Transcript Going to Iraq - Pierce College

Going to Iraq
Why
• In August 1990, Saddam
Hussein sent his military
in to Kuwait. The
purpose, erase Kuwait
from the map.
• In 1991, the UN
authorized the use of
force to remove Saddam
Hussein from Kuwait.
• Over six hundred and sixty
thousands troops from over
34 countries lined up with the
US against Iraq.
• George H. Bush was given a
mandate from the UN –
REMOVE Iraq from Kuwait.
He could do nothing more.
• The 34 countries:
• Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kuwait,
Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea,
Spain, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates,
United Kingdom, and the United States
• Iraq was expelled from
Kuwait.
• One of the conditions for
surrender was Iraq
permitting UN inspectors
in to Iraq to inspect
facilities.
• The UN began
inspecting facilities, but
immediately began
running into conflict with
Iraqi government
officials.
• Inspectors were prevented
from checking certain sites,
detained, only to be allowed in
to the site after many hours. It
was believed that this tactic
was used to prevent UN
inspectors from ‘finding’
anything in any of the nuclear
or biological sites.
• Almost immediately after Iraqi
forces were kicked out of
Kuwait, Iraqi rebellions were
crushed, in most vicious ways.
• To counter the use of Iraqi
planes and helicopters
attacking civilians across Iraq,
the UN devised a no fly zone.
• There was a NO FLY
zone in the North and
one in the South. UN
control over these areas
was enforced by the US
and UK airforce.
• From the start of the NO
FLY zones until 2003,
there were daily attacks
on US and UK planes.
–A violation of the UN
peace agreement after the
1991 war.
• UN Inspectors reported to
the UN that they found
nuclear and biological
weapons laboratories.
Saddam Hussein had
weapons of mass
destruction and was
trying to hide them.
• In 1991, Saddam told his
commanders (a tape, uncovered
after 2003 invasion of Iraq) that
he wanted “to make sure that the
germ and chemical warheads, as
well as the chemical and germ
bombs, are available.”
• Mahdi Obeidi, a former Iraqi
weapons scientist told CIA that he
was instructed to bury parts of
equipment needed to enrich
uranium under a bush in his
backyard. When the inspectors
left Iraq, he was told to retrieve
the equipment.
• During Mr Clinton’s term in
office, the US launched an
attack on Iraq, in retaliation
for Iraqi plans to
st
assassinate the 41
President of the United
States.
• An attempt on the life of the
president or former president of
the United States is an attack
on the United States.
– The attempt is not made because the president or
former president lives quietly, but because in their
capacity as president they bothered someone and
now the someone wants to kill them for a policy
decision of the US government.
– Such an attack is more an attack on the American
people than simply on the life of one man.
• During this attack, US
missiles destroyed many
government buildings,
schools, hospitals, and
facilities where Saddam
was building his weapons
arsenals.
• When the missiles stopped,
the UN forced Saddam to
agree to allow the inspectors
back in to Iraq.
–Saddam blocked, stonewalled,
prevented, hindered, obstructed UN
inspectors from resuming their
search for Weapons of Mass
Destruction.
• One response by the UN
was to cut off Iraqi control
of their oil. By 1996, the
UN was in control of Iraqi
oil. The world body
decided it would control
how much oil Saddam
sold.
• The reason was clear –
Saddam was spending his
budget on rebuilding his
military. The UN intended
to stop him.
• They decided how much oil he
could sell based on population and
costs and need.
• All oil from Iraq was pumped
out of the ground by French
and Russian companies,
monitored by the UN and sold
by the UN, to the world. The
UN would rebate to Saddam
his portion.
• All oil sold = X billions
went into UN bank
accounts. The UN would
write a check to Saddam
to pay for medical, food,
educational, building
costs for Iraq.
• Saddam used the money
to build palaces, rebuild
his army, and we learned
– to continue his
weapons of mass
destruction program.
• In 2003, we learned from
Russian intelligence that
Saddam wanted to
punish the US for what it
had done to him in 1991
and throughout the 90s.
• UN inspectors report
back to the UN – the
weapons of mass
destruction are missing.
–Biological and chemical
weapons – missing
–Nuclear - missing
• A report by the Iraq Survey group, headed by
Charles Duelfer stated
– (SH) He had no weapons stockpiles but he
had dormant programs that could be
reactivated within eight months
– (SH) He was importing banned materials
(banned by the UN but sent into Iraq in
violation of the ban, through Syria)
– (SH) He had ‘intentions’ to start up his
weapons programs at a later date once
inspectors had gone.
