Essential Question: What were the causes & effects of the Persian Gulf War? Warm-Up Question: What are some of the reasons why the US has become involved in the Middle East?

Incident #1: The Iran-Iraq War In 1979, Islamic fundamentalists overthrew the Shah of Iran. U.S. officials were concerned that if Iran were able to dominate the region, “anti-American extremist” Shiite-Muslim factions could spread to pro-U.S. oil-rich countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. In neighboring Iraq, Saddam Hussein grew worried that Islamic fundamentalism would spread into his country. In 1980, Saddam invaded Iran starting the Iran-Iraq War. Despite reports that Saddam was trying to develop nuclear weapons, the USA supported Iraq by selling them weapons in order to prevent Iranian power and influence in this region. In 1984, U.S. leaders met with Saddam right after reports that the Iraqi military was using chemical gas almost everyday against Iranian soldiers. Iraq had been losing the war against Iran up until then. In addition, Saddam ordered his military to drop bombs with poisonous gas against the Kurds (an ethnic minority group) in northern Iraq. Saddam's cousin in the government known as "Ali Chemical" says, "Who is going to say anything? The international community?" Many U.S. government officials were concerned about Saddam's use of banned weapons. Student Response: How will the U.S. government respond to reports of chemical weapons?

U.S. RESPONSE #1: The Iran-Iraq War The Reagan administration did not criticize Saddam for using chemical weapons. In 1988, Dow Chemical sold $1.5 million of pesticides to Iraq which could be used as chemical warfare agents The U.S. gov’t restored full diplomatic relations; allowed American corporations to sell Iraq supplies; gave billions of dollars of loans; gave intelligence information to help Iraq fight Iran ANSWER: The U.S. government restored full diplomatic relations; allowed American corporations to sell Iraq supplies; gave billions of dollars of loan credits to Iraq; gave intelligence information to help Iraq fight Iran. The U.S. did not criticize Saddam for the use of chemical weapons. The Reagan administration turned a blind eye to the export of “dual use” items such as chemical precursors and steel tubes that can have military and civilian applications. In December of 1988, Dow Chemical sold $1.5 million of pesticides to Iraq which could be used as chemical warfare agents.

Incident #2: The Iraq-Kuwait Dispute July 1990, Saddam Hussein accused its neighbor, Kuwait of drilling $2.4 billion worth of Iraqi oil at the border between Iraq and Kuwait and also bringing down the international price of oil by over-selling. Iraq argued that this practice caused its treasury to lose billions of dollars while it was desperately in debt from its war with Iran. Saddam called this an “economic war” with Kuwait and demanded $10 billion in compensation or it would go war against Kuwait. The Kuwaiti government ignored these demands and Saddam amassed troops at the border. The U.S. government saw Kuwait as a friend in the region and U.S. Ambassador April Glaspie told Saddam, “We're watching you. We're concerned about the statements that you've been issuing. But our fundamental feeling is that we have no direct vested interest in Arab-Arab disputes, including the dispute that you're having with the Kuwaitis over the mutual border that you share.” Saddam was likely confused about whether the U.S. will take a stand on this dispute. Will the U.S. help settle the conflict to help maintain peace in the Middle East? Will they clearly warn Saddam not to invade? Student Response: What will the U.S. government do?

U.S. Response #2: The Iraq-Kuwait Dispute In July, the Pentagon was busy developing a plan in the case of an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait or Saudi Arabia or both ANSWER: The U.S. government maintained the stance that the U.S. did not have an opinion on Arab-Arab conflicts but secretly prepared for war if Iraq invaded Kuwait. In July, the Pentagon was busy developing a plan in the case of an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait or Saudi Arabia or both. The U.S. government maintained the stance that the U.S. did not have an opinion on Arab-Arab conflicts but secretly prepared for war if Iraq invaded Kuwait

