Today we went over the map and had our blog disscussions and talked more on Iraq.
The Iran-Iraq war began when Iraq invaded Iran. Causes: 1. border disputes; 2. Fears of Shia Muslim insurgency among Iraq long-suppressed Shia majority influenced by the Iranian Revolution-Saddam Hussein was Sunni Muslim: Saddam Hussein was afraid the Shia Muslim religion was going to overthrow him/ take over country; 3. Iraq wanted to replace Iran as the dominant Persian Gulf state-wanted Iran's oil fields.
Iraq didn't didn't do too well in the war but was able to regain most lost territory by 1982. For the next six years, Iran was on the offensive and actually entered Iraq. The war finally ended with a UN ceasefire which was accepted by both sides. A million Iraqi and Iranian soldiers as well as civilians are believed to have died in the war. Nothing really changed as a result of the war. US (secretly) supported Iraq in the war.
Genocide against the Kurds: series of military and gas attacks against the Kurdish civilian population of rural Northern Iraq. Conducted between 1986 and 1989. Saddam Hussein killed people he thought would go against him with these kurds.
Iraq invaded Kuwait because they were in debt with Kuwait and Sadia Arabia. Iraq asked them to forget the debts and they refused. Iraq also said they had all control over Kuwait and the Kuwait drilled for oil over the border line. Operation Desser Sheild was when the US sent millions of troops over to Sadia Arabia because they were afraid that Iraq would invade Sadia Arabia. The UN told Iraq and Kuwait to stop the war until a certain day otherwise they would use "all force necesary" and they had to to get the people out of Kuwait. The US goal for the Persian Gulf War was not to overpower Saddam Hussein, but to liberate Kuwait.
Consequences on Iraq (after Persian Gulf War): Economic Sanctions remained, Weapons inspecters, No fly zone, there was no clorine to purify the water so cancer rates spiked up, the Persian Gulf War vetrans got ill and say they had the Persian Gulf War disease
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