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Essay Name       : 811.txt 
Uploader         : Jennings
Email Address    : 
Language         : English
Subject          : Politics
Title            : Iraq: U.S. as International Police
Grade            : 85%
School System    : Community College
Country          : USA
Author Comments  : 
Teacher Comments : 
Date             : 10/15/96
Site found at    : internet search
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Since the Gulf War, the United States have continued to conduct covert military
operations in Iraq, most of which have involved the CIA.  Their goal was to bring
about the demise of Saddam Hussein.  Many attempts have been made to over-
throw the dictator usually ending with dismal results.  Even though the world
does need policing, the United States or any other Nation or State, is not solely
suited to the responsibility.  "Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator is a ruthless
despot who has brought enormous misery on his own people.  It is a pity he
remains in power..." (Finley 27).  When the subject is Iraq, the United States still
feel a need to act as International Police.
	Saddam's paranoia about plots to over-throw him has meant the death of
many.  One incident caused a Squadron Commander in the Iraqi army to bribe a
truck driver to sneak him out of Baghdad after discovering that Iraqi Intelligence
had been to his fathers home asking about an alleged coup plot to assassinate
Hussein.  After fleeing Baghdad, the Commander walked twenty five miles
across Iraqi army lines to a Kurdish defector camp.  This camp was set up in 1991 
by the United States, Britain and France.  Located in Northern Iraq, its primary
intent was to protect the 3.5 million Kurds from attacks by Saddam Hussein -
who retaliated to  the Kurdish rebellion against Baghdad near the end of the Gulf
War.  The "safe haven", encompassing over 14,000 square miles, also
accommodates defectors from the Iraqi army (Cooperman 59). 
	Hussein thoroughly purged his operations, executing hundreds of his
military officers who he felt were plotting against him.  A splinter group that
split from the Kurdish rebels, calling themselves the Kurdish Democratic Party,
and backed by Iraqi fighters, staged an assault on the defector camp killing
hundreds of suspected spies, confiscating computers, broadcast equipment and
printing presses that were later destroyed by Hussein's military members if
unable to be put to use.   All this equipment was provided by the CIA.  The
support of this defector camp is said to be "...the largest American-funded covert
operation since the Afghanistan War against the Soviet Union." (50).
	"...says Michael Dunn, editor of Estimate, a Washington based newsletter
on the Middle East, 'The side now mopping with Saddam is the one we were
closest with.  Are we now going to attack the very Kurds we have been
protecting for five years?'..." (Cooperman 50).
	The CIA also helped an organization called the Iraqi National Congress,
an organization that broadcasts radio and television propaganda; based out of
London, England, this opposition group produces videos and radio programs
that pin-point the scandalous and evil ways of Saddam Hussein and the political
necessity of his demise. The Iraqi National Accord, another opposition group,
were channeled technical information by United States Intelligence hoping that
they could help Iraqi military insiders stage a revolt sometime in the future
(Cooperman 60).
	Until recently the CIA had four or five American agents working
undercover in Kurdistan.  The American station chief, only referred to as "Bob,"
pressed Kurdish rebels to mount an offensive against Iraqi troops, promising air
support from U.S. military fighter planes.  The support from the United States
never materialized leaving the Kurdish people to suffer shelling in retaliation to
their attack (Cooperman 59).  Even after failing to supply the Kurdish army with
the needed back-up the CIA has continued to support and direct a small army of
Iraqi defectors this year.  Having said that, at this moment in time, all covert
operations are in disarray.  Those alleged to have worked with the CIA claim
they have been abandoned. 
	Possibly experiencing a rare state of compassion, Hussein offered "general
amnesty" for all Kurdish people but stated that it did not apply to those who had
worked for "foreign organizations." (60) With the exertion of military force he has
made it very clear as to what will happen to those who may be planning an over-
throw or to those who may rely on CIA support (59).
	Saddam continues to build his defenses.  Weaponry has been confiscated
in the past and more recently advanced missile guidance equipment, high-tech
machine tools, used in the manufacture of chemical weapons and substances,
have been confiscated from Iraq by United Nations investigators.  The
equipment bears Russian identification though it is yet unclear whether it was
sanctioned by Russia or as a result of black market trade ("Missile Equipment
Found" 32).  In this case, where chemical warfare is the issue, the United Nations
had every right to step in and use the powers that they have.
	After threats made by Iraq to fire upon United States aircraft patrolling
the no-fly-zone, a missile attack targeting Iraqi air defense posts was ordered by
President Clinton.  "Because of the attack, two of Hussein's Republican Guard
units based in the expanded no-fly-zone are now 'uncovered' by Iraqi air
defense.  'They have lost the element of surprise... We have materially reduced
Hussein's ability to mount a threat.' claims a senior U.S. official." (Cooperman
50).  The reaction to this missile attack has not necessarily negative but its been
reported that the side effects may not be favorable.  "Although they (the U.S.) are
undertaken to make Saddam behave, the assaults ordered by Clinton have the
unfortunate effect of strengthening the Iraqi dictators standing as a domestic
hero..." (Finley 27) was how Finley viewed it.  Further along in his article he
mentioned that further assaults would strengthen Saddam's domestic standings
because it would instigate propaganda portraying America as Iraq's foremost
enemy;  also stated by Finley "As the Vietnam war demonstrated, once guns are
fired, an upward spiral of violence is almost certain to follow." (27).
	Is the United States really helping the situation in Iraq?  Or are we just
vying for attention?  Do we need to leave problems that are not our own in the
hands of those they really belong to? There are those who would tend to think
so. 
	"The United States is once again trying to act as world policeman, and, in
this case, even trying to correct abuses within a sovereign state." (Finley 27)
 
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