Incident #3: Iraq Invasion of Kuwait After attempts at negotiation, the Iraqis walked out on talks when the Kuwaitis refused to meet their demands. On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein ordered his Iraqi army to invade Kuwait. The United Nations Security Council and the Arab League immediately condemned the Iraqi invasion. Four days later, the UN Security Council imposed an economic embargo on Iraq that prohibited nearly all trade with Iraq. Iraq responded by annexing Kuwait on August 8, prompting the exiled Kuwaiti monarchy to call for a stronger international response. With Kuwait, Saddam gained control of 20% of the world’s oil supplies. If Saddam were to continue to invade into Saudi Arabia, he would have control of 40% of the world's oil. President Bush viewed Saddam’s aggression as a threat to American security. Iraq's invasion gave Saddam Hussein direct control over a significant portion of the world's oil supply. It disrupted the Middle East balance of power and placed Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf emirates in jeopardy. Iraq's 545,000-man army threatened the security of such valuable U.S. allies as Egypt and Israel. Saddam indicated that he would be willing to negotiate a withdrawal from Kuwait in exchange for his demands. Arab countries wanted a chance to resolve the conflict peacefully. Many American citizens were weary of another war, after the experience of Vietnam. There are many in Congress who also questioned the idea of going to war. Will the U.S. try to negotiate a peaceful solution or prepare to go to war against the Iraq's invasion? Student Response: What will the U.S. government do?

U.S. Response #3: Iraq Invasion of Kuwait President Bush declared, “This aggression will not stand” & initiated Operation Desert Shield to protect Saudi Arabia ANSWER: President Bush dramatically declared, “This aggression will not stand.” With Iraqi forces poised near the border of Saudi Arabia, the Bush administration dispatched 180,000 troops to protect the Saudi kingdom as part of Operation Desert Shield. In a sharp departure from American foreign policy during the Reagan presidency, Bush also organized an international coalition against Iraq. He convinced Turkey and Syria to close Iraqi oil pipelines, won Soviet support for an arms embargo, and established a multi-national army to protect Saudi Arabia. In addition, President Bush doubled the size of American forces deployed in the Persian Gulf and initiated Operation Desert Storm to eject Iraq from Kuwait by force. President Bush's decision to liberate Kuwait was an enormous political and military gamble. The Iraqi army, the world's fourth largest, was equipped with Exocet missiles, top-of-the-line Soviet T-72 tanks, and long-range artillery capable of firing nerve gas. But after only 1 month of bombings, the American-led coalition forces had achieved air supremacy; had destroyed thousands of Iraqi tanks and artillery pieces, supply routes and communications lines, and command-and-control bunkers; plus, had limited Iraq's ability to produce nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Iraqi troop morale suffered so badly under the bombing that an estimated 30 percent of Baghdad's forces deserted before the ground campaign started. By March 1991, Iraqi troops retreated from Kuwait. Bush organized an international coalition against Iraq: Turkey & Syria closed oil pipelines, the USSR initiated an arms embargo, & a multi-national army was created to protect Saudi Arabia Operation Desert Shield

U.S. Response #3: Iraq Invasion of Kuwait After only 1 month of bombings, the U.S.-led coalition gained air supremacy; destroyed Iraqi supply routes & communications; limited Iraq's ability to produce nuclear or chemical weapons U.S. Response #3: Iraq Invasion of Kuwait Bush initiated Operation Desert Storm to eject Iraq from Kuwait by force ANSWER: President Bush dramatically declared, “This aggression will not stand.” With Iraqi forces poised near the border of Saudi Arabia, the Bush administration dispatched 180,000 troops to protect the Saudi kingdom as part of Operation Desert Shield. In a sharp departure from American foreign policy during the Reagan presidency, Bush also organized an international coalition against Iraq. He convinced Turkey and Syria to close Iraqi oil pipelines, won Soviet support for an arms embargo, and established a multi-national army to protect Saudi Arabia. In addition, President Bush doubled the size of American forces deployed in the Persian Gulf and initiated Operation Desert Storm to eject Iraq from Kuwait by force. President Bush's decision to liberate Kuwait was an enormous political and military gamble. The Iraqi army, the world's fourth largest, was equipped with Exocet missiles, top-of-the-line Soviet T-72 tanks, and long-range artillery capable of firing nerve gas. But after only 1 month of bombings, the American-led coalition forces had achieved air supremacy; had destroyed thousands of Iraqi tanks and artillery pieces, supply routes and communications lines, and command-and-control bunkers; plus, had limited Iraq's ability to produce nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Iraqi troop morale suffered so badly under the bombing that an estimated 30 percent of Baghdad's forces deserted before the ground campaign started. By March 1991, Iraqi troops retreated from Kuwait. 30% of Iraqi troops deserted before the ground campaign began. By March 1991, Iraq retreated from Kuwait Operation Desert Storm

