IRAQ VS KUWAIT

Iraq's official reason

Iraqi government claimed that it had gone into Kuwait at the request of revolutionaries to free Kuwait from the ruiling government.

Iraq warned other countries not to intervene, threatening to kill kuwaitis if outside powers intervened

Saddam Hussein's leadership

Kuwait's repeated refusals to give in to Iraqi demands were seen as defiance and a personal attack on him.

Worried that there would be an uprising in Iraq against him, especially by the Shi'a Muslims, who formed the majority in Iraq.

The Iran-Iraq war left the economy and county devastated

Prices of basic necessities were extremely high and the people were unhappy with him.

Iraqi government built up a large army during the war.

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.

Fear of Iraqi dominance

Iraq controlled about 20% of the world's oil production

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.

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.

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.

Vote passed by a slim margin

8 Arab League members did not support the vote.

League would not be able to deal effectively with the crisis as its members were divided on their responses to the inasion

American response

Saudis officially invited the US to help defend the kingdom against any potential threat.

US deployed soldiers, navy ships and planes to defend the Saudis Kingdom.

International response

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.

UN security council passed a resolution unanimously, demanding an immediate withdrawal from Kuwait.

Economic and military sanctions were used in an attempt to force Iraq out of Kuwait.

Iraq cannot earn money from the sales of oil.

No countries were allowed to sell goods to Iraq, with exception of food and medical supplies.

Impact on Kuwait

1,000 over Kuwaiti civilians were killed and thousands of others tortued.

Economic cost suffered by Kuwait was also tremendous.

Iraqi army set fire to 600 out of 950 oil wells in Kuwait.

Damage in Kuwait amounted over US$25billion

Impact on Iraq

Regional and international impact

History Of Their Relationship

2 neighbouring countries in Middle East.

Former British colonies.

Part of the Ottoman empire Islamic Power which existed from 1299 - 1922.

Economic Problems In Iraq.

Economic was ruin.

Oil Production.

Iraq wanted to pay off the debt by earning more from the sale of oil.

OPEC put quotas on the amount of oil that its member countries could produce to prevent further decline in oil price.

Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (UAE) ignored the quotas set.

This cause the price of the oil to fall and cause Iraq to lost a lot of revenue due to fall in oil price.

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.

Loss of lives.

Heavy loss of lives.

Mediation by the Arab League.

Iraq had made complains to Arab League against Kuwait.

Complains like the alleged theft of oil from the Rumaila oilfield.

Iraq uses the Arab League as a platform to emphasis that Kuwait and the Other Arab countries should write off their loan from them.

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.