Ethnic Groups in Iraq A Young Saddam Hussein

Ethnic Groups in Iraq

A Young Saddam Hussein (1937 - ? ) « Born in Tikrit. « Peasant family with influential army relatives. « Tribal society. « Joined Baath Party at 20. Saddam’s identity card when he was 10 years old. « Aided in failed assassination of Qasim in 1959.

Saddam’s Early Political Career « After 1963 coup, he was put in charge of the security service for the Baath party. « 1979 he became president of Iraq when al-Bakr was persuaded to step down. Saddam at 17.

A Cult of Personality

A Cult of Personality 1989 Victory Arch

Oil Fields in Iraq

Gassing the Kurds

Kurdistan if it existed 20 million people

Iraq Invades Kuwait August 2, 1990 UN Security Council Resolution 678 (authorized military force to be used against Iraq. )

“Operation Desert Storm”

U. S. Military Leaders General Colin Powell General Norman Schwarzkopf

Range of Iraqi Missiles

Kuwait is Liberated

Allies Send Iraqis Back to Baghdad Iraqis soldiers surrender. Kuwaitis cheer Allied forces.

“Highway of Death”

400 Iraqi Oilfields on Fire An environmental disaster!

U. N. No-Fly Zones

1990 s: Iraqi Targets

Reasons for Going to War Against Saddam (according to the U. S. and Britain) « Saddam kicked out U. N. weapons inspectors. « WMDs Weapons of Mass Destruction. « Saddam did not obey the No-Fly Zone limitations. « He was a savage dictator. « Stop Saddam before he can launch nuclear missiles against Israel, Europe, or even the United States.

“Shock & Awe!” Coalition forces attack Baghdad (again).

Allied Advance on Baghdad

Anti-War Protestors

The Dictator is “Toppled”

“Mission Accomplished? ” President George W. B lands on board the USS Abraham Lincoln (May, 2003)

Saddam Is Captured! December, 2003 • Killed 2006

The Costs 2003 -2010 § No WMD’s ever found § $800 billion to 1. 5 trillion spent § Civil war

4788+ American Deaths

32, 000+ Americans Wounded

150, 000+ Iraqis Dead!

? Iraqis Wounded!

A Growing Insurgency Former Baathists and foreign terrorists (Al-Qaida, etc. )

1/30/05 – The Vote! Courage at the Polls!!

Iraq today 2014