the Gulf War Flashcards

Question

repression in Iraq 1979

Answer 1

There were increasing reports of torture and rape of those held in prison. The secret police, under Saddam’s control, came to dominate both the army and the Baath Party. Most of its recruits came from rural, tribal areas in the Sunni-dominated region to the north and west of Baghdad and many were from Saddam’s own tribe. Saddam forced the ailing President to resign and he formally became the President of Iraq in 1979.

Answer 2

High military spending kept the armed forces happy, but they were also kept under control by regular indoctrination and by the imprisonment and execution of those suspected of disloyalty.

Answer 3

25 years, despite several plots against him and losing two wars

Answer 4

the stick of terror and indoctrination and the | carrot of social and infastructural improvements

Answer 5

He carried out a brutal purge in 1979 of anyone who may have been a threat. Around 500 members of his own party were executed. Many more were arrested or fled the country.

Answer 6

Saddam was an admirer of Stalin’s use of terror to enforce submission. Saddam’s presidency started with the televised trial of a number of opponents. 21 were later executed. There had always been repression, but Saddam raised the level, terrorising how own party as well as opponents.

Answer 7

Baath Party members faced the death penalty for joining another party. There were many attempts to overthrow Saddam and they were met with overwhelming violence. After an attempt to assassinate him in the village of Dujail to the north of Baghdad in 1982, he ordered his security forces to kill nearly 150 villagers in retaliation.

Answer 8

Saddam became more aggressive towards Israel. He condemned Egypt for making a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. At home, Saddam was glorified by the media, who portrayed him as the leader and protector of the Arab world as well as his own people. There were statues of him everywhere, his portraits hung in all public buildings and his birthday was made a national holiday. When a referendum was held on his presidency, 99% of Iraqis voted in support.

Answer 9

Iraq’s population was made up of 3 main groups… Shia Muslims (the majority) Sunni Muslims Kurds

Answer 10

However, many of the Kurds were determined to achieve a separate homeland, Kurdistan. Saddam wanted the opposite. He was determined to extend his Government’s control over the Kurdish north In 1974-75, his forces attacked the Kurds. Many of their leaders were executed or driven into exile and the Kurds lost much of their self-government. The Kurds stood little chance, but did receive some help from Iran. Iranian help increased when Iran and Iraq went to war in 1980. As a result the Kurds gained greater control of Kurdish northern Iraq. Saddam saw this as a betrayal. In March 1988 Saddam’s planes bombarded the Kurdish town of Halabja using chemical weapons. This was one of the episodes for which Saddam Hussein was later put on trial, found guilty and executed.

Answer 11

At the start of the 20th century, Iran was ruled by a Shah

Answer 12

Irans its oil field were controlled by a British company (Anglo-Iranian Oil) that paid the Shah’s Government for the right to operate them.

Answer 13

After WW2, Iranians demanded that their Government take control of the oil fields and they should should receive at least half the oil profits. The leading Iranian nationalist, Mohammed Mossadeq, said, “The oil resources of Iran, like its soil, its rivers and mountains, are the property of the people of Iran.

Answer 14

He gained huge support and in 1951, the Shah made him prime minister. The Iranian Parliament then passed a law to nationalise the oil industry. This thrilled the Iranians. Mossadeq became a hero to millions, both in and beyond Iran.

Answer 15

In retaliation, the British company withdrew its workforce and refused to allow and of its technicians to work with the new Iranian National Oil Company. The British also persuaded other Western oil companies not to buy Iran’s oil and the British navy imposed a blockade of Iran’s ports, refusing to allow any ships to enter or leave.

Answer 16

Iran’s income from oil sales dwindled but Mossadeq remained hugely popular for standing up to the West. The British persuaded the USA to join them in overthrowing Mossadeq. They played on America’s fear of communism. This was at the height of the Cold War. Iran had a long border with Soviet Russia.

