Iraq’s history is one of both prosperity and violence, and dates back to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia. While dominated by a variety of civilizations, the region enjoyed a relatively stable society. Since the birth of Islam, the religion has been the dominant cultural belief of the region, and has made its way into the laws and ruling of the region. (InDepth Info, 2010)
At the end of World War I, the British Empire took control of the land, and imposed a monarchy on the region. However, in 1932 the British mandate came to an end, and the Iraqi people came in control of their newly independent country. Led by a series of kings, the country remained sufficiently stable and thrived off of discovered oil in the country. However, due to increased political oppression, a group known as “Free Officers” overthrew the monarchy and instituted a republic government on the land. (Iraq Foreign Policy, Brittanica, 2010)
Pre-invasion Iraq reflected the views and policies of its leader, Saddam Hussein, who made his first political appearance as a supporter of the Ba’ath Party. He was jailed in 1967 for this, and after his escape quickly rose to power within the faction. (Saddam Hussein Biography, 2008) Saddam became known for his political talent and progressiveness, and soon became a popular politician. After working on extensive unification and expansion efforts for the Ba’athists, the man rose to vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council. Faced with a tremendous amount of religious, racial, social and economic divisions, Saddam launched a campaign of total control to bring about stability.
Ever the shrewd leader, Hussein realized that the primary way to ensure stability was to increase the standard of living. The fi...
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The Cost of War. (n.d.). National Priorities Project. Retrieved February 18, 2010, from http://www.costofwar.com/
Tripp, C. (2002). A History of Iraq (2 ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
U.S. launches cruise missiles at Saddam. (2003, March 20). CNN.com. Retrieved February 18, 2010, from http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/19/sprj.irq.main/
UN Headquarters Bombing, Baghdad, Iraq. (n.d.). GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. Retrieved February 18, 2010, from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/un-hq-baghdad-bombing.htm
Wright, R., & Knickmeyer, E. (2005, August 14). U.S. Lowers Sights On What Can Be Achieved in Iraq. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 18, 2010, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/13/AR2005081300853.html
Saddam was trying to make the people fear him using terror, “His rule is based on fear”. He wanted the people to obey him without thinking and without saying no on anything he does believing that he has a divine power. But because he used terror to be respected by everyone he was decieved a lot, sometimes his subordinates lied and did not tell him the truth because they were afraid of getting mad and turing against them, so they would just tell him what he wants to hear. Even his guards were not loyal to him not because they wanted to but becasue they feared him “Their loyalty is governed by fear and self-interest, and will tilt decisively if and when an alternative appears.” Saddam was very suspicious he did not trust anyone and he was also weak but he never wanted to show it, for that he was trying to appear strong and powerful to hide his weakness and insecurity. From the things he used to hide his weaknesses was brutality and violence. An example that shows his savagery was when he wanted to capture U.S. soldiers and tie them up around Iraqi tanks to use them as human shields during the war over Kuwait. This actually shows that he knew he made the wrong decision in invading Kuwait but he did not want to admit it infront of anyone, so he was trying to find any solution that could make them win instead of taking the blame for their defeat. And here one can notices that fear and brutality kind of overlap or connect to each other, because Saddam used violence to make everyone fear him, a good example on that would be when Saddam’s regime accused some people of taking bribe and sentenced them to die, the colleagues, families and friends of those people were ordered to attend their hanging and everyone was compelled to attend because they knew that refusal could turn suspicion on them and end up hanged like
Saddam Hussein’s main purpose of sending troops to take over Kuwait was to take control of their oil fields, which Hussein believed would be an easy task; however, he failed to understand that the United States and United Nations were keeping a very close watch on the Iraqi’s actions. Hussein also had other motives, such as freeing himself from the debt he was drowning in from the Iran-Iraq War just two years earlier. He set the pretense for war with Kuwait by defining their refusal to give land to Iraq as an act of military belligerence. President Bush ordered the United States to respond just five days after Iraq had invaded Kuwait. If the United States had not taken action, Hussein would have possibly continued to invade other oil producing countries and take control of the United States main sources of oil as well as threaten a number of innocent people’s lives.
On March 18, 2003 the United States invaded Iraq. (The Washington Post) The War with Iraq is a very divisive issue around the world. Turn on any news show and you will see a daily debate on the pros and cons of going to war. Because of the situations that have occurred between the United States and Iraq, very different views and perceptions have developed. Much debate on the justification of the United States for being in Iraq, let alone overthrowing its “government”, has been presented from both sides – the Hawks and the Doves.
