It probably didn't seem like that big of a risk at the time. A lot of people were surprised by the Western reaction. After all, nobody did anything about the invasion of East Timor. I still think Hussein could have gotten away with it if he'd played his cards better.
What were the causes of the Iran-Iraq War?
- Thread starter Kreonidus
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Joined Jan 2014
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Connecticut
It has been alleged that Glaspie gave Saddam a green light, but dunno…..On at least one previous occasion, in 1960, Britain warded off an attack by Iraq.
Not a major oil producer.
Conceivably, he might've done better militarily, but while he tried a few tricks (in 1990) nothing worked; it was either withdrawal or war.
Hussein wasn't planning to stop selling Kuwaiti oil.
I meant if he'd played his diplomatic cards better. Conduct endless negotiations mediated by other Arab leaders and wait for the West to lose interest.
Joined Jun 2012
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Malaysia
SH should have just played safe and stuck to governing Iraq and developing the country with whatever resources he had at his disposal.
Iraq had enough oil to be used as capital for Iraq's economic and industrial development over the longer term. It would have taken time and effort. But SH was impatient.
Iraq had enough oil to be used as capital for Iraq's economic and industrial development over the longer term. It would have taken time and effort. But SH was impatient.
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Malaysia
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Connecticut
I meant east timor unlike Kuwait wasn't a major oil producer.
The problem was the US took his takeover of Kuwait very seriously and had far greater influence.
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Connecticut
I think inevitably, in view of Iranian and Israeli power, he had to make a big investment in weapons. Including nuclear weapons if possible, inasmuch as israel already had them. But it was still foolish to attack Iran and Kuwait.
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Well, invest or not invest, as far as I have observed and understood it, no one nation have been able to sustain as a serious credible military power simply by purchasing their way to it. It's just not doable over the long term.
By hook or by crook, you would still have needed to develop your own internal indigenous capability. Something like I believe India, Pakistan, Turkey and even Iran have done. Something which would have required sustained investment in manufacturing capability (at least the military component), technology development, economic development etc.
While South Korea I would say have done immensely superbly considering their relatively small size. China, of course, have vaulted into another league by now.
By hook or by crook, you would still have needed to develop your own internal indigenous capability. Something like I believe India, Pakistan, Turkey and even Iran have done. Something which would have required sustained investment in manufacturing capability (at least the military component), technology development, economic development etc.
While South Korea I would say have done immensely superbly considering their relatively small size. China, of course, have vaulted into another league by now.
Joined Jan 2021
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Conch Republic. "WE Seceded where others failed"
The original story of April Glaspie giving Saddam a "Green Light." in 1990 came from a 2003 issue of Foreign Policy magazine, and was later reiterated in the January 9 2011 issue of the same magazine after WikiLeaks appeared to verify the original story.
ForeignPolicy.com (2011-01-09) WikiLeaks, April Glaspie, and Saddam Hussein By Stephen M. Walt, a columnist at Foreign Policy and the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University.
Saddam thought differently. The Iran- Iraq War led to the First Gulf War which gave Iran back it's land lost in the Iran Iraq War. Saddam inadvertantly helped Iran to become a regional power and Iraq not to become one. Saddam was essentially the o e responsible for driving Iraq off the proverbial cliff .
Leftyhunter
Joined Jan 2021
4,992 Posts | 3,605+
Conch Republic. "WE Seceded where others failed"
Well, I was on the the wrong side in the ACW. I was wrong for thinking that Saddam was "Our Guy" in the 1980s. Shall we go for 3-for-3? (Let's not bring Wagner into this) probably why Smithee.org isn't a well-known PMC.
We can do very very well for the losing side Yeah, and Rhodesia too.
The US never backed Rhodesia other then then one law that allowed the US to buy strategic minerals from Rhodesia that was repealed about a year or so before Mugabe took over. Rhodesia's only real foreign allies was Portugal from 1966 to the Carnation Revolution of 1974 and South Africa.
Saddam was never " our guy" as mentioned many times the US sold weapons too both sides as did other nations especially the Soviet Union. Saddam was his own guy .
Leftyhunter
Joined Jun 2012
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Just could not help wondering sometimes, if the people of Iran (especially the elder generation who lived through the Iran-Iraq War) ever regretted supporting Khomeini to overthrow their Shah in 1979 revolution.
I mean, if they had not allowed themselves to obsess over and fall for his revolutionary fervour, and focused instead on economic and industrial development. Who knows, their country with that kind of oil wealth available for development capital might well have become a high income nation with per capita GDP exceeding $20k.
I mean, if they had not allowed themselves to obsess over and fall for his revolutionary fervour, and focused instead on economic and industrial development. Who knows, their country with that kind of oil wealth available for development capital might well have become a high income nation with per capita GDP exceeding $20k.
Joined Jan 2014
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Connecticut
It didn't have to be that way. Saddam didn't have to invade Kuwait. He just got overambitious.
Joined Jan 2014
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Connecticut
Fine. Iraq was developing an arms manufacturing capability but it could've done better by not initiating wars with neighbors 1980-90. It would've had more resources to invest in manufacturing.
Joined Jun 2014
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Lisbon, Portugal
Joined Jan 2014
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Connecticut
He needed money but Kuwait offered $10 billion. In any event he had his own revenue and could've managed over time without a risky new adventure.
True but Saddam has to be Saddam that's how he rolled .
Leftyhunter
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