Answer 17

Due to pressure from the British and Americans, the Shah dismissed Mossadeq and replaced him with a pro-Western prime minister. Mossadeq was put on trial and imprisoned and the Iranian Parliament was closed down

Answer 18

A group of Western oil companies agreed with the Shah to restart production in return for a 40% share in Iran’s oil profits. The Shah’s new Government joined Britain, Turkey and Ira in an anti-Soviet alliance. For the West, the Shah was a useful ally in the Middle East. The Shah made some reforms – he transferred some of Iran’s land from the biggest landowners to poorer farmers; he gave women the vote; he improved education, but there was still a vast contrast between the rich elite and the poor masses

Answer 19

Increased the security of the West’s oil supplies Made Soviet interference in Iran less likely Overturned a popular, democratic government Led to Western companies securing 40% of the profits from Iranian oil Led to Iran becoming a close ally of the West

Answer 20

The Shah faced increasing opposition in he 1970s which was led by the Mullahs (Muslim religious leaders). They also criticised the Shah’s relation with the non-Muslim West. Many saw the Shah as a pawn in the hands of the USA, being exploited for American gain. He even supported the existence of the state of Israel.

Answer 21

In response, the Shah’s secret police arrested, exiled, imprisoned and tortured thousands of the Government’s critics, including mullahs Iike many other Muslim religious leaders, he had been forced into exile by the Shah’s Government. At first, in 1964, he went to Turkey, later Iraq and, finally, Paris.

Answer 22

There were huge strikes and demonstrations calling on the Shah to abdicate in 1978. In September 1978, the Government introduced military rule and, the next day, troops killed over 500 people in a massive demonstration. In October, there was a wave of strikes which brought most industry, including oil production, to a halt. By the end of 1978 some soldiers were refusing to fire on crowds. Many of them, especially conscripts, sympathised with the protestors.

Answer 23

In January 1979, the Shah left Iran in order to receive treatment for cancer – he never returned.

Answer 24

New laws, based on the Koran, the Muslim holy book, were passed: Education was purged of unIslamic influences Women had to cover their heads in public Alcohol, Western pop music and most Western films were banned There ware also mass trials of the Shah’s former supporters and many were executed. Khomeini and his Government were keen to spread the Islamic revolution to what they saw as the corrupt, unIslamic regimes in other parts of the Muslim world. Above all, they denounced the ties which bound other states to the West.

Answer 25

The USA, the former ally of the Shah, was seen as the main enemy in Iran and came to be known as ‘the Great Satan’. When the US Government allowed the Shah into America to receive medical treatment in November 1979, Iranian students stormed the embassy in Tehran, and took 50 of the American staff as hostages. The US Government declared Iran to be an international ‘outlaw’. Yet millions in the Muslim world, both Arab and non-Arab, admired Khomeini for standing up to the West

Answer 26

Khomeini accused the Iraq Government of being ‘atheist’ and ‘corrupt’ and, in one of his broadcasts to the people of Iraq, he called them to: ‘Wake up and topple this corrupt regime in your Islamic country before it is too late.’

Answer 27

The Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, had called on Iraqis to rise up and overthrow Saddam Hussein. The majority of Iraq’s population were Shiite Muslims whereas Saddam and his allies were Sunni Muslims. Saddam saw Khomeini’s influence as a potentially very serious threat. Saddam had evidence that Iran was involved in the assassination of leading members of the Baath Party in Iraq. He feared they were now plotting to overthrow him as well.

Answer 28

Iraq’s access to the seas was very narrow while Iran had a long coastline and several ports through which to export its oil. Iraq wanted to gain complete control of the Shatt al-Arab waterway to gain a secure outlet to sea. At the same time Saddam thought he might be able to seize parts of oil-rich, south-west Iran.

Answer 29

Its economy was in chaos following the fall of the Shah’s regime. The country was facing a Western boycott of its trade because of the capture of the US embassy. The Iranian armed forces were demoralised

Answer 30

Saddam saw an opportunity to exploit Iran’s weak position. He planned a short, limited war which would force Iran to make concessions, but more importantly would warn Iran that Iraq would not be intimidated or undermined. He hoped war would not only strengthen his regime but also would make Iraq the leading power in the oil-rich Gulf

Answer 31

When Iraqi forces invaded Iran in September 1980, there was little resistance, Iraq had the upper hand Saddam himself predicted a ‘whirlwind war’, confident that a swift, heavy blow would dislodge Khomeini’s Government. He was soon proved wrong. Within a month, Iraqi forces were halted in the Iranian desert. They then resorted to firing missiles at Iran’s cities in order to terrorise the civilian population. So began the so-called ‘War of the cities’ in which both sides bombed and killed hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Answer 32

Iraq had superior firepower but Iran, with its much bigger population, sent in hundreds of thousands new recruits, in ‘human waves’, many of them fired up with revolutionary enthusiasm, willing to become martyrs – to sacrifice their lives for the Islamic revolution.

