US II: 1979 - 2006US II: 1979 - 2006Iran Hostage Crisis Iran Hostage Crisis (1979)(1979)

Iran-Iraq War Iran-Iraq War (1980-88)(1980-88) Iran-Contra Affair Iran-Contra Affair (1980s-Reagan)(1980s-Reagan)

First Gulf War First Gulf War (1990-91 Iraq invades (1990-91 Iraq invades Kuwait; Operation Desert Shield/Storm)Kuwait; Operation Desert Shield/Storm)

War on Terrorism War on Terrorism (2002 Afghanistan)(2002 Afghanistan)

War in Iraq/ AfghanistanWar in Iraq/ Afghanistan (2003-present)(2003-present)

1979 Iran Hostage Crisis1979 Iran Hostage Crisis 1950-79 US supports Shah 1950-79 US supports Shah

(ally vs SU comm/oil access)(ally vs SU comm/oil access) 1979 Ayotallah Khomeini 1979 Ayotallah Khomeini

leads Iranian Revolutionleads Iranian Revolution Carter lets Shah enter US for Carter lets Shah enter US for

cancercancer 11/4/79 seize US Embassy in 11/4/79 seize US Embassy in

Tehran-52 US hostagesTehran-52 US hostages

1980-88 Iran-Iraq War1980-88 Iran-Iraq War Iraq invades Iran 9/22/80 over Iraq invades Iran 9/22/80 over

border dispute border dispute Khomeini to spread Islam rev.-Khomeini to spread Islam rev.-

despised Iraq’s Ba’ath (Sunni) despised Iraq’s Ba’ath (Sunni) oppressed Shiites (Iran) will oppressed Shiites (Iran) will overthrow Hussein?overthrow Hussein?

Hussein felt Iran Sunnis would Hussein felt Iran Sunnis would join Iraq vs Shia in Iranjoin Iraq vs Shia in Iran

Iran-Iraq War (1980-88)Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) Nationalism prevailedNationalism prevailed US provides bio/chem US provides bio/chem

weapons and tech to Iraqweapons and tech to Iraq Iran supporters include Iran supporters include

People’s Republic of China, People’s Republic of China, Syria, Libya, North Korea.Syria, Libya, North Korea.

Iran-Iraq WarIran-Iraq War

Iran acquires weapons and Iran acquires weapons and parts for Shah-era US parts for Shah-era US systems through Iran-systems through Iran-Contra Affair first through Contra Affair first through Israel then directly through Israel then directly through USUS

Iran-Contra AffairIran-Contra Affair

30 hostages had been taken by 30 hostages had been taken by Hezbollah demanding release of Hezbollah demanding release of Al-Dawa members (pro-Iranian Al-Dawa members (pro-Iranian militant org) imprisoned for militant org) imprisoned for series of truck bombs in Kuwait.series of truck bombs in Kuwait.

US hoped Iran would persuade US hoped Iran would persuade Hezbollah to release 6 US Hezbollah to release 6 US hostages held in Lebanon in hostages held in Lebanon in return for arms.return for arms.

Iran-Contra ScandalIran-Contra Scandal Reagan authorized arms to Iran to Reagan authorized arms to Iran to

improve relations, not in exchange for improve relations, not in exchange for hostages.hostages.

NS Advisor Poindexter and aide Oliver NS Advisor Poindexter and aide Oliver North propose direct sale to Iran at North propose direct sale to Iran at markup prices with $$ sent to Contras markup prices with $$ sent to Contras (backed by CIA to fight Sandinista comm (backed by CIA to fight Sandinista comm in civil war)in civil war)

Sale of weapons to Iran and Contra Sale of weapons to Iran and Contra funding both violated US Boland funding both violated US Boland AmendmentAmendment

Boland AmendmentBoland Amendment Signed by Reagan on 12/21/82.Signed by Reagan on 12/21/82. Prohibits US gov military support to Prohibits US gov military support to

overthrow Nicaragua Govt. and bans overthrow Nicaragua Govt. and bans appropriated CIA fundingappropriated CIA funding

