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22:
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with the US at the forefront of global affairs. It was a double-edged sword. The USA had a greater range to their influence but meant that "relatively small, peripheral and backward states will be able to emerge rapidly as threats not only to regional, but to world, security." These states would not
390:
Some minor factors include Kuwait's negligence and limited defense especially since they were surrounded by several larger players. Furthermore, most
Kuwaiti soldiers were on holidays and those who remained lacked adequate training, equipment, and morale. Finally, Saddam also had a long-standing
231:
under
Rumaila oil field on the Iraqi border. In February 1990, Saddam Hussein believed that Iraq should be compensated for protecting the Middle East from the spread of radicalism. He suggested that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should write off Iraq's wartime loans.
222:
and other hegemonic claims of the Shatt Al Arab waterway, Iraq invaded Iran on the 22 September 1980. The Iran-Iraq war was a devastating conflict that killed more than one million individuals. The war resulted in the Iraqi army becoming the fourth biggest in the world but also devastated its
407:
with 3,000 vehicles. On the 24 July started upgrading air defenses. The
National Intelligence Agency (NIA) said that Iraq had enough forces to conduct military operations in Kuwait. On the 24 July, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Margaret Tutwiler, told journalists,
517:"Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force."
860:
280:, the Iraqi monarchy was replaced with a republic. In 1963, Iraq recognized Kuwait's borders and independence. Later, Saddam Hussein claimed that this was invalid as it was not ratified. He also suggested that Kuwait had been carved out of the Iraq by the
349:
Kuwait is one of the richest countries in the world. As of 2017, Kuwait has the 15th largest GDP per capita of US$ 66,200. In 1990, Kuwait had the most modern water treatment facilities in the Middle East. The invasion gave Iraq access to these riches.
381:
Saddam believed that the West used Israel as a spearhead against the Middle East and to spread
Western propaganda. He also believed that Kuwait and the UAE were Western pawns. In this sense, some have argued that Iraq invaded Kuwait to fight back.
358:
The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait may be served to be an attack on the West. This is because Saddam believed that the USA was trying to wage an economic war upon Iraq. In the Iran-Iraq war, the USA had supported Iraq. This was undermined by the
479:
The international context was crucial for Saddam's decision to invade in Kuwait and international condemnation. The USA's decision to intervene was a signal to other nations that aggression would not go unchallenged.
786:
United States-Iraqi
Relations: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, Second Session
315:
waterway. As a result, Iraq's economical growth has been slowed due a lack of trading opportunities. Furthermore, the Khor
Abudallah waterway is prone to crowding and was blocked by Iran during the
260:
The
Kuwaiti entity dates back to 1716 but maps as early as 1652 have outlined Kuwait's existence. Kuwaiti sovereignty and independence predates Iraq by more than 200 years. On the 23 July 1923, the
223:
economy. Iraq owed $ 35 billion in short-time high interest loans and the cost of infrastructure damage amounted to over $ 230 billion. In
February 1989, Iraq established the
936:
799:
839:
568:
663:
744:
430:" Some historians believe that these comments represented an unwitting green light of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. In response to these accusations, April said, "
227:
which attempted to garner economic support. In 1989, Iraq provided financial aid to Jordan by providing free shipping. In 1989, Saddam accused Kuwait of oil
97:
498:." Former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, suggested that the intervention comforted other small states and safeguarded democracy.
436:
we foolishly did not realize he was stupid, that he did not believe our clear and repeated warnings that we would support our vital interests.
391:
dream to establish a greater Arab Empire and unite fellow Arabs. The invasion of Kuwait may have been a stepping stone to achieve this ideal.
319:. Iraq also has a small navy and lacks a strong grip on the Persian Gulf. Iraq failed to gain a lease on the strategically vital islands of
144:
191:'s rationale behind the invasion is disputed and largely unknown. No Iraqi document has ever been discovered explicitly listing these.
116:
859:
Center For The Study Of
Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency. At Cold Wars End: Us Intelligence on the Soviet Union and Eastern.
468:
523:'s rollback doctrine also had implications in the Middle East because the Soviet Union was involved in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.
