Although the effects of the gulf war following the iraqi invasion of kuwait are proving to be far fewer than predicted, 1 the statement that this war has been the major event in the middle east since the first world war and the concomitant dissolution of the ottoman empire still holds good. Iranian revolution in 1979, the iraqtran war in 198088, and now, in 1990, the new gulf crisis induced by iraqs invasion of kuwait. One of the most internationally significant historical event to occur in the 20th century was the iraqi invasion of kuwait in 1990 and the subsequent gulf war. President saddam hussein 19372006 pursued the most extensive chemical program during the iraniraq war 19801988, when he waged chemical warfare against his foe.
After months of diplomatic efforts through the united nations, including the imposition of economic sanctions on iraq, a 28nation allied force led by the united states attacked iraq on january 16, 1991. Economists estimations put the cost of reconstruction at 230 billion dollars. Several highranking officers have condemned the use of sporadic supplemental appropriations to fund what is now a longterm war effort, arguing that it impairs. At the close of the iraniraq war in 1990, iraq was eager to pay its international debt. Adding to bushs geopolitical losses, iraq went back on its promise to withdraw from kuwait, going as far as annexing kuwait as a new province of iraq. Apr 01, 2019 between 1980 and 1988, iraq was at war with iran. Iraq invades kuwait interesting facts there have been 11 video games made based on the persian gulf war. Iranian revolution in 1979, the iraq tran war in 198088, and now, in 1990, the new gulf crisis induced by iraq s invasion of kuwait. Being the third day of the ground campaign by coalition forces in iraq and kuwait, president bush characterized saddams speech as an outrage, saying iraqi forces were not withdrawing.
The lessons of the 19901991 kuwait crisis, in which statesmenlike leaders came to the fore and in the end prevailed, should not be ignored. For a time after the war, it appeared that a new era of more sober, mature and stable interarab relations was in the offing. Roughly 5% of the iranian casualties were caused by chemical weapons. The iraniraq war failed to reach a military conclusion despite iraqs use of chemical weapons. The iran iraq war and the invasion of kuwait the war between iran and iraq in september 1980, saddam unilaterally tore up the 1975 algiers agreement, which had settled longstanding iran iraq disputes over their borders, particularly over the shatt alarab waterway, which gives access to the gulf. S tries to stop the battle but 2 soldiers were killed. Kuwait emerges from under iraqs shadow this article is more than 9 years old anniversary visit to baghdad marks new beginning for tiny oil state that still has unfinished. To protect kuwaiti oil shipments during the iran iraq war of 198088, the u. Iraniraq, 70,000 prisoners of war repatriated how does.
Repertoire of the practice of the security council 568 0551675 22. Thanks to both arab and western assistance, the war ended with iraq in a position of what can be termed triumphant survivalism. There were rumors that iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction wmds which might be used against the west and israel. Dick cheney was the secretary of defense during the 1990 persian gulf war and the vice president during the 2003 iraq war. The gulf war was a classic case of good versus evil. The response to iraqs aggression prompted, and expedited, changes in the dynamics of neighboring countries.
The middle east channel kuwaits war of words with iraq last tuesday, two katusha rockets directly struck the kuwaiti embassy in iraq, while another hit a nearby building. By the end of the war, estimated losses of equipment were as followed. After his disastrous and fruitless eightyear war with iran, in the late 1980s president saddam hussein decided to distract public attention away from the economic and political failings of his regime by embarking on a new foreign adventure. This was until fear that the iranian revolution would move within its borders forced the country to take sides. Iraq depended greatly on the revenue from the sale of oil to repay its huge debts from the iraniraq war. It inaugurated the permanent introduction of us ground and air forces into a region previously frequented only by its naval forces. Of iraq s 545,000 troops in the kuwait theater of operations, about 100,000 are believed to have lost their lives.
Look back at the key moments and click on the video links to see the television news reports of the time. Items relating to the situation between iraq and kuwait initial proceedings a. Pdf invasion of kuwait by iraqi army had significant impacts on regional and international spheres. In fact, while close to 50,000 iraqi pows have been registered in the islamic republic of iran by the international committee of the red cross, iraq has allowed the. He planned to reclaim iraqs lost province oilrich kuwait. Psychology, risk, and the decision to launch the persian. The second gulf war began on august 2, 1990 with an iraqi invasion of kuwait and ended on march 3, 1991 when iraq accepted a ceasefire. It began as a local war and ended as a united nations attack on iraq. Iraq war is both necessary and justified essay 1649. Of iraq s 44 army divisions, 42 were found to be combat ineffective. In this study the author questions whether it was the personality of saddam hussein, the structure of the iraqi state or the workings of the international political system which made war between iraq and the americanled alliance inevitable. Commandos were deployed by helicopters and boats to attack the kuwait city. The iraqi invasion of kuwait had real potential that was not realized.
