Iraq: A Brief History

Under Foreign Control Part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries Occupied by Britain during WWI and until 1932

Under Control of Dictators Declared a republic in 1958, but ruled by a series of dictators

Saddam Hussein took power in 1979

Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 Causes – long-standing disputes over territory; Hussein wanted to stop Iran’s support of Iraqi Shiites; Iraq invaded Iran

Effects – U.S. supported Iraq because of Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist govt’; 8 years long; over 1 million died; No clear winner led to U.N. cease fire; Huge debt

Persian Gulf War 1990 Causes – Huge debt from Iran-Iraq War; Kuwait had oil, larger: Iraq invaded Kuwait

Effects – U. S. established a trade embargo; U. S Effects – U.S. established a trade embargo; U.S.-led UN coalition removed Iraq from Kuwait (Jan-Feb 1991); U.S. left Iraq;

UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction & long-range missiles & to allow UN inspections.

Operation Iraqi Freedom Causes - Iraq would not allow full inspections, violating the treaty from Persian Gulf War

Effects - As a result of non-compliance and reports that Iraq had WMD (weapons of Mass Destruction), the U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003

Iraq’s Future Saddam Hussein was captured and brought to trial, found guilty of crimes against his own people, and hanged U.S. has tried to help establish a stable democratic government

The last U.S. combat brigade has left As Iraqi Security Forces take responsibility for securing their country, U.S. troops will move to an advise-and-assist role U.S. troops had withdrawn by December 2011 brining an end to the war