1. History of Iraq

2. History
Modern Iraq = ancient Mesopotamia—area between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Shared History with Iran through British Protectorate time frame.

3. Ruled by the Turks under the Ottoman Empire (1534-1917)
Ottoman Empire collapsed after WWI (1917)
Came under British rule (protectorate) after WWI

4. Post WW I British designated as a kingdom under King Faisal Husayn
British mandate ended in 1932
Monarchy overthrown in 1958
Ba’ath Party took power in 1963
Saddam Hussein was the secretary general of the Ba’ath

5. Post WW II
1979 Saddam wins “elections” and takes power

6. Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 Refer to notes on Iran.
Iraq objected the Islamist propaganda transmitted from Iran
Fear there could be a revolution among the Shi'ites in the southern Iraq.

7. Iraq was left with serious debts to its former Arab backers
includes fourteen billion US dollars loaned by Kuwait, a debt which contributed to Saddam's 1990 decision to invade Kuwait.

8. Why Iraq Invaded Kuwait--1990
Key Issues:
Amount of coastline that Iraq was granted by the British (Sir Percy Cox) on the Persian Gulf: Kuwait given 310 miles while Iraq only 36 miles.

9. Why Iraq Invaded Kuwait
Accused Kuwait of violating its “territorial integrity”.
Convinced that there was a plot to invade Iraq.

10. Why Iraq Invaded Kuwait
Rumalia Oil Field
Rich 50 mile long oilfield that runs beneath the Iraq-Kuwait border
90% of the field is under Iraqi land
Iraq accused Kuwait of pumping over $10 billion of oil

11. Why Iraq Invaded Kuwait
Significance: Iraq had serious debt after the Iran/Iraq war and much was owed to Kuwait
Known as the first Gulf War or Desert Storm

12. Consequences to Iraq Kuwait undermined Iraq’s ability to repay debts:
Stole oil
flooded oil market with cheap oil and depressed price of oil on open market.

13. Consequences to Iraq
Saddam compared the drop of oil prices ($1/barrel = $1 Billion per year to Iraq) to an “act of war.”

14. International Involvement
Coalition force of 34 nations led by the US
Economic Sanctions imposed by the UN
Drove Iraq out of Kuwait
Fighting remained in Iraq, Kuwait, and the Saudi Border

15. DuringPersian Gulf War Saddam became well-known for distinctive uniform and beret

16. Ethnic Diversity in Iraq

17. Current Gulf War of 2003
After first Gulf War, UN commission set up to monitor Iraq’s compliance w/restrictions on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles.
Considered a “disarmament crisis”

18. Current Gulf War
Teams expelled several times as Iraq accused the US as using them for espionage (later admitted true)
US, Great Britain, and several other minor participants invaded Iraq in March, 2003.

19. Current Gulf War Known as “Operation Iraqi Freedom”
Searching for alleged “weapons of mass destruction.”
Ongoing War on Terrorism—possible link to Al-Qaida

20. Results Capture, trial and subsequent execution of Saddam Hussein
Installation of temporary government and subsequent elections for President, Parliament
No actual WMD found
No concrete ties to Al-Qaida

21. Saddam Hussein with a long beard shortly after capture.

26. Ba’ath Party Headquarters

27. Iraq/Kuwait Coastline