1Chemical Warfare in Iran/Iraq and Gulf WarSpecial Guest: Lieutenant Colonel Gary SargentHistory OverviewHistory of Iran/Iraq and Gulf WarsRise of Saddamz In 1968, Saddam participated in a bloodless coup led by Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr that overthrew Abdul Rahman Arif, the former Presidentz Al-Bakr was named president and Saddam was named his deputy, and deputy chairman of the Baathist Revolutionary Command Councilz By 1969 Saddam Hussein clearly had become the moving force behind the Ba’ath party Saddam Exercises His Powerz In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s Saddam raised support for the Ba’athparty, and strengthened Iraq’s economy through oilz In 1976 Saddam rose to the position of general in the Iraqi armed forces z On July 16th, 1979 Saddam forced the ailing al-Bakr to resign and formally became the president or Iraq2Iran/Iraq Confrontationsz Conflicts originated centuries earlier (as far back as 2650 BC) between Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and the rugged highlands to the east (modern Iran) over the sovereignty of Khuzestan z In 1969, the deputy prime minister of Iraq openly declared: "Iraq's dispute with Iran is in connection with Arabistan (Khuzestan) which is part of Iraq's soil and was annexed to Iran during foreign rule." z Iran and Iraq remained in a constant state of tension until on September 22, 1980, Saddam ordered the invasion of IranObjectives of the Iraqi Invasionz Acquisition of the Arvandrud/Shatt al-Arab waterway as part of Iraqi territory (Iraq's only port connection to The Persian Gulf).z Acquisition of the three islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, on the unilateral behalf of the United Arab Emirates. z Annexing Khuzestan as part of Iraqi territory. Arvandrud/Shatt al-Arab WaterwayAbu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs3KhuzestanSaddam’s Acquisition of Chemical Weapons z Chemical Precursors (largest contributors):z Singapore – 4,515 tonsz Netherlands – 4,261 tonsz Egypt – 2,400 tonsz India – 2,343 tonsz Federal Republic of Germany – 1,027 tonsz Production Equipmentz 340 separate pieces obtained from Germany, France, Spain and Austriaz Chemical Weapon Munitions (largest contributers):z Italy – 75,000 munitionsz Spain – 57,500 munitionsz China – 45,000 munitionsz Egypt – 28,500 munitionsSaddam’s Acquisition of Biological Weaponsz Saddam was allegedly able to procure 17 separate agents from the United States and France (among others) in the 1980’s z The microorganisms exported by the United States were identical to those the UN inspectors found and recovered from the Iraqi biological warfare program United States Support of Iraq During Iran/Iraq Warz Based off the economic standpoint of insuring the future oil supply of the United States, the government felt it necessary to intervenez After the Iranian revolution, animosity between Iran and the U.S. ran high. Stewed by the Iranian Hostage Crisis it was concluded that Saddam was the “Lesser of Two Evils”4U.S. Exports to Iraqz 70 separate shipments of biological agents including anthrax and West Nile Virusz Military intelligence, including satellite intelligence for bombing raidsz “Dual use” technology z equipment able to be used for both civilian and military use, mostly in the form of light trucks and helicoptersz Economic aidEnd of Iran/Iraq Warz Although one of the gravest wars of attrition of the 20thcentury, and despite numerous ceasefires, the Iran/Iraq war finally ended on August 20th, 1988z Outcomes for Iran:z 1 million Iranian casualtiesz 350 billion dollar costz Stalled economic development z Loss of oil industry and oil exports (Iran has still yet to recover)z Outcomes for Iraq:z Left in serious debt, including $14 billion to Kuwaitz War left borders unchangedz Oil industry and oil exports damagedz Saddam had to recognize Iranian rights over the eastern half of the Shatt al-Arab Post Iran/Iraq War Animositiesz Iraq was left in huge debt to the west and neighboring Arab countriesz Kuwait had loaned $14 billion to Iraq and would not forgive the debt at Saddam’s behest that he fought the war for the Arab people and that everyone should have to contribute for the greater goodz Iraq believed Kuwait to be slant-drilling into Iraqi oil supplies Invasion of Kuwaitz Iraq invades Kuwait on August 2nd, 1990z Saddam believed he was justified based on the illegal slant-drilling that was occuring along the Iraqi-Kuwait borderz Saddam also saw the opportunity to relieve a $14 billion debt5Coalitionz Consisted of 34 countries: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United Statesz Assembled by the United States in order to follow through with Resolution 678, passed on November 29, 1990 by the UN and the Arab League, giving Iraq a withdrawal deadline of January 15, 1991, and authorizing “all necessary means to uphold and implement Resolution 660,” a diplomatic formulation authorizing the use of force. z On January 12, 1991, the United States Congress authorized the use of military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait End of Gulf Warz The Gulf War ended on March 1, 1991 with Saddam Hussein still in powerz Iraqi casualties were estimated to be approximately 100,000 killed and 300,000 wounded z Coalition casualties were estimated to be 378 killed, and less than 1000 wounded z As of the year 2000, coalition casualties have been re-estimated to be about 183,000 U.S. casualties due to their suffering from an array of serious symptoms whose causes are not fully understood Saddam’s Chemical Weapons ArsenalCW Beginningsz Mid-1960s: Established Chemical Corps tasked with the nuclear, biological and chemical protection of Iraqi troops and civilians• Mid 1970s: Corps develops laboratory-scale facility that later synthesizes chemical warfare agents -- Muthanna State Establishmentz Main Components of Arsenal: CS, Mustard, Tabun, Sarin, Cyclosarinz Logistics of Deploymentz Special chemical troops z Delivery by aerial bombs, artillery clusters6CW Arsenal: CS gasBirthdate:1928Claim to Fame: Riot-control agentEffects: Irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and skin.Iraqi Research: Began in late 1970sIraqi Production: Not AvailableIraqi Use: At beginning of