UNDERSTANDING THE U.S.-IRAQ CRISIS:

A Primer

By Phyllis Bennis

A publication of the Institute for Policy Studies, January 2003

Adobe Acrobat Version / Summary / Contents / About the Author

Sections:I. The U.S. Rush to War / II. The World's Response, the UN & International Law / III. The Consequences of War: Iraq and Beyond / IV. The History of U.S.-Iraq Relations / V. Alternatives to War / Resource Guide

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Summary

The current crisis between the U.S. and Iraq continues more than a decade of antagonism between Washington and Baghdad, involving three U.S. administrations. To truly understand why we stand now at the brink of war, however, one must look closely at the goals of the current Bush administration, which is drawn to conflict by Iraq's massive oil reserves and the goal of expanding U.S. military power around the world.

The Iraqi government's record is undeniably brutal, and the U.S. and its allies should never have facilitated its access to weapons of mass destruction, as they did during the decade of the close U.S.-Iraqi alliance in the 1980s. However, there is no evidence that Iraq currently has viable weapons of mass destruction, or that it presents an imminent threat to the United States.

Nor, despite Bush administration claims, is there any link between Iraq and the events of September 11. A U.S. war against Iraq would violate international law and worsen our global reputation as an arrogant, unaccountable superpower. The effects would be particularly dire in the Middle East, where many governments hang in the balance between increasingly outraged populations and the demands of Washington, on whom they rely for economic and military support. A war would cause great suffering within Iraq, already devastated by the 1991 war and years of crippling economic sanctions, and would put many others at risk, including tens of thousands of American troops.

A forward-looking United States would work through the United Nations to promote disarmament, human rights, and democracy at home and throughout the region, and pursue domestic energy policies that reduce our dependence on oil and thus our interventions in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere.

Contents

I. The U.S. Rush to War

• The Bush administration says that a war against Iraq is needed for reasons of the threat of weapons of mass destruction, Iraq's support of terrorism, and human rights. Are those valid concerns?
• What are the real reasons that underlay the administration's rush towards war?
• What does "regime change" mean? What is the Bush doctrine of 'preemptive strike'?
• What are the "no-fly" zones? Why are U.S. planes bombing there already?
• Who in the Bush administration supports going to war in Iraq?
• Who is against going to war, or at least cautious?
• Who will benefit from a war in Iraq?
• Is Iraq a threat to the United States?
• Does Iraq have weapons of mass destruction?
• Did Iraq have anything to do with September 11th, or with al-Qaeda? Would going to war against Iraq improve the security of Americans at home and abroad?
• If the U.S. doesn't attack Iraq, how can we be sure there are no weapons of mass destruction?
• How much will war against Iraq cost? Who will pay for it and what will be its impact on the domestic U.S. economy?
• The US administration has talked about plans for a long-term military occupation of Iraq. What would that mean?

II. The World's Response, the UN & International Law

• Does the U.S. have the right to invade Iraq?
• Does the U.S. have the right of self-defense against Iraq?
• What does the rest of the world think about the current crisis with Iraq?
• What are the legal consequences of an invasion? What precedent does it set elsewhere in the world?
• What is the role of the United Nations in the Iraq crisis?
• Can the U.S. get UN authority to go to war in Iraq?
• What did the November 2002 United Nations inspections resolution say? Does it authorize war against Iraq?
• How did arms inspections in Iraq get started in the first place? What happened during the earlier inspections?
• What are war crimes? Are war crimes likely if the US attacks Iraq? What are the implications for US soldiers? For Iraqi civilians?

III. The Consequences of War: Iraq and Beyond

• Who will suffer from a war in Iraq?
• What is life like in Iraq today? What are the causes of civilian suffering in Iraq?
• What are sanctions against Iraq and why were they imposed?
• What is the Oil for Food Program? How does it work?
• How are the Kurds treated in Iraq?
• How will Iraqis be affected by war?
• What will happen in the rest of the Middle East region if there is war in Iraq?
• What does Israel have to do with war in Iraq?
• What will be the impact on the Palestinians?

IV. The History of U.S.-Iraq Relations

• Did Iraq ever use weapons of mass destruction? Did Iraq use them during the Gulf War? Did Iraq ever use WMDs against the U.S. or U.S. allies?
• How did the U.S. view Iraq before the Gulf crisis of 1990-91? Why did the U.S. change its view of Iraq?
• What was the role of U.S. corporations in helping Iraq obtain weapons of mass destruction in the past?
• What about Iraqi opposition groups? Are they funded by the US government?

V. Alternatives to War

• What should be the U.S. approach to Iraq?
• What should be done about economic sanctions?
• What should be U.S. policy regarding disarmament in and around Iraq?
• What should a new U.S. policy on oil look like?
• What should we do about the "No-Fly" zones?
• How can the U.S. better promote human rights internationally?
• What should be done with the Iraqi opposition?

Resource Guide

About the Author

Phyllis Bennis, a fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, is a well-known writer and expert on the Middle East. Her recent books include Before & After: U.S. Foreign Policy and the September 11th Crisis and Calling the Shots: How Washington Dominates Today's UN. She has debated top administration officials and appears regularly on U.S. and international television and radio. In 1999 she accompanied the first U.S. Congressional staff delegation to Iraq.

About the Institute for Policy Studies

The Institute for Policy Studies is an independent, multi-issue think tank founded in 1963. At a time when other think tanks celebrate the virtues of unrestrained greed, unlimited wealth, and indefinite war, IPS strives to create a more responsible society - one built around the values of peace with justice, sustainability, and decency. IPS, as I.F. Stone once said, is "an Institute for the rest of us."