The consequence of the war cost billions of dollars and millions of lives. Consequences gulf war the gulf war consequences for the. Specifically, the chapter will trace a iraqs passage to war and the issues that surrounded saddams surprising invasion of. After the 1988 ceasefire agreement iraq had attempted, unsuccessfully, to have these debts cancelled. Therefore, iraq emerged from the iraqiran war a crippled nation. For the last twentyseven years, today has marked the anniversary of an infamous event. On march 19, 2003, american and british forces began the third persian gulf war, a conflict which became popularly known as the iraq war. Economic consequences of the 1991 gulf war and future. From 1982 until 1983, kuwait provided financial support to iraq despite violent retaliation from iranian. Iraq depended greatly on the revenue from the sale of oil to repay its huge debts from the iran iraq war. The iran iraq war was seen as a new opportunity to recoup us losses from the iranian revolution. Almost 100,000surrendering iraqi soldiers became prisoners of war pows. This deficit was more than half of what iraq was expected to earn that year from oil henderson, 1991.
It was between iraqis and iranians for control of the. Pdf iraqi invasion of kuwait as turning point in iransaudi. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when saddam hussein decided to invade kuwait. Aug 12, 2017 the memos, released by the national archives, reveal how in the buildup to the 1990 gulf war ministers and civil servants scrambled to ensure britains arms manufacturers could take advantage. The invasion of kuwait on 2 august 1990 was a twoday operation conducted by iraq against the neighboring state of kuwait, which resulted in the sevenmonthlong iraqi occupation of the country. This invasion and iraq s subsequent refusal to withdraw from kuwait by a deadline mandated by the united nations 16 led to military intervention by a. Iraqs invasion of kuwait on august 2, 1990, was predicated, in part, on an allegation. The victory was a triumph of coalition strategy, of international cooperation, of technology, and. Their conversation focused on saddams complaint that kuwait was pumping oil that rightfully belonged to iraq from deposits along the iraq kuwaiti border.
The persian gulf war was the first major conflict following the end of the cold war. It was assumed with the end of the war the american era in the middle east would begin and iraq would change dramatically. As with many recent wars, iraq war funding began with a series of supplemental request, but in a departure from precedent, this practice has continued through five years of the conflict. During the war iraq s oil production had fallen dramatically, and to meet the shortage production. The invasion of kuwait by iraq in 1990 would prove to be an action that would have large impacts across borders. Iraqs brutal invasion and subsequent occupation of kuwait, which began on august 2, 1990, and which was brought to an end on february 28, 1991. Recently, the governor of basra claimed that only during the last year of the war did iraq capture more than 25,000 iranian prisoners. Iraqi withdrawal from alsanita border post under saudi pressure.
However, there were instances where iraq used military power to threaten kuwait over border disputes. Hassan argues that realism doesnt give a full understanding of. Medals of honor awarded for the wars in iraq and afghanistancontroversy swirls over small number of medals of honor awarded in current wars. Iraqi invasion of kuwait 1990 posted on december 1, 2016 by msw after his disastrous and fruitless eightyear war with iran, in the late 1980s president saddam hussein decided to distract public attention away from the economic and political failings of his regime by embarking on a new foreign adventure. This invasion and iraq s subsequent refusal to withdraw from kuwait by a deadline mandated by the united nations led to military intervention by a united nationsauthorized coalition of forces led by. His plan was to invade the oilrich country of kuwait and take control of the oil wells and thus regain his wealth. New on march 19, 2003, american and british forces began the third persian gulf war, a conflict which became popularly known. Added to realism, hassan provided a more rounded view of the war.
Assessment of why iraq invaded kuwait was central to public debate at the time because it was intertwined with the discussion of the rights and wrongs, to which. Kuwait the persian gulf war and its aftermath britannica. Another potential option for american desire to finish the work started in the first gulf war operation desert storm was to change the political and social climate of the middle east in such a way that it would deny support for militant islam. For the first two years of the iran iraq war, kuwait was a neutral bystander. Therefore iraq acted to acquire kuwaits wealth to relieve its debt from the iraniraq war, it laid claim to kuwaits territory, it wanted greater access to the persian gulf, the two were in an oil dispute over prices, and finally saddam strived to become the new arab leader. Kuwait kuwait the persian gulf war and its aftermath. Total equipment iraqi coalition lost on hand lost on hand tanks 4,000 4,230 4 3,360. The gulf war 19901991 and the study of international relations core. Delving into the arab perspective provided some interesting historical background to iraqs invasion, and explained saddams speeches about saving the arab nation from foreign threats.
