ELEMENTS OF A CASE STUDY: IRAQ, THE SOVIET UNION, AND THE UNITED STATES, 1945-90

ELEMENTS OF A CASE STUDY: IRAQ, THE SOVIET UNION, AND THE UNITED STATES, 1945-90

·         Nasser Sukarno and Tito sign the positive neutralism doctorine claiming to be neutral and neither east nor west. April-may 1955

·         In early 1955 israel attacks Gaza, and Egypt asks US for arms, the US denies Egypt

·         In September, Czechoslovakia, acting on behalf of the soviet union announced it would sell arms to Egypt(and later to Syria).

·         Greatly enhanced soviet union image in both countries as well in iraq.

·         At this stage the main objective of the Iraqi opposition was to become truly independent from Britain and set up a national government.no mistaking US hand behind Bagdad pact the anti American feeling was secondary to an anti british feeling because of the british presence, military bases and regimes obvious dependence on Britain were daily realities.

·         Hostility towards Britain increased during the tripartite invasion of Egypt in 1956, which transformed Nasser from an Egyptian arab to a political figure with irrestible appeal.

·         Iraqi revolution in 1958

·         Eisenhower administration responds to suez by trying to build up king Saud of Saudi Arabia as a counterweight to Nasser, and the pledge to come to the aid of nationsthreatendby international communism had little immediate impact on Iraq.

·         Eisenhower doctrine- says US will come to aid any country being threatened by international communism

·         Iraqi public imagination had been captured by the announcement of setting up the UAR(United Arab republic)egypt and Syria in spring 1958

·         Washinton worried about UAR

·         UAR in 1958 threateen Lebanon, Lebanese USA friends alleges.

·         UAR Syrian ba’th’s idea not nassers

·         Middle east countries although set up in military fashion were not communist or socialist

·         Iraqi were largely anti American which meant anti imperialists and anti Zionists while full of praise for soviets the socialists friends

·         1972 iraq nationalizes Iraqi oil with the help of soviets. Most of the profits went into the pockets of saddam Hussein and his cronies which enabled him to stay in power for so long

·         US overthrows Qasim in 1963 from Iraq and the massacre of the left was regarded as positive developments, akin to overthrow of musaddiq ten years earlier, and the overthrow of Allende ten years later.