed in 1960 to
benefit the resource-rich Arab
countries of the Persian Gulf
Attempted to create a “semi-
monopoly” on oil production
with potential to control global
supply and petroleum prices
OPEC could use oil as a
bargaining weapon
1973 Yom Kippur war between
Israel and Arab neighbors,
including Iraq
Oil embargo is placed on
Western nations for support
of Israel
Result? US gas crisis of 1973
with exploding inflation
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein takes control of
the Sunni-dominated Baath Party in
1979
• Purged his opponents including those
from within the Baath party
• Dream of becoming modern day
emperor of the Arabs
• Long history of border disputes with its
Persian neighbor
• Saddam feared a Shiite
insurgency within his own nation
• Invasion of Iran in 1980
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
War for dominance in the Persian
Gulf
Control of strategic land
Control of waterways
Control of OIL
Arabs v. Persians
Sunnis v. Shiites
Ayatollah Khomeini urging uprisings
within Iraq to create a larger Islamic
Republic
Iraq Invades
Saddam Hussein invaded
Iran with the intent of
acquiring territory and
accessing more oil
Saddam correctly
figured that other
countries would not US Envoy Donald Rumsfe
come to Iran’s aid. Meets Saddam Hussein i
Why?
US Covert Support for Iraq
The United States "could not afford to
allow Iraq to lose the war to Iran," and the
United States "would do whatever was
necessary to prevent Iraq from losing the
war with Iran.”
--
Ronald Reagan
The War Drags On
Iraq did not count on
Iranians, mobilizing beyond
the Ayatollah, and fighting
back as fervently as they
did
Both countries were worn
down from a war that
dragged on longer than
expected
Trench warfare and
chemical weapons used
Iran-Iraq War “Peace”
Both countries were
left in serious disrepair
from ‘war of attrition’
Approximately 1
million people died
Virtual stalemate
A peace agreement
was signed in 1988
The Persian Gulf War Origins
Tiny Kuwait 310 miles of
coastline compared to 36
miles for Iraq
“Unfair” claims Saddam
Hussein of Iraq
Global oil supply threatened
when Saddam invades
Kuwait in August 1990
Initially US establishes
“Operation Desert Shield”
with forces in Saudi Arabia
to prevent even further
The Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)
Operation Desert Storm
August 2, 1990 - Iraq invaded
Kuwait
November 1990 - UN authorized
use of “all means necessary” to
eject Iraq from Kuwait
Allied Coalition of 42 nations
formed against Iraq & Saddam
President George H.W. Bush
January 12, 1991
– Congress
authorized use of force
Use of overwhelming force to meet
objectives and “get out” with
Operation Desert STORM begins
January 17,
1991 – Allies
attacked Iraq
from the air
February 23,
1991 – Allied
ground forces
Result of the War
February 28, 1991 – War ended with
minimal casualties on Allied coalition
side
Resounding defeat of Iraq and
withdrawal from Kuwait
Approximately 400 coalition
members died
Included 13 members of
Greensburg, PA 14th Quartermaster
when a Russian-made SCUD missile
struck their barracks in Saudi
desert on Feb 25
Saddam’s ‘elite’ Republican Guard
mass surrender
100,000 Iraqi casualties
The Surrender and UN
Sanctions
United Nations Approves Terms for
unconditional surrender by Iraq
Baghdad is ordered to halt 'hostile or
provocative acts' and to release all of
its war prisoners.
The UN imposed crippling economic
sanctions on the already devastated
country
Saddam was to cooperate with UN
inspectors verifyijng destruction of
stockpiles of biological and chemical
agents THE BIG QUESTION:
Should US have invaded Iraq, and then