Iraniraq, 70,000 prisoners of war repatriated how does law. Saddam hussein had just finished fighting an eightyear war with iran and his country was in deep debt. Although iraq advanced several arguments in support of its actions, the basic reasons behind the invasion of kuwait were the perennial ones that had led earlier iraqi regimes to seek the same result. To protect kuwaiti oil shipments during the iraniraq war of 198088, the u. The iran iraq lasted from september 1980 to august 1998, which made it the longest conventional war of the 20th century. The iran iraq war dealt a devastating blow to the iraqi economy. Of iraqs 545,000 troops in the kuwait theater of operations, about 100,000 are believed to have lost their lives. Iraqi troops invade kuwait, taking the emirate in one day. On august 2 iraq went ahead with plan of invasion of kuwait with four of its elite iraqi republican guard divisions. In violation of the geneva protocol of 1925, the iraqi army initiated two failed 19701974, 19741978 and one successful 19781991 offensive chemical weapons cw programs. The real reason was to help them succeed in the war against iran.
Jan 10, 2016 social studies the 1990 iraqkuwait war 1. Oil revenue also made up most of the countrys income. The war between iran and iraq in september 1980, saddam unilaterally tore up the 1975 algiers agreement, which had settled longstanding iraniraq disputes over their borders, particularly over the shatt alarab waterway, which gives access to the gulf. Iraqi invasion of kuwait in 1990 used by uk to boost weapon. The iraniraq war and the invasion of kuwait socialist. Acting under articles 39 and 40 of the charter of the. Therefore, the possibility of kuwait reducing the amount of oil they could obtain from the oilfield or being able to cut off the transportation of oil for export was a threat to the. The gulf war 2 august 1990 28 february 1991, codenamed operation desert shield 2 august 1990 17 january 1991 for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defense of saudi arabia and operation desert storm 17 january 1991 28 february 1991 in its combat phase, was a war waged by coalition forces from 35 nations led by the united states against iraq in. The result of the war, although stalemate would be a critical factor that would shape the future of the middle. From the iraqkuwait conflict to the gulf war springerlink. During the war the gulf states had provided iraq with interestfree loans which, aziz pointed out, were still recorded by kuwait and the uae as debts. Items relating to the situation between iraq and kuwait.
The iraniraq lasted from september 1980 to august 1998, which made it the longest conventional war of the 20th century. The war destroyed a large part of iraq s capital stock, reduced oil production and exports, and. The war also caused vast environmental damage, as iraq released more than 10 million barrels of oil into the persian gulf and iraqi troops withdrawing from. The impact of the war is moderate and the continuities are more impressive. Like the first gulf war, the iraq war began with a massive deployment of troops prior to authorization or specific appropriations. The memos, released by the national archives, reveal how in the buildup to the 1990 gulf war ministers and civil servants scrambled to ensure britains arms manufacturers could take advantage. Of iraqs 44 army divisions, 42 were found to be combat ineffective. The iraniraq war was seen as a new opportunity to recoup us losses from the iranian revolution. During the war iraqs oil production had fallen dramatically, and to meet the shortage production. In the subsequent 43day war, fought mostly from the air, an estimated 150,000 iraqi soldiers. Thus, iraq felt that the uae oil production iraq war it has just fought. In spite of its support of iraq during the war, kuwait was invaded by its much larger neighbor in 1990.
Americas cold war geopolitical efforts and a pliable economic partner. Indeed, iraq did default on some of its debt payments. It looked like iraq, as a nation, would experience civil war, invasions, and perhaps a change of regime. In august 1990 iraq invaded the gulf state of kuwait, setting off a chain of events that led to a war with the west. Iraqi invasion of kuwait in 1990 used by uk to boost. Some of these crises, particularly in 1973 and 1979, involved an interruption of oil. It is true that none of the political regimes of the middle east not even that established. Jul 20, 2011 the middle east channel kuwaits war of words with iraq last tuesday, two katusha rockets directly struck the kuwaiti embassy in iraq, while another hit a nearby building. This invasion and iraqs subsequent refusal to withdraw from kuwait by a deadline mandated by the united nations led to military intervention by a united nationsauthorized. Iraniraq war 1 iraniraq war the iraniraq war, also known as the imposed war, jangetahmili and holy defense. Pull back of iraqi armed forces to the demarcation line set by the arab league during operation vantage 1961. In support of these divisions a squadron of mil mi25 helicopter gunships, several units of mi8 and mi17 transport helicopters, as well as a squadron. Iraqi invasion of kuwait iraqi invasion of kuwait was the invasion that occurred during the 1990s and effected the environment, population, and economics of kuwait.
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