IRAQ VS KUWAIT
How The Conflict Was Managed
Mediation by the Arab League.
After consideration from the Arab League, it decided to cancel the Iraq debt as it knew that it was impossible for Iraq to repay the loan.
Iraq uses the Arab League as a platform to emphasis that Kuwait and the Other Arab countries should write off their loan from them.
Complains like the alleged theft of oil from the Rumaila oilfield.
Iraq had made complains to Arab League against Kuwait.
Consequences Of The Conflict
Loss of lives.
Heavy loss of lives.
Oil Production.
Iraq felt that the actions of Kuwait and the UAE was equal to waging an economic war on Iraq as 90% of its income depend on the sale of oil.
This cause the price of the oil to fall and cause Iraq to lost a lot of revenue due to fall in oil price.
Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (UAE) ignored the quotas set.
OPEC put quotas on the amount of oil that its member countries could produce to prevent further decline in oil price.
Iraq wanted to pay off the debt by earning more from the sale of oil.
Economic Problems In Iraq.
Economic was ruin.
Causes Of Conflict
History Of Their Relationship
Part of the Ottoman empire Islamic Power which existed from 1299 - 1922.
Former British colonies.
2 neighbouring countries in Middle East.
Impact of the conflict
Regional and international impact
Impact on Iraq
Impact on Kuwait
Economic cost suffered by Kuwait was also tremendous.
Damage in Kuwait amounted over US$25billion
Iraqi army set fire to 600 out of 950 oil wells in Kuwait.
1,000 over Kuwaiti civilians were killed and thousands of others tortued.
Responses TO The Invasion Of Kuwait
International response
Economic and military sanctions were used in an attempt to force Iraq out of Kuwait.
No countries were allowed to sell goods to Iraq, with exception of food and medical supplies.
Iraq cannot earn money from the sales of oil.
UN security council passed a resolution unanimously, demanding an immediate withdrawal from Kuwait.
US took the lead in condemning Iraqi actions and forming a coalition of countries to help defend Saudi Arabia and get Iraq out of Kuwait.
American response
US deployed soldiers, navy ships and planes to defend the Saudis Kingdom.
Saudis officially invited the US to help defend the kingdom against any potential threat.
The 'Arab Solution'
Kuwaiti Officials appealed to the Arab League to organise a joint force to counter the Iraqi invasion.
Arab League called for voting to condemn Iraqi actions as well as calling upon Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.
League would not be able to deal effectively with the crisis as its members were divided on their responses to the inasion
Vote passed by a slim margin
8 Arab League members did not support the vote.
Fear of Iraqi dominance
Accessibility to such vast amounts of oil would enable Iraq to set a high price for oil and solve Iraq's economic problems.
Created problems for world economy.
Iraqi army camped near the Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border, there were fears that Iraq would set its sights on the riches of the Saudi Kingdom.
Iraq controlled about 20% of the world's oil production
The Invasion
Misreading the position of the US
Saddam Hussein had met with the American ambassador to discuss the problems Iraq had with Kuwait.
He believes that the Americans were sympathetic to Iraq's situation and were not likely to go to Kuwait's aid
Iraqi leader might think that he would not face severe consequences if he invaded Kuwait.
Saddam Hussein's leadership
The Iran-Iraq war left the economy and county devastated
Iraqi government built up a large army during the war.
Prices of basic necessities were extremely high and the people were unhappy with him.
Worried that there would be an uprising in Iraq against him, especially by the Shi'a Muslims, who formed the majority in Iraq.
Kuwait's repeated refusals to give in to Iraqi demands were seen as defiance and a personal attack on him.
Iraq's official reason
Iraq warned other countries not to intervene, threatening to kill kuwaitis if outside powers intervened
Iraqi government claimed that it had gone into Kuwait at the request of revolutionaries to free Kuwait from the ruiling government.