463:
in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and East
Germany. This meant that the Soviet Union began to decay and by the
163:
61:
43:
694:
264:
established the new borders after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. This resulted in British exerting control of the Mandate of
123:
464:
32:
633:
Brown, Harry (October 1994). "The Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Dispute: Historical Background and the UN Decisions of 1992 and 1993".
403:
warned of a regional threat and subsequently increased intelligence. On the 21 July, the Iraqi army began to build up on the
101:
130:
543:
400:
446:
that an invasion was imminent. On the 2 August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait marking the beginning of the Persian Gulf war.
183:
began on the 2 August 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The war was fought between the international coalition led by the
958:
576:
112:
671:
410:"We do not have any defense treaties with Kuwait, and there are no special defense or security commitments to Kuwait.
761:
511:
467:, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. During this time, international dynamics gradually switched from bipolarity to
224:
232:
Kuwait and UAE did write off some of their loans. Saddam also hinted at his idea to invade Kuwait by saying, "
996:
265:
90:
438:" By the 31 July, 80,000 soldiers and 20,000 support forces were ready to invade Kuwait. On the 1 August,
404:
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of the Persian Gulf and has a coastal length of approximately 290 km. In contrast, Iraq is largely
269:
137:
485:
332:
228:
246:
every $ 1 drop in the price of a barrel of oil caused a $ 1 billion drop in Iraq's annual revenues."
234:
Let the Gulf regimes know...that if they will not give this money to me, I will know how to get it."
873:
460:
252:
These factors resulted in Iraq's terrible economy. The invasion meant that Iraq owned 20% of OPEC.
36:
that states a Knowledge editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic.
481:
432:
Obviously, I didn't think, and nobody else did, that the Iraqis were going to take ALL of Kuwait.
304:
277:
261:
211:
316:
510:, the USA followed a policy of non-involvement in the Middle East. On the 23 January 1980, the
991:
219:
215:
425:"we should express no opinion on this issue and that the issue is not associated with America
439:
210:
of the invasion was likely the dire economic situation Iraq was positioned with in 1990. In
959:"Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union, 6 February 1987"
825:
443:
421:"we have no opinion on the Arab-Arab conflicts, like your border disagreement with Kuwait"
312:
328:
320:
288:
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273:
188:
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416:
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240:(OPEC) quotas and requested that they lower their production. Iraqi Foreign Minister
184:
745:"CONFRONTATION IN THE GULF; Excerpts From Iraqi Document on Meeting With U.S. Envoy"
910:
507:
335:
526:"Our mission is to nourish and defend freedom of democracy. On every continent."
248:
It is estimated that Iraq lost $ 14 billion as a result of Kuwaiti overproduction
614:
307:
with a coastal length of only 60 km. Furthermore, Iraq has one major port,
300:
206:
79:
214:, the Iranian Shah monarchy was overthrown and replaced by the supreme leader,
241:
514:
established the USA's official foreign policy regarding the Middle East as:
473:
276:
and France. On the 3 October 1932, Iraq was given Independence and on the
180:
728:
911:"Joint Press Conference with President Bush (Iraqi invasion of Kuwait)"
472:
be influenced by multiple superpowers and thus, would not be used as a
343:
622:(Thesis). Lebanese American University. pp. 6–7 – via Core.
236:
On the 18th July 1990, Saddam accused Kuwait and the UAE of exceeding
750:, 23 September 1990. Note: there are two slightly different versions.
415:
On the 25 July, Saddam Hussein held a meeting with American diplomat
339:
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are inspired by America to undermine Arab interests and security.
291:. No fence existed until 1992 to prevent a possible re-invasion.
735:, vol. 34, no. 1, 2004, JSTOR pp. 113–131. Accessed 11 May 2020.
237:
718:
Foreign Broadcast Information Service broadcast, April 3, 1990.
650:
Territorial Disputes and Resource Management: A Global Handbook
459:
Between 1989 and 1990, the Soviet Union suffered from numerous
73:
15:
616:
THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE BETWEEN KUWAIT AND IRAQ HAS IT SUBSIDED?