The Iraq war, also known as the second Gulf War, is a five-year, ongoing military campaign which started on March 20, 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by U.S. troops. One of the most controversial events in the history of the western world, the war has caused an unimaginable number of deaths, and spending of ridiculous amounts of money. The reason for invasion war Iraq’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction, which eventually was disproved by weapons inspectors. Many people question George W. Bush’s decision to engage a war in Iraq, but there might be greater reason why the decision was made. The ideas of George W. Bush might have been sculpted by one of the greatest works of all time, "The Prince."
History.com states, “Saddam Hussein delivered a speech in which he accused neighboring nation Kuwait of siphoning crude oil from the Ar-Rumaylah oil fields located along their common border” (History.com). Local nations tried to intervene with this starting conflict, but the war was inevitable. Hussein commanded his troops, which he had posted all along the Iraq/Kuwait border, to invade. This invasion started a conflict that would last many years and claim many lives. Saddam Hussein single handedly triggered this war by his accusations that Iraq’s oil was being stolen. Hussein did not expect resistance from the rest of the Middle East, he actually believed that the other nations would join him. He soon found out that his actions would not go unnoticed by the western world.
This conflict was something that had been brewing for centuries. Modern day Iraq and Iran have conflicting interests and disputes over borders and control dating back to the Ottoman Turkish Empire as well as the Persian empire under the Safavids (Hiro, 1991). The majority of this war was fought by Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran. Both political leaders fighting to protect what they thought was theirs and what they wanted to take from the other side.
Iraqi culture has one of the world’s most ancient history of culture to date. The country of Iraq has dealt with numerous changes throughout the years ranging from war, economy downfall, and environment changes. Many of the issues that arose had to do with the power and decision making of the former President, Saddam Hussein. The country of Iraq is located north of the Persian Gulf and its population is equivalent to that of California. This paper will discuss the economy in Iraq, as well as the Iraqi culture and their military.
In 1963, the Iraqi government was overthrown in the Ramadan Revolution. Saddam returned from Syria to Iraq after being exiled for a failed assassination attempt on the prime minister. Yet, he was arrested the following year as the result of being in the Ba'ath Party. While in prison Saddam remained involved in politics. In 1966 he was appointed deputy secretary of the Regional Command. Against all odds, he managed to escape prison and throughout the years a...
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In 1980, Saddam started Iran-Iraq war and it was lasted until 1988. And during that war, weapons of mass destruction WMD (poison gas) are used. Once the war with Iran ended, Saddam decided to embark another lunatic adventure: in 1990, he tried to grab 19 % of the world’s oil supply by evading Kuwait in
Quarterly, inc. "Syria." The Middle East. 11th ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2007. 437 - 456. Print.
Salih, Khaled, McGarry, John., and O’Leary, Brendan. The Future of Kurdistan in Iraq. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2005. Print.
Woods, Kevin M., Stout Mark E. 2010. “Saddam’s Perceptions and Misperceptions: The Case of ‘Desert Storm’.” The Journal of Strategic Studies (February): 5-41.
...nd Politics." Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Ed. Philip Mattar. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 890-895. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 24 Jan. 2012.
Growing up Saddam Hussein was always trying to gain power and rule. Even before his presidency he was always fighting his way up. In 1958 after the monarchy was overthrown Hussein and others tried to assassinate the Prime Minister Qasim (Butt). The Prime Minister was soon aware of the fact and consequently Hussein had to flee Iraq. In 1963, Qasim was murdered, and Hussein returned to Iraq. Thus Hussein began his rise to power once more. He soon found a position in the Ba’ath party and was named assistant secretary general. Within a few months the Ba’ath party was overthrown, and Hussein was sent to prison. He was released two years later in 1968 after the Ba’ath party regained power in a coup that Hussein helped lead. Hussein was named the vice chairman of the ruling Revolutionary Command Council and vice president under General Ahmed Hassan Bakr. In 1979 Hussein became president. As the President he began doing many more harsh things, he executed hundreds of high ranking party members and army officers who he thought were disloyal. As a result of his cruel and brutal ways some refer to Hussein as the moniker, Butcher of Baghdad. (Andrews).