US II: 1979 - 2006

1. US II: 1979 - 2006 Iran Hostage Crisis (1979) Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) Iran-Contra Affair (1980s-Reagan) First Gulf War (1990-91 Iraq invades Kuwait; Operation Desert Shield/Storm) War on Terrorism (2002 Afghanistan) War in Iraq/ Afghanistan (2003-present)

2. 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis • 1950-79 US supports Shah (ally vs SU comm/oil access) • 1979 Ayotallah Khomeini leads Iranian Revolution • Carter lets Shah enter US for cancer • 11/4/79 seize US Embassy in Tehran-52 US hostages

4. 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War • Iraq invades Iran 9/22/80 over border dispute • Khomeini to spread Islam rev.-despised Iraq’s Ba’ath (Sunni) oppressed Shiites (Iran) will overthrow Hussein? • Hussein felt Iran Sunnis would join Iraq vs Shia in Iran

5. Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) • Nationalism prevailed • US provides bio/chem weapons and tech to Iraq • Iran supporters include People’s Republic of China, Syria, Libya, North Korea.

7. Iran-Iraq War • Iran acquires weapons and parts for Shah-era US systems through Iran-Contra Affair first through Israel then directly through US

8. Iran-Contra Affair • 30 hostages had been taken by Hezbollah demanding release of Al-Dawa members (pro-Iranian militant org) imprisoned for series of truck bombs in Kuwait. • US hoped Iran would persuade Hezbollah to release 6 US hostages held in Lebanon in return for arms.

9. Iran-Contra Scandal • Reagan authorized arms to Iran to improve relations, not in exchange for hostages. • NS Advisor Poindexter and aide Oliver North propose direct sale to Iran at markup prices with $$ sent to Contras (backed by CIA to fight Sandinista comm in civil war) • Sale of weapons to Iran and Contra funding both violated US Boland Amendment

10. Boland Amendment • Signed by Reagan on 12/21/82. • Prohibits US gov military support to overthrow Nicaragua Govt. and bans appropriated CIA funding • Seen as unconstitutional interference w/ PR foreign policy • Reagan’s admin used non-appropriated NSC $ to circumvent • Congress later repealed Boland, funds contras—Sandinistas voted out in ‘90

12. US Atty Gen Edwin Meese admits profits from arms sales to Iran funded Contras (11/25/86) • NSC John Poindexter resigns • NSC aide Oliver North fired • 12/1/86 Reagan appoints Tower Commission (former Senator Tower, Sec of State Muskie, NSA Scowcroft)

13. 12/2/86 Reagan answers Tower Comm w/ poor memory • 2/26/87 Tower Report implicates North, Poindexter, Weinberger et al. • PR Reagan had no knowledge-should have had better control over NSC staff • Congress report 11/18/87 PR bore “ultimate responsibility”

14. Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger indicted for lying to Ind. Counsel (’87); pardoned by PR George HW Bush • John Tower nominated as Sec of Defense by PR Bush but not confirmed • Scowcroft named NSA

15. ’88 North indicted 12 counts -guilty of 3 minor – overturn on appeal (5th amend violated-cong. testimony under immunity used against him) ’90 Poindexter convicted on felony counts lying to Congress, obstruct. of justice, conspiracy, and altering/destroying documents - overturned on appeal Not retried by IC Larry Walsh

16. Contra-drug links • Sen John Kerry suspicious of North’s connection w/ Manuel Noriega (Panama drug baron who previously worked for CIA 1950-86) • Gary Webb “Dark Alliance” in 8/96 alleges cocaine dist. in US in 80s funded CIA-support of Contras. • Later disputed and denounced • Webb dead on 12/10/04 – 2 bullets to back of head deemed suicide (depression)

17. Significance of Iran-Contra Affair • PR foreign policy authority vs Congress and its laws: • PR approval of foreign arms sales w/o Congressional approval? • What info does PR provide Congress and when? • PR info to American people re: foreign policy deceptive for nat’l security? • Does Foreign policy funding need Congressional approval?

18. Significance of Iran-Iraq War • Disastrous to both economies; disrupts oil exports • Cost Iran 1.5 mil casualties and $350 billion – border remains. • Iran resents US helping Saddam & lack of punishment re chemical weapons vs. Iran, esp. since US opposed Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 & later removed Saddam

19. Significance of Iran-Iraq War • Iran PR Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and most of cabinet are veterans of war. • Iraq owes Kuwait $14 Billion • Leads to Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 (along w/ suspicion of Kuwait “slant-drilling” into Iraq for oil)

20. 1991 Gulf War • Aka: Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Shield (protect Saudi Arabia) and Operation Desert Storm (liberate Kuwait) • UN imposes sanctions vs. Iraq • US led coalition of 30 nations • “No Blood for Oil” protest – never reaches level of anti-Vietnam protests

21. 1991 Gulf War • 1/12/91 US Congress authorizes military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait • Operation Desert Storm: massive air campaign – 1000 sorties launched daily • Hussein: “Mother of all battles” • Airfields/defenses, communication and command facilities, and finally infrastructure targeted (Scud launchers, WMD sites, weapons research facilities, naval forces)

23. 1991 Gulf War • 2/24/91 US led ground campaign (Op Desert Sabre) • 2/26/91 Iraqi troops begin retreat, setting Kuwaiti oil fields on fire • 2/28/91 PR Bush declares ceasefire; Kuwait liberated.

25. 1991 Gulf War • Criticism: allowed Saddam to remain in power • Scowcroft and Sec of Def Dick Cheney: invading Baghdad and overthrowing gov’t would fracture alliance, cost too much in human/ political capital (only 146 Americans died in Operation Desert Storm) • Hoped for Iraqi revolt, but Hussein defeated coup attempts • 3/10/91 US troops leave Persian Gulf

26. War on Terrorism (2002) and Iraq (2003) • Afghanistan: Taliban targeted after 9/11 • Iraq becomes target leading to March 2003 Invasion of Iraq (WMD) • Revival of Islamic extremism (1979)

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