Kuwait ↔ George H.W. Bush

Relations (1)

related 3.46 — strongly supporting 10 facts

George H.W. Bush was the U.S. President during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, a crisis he managed by demanding an unconditional Iraqi withdrawal [1] and engaging in various diplomatic and military maneuvers regarding the occupation [2], [3], [4], and [5].

Facts (10)

Sources

The Persian Gulf TV War by Douglas Kellner (http://www.gseis.ucla ... pages.gseis.ucla.edu Douglas Kellner · UCLA 10 facts

claimDouglas Kellner claims that major U.S. newspapers, news magazines, and television networks failed to criticize or debate the wisdom of the George H.W. Bush administration's decision to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia.

perspectiveDouglas Kellner argues that President George H.W. Bush could have prevented the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait by directly contacting Iraq or making a public statement warning Iraq of the consequences of invading its neighbor.

accountYasir Arafat delivered a letter from Saddam Hussein to a Palestinian businessman with White House contacts, addressed to George Bush, which confirmed that Iraq was ready to withdraw from Kuwait provided that its problems with Kuwait were resolved first.

quoteOn August 3, 1990, the New York Times editorial board stated: "The U.S. has no treaty obligation to come to Kuwait's aid. But the gulf states and most nations still look to Washington for leadership and help in organizing action. President Bush has responded with the right lead--a strong national stand and a strong push for collective diplomacy."

accountThe London-based Mideast Mirror reported that King Hussein of Jordan brought a peace proposal from Iraq to President George H.W. Bush, in which Saddam Hussein expressed willingness to negotiate a withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, provided that U.N. sanctions were lifted and the U.S. military buildup in Saudi Arabia ended, with the exception of the restoration of the al-Sabah clan in Kuwait.

claimPierre Salinger and Eric Laurent claimed that the Bush administration actively subverted Arab attempts to reach a diplomatic solution to the Kuwait crisis in early August 1990.

claimDouglas Kellner claims that the George H.W. Bush administration exaggerated the number of Iraqi troops in Kuwait and the threat to Saudi Arabia to scare the Saudis into accepting U.S. troops and to justify the U.S. military buildup and eventual military action.

claimGeneral Colin Powell concluded that Iraq was not bluffing about invading Kuwait and told Dick Cheney to warn President George H.W. Bush, but no action was taken.

perspectiveGeorge Bush used the Gulf War crisis to divert attention from domestic economic problems by scapegoating Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait for rising oil prices and economic instability.

claimThe Bush administration dismissed Iraqi peace offers because President George H.W. Bush demanded the unconditional withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait.