(Japanese Version)
(Arabic Version)
Chapter 5: Two calendars (Gregorian & Hijri)
5-3(39) Iraq invasion of Kuwait & Gulf War (AD 1990-91, Hijri 1410)
The Iran-Iraq war, which began in the year 1400 of Hijri,
i.e. 1980 AD, was a war of attrition. The battle had been seesawing onshore. Iraq
bombed Iranian oil loading facilities offshore in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. As
a counter-attack, Iran bombed Kuwaiti oil tankers sailing over the Persian Gulf
and hinted at the blockade of the Holmes Strait at the entrance of the Persian
Gulf. But in 1988 two countries finally ceased the fire according to the UN
mediation. There was a famous episode that Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran lamented
that the acceptance of the ceasefire was more painful than drinking poison.
Iraq was in a state of economic
emergency because of substantial debts owe to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. But
Hussein ignored the requests of debt repayment by two countries. He told them
that Iraq fought against Shiites on behalf of Sunni allies. Iraq sacrificed its
soldiers and military equipment for Gulf countries. Therefore, it was no wonder
that Gulf oil-producing countries should bear the war expenses. In history, the
money spent on war had been always squeezed from the defeated country after the
war. Such principle was upset by the United States after World War II. The rich
and generous United States prohibited the allies to squeeze from the defeated enemy,
i.e. Germany. It was a lesson from a bitter experience after World War I in
which the victorious country France squeezed from the defeated Germany, resulting
the rise of the Nazis and led to World War II.
Hussein's proposal for Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait seemed to be irrational. But it was not always irrational for
Iraq. In the old proverb they say that even a thief had his reasons.
Next year of ceasefire of
Iran-Iraq War, Khomeini has passed away at the age of 86. Iran was isolated in
the international arena. Saddam Hussein’s next target was Kuwait in the south
of border because Kuwait had pressed Saddam to repay the loan of war expenses.
Of course, Hussein’s ultimate target was Israel. It was his absolute desire to
be the dictator of Arab world.
In the global oil market Kuwait
sold its oil with biggest discount at that time. Kuwait was a member of OPEC
same as Iraq. However, Iraq was more eager to sell the oil at the higher price
to rebuild war-torn country. Hussein thought that Kuwait was bold and arrogant.
He deployed his force along Iraq-Kuwait border to stress Kuwait.
Kuwait and international community regarded this as a
mere threat. They never believed that Hussein would definitely invade Kuwait.
When the Arab League's emergency meeting was held, Iraqi foreign minister made
speech very politely. Arab countries thought that the crisis could be resolved through
peaceful dialogue. In addition, when the US ambassador to Iraq met with
President Hussein, the president was well-mannered. She sent an incorrect
signal to Washington that Hussein had no intention of war.
On the other hand, President Hussein himself also misjudged
the situation. He believed that Arab and Western countries would not take harsh
countermeasures even if Iraq invaded Kuwait. On August 2, 1990 at 2 a.m.,
Hussein ordered his troops deploying alongside the border to invade Kuwait. It
was the thunderbolt to Sabah ruling family of Kuwait. The royal family,
including the Emir who was struck asleep, ran away with nothing but the closes
one wears to Saudi Arabia in south of the border. In Kuwait, there was hardly
any battle, and within half a day Iraqi troops controlled all of Kuwait. Iraq's
occupation of Kuwait had continued about half a year. Foreigners living in
Kuwait, including Japanese, were kidnapped by Iraq and encountered the calamity
as "a human shield". Finally, the Gulf War took place in January 1991.
Iraq invasion of Kuwait was one miscalculation for the
international community. There was another miscalculation for Hussein that
international community unanimously united to liberalize Kuwait. Hussein used
to insist that Kuwait was originally part of Basra State in southern Iraq. But
the international community respected the nation states all over the world after
the World War II. The annexation of the land by force could be accepted by no
means. In November 1990, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to use the
military actions against Iraq. United States organized the multinational Allied
Forces. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchy state and even Syria which was controlled
by the same Bath party as Iraq joined the Allied Forces. Once Iraq made ally of
the whole world in Iran-Iraq war during 1980 and 1988. But this time Iraq made
enemies of the whole world.
In January 1991, the multinational forces bombed the
Iraqi military base and capital Baghdad by guided missile. The missiles headed
towards the target were telecasted. People all over the world watched TV as if
they were playing video games. It is the beginning of the Gulf War. In February
the allied forces advanced Kuwait and defeated Iraq forces overwhelmingly. The
Iraqi army collapsed and withdrew to Iraq. After 100 hours of march,
multinational forces stopped fighting and declared a ceasefire.
At that time the multinational allied forces had
marched short of capital Baghdad. They might defeat the Hussein regime with
just one punch. President George H.W. Bush, a religious Christian and pretending
himself as a crusader, have strongly hoped to overthrow a pagan dictator
Hussein. However, the United Nations resolution covered only to liberate Kuwait.
The UN solution did not cover to overthrow the Hussein regime of Iraq. Iraq’s internal
affairs should be up to Iraqi people. Noninterference of internal affairs was
the prime rule in international society.
Gulf War ceased fire on 28
February 1991. Hussein luckily survived the Gulf War and reigned as a dictator of
Iraq for more than 10 years after the war. The long-cherished
wish of President G.W.H. Bush to overthrow Hussein regime was realized by his
son, President George W. Bush after 12 years. It was Iraq War in 2003.
(To be continued ----)
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Home Page: OCIN INITIATIVE
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