Iraq: A Brief History

Geography Mountains, desert, and a fertile river valley About twice the size of Idaho

The People Population of 36 million Mostly Arab, but large minority of Kurds in north 97% Muslim, but conflict between large Shiite and smaller Sunni populations

The Economy Iraq has the 5th largest oil reserves in the world

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 military dictators

Saddam Hussein and his Sunni-dominated Ba’ath Party 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

Persian Gulf War 1990 Causes – Huge debt from Iran-Iraq War; Kuwait had oil, larger route to Persian Gulf & was part of Iraq in Ottoman Empire; 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

Unresolved Issues after Persian Gulf War Saddam Hussein was still in power U.S. forces stayed Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf to enforce “no-fly zones” to protect Kurds in northern Iraq and Shiites in southern Iraq from Saddam’s Sunni regime Concerns remained about Iraq’s possession of chemical and biological weapons

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

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

Complications following U.S. Action Essential services (electricity, water, police, etc.) were disrupted Sectarian conflict started between: -Shiites in south -Sunnis in central and west -Kurds in north al Qaeda became active in Iraq and targeted US and coalition forces

Iraq’s Future Saddam Hussein was captured and brought to trial, found guilty of crimes against his own people, and hanged The process to establish a democracy in Iraq proved difficult

The last U.S. forces left at the end of 2011 Since then: Iran has gained influence there has been Sunni-Shiite conflict ISIS took control of much of western Iraq Some US troops have returned to Iran to help fight ISIS.