•UN requests Saddam
enlighten the world on
where his weapons of
mass destruction
disappeared to.
•Saddam says nothing.
He then orders his
officials to obstruct
further UN
investigations.
• In 2003, after Uday Hussein is removed,
his diary is found. In it, Uday recounts
statements by his father concerning the
future of Iraq:
– Desire to take parts of Iran
– Desire to take Kuwait again
– Desire to take parts of Saudi Arabia
– Desire to punish the US
• This was to be accomplished when,
according to the diary, Saddam rebuilt his
nuclear weapons program. Then,
according to Uday’s diary notes – no one
would be able to stop his father.
• Saddam Hussein, in his own words, told his
commanders he wanted chemical and germ
weapons.
• He used chemical warfare against the Kurds
• He used chemical warfare against the Iranians
• He had nuclear and biological and chemical
weapons in 1991.
• He refused to allow inspections of those facilties and
would often have materials hidden from inspectors.
• He vowed to retake Kuwait, parts of Iran and Saudi
Arabia.
• He promised to punish the US after the 1991
expulsion from Kuwait.
• He intended to rebuild his nuclear, chemical, and
biological weapons programs and could have within
eight months.
• Saddam had the money to buy weapons – he
secretly received over ten billion in black market oil
trading
–
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–
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Purchased long range missiles
Spare parts for tanks
Night vision equipment
Tank carriers
Missile guidance systems
North Korean missile technology
Radar jamming devices
• Purchased these illegal weapons from countries
like: France, Germany, Russia, China, N Korea,
Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, and India.
• In September 2002, Lt Col alDabbagh, head of Iraqi Air
Defenses in the Western Desert
told British intelligence that
Saddam had deployed weapons
of mass destruction that could be
used against coalition forces in
less than 45 minutes.
• Saddam’s personal bodyguard
(Abu Hamdi Mahmoud) provided
information to British intelligence
about scud assembly areas
(banned by the UN),
underground bunkers with
nuclear materials stored in the
bunkers.
–The bunkers were built by
Germany companies.
• After September 11, 2001 –
President Bush informed the
world that the United States
would no longer simply sit by
while we were attacked. We
would go after those who would
harm us and those nations who
supported, aided, gave comfort
to terrorists.
• Saddam Hussein was given an
ultimatum by President Bush –
provide documentation as to
where the weapons of mass
destruction were, show them
and allow UN inspectors to
have unfettered access – or
else.
• Saddam disregarded the UN
and three specific resolutions
calling for Iraq to comply with
the UN demands.
• The United States would
enforce those resolutions if
Saddam did not comply.
• The world watched as
President Bush gave
Saddam Hussein
repeated ultimatums to
turn over the missing
weapons of mass
destruction or face the US
military.
• The United Nations made it
clear to the world that Saddam
Hussein was in material breach
of Resolution 1441.
– That material breach would violate the
agreements signed after the 1991 invasion and
expulsion of Iraq from Kuwait and create a state
of war once more.
• The facts are the UN, could not sustain such a threat
hence it was never pushed publicly.
•The UN weapons
inspector (Hans Blix)
could not locate hundreds
of tons of VX, thousands
of liters of anthrax,
thousands of chemical
rockets.
• In the United Nations – France, Germany, Russia,
and China opposed the US actions.
– One French company (TotalFinaElf) had contracts worth
over $7.3 billion with Saddam Hussein for period
between 2001-2005. The CEO of TotalFinaElf (Thierry
Desmarest) was one of the top 3 contributors to
president Chirac’s last three campaigns for public office.
– TotalFinaElf has another contract with Saddam for $40
billion from 2003-2013.
– France exports over $1.8 billion in trade with Iraq.
Accounting for 35% of France’s total exports.
– Russian companys were not left out – one company was
contracted with Saddam for $12 billion to explore oil
fields in Western Kurna Iraq.
– Total Russian contracts with Iraq - over $35 billion over
next ten years.
– 9 German companies had contracts totaling over $13
billion with Iraq for period 2002-2012.
– China signed agreements valued at over $9 billion with
Saddam.
• In 2001, President Bush
began the debate about
Iraq. In 2003, the US
invaded and removed
Saddam Hussein.
–Two years worth of
diplomacy and debate.
• Between 2001 and 2003,
President Bush
requested intelligence
from the FBI, CIA, NSA
concerning Iraq and the
threat Iraq posed.
