Iraq War

Iraq basics

• One of the largest Arab nations in Middle East

• 2nd largest proven oil reserves in world

• Ethnic Kurds in North--15%

• Sunni Arabs, in middle--30%

• Shi’ite Arab, in South--50%

Colonial History

• After defeat of Ottoman Empire, British Mandate 1918-1930

• 1920, and on--”The Great Iraqi Revolution”

Background: US in the Region

• 1979--Iranian Revolution and hostages

• Recently emerged Ba’ath Party dictator, Saddam Hussein begins war with Iran

• Reagan administration supports Saddam

Gulf War I 1991

• 1990 Saddam invades Kuwait

• US and coalition troops, with UN sanction, attack

• Saddam fires scud missiles on Israel

• Saddam forced to retreat

George H. Bush’s decision

• expel but not overthrow Saddam

• under UN sanction:• establish no-fly zones

• econ sanctions

• weapons inspections under UN (1991-98, 2002-2003)

A job half done?

• 1998 Congress passes, Clinton signs, Iraq Liberation Act

• 2000 Republican platform calls for “full implementation”

• “neo-cons” calling for overthrow

Build-up to War

• 2002 Congress passes Authorization for use of military force (AUMF)

• UN orders weapons inspectors out as American invasion appears immanent

• theory of pre-emptive war vs preventative war

• Bush orders Saddam and sons out• war begins on March 20 2003

Role of UN

• Security Council Resolution 1441 called for compliance with weapons inspection or “serious consequences”

• US seeks UN authorization for invasion, France, China, Russia refuse

• Bush claims to be enforcing 1441

• Kofi Annan says US in violation of UN

Invasion force• 83% US

• 15% UK

• 2% “Coalition of the Willing”

Shifting justifications

• links to “terror” and Al-Qaeda• supposed meeting in Prague

• WMD• Dubious tubes and uranium purchases

• Liberating Iraq