Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait and the First Gulf War
On 2nd August 1990, Iraq launched an invasion of Kuwait, leading to a seven month occupation of Kuwait. The invasion was rebuked by the west as United States- led coalition forces pushed the Iraqi military out of Kuwait, resulting in the First Gulf War. Although the western world condemned Iraq for its occupation of Kuwait by accusing it of human rights violation and breaking International Law, historical evidence of the political and the socio- economic struggle between the two countries shows that Iraq’s raison d’etre in Kuwait was not an endeavor for power or a demonstration of its armies. Instead, this paper will argue that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s motives were to free Iraq from the assumed ‘gratuitous debt’ which was procured during the Iran- Iraq war, to reconcile Kuwaiti theft of its oil through ‘slant drilling,’ and to proclaim land that Hussein believed rightfully belonged to Iraq. Although a tough predicament, the invasion was an impartial reconciliation path for Iraq and for Hussein, considering the factors leading to the strife between the two nations and to the escalading Iraqi apprehension
Although the U.S and its friends resented the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, Iraq’s reasons were not unjustified. The question also arose that did the U.S have a hand to play in the events leading to the invasion: was Iraq compelled into a situation where it reached a point of no return? First and foremost, however, not only was this invasion over financial debt but also over the overproduction of oil which Kuwait took in its hands against all kinds of pressures from Iraq and the OPEC. It is true that Iraq wasn’t able to pay the $80 billion (US) debt it had borrowed from Kuwait and other countries, but, this payment was unconditional and didn’t have to be returned according to an agreement between Kuwait and Iraq (Cooper, 2003). Moreover, Kuwait had its own interests in the war against Iran as it was under attack from Iran: weapons were fired at Kuwaiti
Although the U.S and its friends resented the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, Iraq’s reasons were not unjustified. The question also arose that did the U.S have a hand to play in the events leading to the invasion: was Iraq compelled into a situation where it reached a point of no return? First and foremost, however, not only was this invasion over financial debt but also over the overproduction of oil which Kuwait took in its hands against all kinds of pressures from Iraq and the OPEC. It is true that Iraq wasn’t able to pay the $80 billion (US) debt it had borrowed from Kuwait and other countries, but, this payment was unconditional and didn’t have to be returned according to an agreement between Kuwait and Iraq (Cooper, 2003). Moreover, Kuwait had its own interests in the war against Iran as it was under attack from Iran: weapons were fired at Kuwaiti
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