Iran Iraq War

Iraq

Ethnic population◦Arabs 2/3 population

◦Kurds 1/3 population Have own language and customs Want own state Suppressed in Iraq

People

Two Islamic sects◦ Shiite

3/5 of population Believe Muslim leader should be a

direct descendant of Mohammed

Religion

Sunni ◦ 2/5 of population◦ Believe leader should be a respected

leader of the community◦ Saddam Hussein belonged to this

group Main difference is over who

should lead the Muslim community!!!

Baath Party◦Party of Saddam Hussein◦Characteristics◦Secular group Non-religious government

◦Uses oil money for government projects

◦Hussein begins to eliminate opponents

Politics

Baath Party gains control of Iraq in 1963

1968 Saddam takes part in coup◦Named deputy to the new president◦Becomes deputy chairman of Baathist

Revolutionary Command Council

Saddam’s Rise to Power

Progressive politician◦Modernized Iraqi economy◦State welfare and development programs◦Oversaw seizure of oil interests

1976◦Saddam becomes general in Iraqi armed forces

◦Took increasing role as face of government

◦Architect of foreign policy◦De facto leader until 1979July 16 1979officially assumes presidency of Iraq

Causes◦Border disputes◦Fear of Shiite revolution Saddam was Sunni Feared impact of Iranian revolution Ayatollah Khomeini and Iranians were Shiite

◦Iraq wanted to assert itself as dominant Arab nation

Iran Iraq War 1980-1988

Goals for Iraq◦Remove Iranian leaders◦Gain oil and land Wanted access to Persian Gulf

◦Make Saddam a national hero

September 22, 1980◦Iraqi forces invade Iran

War lasts 8 years◦Oil fields and oil tankers attacked◦Mines placed in Persian Gulf ◦1987 – US Navy sends ships to protect tankers

Timeline of Events

Long, brutal war ◦use of chemical weapons on both sides

◦more than a million combined deaths

Several billion dollars in aid Sale of dual use technology

◦Technology used for both peaceful and military aims

Weapons Military Intelligence Special Operations training Why would the US support Iraq?

US Support of Iraq

Anti-Iranian sentiments Oil interests Desire to promote stability in both Persian Gulf and Middle East

Results in a Stalemate, UN cease-fire in 1988

U.S. puts sanctions on Iraq and decreases its support b/c of human rights violations

What next?

End to the war