9781422285985

US-Led Wars in Iraq, 1991-Present

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response, Iraq would become a major player on the world scene. Iraq’s proven military might would make the country the dominant power in the Middle East, while its increased share of the world’s oil would give Iraq greater leverage over the United States and other Western nations that depended on the resource for their economies to operate. He had made his move; now the West had to decide how it would proceed.

TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS

1. On what day did Iraq invade Kuwait? 2. Why was Iraq’s conquest a potential threat to the United States and other western countries? 3. Why did Saddam Hussein believe that the United States and Soviet Union would not want to become involved in a war over Kuwait?

Divide your school class into six groups, with each representing one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council in 1990 (the United States, Soviet Union, China, France, and Great Britain), and one group representing Iraq. Students must do some research about the country in order to properly represent its interests and understand its positions. At a meeting of the Security Council, elect one person to lead the discussion, which should be set in August 1990. Question the Iraqi representative about his government’s purpose for the invasion of Kuwait, and work together to try to develop a solution that—in the opin- ion of your teacher—would resolve the conflict without fighting. RESEARCH PROJECT