Incident #4: After the Persian Gulf War After the Persian Gulf War, the U.S. did not remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq because government officials believed that removing Saddam would be too difficult a task and would destabilize the country. Shiites (a religious minority) in southern Iraq and Kurds in the north rebelled against Saddam hoping to overthrow him. If Shiites in Iraq gain power, they could join with Shiites Iran and strengthen their influence in a region that has 65% of the world's oil supply. In 1998, the U.S. government returned captured helicopters and weapons to the Iraqi military so he could use them against the Shiites and Kurds. In 1998, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released a report indicating that the sanctions (started in 1991 to pressure Iraq to disarm weapons of mass destruction) resulted in the deaths of over half-million Iraqi children (5,000 per month) and that 250 Iraqis died each day as a result of the sanctions. After almost 8 years of sanctions began, Saddam Hussein had not met all requirements to disarm. Iraq's national economy shrank to one-fifth of its size in 1979, but Saddam continued to rule and maintain his many palaces while Iraqi civilians suffer. Conditions in Iraq included untreated sewage, no clean water, shortage of food and medicine, and highly inflated prices for everything. According to the Geneva Conventions, civilians are not to be targeted in war or economic sanctions. But, the U.S. continued to ban medicines and chlorine needed to treat drinking water because these could be used to make chemical weapons. From 1998 and 2002, Under Presidents Clinton and George W Bush the U.S. and Britain (without United Nations authority) patrolled and bombed "No-Fly Zones" in Iraq to guard against major movements of Iraqi armor in border areas. This resulted in 5 tons of bombs dropped on Iraq per month with 144 civilians (members of minority groups in the region) killed and 446 injured in 1999 alone. In the mid-1990s, world leaders began to grow worried that Saddam Hussein was trying to develop nuclear (weapons (weapons of mass destruction). This action was in open defiance of sanctions imposed by the United Nations. Saddam denied or interfered with U.N. inspections of suspected weapons facilities. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist bombing in the United States, President George W Bush increased America’s commitment to national security. In 2003, Bush and British Prime Minister accused Saddam of continuing to hinder weapons inspections. In 2003 President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair declared an end to diplomacy and issued an ultimatum to Saddam, giving the Iraqi president 48 hours to leave Iraq. The leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and other countries objected to this buildup toward war. Student Response: What will the U.S. government do?

U.S. Response #4: After the Persian Gulf War When Ṣaddam refused to leave Iraq, U.S. & allied forces launched air strikes directed against the Iraqi gov’t & military. Within days U.S. forces had invaded Iraq from Kuwait ANSWER: When Ṣaddām refused to leave Iraq, U.S. and allied forces launched an a series of air strikes directed against government and military installations, and within days U.S. forces had invaded Iraq from Kuwait. In December 2003, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured and later tried and executed for “crimes against humanity.” U.S. troops are still in Iraq trying to bring peace to the nation, install a democratic government, and overcome a strong anti-American revolt against U.S. troops. To date, no WMDs have been discovered in Iraq.

In Dec 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured… …tried & executed for “crimes against humanity ANSWER: When Ṣaddām refused to leave Iraq, U.S. and allied forces launched an a series of air strikes directed against government and military installations, and within days U.S. forces had invaded Iraq from Kuwait. U.S. troops are still in Iraq trying to bring peace to the nation, install a democratic government, and overcome a strong anti-American revolt against U.S. troops. To date, no WMDs have been discovered in Iraq.

U.S. troops are still in Iraq trying to bring peace to Iraq, install a democratic gov’t, & overcome a strong anti-American revolt against U.S. troops. To date, no WMDs have been discovered in Iraq ANSWER: When Ṣaddām refused to leave Iraq, U.S. and allied forces launched an a series of air strikes directed against government and military installations, and within days U.S. forces had invaded Iraq from Kuwait. In December 2003, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured and later tried and executed for “crimes against humanity.” U.S. troops are still in Iraq trying to bring peace to the nation, install a democratic government, and overcome a strong anti-American revolt against U.S. troops. To date, no WMDs have been discovered in Iraq.

ANSWER: When Ṣaddām refused to leave Iraq, U. S ANSWER: When Ṣaddām refused to leave Iraq, U.S. and allied forces launched an a series of air strikes directed against government and military installations, and within days U.S. forces had invaded Iraq from Kuwait. In December 2003, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured and later tried and executed for “crimes against humanity.” U.S. troops are still in Iraq trying to bring peace to the nation, install a democratic government, and overcome a strong anti-American revolt against U.S. troops. To date, no WMDs have been discovered in Iraq.