Omar Bennett
On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq, invaded Kuwait, a small, oil-rich neighbour to the south. This invasion violated international law, and the Bush administration was alarmed at the prospect of Iraq controlling Kuwait's oil resources. In response, President George H. W. Bush engaged in his trademark telephone diplomacy, building a coalition of world leaders against Hussein's actions. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Iraq seemed unwilling to withdraw from Kuwait, and the Bush administration was unconvinced that economic sanctions would be effective. This situation raises the question of why diplomacy ultimately failed to prevent the subsequent conflict, known as the Gulf War, and why Bush and Hussein were unable to find a peaceful resolution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for the conflict | Iraq invaded Kuwait for its land, wealth, and oil. |
| US Interest | Oil security in the Persian Gulf |
| US Action | President Bush engaged in "telephone diplomacy", building a coalition of world leaders against Hussein's actions. |
| UN Action | Passed Resolution 660 condemning the invasion, demanding immediate withdrawal, and announcing sanctions if Hussein didn't comply. |
| US Military Action | Operation Desert Storm began with aerial bombing on January 17, 1991, followed by a ground invasion on February 24, 1991. |
| Outcome | Hussein remained in power, but Iraq was forced to withdraw from Kuwait. |
| Future Attempts at Diplomacy | In 2002, President Bush declared that the US was trying diplomacy to disarm Hussein peacefully. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The US believed Hussein's WMDs were a threat to their security
The US believed Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) were a threat to their security. In an August 2002 speech, Vice President Cheney asserted that Saddam had been "amassing [weapons of mass destruction] to use... against our friends, against our allies, and against us". The Bush administration asserted that the United States could not trust Saddam with WMDs, especially since Iraq was continuing to violate UN Security Council Resolution 687, which required the country to destroy its weapons capabilities.
President Bush went on a public-opinion offensive, stressing that Saddam and his WMDs were a threat to US security. He was clear that if Saddam was developing WMDs, the US would not stand idly by. Many members of the Bush administration who had been in office during the Persian Gulf War wanted to ensure that the Iraqi regime adhered to the UN resolutions. In the Gulf War, the US had successfully driven Iraqi forces out of Kuwait but had stopped short of invading Iraq, leaving Saddam in power.
The US had funnelled CIA funds to the anti-Taliban group, the Northern Alliance, to combat the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. After 9/11, the Bush administration targeted al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, but some of his advisors argued for broad military action in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Bush initially ruled out expanding the war to Iraq, but he expected to revisit the question once Afghanistan was under control. Bush believed that the threat of US power had lost credibility with terrorists due to irresolute responses to attacks during the 1990s.
The US and the international community had enacted a weapons inspection process and economic sanctions to try to force Iraq to comply with UN resolutions, but their efforts had limited success. In light of Iraq's violations of the ceasefire agreement, its refusal to abide by the UN resolutions, and the failing economic sanctions, President Bush had been considering how to deal with Iraq since his first meeting of the National Security Council, months before the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Diplomacy Turns: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
The US wanted to ensure Hussein complied with UN resolutions
Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 further heightened tensions. The invasion was a clear violation of international law, and the Bush administration was alarmed by the prospect of Iraq controlling Kuwait's oil resources. In response, the US quickly moved to freeze Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets and supported UN resolutions condemning the invasion and demanding Iraq's immediate withdrawal from Kuwait.
Despite these efforts, Iraq seemed unwilling to comply with UN resolutions and withdraw from Kuwait. The Bush administration, therefore, continued to exert pressure through economic sanctions and the assembly of a coalition of world leaders against Hussein's actions. The administration also proposed sending Secretary of State Baker to meet with Hussein in Iraq to try to reach a diplomatic solution, demonstrating their desire to exhaust all diplomatic avenues before resorting to military action.
However, Hussein's continued defiance and the belief that he was developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) led to increasing concerns about the threat posed by his regime. Vice President Cheney, for instance, asserted that there was "no doubt" that Hussein possessed WMDs and intended to use them against US allies. This belief, coupled with Iraq's non-compliance with UN resolutions, ultimately contributed to the decision to authorize the use of military force to remove Hussein from power.
Political Campaigns: Social Media Recruiting Strategies
You may want to see also
Bush wanted to minimise US casualties
On August 2, 1990, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein sent 140,000 troops and 18,000 tanks into Kuwait, a small, oil-rich neighbouring country. Hussein had asked Kuwait to forgive or refinance Iraq's wartime debts from the Iran-Iraq War, but Kuwait refused and opposed Iraq's plea to increase its oil export allotment. The invasion allowed President Bush to emphasize one of his greatest strengths—personal diplomacy.
