MIDDLE EAST (GULF) WAR JUSTIFICATION

US and UN Justifications:

Several justifications were provided by the United Nations and the United States with regards the conflict engagement. The most prominent reason cited was the violation of the territorial integrity of the nation of Kuwait by Iraq. Another reason cited is that the United States immediately came along in support of its long time friend, Saudi Arabia which has tremendous importance geopolitically as a major oil supplier. In his speech delivered on the 11th of September, 1990, George H. W Bush mentioned that it was necessary to check the aggression of more than 1,20,000 Iraqi troops and 850 tanks which had entered Kuwaiti territory and were further moving south to imperil Saudi Arabia. The main source of the information was the satellite images which hinted at major Iraqi buildup of forces along the Kuwaiti border.

Miscellaneous:

Even though the human rights abuses prior to and after the invasion of Kuwait were well credentialed, the Kuwaiti Government took the first step to influence US opinion with some accounts. After the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, the agency “Citizens for a free Kuwait” was established in US. This organization hired “Hill & Knowlton”, a public relations company for approximately $ 11 million which was then paid by the government of Kuwait. The firm publicized a campaign whereby a Kuwaiti City nurse described the scene of Iraqi soldiers killing babies by pulling them out of incubators. This narration influenced both the Congressmen and the public in initiating a war against Iraq. In a 52-47 margin vote, the Senate approved the bill. A year later, the allegations leveled by the nurse were found to be fake. It was found that the woman who testified was a member of the Royal family of Kuwait and was living in Paris at the time of the war.  This is indicative of the fact that the woman was not present in Kuwait at the time of the war.

Other Justifications: