The political context of the war in Iraq (1991–2002)

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US responsible for acts of terrorism, reveals Iraq
By Atheer F. al-Abadi, The Baghdad Observer, 3 April 1996. CIA agent admits responsibility for a number of car bombings inside Baghdad and Saladdin provinces and other areas of Iraq. Iraq’s Acting Foreign Minister Mr. Abdul Ghani Abdul Ghafour informed the UN that the US is intentionally undertaking such acts of terrorism at a time it claims to be sponsoring anti-terrorism policy.
Bloody Crusaders Call the Shots in Iraq
Living Marxism Commentary, 3 September 1996. The US decision to fire cruise missiles into Iraq again had nothing to do with the complex geopolitical situation in the region, but were a cynical election stunt designed to show that Clinton can boss the world around. Why does nobody bat an eyelid anymore when Clinton bombs Iraqis for the crime of ‘invading’ part of their own country?
CIA Coup Effort in Iraq Foiled
Reuters, 7 September 1996. A covert CIA operation aimed at toppling Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was undermined by last weekend’s Iraqi assault on Kurdish minorities. CIA officers overseeing a covert operation in northern Iraq forced to flee Arbil. President Clinton directed the CIA to provide weapons, organize some military training and install some intelligence-gathering equipment for the fractious group seeking to unseat Saddam.
Washington is no friend to the Kurds
By John Catalinotto, Workers World, 12 September 1996. Clinton presents his attack on Iraq as aid to the oppressed Kurdish people. The CIA mounted a program to encourage Kurds to revolt against the Iraqi government at the request of the Shah of Iran, who was contending with the Iraqis. The CIA then abandoned the Kurds, leaving them helpless, unable to defend themselves against Iraqi reprisals.
Apocalypse Now
By Edward Said, WWW website, January 1997. Saddam cleverly exploits the astonishing clumsiness and failures of US foreign policy. While it is impossible for him to plead the case for national security and sovereignty, given his disregard of it in the case of Kuwait and Iran, US vindictiveness has exacerbated the situation by imposing a regime of sanctions which is unprecedented for its severity in the whole of world history.
Arab masses help stay hand of U.S. imperialism
By Joyce Chediac, Workers World, 4 December 1997. Afraid that strong anti-U.S.-imperialist sentiment would lead to rebellion, Washington’s Arab client governments refused to go along with Clinton’s plans to bomb Iraq. This, combined with France and Russia’s opposition, forced the Pentagon to pull back.
Iraq and the Middle East Crisis
By Edward W. Said, 6 December 1997. The present crisis concerning Iraq contains all the elements of the much larger situation—one of almost desperate complexity and fragmentation—now beginning to overtake the region, perhaps irrecoverably. It would be a mistake to reduce it simply to an assertion of Arab sovereignty on the one hand and US imperialism on the other.
United States War Crimes Against Iraq
By Ramsey Clark et al., International War Crimes Tribunal, [14 December 1997]. A list of 19 points, the first of which is: The United States engaged in a pattern of conduct beginning in or before 1989 intended to lead Iraq into provocations justifying U.S. military action against Iraq and permanent U.S. military domination of the Gulf.
Russia warns U.S. of world war!
Mid-East Realities, 4 February 1998. Russian President Boris Yeltsin said that U.S. President Bill Clinton’s actions in the Iraq crisis could lead to world war. One must be more careful and not threaten with such weapons and fight with planes and bombs.
Pentagon steps up drive for world domination: What fuels war on Iraq?
By Fred Goldstein, Workers World, 19 February 1998. The Iraq crisis has brought into bold relief one of the contradictions plaguing U.S. imperialism as it strives to assert absolute world domination in the post-Soviet era. It is the contradiction between its growing military firepower and its increasing political isolation.
In face of American aggression, we stand unequivocally with Iraq: The fate of Palestine and Iraq is one
Statement by The Organization for Democratic Action (ODA), 20 February 1998. Iraq faces an aggressive American-Israeli coalition. The Arab peoples, with the Palestinians at their forefront, are taking to the streets in a new wave of anti-Imperialist sentiment. The fate of the coming showdown between the U.S. and Iraq will determine the outcome of the struggle for development and self-determination in the Middle East.
The United States vs. Iraq: A study in hypocrisy
By William Blum, Mid-East Realities, 2 October 1998. Secretary of State Albright travels around the world to gather support for yet more bombing of Iraq. The price is being paid solely by the Iraqi people. Their crime? They have a leader who refuses to cede all sovereignty to the United States (acting under its usual United Nations cover).
Is Washington setting stage for another assault?
By Pat Chin, Workers World, 14 September 2000. The Clinton administration is threatening Iraq and setting the stage for a massive military attack. On Sept. 1, the Pentagon had alerted an air defense artillery brigade in Germany to be prepared for possible deployment to Israel over White House “concern” that Iraq might attack Israel during the U.S. presidential campaign.