President Bush engaged in his trademark "telephone diplomacy," building a coalition of world leaders against Hussein's actions. Bush met with Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, and together they issued a joint statement for Hussein to unconditionally withdraw from Kuwait. Bush also worked to ensure that Israel stayed out of the coalition to avoid alienating the Arab countries that had already agreed to join.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, Iraq seemed unwilling to withdraw from Kuwait, and the Bush administration was unconvinced that economic sanctions would be effective. In November, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 678, which authorized member states "to use all necessary means" to make Iraq withdraw from Kuwait if it had not done so by January 15. As the deadline loomed, Bush proposed sending Secretary of State Baker to meet with Hussein in Iraq to try to reach a peaceful solution, demonstrating his desire to exhaust all diplomatic efforts before resorting to war.
On January 17, 1991, Coalition forces launched the first attack, which included aerial bombing and a ground invasion. Bush made the decision to stop the offensive after 100 hours to minimize U.S. casualties. Critics labelled this decision premature and argued that Bush should have continued the attack to overthrow Hussein. However, Bush responded that he wanted to avoid "incalculable human and political costs."
Political Action Committees: Effective Strategies for Campaign Contributions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Bush's administration was divided on the issue
The Bush administration was divided on the issue of how to handle Saddam Hussein and Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. On the one hand, President George H. W. Bush was known for his personal diplomacy skills and international contacts, which he leveraged to build a coalition of world leaders against Hussein. He also worked to assemble a coalition to oppose Iraq, which included surprising condemnations from the Soviet Union.
On the other hand, some members of the administration, including Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, favored ousting Hussein and taking broad military action in Iraq. They viewed Iraq as a dangerous threat, believing that Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and refusing to comply with UN disarmament requirements. However, Bush initially ruled out expanding the war to Iraq, choosing to focus on Afghanistan first. Additionally, Bush wanted to ensure that all diplomatic efforts were exhausted before resorting to war.
The administration's response to the situation in Iraq was shaped by the country's non-compliance with the ceasefire agreement and UN resolutions, as well as its human rights violations and support of terrorism. While some senior policymakers wanted to include Iraq in the immediate response to the 9/11 attacks, Bush prioritized addressing al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
In terms of specific actions, Bush proposed sending Secretary of State Baker to meet with Hussein in Iraq to try to reach a peaceful solution. He also engaged in "telephone diplomacy," working to build a coalition and secure support from countries like Saudi Arabia, which consented to station U.S. troops. However, despite these diplomatic efforts, Iraq remained unwilling to withdraw from Kuwait, and economic sanctions did not seem to be enough to change Hussein's mind.
In conclusion, while the Bush administration was divided on the issue of how to handle Saddam Hussein and Iraq, with some favoring diplomacy and a more cautious approach, and others pushing for ousting Hussein and taking stronger military action, they ultimately chose to address Afghanistan first while keeping Iraq on the back burner.
Officials' Political Impartiality: Laws and Their Limits
You may want to see also
Israel was kept out of the coalition to avoid alienating Arab countries
On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq, invaded Kuwait, a small, oil-rich neighbouring country. The invasion violated international law, and the Bush administration was concerned about Iraq's control of Kuwait's oil resources. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 660, demanding Iraq's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait.
President George H. W. Bush began to engage in his trademark "telephone diplomacy", building a coalition of world leaders against Hussein's actions. However, Israel was notably absent from this coalition. The Bush administration did not want Israel to join because they feared that Israel's involvement would alienate the Arab countries that had agreed to join the alliance. Israel agreed to stay out of the coalition and not retaliate if attacked, allowing the coalition's greater resources to deal with Hussein. This decision was made to maintain the support of Arab countries, who were essential to the coalition's success.
The roots of the modern Arab-Israeli conflict lie in the tensions between Zionism and Palestinian nationalism. Territory regarded by the Jewish people as their historical homeland is also considered by many Arabs as historically and presently belonging to the Arab Palestinians. This conflict has resulted in multiple wars, including the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Six-Day War, and the Yom Kippur War. During the Gulf War in 1991, Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles into Israel, aiming to unite the Arab world against the coalition and provoke Israel into the war. However, Israel did not retaliate, following the urging of the United States, who wanted to prevent a greater outbreak of war.
Despite Israel's absence from the coalition, there were indications of its support for invading Iraq. According to reports, Israeli intelligence provided alarming reports to the United States about Iraq's alleged program to develop weapons of mass destruction. However, some, including former US Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, argued that Israeli officials did not push for the war and were not advocates for military action.
Diplomacy with North Korea: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
President George H. W. Bush did attempt diplomacy with Saddam Hussein, who invaded Kuwait in 1990. Bush engaged in "telephone diplomacy", building a coalition of world leaders against Hussein's actions. However, Iraq seemed unwilling to withdraw from Kuwait, and the Bush administration was unconvinced that economic sanctions would be effective.
Yes, Bush proposed sending Secretary of State Baker to meet with Hussein in Iraq to try to reach a solution. Bush also worked with the United Nations Security Council, which passed resolutions condemning the invasion and demanding that Iraq withdraw.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Iraq was unwilling to withdraw from Kuwait. Hussein's refusal to abide by the United Nations resolutions and the failing economic sanctions led to the decision to use military force.