Answer 33

Most Iranians believed they were fighting for good against evil. Within 2 years, Iran had recaptured all of its land and had cut off Iraq from its only sea ports. There were calls for a ceasefire but these came to nothing because Iran said it would not settle for anything less than the overthrow of Saddam’s regime.

Answer 34

When Iran stated that its target was to seize Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, the Iraqi forces became more united in their determination to defend their country. By 1984, the 2 sides were bogged down in trench warfare along the 1 000-mile border. It was similar, in this way, to the fighting in the trenches on the western front in WWI except that sand, not mud, was what bogged the soldiers down.

Answer 35

Most of the Arab states supported Iraq. In particular, the Sunni rulers of the Gulf states had little support for Iran’s Islamic revolution. They were opposed to the spread of Iran’s revolutionary Shiite version of an Islamic state.

Answer 36

They feared Iran would stir up the Shiite minorities in their own countries.

Answer 37

Saudi Arabia and the smaller oil-rich Gulf states, together with Egypt and Jordan, supplied money and arms to Iraq. Jordan also provided a route for Iraq’s imports and exports through the ports of Aqaba. This was vital for Iraq when its access to the Gulf was cut off by Iranian force. Syria, however, supported Iran because of intense rivalry with its neighbour, Iraq. The Syrians shut the Iraqi pipelines which passed through its territory to the Mediterranean. In return, Syria received free Iranian oil.

Answer 38

France, Germany and the Soviet Union also sided with Iraq, as did the USA. They were all bitterly opposed to the new Iranian regime. France became the main non-Arab supplier of arms to Iraq. America’s support became more active when the Iranians counter-attacked and talked of advancing on Baghdad. The thought of the revolutionary Iranians controlling so much of the oil in the Gulf terrified the Americans as well as most of the Arab states.

Answer 39

The Americans used their satellite technology the keep the Iraqi’s informed of the Iranians movements. They also provided Iraq with the equipment which was later used to make chemical weapons.

Answer 40

From 1986, the fighting was focused on the Gulf, the vital route through which both Iraq and Iran exported their oil. Each side attacked the enemy’s oil installations and tankers. The Iraqi air force controlled the skies but the Iranian navy was stronger.

Answer 41

When the Iranians began to attack the Kuwaiti’s ships in retaliation for Kuwait’s support for Iraq, the Soviet Union offered to help the Kuwaitis. The USA swiftly stepped in to provide protection for Kuwaiti ships, both to pre-empt further Soviet aid and to maintain its influence with the oil-rich Gulf states. When the Iranians cut off Iraq’s access to the Gulf through the Shatt al-Arab waterway, the USA provided protection for Iraqi shipping and destroyed much of the Iranian navy.

Answer 42

July 1988, the Iranians finally accepted a ceasefire. Their economy was in ruins, the stream of ‘martyrs’ had subsided and they faced the prospect of a direct war with the USA. There was no peace treaty, only a truce, and both sides continued to rearm. Khomeini said that he found agreeing to a ceasefire ‘more deadly than poison’.

Answer 43

It had been one of the longest and most destructive wars since WWII. No one knows the exact casualties but it is estimated that nearly a million Iranians and half a million Iraqis had died.

Answer 44

Iraq faced debts of $80 billion yet instead of rebuilding the country, Saddam kept a million men in arms and poured money into developing the most advanced weapons. The economy was in tatters and there was no post-war recovery

Answer 45

Despite the terror exercised by Saddam’s police and army, there were riots and strikes. Some opposition was co-ordinated in the mosques, which were beyond the control of Saddam’s police and army. The army would not dare to attack the mosques, the most holy of places, because it would intensify the opposition of all Muslims.

