What are “national interests” in international relations?
Why did Saddam Hussein attempt to invade the neighboring countries of Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990?
How were the wars justified?
What Iraqi national interests were involved?
What were the U.S. national interests in becoming involved in the Gulf War in Jan.-Feb. 1991?
Case Study of Crimea
Part of Russian Empire and Soviet Union (1917-1991)
Part of Ukraine (1991-2014)
Occupied by Russia since 2014
U.S. economic sanctions against Russia
U.S. humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine
What national interests of the United States are involved?
War with Iran, 1980-88
Colonial border claims over Khuzestan (majority Arab Shi'ite)
Soviet and U. S. support
Invasion of Kuwait, Aug. 1990
Colonial border claims over Kuwait
Invasion of Kuwait, Aug. 1990
Territorial sovereignty of Kuwait
Oil production of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
Are these valid national interests of the U.S.?
Case Study of Crimea
Part of Russian Empire and Soviet Union (1917-1991)
Part of Ukraine (1991-2014)
Occupied by Russia since 2014
U.S. economic sanctions against Russia
U.S. humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Robert Anderson in 1960
“Middle East oil…[is] as essential to mutual security as atomic warheads.’’ (quoted in Anderson, p. 16).
Persian Gulf countries in red. (Source: CIA World Factbook)
Rank |
Country |
Oil Production (barrels per day) |
1 |
Saudi Arabia |
10,520,000 |
2 |
Russia |
10,270,000 |
3 |
United States |
9,688,000 |
4 |
Iran |
4,252,000 |
5 |
China |
4,073,000 |
6 |
Canada |
3,483,000 |
7 |
Mexico |
2,983,000 |
8 |
United Arab Emirates |
2,813,000 |
9 |
Brazil |
2,746,000 |
10 |
Iraq |
2,642,000 |
11 |
Nigeria |
2,458,000 |
12 |
Kuwait |
2,450,000 |
Oil Production (bbl/day) |
Percentage of World Total |
|
All Persian Gulf countries combined |
22,677,000 |
25.38% |
Saudi Arabia & Kuwait combined |
12,970,000 |
14.52% |
U.N. Security Council Resolution #678, Nov. 1990
“Authorizes Member States ... to use all necessary means to bring Iraq into compliance with previous Security Council resolutions”
5 permanent members
China, France, Russia, U.K. & U.S.
10 rotating members
Allies
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, etc.
Why were these allies crucial to legitimize and fight the war?
*Powell doctrine
National interest
Last resort
Overwhelming force
340,000 troops
Exit strategy
Public support
Tactics
Left hook
Withdrawal from Iraq
Controversial decision among Republicans
George H. W. Bush and Brent Scrowcroft. A World Transformed. New York: Vintage, 1999, p. 489 (also quoted in Anderson, p. 39):
"Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq …would have incurred incalculable human and political costs...We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq. The coalition would instantly have collapsed, the Arabs deserting it in anger...there was no viable 'exit strategy' we could see...Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land."
No-fly zones
Kurds in north (orange)
Shi'ites in south (green)
U.N. Weapon's inspectors
Restriction on imports and exports
Iraq formerly imported 2/3 of food
U.N. Oil for Food Program, 1996
$4 Billion in oil sales annually
Imports of food and medicine
Saddam no longer a regional threat
Popular among Kurds
Humanitarian crisis
1 million children chronically malnourished (UNICEF)
50,000 deaths/yr. b/c of lack of food and medical supplies (UNICEF)
U.S. loses public relations war
Negative perceptions of U.S. in Iraq and Middle East