Seen as unconstitutional interference Seen as unconstitutional interference w/ PR foreign policyw/ PR foreign policy

Reagan’s admin used non-Reagan’s admin used non-appropriated NSC $ to circumventappropriated NSC $ to circumvent

Congress later repealed Boland, funds Congress later repealed Boland, funds contras—Sandinistas voted out in ‘90contras—Sandinistas voted out in ‘90

US Atty Gen Edwin Meese US Atty Gen Edwin Meese admits profits from arms sales admits profits from arms sales to Iran funded Contras to Iran funded Contras (11/25/86)(11/25/86)

NSC John Poindexter resignsNSC John Poindexter resigns NSC aide Oliver North firedNSC aide Oliver North fired 12/1/86 Reagan appoints Tower 12/1/86 Reagan appoints Tower

Commission (former Senator Commission (former Senator Tower, Sec of State Muskie, Tower, Sec of State Muskie, NSA Scowcroft)NSA Scowcroft)

12/2/86 Reagan answers 12/2/86 Reagan answers Tower Comm w/ poor memoryTower Comm w/ poor memory

2/26/87 Tower Report 2/26/87 Tower Report implicates North, Poindexter, implicates North, Poindexter, Weinberger et al.Weinberger et al.

PR Reagan had no knowledge-PR Reagan had no knowledge-should have had better control should have had better control over NSC staffover NSC staff

Congress report 11/18/87 PR Congress report 11/18/87 PR bore “ultimate responsibility”bore “ultimate responsibility”

Defense Secretary Casper Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger indicted for Weinberger indicted for lying to Ind. Counsel (’87); lying to Ind. Counsel (’87); pardoned by PR George HW pardoned by PR George HW BushBush

John Tower nominated as John Tower nominated as Sec of Defense by PR Bush Sec of Defense by PR Bush but not confirmedbut not confirmed

Scowcroft named NSAScowcroft named NSA

’’88 North indicted 12 counts88 North indicted 12 counts -guilty of 3 minor – overturn on -guilty of 3 minor – overturn on

appeal appeal (5(5thth amend violated-cong. testimony under amend violated-cong. testimony under immunity used against him)immunity used against him)

’’90 Poindexter convicted on felony 90 Poindexter convicted on felony counts lying to Congress, counts lying to Congress, obstruct. of justice, conspiracy, obstruct. of justice, conspiracy, and altering/destroying and altering/destroying documents - overturned on documents - overturned on appeal appeal

Not retried by IC Larry WalshNot retried by IC Larry Walsh

Contra-drug linksContra-drug links Sen John Kerry suspicious of North’s Sen John Kerry suspicious of North’s

connection w/ Manuel Noriega (Panama connection w/ Manuel Noriega (Panama drug baron who previously worked for CIA drug baron who previously worked for CIA 1950-86)1950-86)

Gary Webb “Dark Alliance” in 8/96 Gary Webb “Dark Alliance” in 8/96 alleges cocaine dist. in US in 80s funded alleges cocaine dist. in US in 80s funded CIA-support of Contras.CIA-support of Contras.

Later disputed and denouncedLater disputed and denounced Webb dead on 12/10/04 – 2 bullets to Webb dead on 12/10/04 – 2 bullets to

back of head deemed suicide back of head deemed suicide (depression)(depression)

Significance of Iran-Contra AffairSignificance of Iran-Contra Affair PR foreign policy authority vs PR foreign policy authority vs

Congress and its laws:Congress and its laws: PR approval of foreign arms sales w/o PR approval of foreign arms sales w/o

Congressional approval?Congressional approval? What info does PR provide Congress What info does PR provide Congress

and when?and when? PR info to American people re: foreign PR info to American people re: foreign

policy deceptive for nat’l security?policy deceptive for nat’l security? Does Foreign policy funding need Does Foreign policy funding need

Congressional approval?Congressional approval?