Answer 46

There were several attempts to overthrow him between 1988 and 1990 and many officers were executed for conspiracy.

Answer 47

Iraq invaded Iran because Ayatollah told the Iranians to rise up because of the revolution, Saddam used it as excuse to invade, and he wanted more ocean and Iran had lots of nearby **B O A T** He hoped it would be a quick revolution (he was wrong) There were a lot of suicidal Iranians who wanted to die for their country to defend their ** B O A T**

Answer 48

march 1991

Answer 49

It began with a 5-week air assault on military targets but also on airports, bridges, factories and roads. The coalition forces had complete air superiority and the most powerful air force in the world armed with the most up-to-date weapons. Saddam hoped world opinion would turn against the coalition but his hopes came to nothing.

Answer 50

He tried to involve Israel by firing missiles in the hope that this would cause a split between the West and its Arab allies. The USA persuaded the Israelis not to retaliate and the Arab members of the US led coalition stayed firm.

Answer 51

The Iraqi forces were no match for the coalition and were quickly defeated with heavy casualties. US and coalition troops were better trained, better equipped and more motivated than many of the reluctant conscripts in the Iraqi army. They were also backed by fearsome air power including helicopter gunships.

Answer 52

As they retreated, Iraqi forces tried to wreck Kuwait by pouring oil into the Gulf and setting fire to the oil fields. With the Iraqis driven out of Kuwait the US-led forces continued into Iraq itself. The US President called on the Kurds in the north and the Shiites in the south to rise up and overthrow Saddam.

Answer 53

The Americans and British established ‘no-fly zones’, which prevented Saddam regaining control of the north. A ‘safe haven’ was created for the Kurds who have been effectively in control of their areas ever since.

Answer 54

The coalition forces stopped short of Baghdad. There were strong voiced in the US Government that wanted to go further and get rid of Saddam Hussein altogether. However, their UN mission had been restricted to the liberation of Kuwait and America’s Arab allies would not have supported an American overthrow of Saddam. The coalition would have split if the Americans had attacked Baghdad. Many Arab commentators believed that the USA used the war to establish its military presence in the Gulf and to dominate the world’s oil reserves. On 28 February, a ceasefire was called.

Answer 55

A month after the ceasefire, the United Nations Special Committee (UNSCOM) started to search and destroy Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Because of the serious effect of sanctions Iraq co-operated. The UN inspectors uncovered a nuclear programme with several kilograms of highly enriched uranium, necessary for the production of nuclear weapons.

Answer 56

by 1995, the Iraqi Government was confident that sanctions would soon be lifted and confessed to the production of some anthrax and nerve gas while claiming that the stockpiles had been destroyed during the Gulf War. UNSCOM demanded proof. The Americans were now increasingly suspicious and distrustful of the Iraqi Government and they began to demand a ‘regime change’ (the removal of Saddam) before they would agree to lift sanctions.

Answer 57

A blockade prevented any imports of machinery, fertilisers, most medicines and even books. At first Iraq was not allowed to sell oil. After some months sales were allowed but they were strictly limited.

Answer 58

As Iraq imported much of its food, this had disastrous consequences. A UN survey in the mid-1990s claimed that, in the Baghdad area, a quarter of those under the age of 5 were ‘severely malnourished’. By 1997, 7 000 children were dying each month of hunger and disease.

Answer 59

Saddam used violence and terror, as ever, to control resources and reward his most loyal supporters. allowed the filming of mass suffering, especially for Arab TV networks, so that the image of Iraq as the victim of the greedy, uncaring West would be propagated.

Answer 60

When the UN inspection team demanded access to the headquarters of the Iraqi special security services and to the presidential palaces, Saddam refused and, in 1997, the inspectors were forced to leave Iraq. Besides, he knew that the inspection teams were working closely with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other Western intelligence agencies. He no doubt suspected that they were planning to overthrow him.

Answer 61

A year later, in 1998, American (and British) planes started bombing Iraqi military sites, despite the commonly held view that Iraq had no more WMD. the bombing campaign turned many of the arabs against the USA. When the US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, was asked on TV if the starvation of half a million people was justified, she said it had been ‘worth it’.

the Gulf War Flashcards

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