did America build Iraq during the early rain of Saddam Husein?

Question

no sarcastic comments please!

Answer 1

The USA played a very minor role in arming Iraq. If you look up Sipri.org, you will find a very complete database of information about this subject.

The USA ranked about even with Denmark in providing military support to Iraq. The percentage of US support ranges from 1 to 3 percent, depending on whether or not you include arms purchased by Iraq from other countries as a result of the USA lifting their sanctions on international loans and financing in the 80s. By far the biggest suppliers were Russia, France, and Germany.

The USA supplied basically nothing for the WMDs that Iraq used in the 80s. There were two small sales of some chemicals that could have been used somewhere in the manufacture of chemical weapons, but since the chemicals in question are also commonly used as fire suppressant in oil fields, of which Iraq has just a couple, there is no clear cut connection. There are clear cut connections to the main sources of the chemical weapons though, Germany, France, Singapore, Egypt, and Russia are the notable connections.

As far as conventional arms, Iraq relied mainly on Soviet weaponry. They also purchased a number of French Mirage fighter aircraft. The only USA manufactured armament ever purchased was a handful of surplus howitzers bought from Egypt after the afore-mentioned sanctions were pulled, and possibly one delivery of cluster bombs from Chile through some back-door channels. No direct sales of miltary arms ever took place between Saddam's government and the USA. Anyone who says anything else is deluded.

Answer 2

Iraq was already a somewhat powerful nation. After the 1979 revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini and the exile of the Shah of Iran (who was a US Ally), Sadam Husein decided that the time was right to attack the new Islamic Republic of Iran. The US had troubles with the Ayatollah Khomeini (during the Carter Administration) when his followers stormed the US Embassy and took 55 Americans hostage 50 of which were held for 444 days. They did this because the Shah went to the US to be treated for cancer and the US refused to turn him over to Iran for trial and execution. When Saddam attacked Iran the US saw this as a good opportunity to take care of the Iranian "problem" and supported Saddam with some arms and biological weapons, however the majority of Saddam's conventional weapon arsenal were from the Soviet Block.

Answer 3

When Saddam Hussein took control of Iraq in the early 1980's, we must remember that our relationship with Iran was far worse than it is now. We were living in the wake of the Iranian Revolution and the subsequent Iranian hostage crisis (which, among other things, propelled Ronald Reagan into the presidency). Traditional enmity between Iraq and Iran made Saddam a potential ally.

So we pursued relations with Iraq, especially after Saddam started his sneak attack war against Iran--a war that eventually lasted six years and cost 600,000 lives. It's been admitted by members of the Reagan administration that we provided Saddam with important data concerning Iran's military capabilities and gave them satellite data on Iran's movements. Does that constitute "building" Iraq up? I am not sure.

In 1984, there was the now infamous meeting between then Reagan envoy, Donald Rumsfeld, and Saddam Hussein. This meeting ended in an agreement to provide Iraq with important "agricultural" technology--technology that could (and was used) to produce chemical weapons. Those weapons were subsequently used against Iranian troops and more famously against Iraq's Kurdish minority in 1989.

Does that mean that the US built up Iraq in this context? I would say it is more likely. The sad truth is that we used a tinpot, murderous dictator in the name of larger geopolitical purpose. Saddam was nothing new--we have done it many times before.

What that says about American foreign policy is perhaps a better question for debate...

Answer 4

they did no longer build Iraq, they geared up Husein's means to construct Iraq. this is like a make artwork venture. American knew this is financial gadget relies upon on militia contracts produced by ability of wars and knew it become going to wish an enemy in a decade or so. So help out a pair adult men build there armies and then activate them. Bin weighted down and Husein have been suckered into an conflict with u.s. by ability of u.s..

Answer 5

They gave Saddam weapons when Iraq was fighting with Iran.

Answer 6

Before BUSH I, Iraq was the second biggest Oil Producer in the world. It was about as liberal as anywhere in the Middle East, you could buy alchohol, women did not have to wear scarves. There were even good sized Chrisian and jewish communities. Of course Political dissent was punishable by painful death, but that's the same in Egypt or Pakistan.

We didn't build it up, oil revenues did

Answer 7

The USA and Russia sold arms to Iran and Iraq during and before the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980's. Our hand in this later became known as the Iran Contra affair.. but for the short answer.. we didn't create them.. we just gave them strength so as to balance each other out.

Answer 8

Yes, American corporations and the American government did business with Iraq. Our enemy then was Iran, as it is now, and Saddam Hussein was Iran's enemy. Have you heard of the saying, "My enemy's enemy is my friend?" Our ex-Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, had personal talks with Hussein in Iraq; I've seen the video.

Answer 9

In the 1980's after the Iranian hostage situation at the US Embassy the US started to support Saddam Hussein in his war with Iran.

Answer 10

Sorry but I have to be sarcastic here. No Iraq built the world some 5000 years ago.