Iraq: From Creation to American Invasion

Out of Class Homework Article Analysis: Turn in Word document with: Find one article that explains why we invaded Iraq. Explain the main arguments. Use evidence from the article to back up the reason. Turn in Word document with: Article Name/URL Reason for invasion Evidence to back up reason Write down any key people, events, happenings Due Monday (3/6)

Where are we at in our research? Explore different events across the Middle East to better understand the politics, culture, and economics of the region. What should students be able to do at the end of this unit? (What is your product?) Take 5 minutes to explore the different topics/events we’ve discussed in this unit (to this point). What are the threads/trends that continue to pop-up across this region/across time that you believe could answer the research question?

Iraq Focus Iraq Event- Pay close attention to: Ethnic and religious groups (Identity) Politics- Who has power? (People, Groups, Legitimacy) How does the politics intercept or relate to identity after the invasion? Forces- Economics, nationalism and imperialism, Political Islam v. Secularism, -Isms…

Iraq

Demographics- Who and Where? Ottomans had broken Iraq into 3 main provinces (Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra), but Modern Iraq is now 18 provinces. 75%-80% Arab and 15%-20% Kurd 70% of the population is centered around three main urban areas: Baghdad, Mosul and Basra. 97% of the population is Muslim (60%-65% Shi’ite) Kurds desire nationalist state (Kurdistan)

Ethnic Groups

Amir Faysal Continued Sunni rule (post Sunni-Ottoman rule) British Mandate Monarchy 1932- Gain Independence British still keeps a lot of influence. Faysal creates Iraqi Nationalist movement 1933- Faysal dies

Instability Faysal’s death = Power Vacuum 1936- Socialist Coup (kill royal family) 1939- Monarchy retakes power (four year old grandson takes thrown) Conservative/pro-western 1955- Baghdad Pact (Central Treaty Organization)- Modeled after NATO, a military alliance of northern middle east countries to act as a barrier to the Soviet Union (U.S. influence). 1958- Military Coup (General Qasim) = Anti-Western/Iraqi Nationalist Allied with Soviets Land Reform, Political Parties emerge Tried to take Kuwait/Kurdish Rebellion 1968- Military Coup (General Al-Bakr) = Baath Party/Arab Nationalist Security Forces controlled by Saddam Hussein (Husayn) 1979- Saddam takeover

Bagdad Pact (CENTO)

Reading: Iraq in the Era of Saddam Husayn and the Ba’th (Baath) Party What did this era represent?

Reading: Iraq in the Era of Saddam Husayn and the Ba’th (Baath) Party What did this era represent? Stability Nationalization of Oil Modernization (reforms) Militarization Authoritarianism (IS THIS NEW? WHAT ISSUE DOES THIS BRING UP FOR POSSIBLE PAPER TOPICS?) Secularism Women’s Rights (?)

Iraqi Baath Party Means “renaissance” Arab Nationalism/Pan-Arab/Arab Socialists/Anti-Imperialist/Anti-Islamist Often socialist in principles and anti-western 1st political movement: Sharif Husayn Founded in Syria (Iraqi Baathists (‘51) and Syrian Baathists) (1947) Syria is Shi’ite controlled and supports Iran Iraq is Sunni controlled and hates Iran UAR- United Arab Republic When Syrian Communists looked to overthrow the government, Egypt (Nasser) created a coalition, Arab government with Syria. Begged the question, who ruled? Syria or Egypt? Iraqi and Syrian Baathist parties focused their energies on nationalizing at home.

Iraqi Baath Party Tried to move away from Pan-Arabism and create Iraqi Nationalism Tied to Mesopotamian History and Culture Women’s Rights Education Nationalized Oil (where have we seen this?) Authoritarian = Removed all other parties Gestapo-like, Totalitarian state The party and the state became synonymous Baath party rules as an oligarchy until Saddam runs it like a dictatorship. Baath leadership was Sunni-Arab

Ba’th Rise to Power 1968 coup: Leader Ahmad al- Bakr (former military officer and prime minister) Purged officer corps Removed opposition parties (how?) Most high ranking officials were from Takrit (“Boys Club”) Established a one-party state Saddam As deputy secretary general of illegal party, he operated underground (consequences?). Military and intelligence services (head) 1979- Uses position to place himself in power and al-Bakr resigns New purges but this time placing himself (not the party) in power

Saddam Hussein

Opposition Kurds- Desired autonomy Kurdish population ruled by pan-Arab/Nationalist party Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK or KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Peshmerga: Kurdish fighters (militias) run primarily by the two main parties Shi’ites- Majority ruled by the minority Two groups: Tried to integrate into the national system (Baghdad Shias) Baghdad is traditionally populated by a Sunni majority Opposition and militant group (Basra Shias) Religious and opposed secular agenda (al-Dawa) Called for Islamic Republic (ties to Iran)- Note: what year did Saddam take power?

Reforms: what is the ideology of the Ba’th? Nationalized Oil (significance) 1980: Oil revenue was 26 Billion Dollars Land socialization What is this? Subsidized: Healthcare Education (campaign against illiteracy) Food (subsidize the costs) Greater Equity for Women All of these reforms created an “acceptance” of the Ba’ath party.

Foreign Policy Allied with Soviet Union (1972- Iraqi-Soviet Friendship Treaty) = Consequences? This relationship was primarily one of support and rhetoric. For trade, opened to the West: petrol-chemicals and oil sales, and bought advanced weaponry. This relationship was more pragmatic and driven by advanced weaponry and technology.

Iran/Iraq War Iran Represented: Economic Opportunity Ideological Instability Secular v. Islamist Sunni v. Shi’ite Political Instability Khomeini called for Shia uprising in Iraq. Had the support of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and UAE…and the U.S.. Kurdish Rebellion Shi’ite Rebellion

Mustard Gas

Shatt al Arab

U.S. Involvement

Post War Status Basra oil fields and ports are destroyed. Uprisings and empowered: Shia South Kurdish North In debt for $80 Billion to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. More militarized society and bigger army Solution?

Kuwait- Iraqi Invasion

What’s the fear?

Desert Storm

No-Fly Zones

Post-Desert Storm UNSCOM (UN Special Commission Monitoring and removing Saddam’s Military Industrial Complex (Chemical, biological weapon, nuclear, and ballistic weapons facilities) Occasional attacks by U.S. to force Saddam’s hand Saddam often disobeyed UNSCOM. Why? INC (Iraq National Congress) Anti-Saddam government from abroad Kurdish parties KDP and PUK Food-for-Oil Program 1998- Iraq Liberation Act- U.S. would take active measures to bring about regime change in Iraq.

9/11

U.S. Invasion- Begins 3/19/2003