Significance of Iran-Iraq WarSignificance of Iran-Iraq War Disastrous to both economies; Disastrous to both economies;

disrupts oil exportsdisrupts oil exports Cost Iran 1.5 mil casualties and Cost Iran 1.5 mil casualties and

$350 billion – border remains.$350 billion – border remains. Iran resents US helping Saddam Iran resents US helping Saddam

& lack of punishment re chemical & lack of punishment re chemical weapons vs. Iran, esp. since US weapons vs. Iran, esp. since US opposed Iraqi invasion of Kuwait opposed Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 & later removed Saddamin 1990 & later removed Saddam

Significance of Iran-Iraq WarSignificance of Iran-Iraq War Iran PR Mahmoud Iran PR Mahmoud

Ahmadinejad and most of Ahmadinejad and most of cabinet are veterans of war.cabinet are veterans of war.

Iraq owes Kuwait $14 Billion Iraq owes Kuwait $14 Billion Leads to Iraqi invasion of Leads to Iraqi invasion of

Kuwait in August 1990 (along Kuwait in August 1990 (along w/ suspicion of Kuwait “slant-w/ suspicion of Kuwait “slant-drilling” into Iraq for oil)drilling” into Iraq for oil)

1991 Gulf War1991 Gulf War Aka: Persian Gulf War, Operation Aka: Persian Gulf War, Operation

Desert Shield (protect Saudi Desert Shield (protect Saudi Arabia) and Operation Desert Arabia) and Operation Desert Storm (liberate Kuwait)Storm (liberate Kuwait)

UN imposes sanctions vs. IraqUN imposes sanctions vs. Iraq US led coalition of 30 nations US led coalition of 30 nations ““No Blood for Oil” protest – never No Blood for Oil” protest – never

reaches level of anti-Vietnam reaches level of anti-Vietnam protestsprotests

1/12/91 US Congress authorizes military 1/12/91 US Congress authorizes military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwaitforce to drive Iraq out of Kuwait

Operation Desert Storm: massive air Operation Desert Storm: massive air campaign – 1000 sorties launched dailycampaign – 1000 sorties launched daily

Hussein: “Mother of all battles”Hussein: “Mother of all battles” Airfields/defenses, communication and Airfields/defenses, communication and

command facilities, and finally command facilities, and finally infrastructure targeted (Scud launchers, infrastructure targeted (Scud launchers, WMD sites, weapons research facilities, WMD sites, weapons research facilities, naval forces)naval forces)

1991 Gulf War1991 Gulf War

1991 Gulf War1991 Gulf War 2/24/91 US led ground 2/24/91 US led ground

campaign (campaign (Op Desert SabreOp Desert Sabre)) 2/26/91 Iraqi troops begin 2/26/91 Iraqi troops begin

retreat, setting Kuwaiti oil retreat, setting Kuwaiti oil fields on firefields on fire

2/28/91 PR Bush declares 2/28/91 PR Bush declares ceasefire; Kuwait liberated.ceasefire; Kuwait liberated.

1991 Gulf War1991 Gulf War Criticism: allowed Saddam to remain in Criticism: allowed Saddam to remain in

powerpower Scowcroft and Sec of Def Dick Cheney: Scowcroft and Sec of Def Dick Cheney:

invading Baghdad and overthrowing invading Baghdad and overthrowing gov’t would fracture alliance, cost too gov’t would fracture alliance, cost too much in human/ political capital (only much in human/ political capital (only 146 Americans died in Operation Desert 146 Americans died in Operation Desert Storm)Storm)

Hoped for Iraqi revolt, but Hussein Hoped for Iraqi revolt, but Hussein defeated coup attemptsdefeated coup attempts

3/10/91 US troops leave Persian Gulf3/10/91 US troops leave Persian Gulf

War on Terrorism (2002) War on Terrorism (2002) and Iraq (2003)and Iraq (2003)

Afghanistan: Taliban Afghanistan: Taliban targeted after 9/11targeted after 9/11

Iraq becomes target leading Iraq becomes target leading to March 2003 Invasion of to March 2003 Invasion of Iraq (WMD)Iraq (WMD)

Revival of Islamic Revival of Islamic extremism (1979)extremism (1979)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/war_on_terror/what_next/