Quick questions on Iraqi invasion of Kuwait 1990: HSC Modern History Conflict in the Gulf

Iraq emerged from the Iran-Iraq War (ceasefire 20 August 1988) with an army of around 1 million but a wrecked economy. Foreign debt totalled around 80 billion US dollars. Annual debt service exceeded annual oil revenues. The regime needed money.

Iraq needed oil at around 25 US dollars per barrel to service debt and rebuild. Through 1989 and 1990 Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates consistently exceeded their OPEC production quotas, pushing prices down. By July 1990 oil traded at around 14 US dollars per barrel. Every dollar below 25 cost Iraq about 1 billion US dollars per year.

The Arab Cooperation Council summit at Baghdad (28-30 May 1990) heard Saddam attack Kuwait. The 16 July 1990 letter from Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz accused Kuwait of stealing oil. On 17 July 1990 Saddam delivered a speech threatening "effective action."

US ambassador April Glaspie was summoned to meet Saddam on 25 July 1990. The Iraqi transcript records Glaspie saying:

At 02:00 on 2 August 1990 Iraqi forces crossed the Kuwait border at multiple points. The Republican Guard's Hammurabi, Medina, and Tawakalna divisions led. Kuwait City fell within 12 hours. The Dasman Palace fell after a firefight in which Sheikh Fahd al-Sabah, the Emir's brother, was killed.

Iraq initially announced a provisional government under "free Kuwaitis" (4 August 1990). On 8 August 1990 Saddam declared the "comprehensive eternal merger" of Kuwait with Iraq. On 28 August Kuwait was declared the "nineteenth province" of Iraq.

Resolution 660 (2 August 1990). 14-0 with Yemen abstaining. Condemned the invasion and demanded immediate withdrawal.

President George H. W. Bush declared on 5 August 1990 that "this will not stand". Secretary of State James Baker and National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft built the Coalition through August to November.

US-Iraq talks between Baker and Aziz at Geneva on 9 January 1991 lasted six hours and produced nothing. The Iraqi National Assembly voted on 14 January 1991 to authorise war. The UN deadline expired at midnight on 15 January 1991 New York time.

Lawrence Freedman and Efraim Karsh (The Gulf Conflict 1990-1991, 1993) is the standard diplomatic history.

14-0 with Yemen abstaining. Condemned the invasion and demanded immediate withdrawal.

Imposed comprehensive sanctions: a total trade embargo on Iraq and Kuwait.

Declared the annexation null and void.

Authorised naval enforcement of the sanctions.

Authorised "all necessary means" if Iraq had not withdrawn by 15 January 1991. The vote was 12-2 (Cuba and Yemen against, China abstaining). This was the legal basis for war.