• On January 28, 2003, President Bush
spoke to the nation and told us:
– Today, the gravest danger in the war on terror,
the gravest danger facing America and the
world, is outlaw regimes that seek and
possess nuclear, chemical, and biological
weapons. These regimes could use such
weapons for blackmail, terror, and mass
murder. They could also give or sell those
weapons to terrorist allies, who would use
them without the least hesitation.
– With nuclear arms or a full arsenal of chemical
and biological weapons, Saddam Hussein could
resume his ambitions of conquest in the
Middle East and create deadly havoc in that
region. And this Congress and the America
people must recognize another threat. Evidence
from intelligence sources, secret
communications, and statements by people now
in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids
and protects terrorists, including members of
al Qaeda. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he
could provide one of his hidden weapons to
terrorists, or help them develop their own.
–Some have said we must not act
until the threat is imminent. Since
when have terrorists and tyrants
announced their intentions,
politely putting us on notice
before they strike? If this threat is
permitted to fully and suddenly
emerge, all actions, all words, and
all recriminations would come too
late. Trusting in the sanity and
restraint of Saddam Hussein is not a
strategy, and it is not an option.
• President Bush did not say
Saddam had the weapons or the
threat from Saddam was
imminent. He said we cannot let
Saddam get the weapons he
wants to have, because if we do
the threat will be imminent.
• In addition to US intelligence
services, the intelligence agencies
of the Ukraine, Poland, Russia,
Jordan, Israel, Germany, Italy,
and France informed Bush that
Saddam Hussein had weapons of
mass destruction.
–The Russians informed the US,
Saddam had made it clear to their
sources, he intended to use his
resources to punish the US.
• In addition to the United States, UK, South
Korea, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia,
Romania, Australia, Japan, Denmark,
Bulgaria, El Salvador, Mongolia, Azerbaijan,
Latvia, Albania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Czech
Republic, Bosnia, Herzegovinia, Estonia,
Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Norway, Angola,
Colombia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kuwait,
Micronesia, Rwanda, Solomon islands,
Uganda, Uzbekistan
• A total of 37 countries lined up against
Saddam in 2003
• When US forces arrived in
Iraq, what did we find:
– Weeks before the US invaded, Abu Nidal was found
shot to death. He had been shot in the head with a
shotgun, twice. It was ruled a suicide by Iraqi police.
• Abu Nidal was responsible for the hijacking of the Achille Laurel ship, and
multiple hijackings in the 1970s and 80s. He was the individual Oliver North
referenced in a speech to congressional hearings.
– In 1993, Abdul Rahman Yasin, one of the masterminds
behind the WTC attack, fled the US. In 2003, he was
found in Baghdad, in a government apartment funded by
Saddam Hussein.
• Yousef was working with Mohamad Khalif in 1993 on the first WTC bombing. In
2001, Khalif scouted the location for bin Laden.
• Two Islamic terrorist
training camps were put
out of commission. One
in the North east along
border with Iran and one
in North west, bordering
Syria.
• In Uday Hussein’s diary, he
recounts the adventures his
father had when Osama bin
Laden arrived for a visit. Bin
Laden was taken North East of
Baghdad to inspect the training
camp.
• Ounces of nuclear
material, when exposed
to human beings can
cause serious life
threatening conditions.
• Pounds of the material
can destroy cities.
• In 2003, the US military,
after removing Saddam
from power, discovered
three tons of nuclear
materials. The UN was
called in to aid the US in
collecting and removing
the nuclear material.
• We further have uncovered 1,500 gallons
of chemical weapons agents.
• 1.77 metric tons of enriched uranium
• 17 chemical warheads containing
cyclosarin (a nerve agent five times more
deadly than sarin gas)
• Over 1,000 radioactive materials in
powdered form meant for dispersal over
populated areas
• Roadside bombs loaded with mustard and
"conventional" sarin gas, assembled in
binary chemical projectiles for maximum
potency
•Saddam Hussein was a
threat and needed to be
removed from power
He posed a threat to Iraqis and Iraq’s
neighbors
Between 1980-1988 – over 1 million Iranians killed in a war he began
Between 1980 – 1988 – nearly one million Iraqis killed in a war he began
In the 1980’s – gassed the Iranians
In the 1980’s – used chemical weapons on the Kurds
1991 – Iraqi troops killed over 300,000 Iraqis as they retreated from Kuwait.
