Iran-Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War

Iran-Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War

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Iraqi HistoryA. 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) revolutionC. 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