287:
The only geographical barrier between Iraq and Kuwait is the
272:. The borders were arbitrary and served the interests of the
370:
Iraq hated Israel and on the 3 April 1990, he threatened to
33:
personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay
299:
Kuwait is a highly strategic location. Kuwait lies on the
937:
U.S. Interests and Regional Security in the Middle East.
788:, U.S. Government Printing Office, April 26, 1990. p 56
39:
829:, 11 July 1991. Executive Summary. Top Secret. pp 2-3
363:, where the USA sold weapons to Iran. Saddam said, "
104:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
909:(Transcript) Thatcher, Margaret (2 August 1990).
695:"Iraq Threatens Emirates And Kuwait on Oil Glut"
762:"WikiLeaks, April Glaspie, and Saddam Hussein"
176:Iraqi claims and arguments for invading Kuwait
8:
800:"GLASPIE SAYS SADDAM IS GUILTY OF DECEPTION"
164:Learn how and when to remove this message
62:Learn how and when to remove this message
861:"1989: The Year That Changed the World"
534:
846:, vol. 117, no. 2, 2002, pp. 191–207.
331:. Kuwait also allowed Iraq's modified
729:George Bush and the Gulf War of 1991.
238:Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries
7:
943:, vol. 109, no. 4, 1980, pp. 67–80.
850:, Accessed 15 July 2020. pp 194-196.
840:CIA's Strategic Intelligence in Iraq
826:Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
693:Ibrahim, Youssef M. (18 July 1990).
542:Collins, Shannon (11 January 2019).
419:. During the interview, April said,
102:adding citations to reliable sources
880:, vol. 70, no. 1, 1990, pp. 23–33.
635:IBRU Boundary and Security Bulletin
218:. To prevent the spread of Iranian
957:Reagan, Ronald (6 February 1987).
14:
798:Oberdorfer, Don (21 March 1991).
569:"Iraq Economic Data (1989-2003)"
256:Iraq and Kuwait's border dispute
78:
20:
823:United States Central Command,
575:. 23 April 2007. Archived from
311:through the Kuwaiti controlled
89:needs additional citations for
917:. Margaret Thatcher Foundation
733:Presidential Studies Quarterly
652:. Nova Publishers. p. 73.
613:ALKENAEE, MAHA (August 2011).
434:" Under testimony, she said, "
255:
1:
947:, Accessed 17 July 2020. p 1
449:
113:"Rationale for the Gulf War"
844:Political Science Quarterly
544:"Desert Storm: A Look Back"
1013:
602:. Rosen Publishing group.
915:www.margaretthatcher.org
637:: 69–73 – via Dur.
225:Arab Cooperation Council
194:
185:United States of America
898:. Simon & Schuster.
872:Krauthammer, Charles. "
863:Books Express Pub, 2011
894:Woodward, Bob (1991).
884:Accessed 16 July 2020.
648:Guo, Rongxing (2006).
598:Efraim, Karsh (2009).
496:may try the same thing
493:If he succeeds, others
399:On the 25 April 1990,
376:eat up half of Israel.
42:by rewriting it in an
838:Russell, Richard L. "
512:Carter administration
455:International context
874:The Unipolar Moment.
664:"The World Factbook"
486:Lawrence Eagleburger
295:Strategic importance
98:improve this article
804:The Washington Post
374:(chemical weapons)
699:The New York Times
482:Secretary of State
450:USA's intervention
405:Iraq-Kuwait border
361:Iran–Contra affair
338:missiles to reach
262:treaty of Lausanne
44:encyclopedic style
31:is written like a
760:Walt, Stephen M.
600:The Iran-Iraq War
502:US Foreign Policy
220:Islamic extremism
216:Ruhollah Khomeini
195:Saddam's calculus
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579:on 14 May 2008
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282:United Nations
274:British Empire
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229:slant drilling
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187:against Iraq.
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548:defense.gov
469:unipolarity
461:revolutions
266:Mesopotamia
207:casus belli
986:Categories
771:6 December
530:References
354:Conspiracy
333:Al Hussein
305:landlocked
242:Tariq Aziz
124:newspapers
474:proxy war
270:Palestine
200:Economics
154:July 2020
52:July 2020
992:Gulf War
941:Daedalus
309:Umm Qasr
181:Gulf War
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921:17 July
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