These Iraqis made the mistake of standing up to Saddam, try to
depose him
In 1991 – Saddam sent scud missiles flying in to Saudi Arabia
In 1991 – Saddam sent scud missiles flying in to Israel
In 1991 – Saddam invaded Kuwait
Saddam paid Palestinian homicide bombers families $25,000 each
After Palestinian homicide bomber blew up Israelis
Saddam was a murderer who killed or tried
to kill his own family
• He may have been involved in arranging the attempted
assassination of his son Uday.
– Uday was too ‘evil’ even for his father, and Saddam may have arranged
for an attempt to be made on his life. An attempt was made, Uday was
permanently handicapped after the attempt.
• He was responsible for the murders of his two daughters
husbands
– Raghad married Hussein Kamal, and Rana married Saddam Kamel. In
1995, his sons-in-law and their wives defected to Jordan. They later
returned to Iraq, believing they had been pardoned, but within 72 hours
Saddam Hussein had both his sons-in-law killed. The sons-in-law were
also second cousins of Saddam.
Saddam Hussein violated the 1991 Peace
Treaty ending the 1st Persian Gulf war
• In 1991, to end the war, Saddam promised the United Nations
he would:
– Permit unfettered inspections of all locations where chemical,
biological, or nuclear weapons, or materials might be stored.
• He violated this agreement
– Not use military forces to attack populations in the North and South No
Fly Zone
• He used his airforce AA weapons systems to attack US and UK airforce,
every day from the time the agreement was signed until the US deposed
Saddam.
– He violated the agreement.
– Show the UN or provide to the UN an explanation for his weapons
programs
• He did not.. The UN concluded he was lying to them.
Saddam posed a threat to the region
and the world
• The UN Inspectors could not locate:
– hundreds of tons of VX
– thousands of liters of anthrax
– thousands of chemical rockets
Saddam Hussein posed an ongoing
threat to Iran and Saudi Arabia
• When US forces took control of Baghdad
they found, in Uday Hussein’s home, a
journal with many entries. One entry
stated the following (approximate):
– Saddam told Uday, that he (SH) wanted to
take Iran and parts of Saudi Arabia when his
(SH) weapons programs began and
completed production of nuclear weapons.
Saddam Hussein aided terrorists
• Two terrorist training camps were found and shut down when
the US entered Iraq.
• Abu Nidal, famed terror leader, hijacked Achille Laurel, the
Osama bin Laden of the 1970s and 1980s – had been living in
Baghdad in an apartment provided by Saddam.
• Abdul Rahman Yasin, mastermind of the 1993 attack on the
World Trade Center, living in an apartment provided by
Saddam Hussein.
• Paid $25,000 to each homicide bombers family in the West
Bank and Gaza.
Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass
Destruction in 1991
• The UN had records of the weapons – biological,
chemical, and nuclear.
• In 1991, a tape recording of Saddam telling his
officers that he (SH) wanted “to make sure that the
germ and chemical warheads, as well as the chemical
and germ bombs, are available”
Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass
Destruction in 2003
• The US military has uncovered
– 1,500 gallons of chemical weapons agents.
– 1.77 metric tons of enriched uranium
– 17 chemical warheads containing cyclosarin
(a nerve agent five times more deadly than
sarin gas)
– Over 1,000 radioactive materials in powdered
form meant for dispersal over populated areas
– 3 tons of nuclear material (removed by a joint
US/UN force)
He posed a threat to the US
• In 1993, Bill Clinton ordered a missile strike (over 200)
on Iraq for the conspiracy to assassinate former president
George H Bush.
• In 1998, President Clinton sent US air forces in to Iraq –
”their purpose is to protect the national interest of the
United States, and indeed the interests of people
throughout the Middle East and around the world.”
– Reason: Saddam was not complying with UN Resolutions and allowing
inspectors to inspect ‘unfettered’
– Between 1998 and 2001 – Iraq did not open up to inspectors. Rather, Iraq
made it more difficult for UN inspections
• Russian intelligence informed the US that Saddam
intended to punish the US for what it had done to him
(Iraq).
Saddam Hussein met with
Osama Bin Laden
• In Uday Hussein’s journal we have
comments concerning a meeting between
his father (SH) and Osama bin Laden in
the late 1990s.
• Saddam Hussein had the intention to harm
the US.
• Saddam Hussein had the means (dormant
WMD programs could easily be restarted).
• Saddam Hussein had the connections to
terrorists
– OBL, Nidal, Yassin
• Saddam Hussein had demonstrated a
ruthlessness to use said weapons on his
own people and others