The Iran-Iraq War
- A Shiite revolution takes place in Iran and the Shah was replaced by Ayatollah Khomeini
- This concerned the Sunni leader, Saddam Hussein in Iraq
- Khomeini was very anti-American so they supported Iraq
- War breaks out in fear that the revolution would spread to Iraq (really a war of religion although they both claimed territory of each others)
- UN gets involved in 1988 and a formal treaty is signed with no gains in 1990
- most of the middle east was in favour of the us until the the iran-iraq war
- increased support for iran's neighbour, Iraq
- throughout the 70s and 80s Saddam and the Iraqi were allied with the US
- concern that the Shiite revolution will come to Iraq
real pressure for the UN was for economic reasons, (felt there was a potential to spread to other surrounding countries, no oil?
Summary
The Shah of Iran is replaced by an anti-american. War breaks out between Iran and Iraq mostly out of fear. The US now supported the Iraqi in trying to stop the Iranians.
What would have happened if Saddam Hussain didn't come into power?
"It's too bad they both can't lose."
- Henry Kissinger