Saddam's Provocations: A Gamble for Unity or Scare Tactics?

President Clinton's reaction to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's recent military build-up and provocations near Kuwait highlights the complexities of dealing with a ruthless leader intent on maintaining power. Saddam's actions are shrouded in mystery, and his true intentions are impossible to discern. However, it is clear that he is seeking to create a diversion, whether to unite his country behind him or to intimidate his enemies.

Key Takeaways:

• Saddam Hussein is a gangster leader with a mentality to match, using economic sanctions to maintain control and enrich himself and his cohorts.
• The Iraqi people are suffering greatly under the sanctions, with many becoming restless and angry, leading to coup attempts and dissent within the military.
• Saddam's recent moves may be an attempt to signal toughness to foreign powers, but could also be a way to unite the country behind him or to intimidate his enemies.
• Sanctions enrich Saddam, who benefits from smuggling and blackmarket activity, but the US and its Gulf allies are reluctant to lift the oil embargo for fear it would allow him to build a new arsenal and threaten the region.
• The Security Council has postponed any decision on lifting sanctions, seeking maximum leverage while assessing Saddam's intentions.
• President Clinton has taken prudent action by ordering a military build-up in the Gulf, should Saddam's provocations turn into an invasion.

Statistics:

• Over three years have passed since economic sanctions were imposed on Iraq (1).
• The sanctions have seen Iraq's oil revenue turned off, exacerbating the suffering of the Iraqi people (1).
• Coup attempts are reported to be as frequent as ever in Iraq (1).

Sources:

• (1) Article: "PRESIDENT Clinton must be wishing that his predecessor had finished the job back in 1991 by ridding the world of Saddam Hussein once and for all" (No author or Date mentioned)