IRAQ: A STUDY OF CHANGING POLITICAL DYNAMICS SINCE 2001 DISSERT ilTlON SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF iflafitcr of ^{jilogopljp IN POLITICAL SCIENCE BY NAUREEN KHAN Under the Supervision of Dr. Mohammad Naseem Khan DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2010 >'»jr '^^ ^^A l^SlL'^ Unij5 1 8 SEh tjil DS4009 Vepvttme»tt o^ VoiCUccd Science TELEPHONES: Chairman : (0571)2701720 ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY AMUPABX : 700916/700920-21-22 ALIGARH - 202 002 Chairman ; 1561 Office : 1560 FAX : 0571-700528 Dated. Irl^olb Certificate This is to certify that the dissertation entitled "Iraq: A Study of Changing Political Dynamics Since 2001" has been completed by Miss Naureen Khan under my supervision and to the best of my knowledge is an original work and suitable for the submission for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy in Political Science. (Mohammad Waseem Khan) Supervisor dedicated Ob My (Beloved (Parents CONTENTS Acknowledgement i - ii List of Abbreviations iii Preface 1-5 CHAPTER- 1 Iraq: A Historical and Political Background 6-44 CHAPTER - 2 Iraq Under Saddam Hussein 45-84 CHAPTER-3 Iraq's Changing Political Dynamics 85-121 Since 2001 CHAPTER-4 Iraq's Political Impasse and US Action 122-156 In 2003 CONCLUSION: Iraq at the Crossroads 157-163 BIBLIOGRAPHY: 164-177 AcknowCedgement It is a pfeasant duty for me to ac^owCecfge the ^ncfness of my teacders, friends and weCC-wisfiers wHose support and encouragement have enaSCedme to compCete my wor^ It gives me immense pCeasure to ey^press my deep sense of gratitude and sincere than^ to <Prof Mohammad 9/Lahmood, Chairman, (Department of (PoCiticaf Science, Ji.M.l)., JlCigarh, for his vafuaSCe suggestions and constant heCpfrom time to time. Wo words are enough to ej<;press my gratitude to my Supervisor, (Dr. Mohammad^Kaseem %han, -whose guidance; support and encouragement have pCayed a major roCe in the compCetion of my wor^ I woufd not 6e exaggerating if I say that it is to him that I owe deepest deSt. My understanding of the suSject has Seen shaped By aCC my teachers in the (Department of (Pofiticaf Science, A-M.V, JLfigarh. T^heir encouragement and co-operation has aided me in comprehending diverse issues during the course of my wor^ I ta^ this opportunity to ac^owCedge their contriSution. I express my deep sense of gratitude to the staff offoCCowing fiSraries for a flowing me access to the material concerning my wor^ Maufana Jlzad Lidrary (yi.M.V., Migarh); Centre of M/est Asian Studies (JL.M.V., jAfigarh); Centre of West Jisian Studies (Jamia ^ifia IsCamia, ([N'ew OeCHi); Institute for (Defense Studies and Jlnafyses (^ew (DeCfii). I woufcC afso Ci^ to tdan^my SeCoved -parents. It is indeed their inspiration, moraf and emotionaC support and SCessings tfiat gave me the strength and determination to comptete this wor^ This acknowtedgement would not be comptete without mentioning the precious support of %amran %han andAftaS JiCam [N'ajmifor their constant encouragement. I wouCd afso Ci^ to than^ my friends and weCC-wishers for their eSuCCient Behaviour which made my wor^much easier. Last 6ut not the [east, I must confess that inspite of such he[p from so many quarters, omissions and commissions if any, they are adsoCuteCy mine. Naureen Khan 11 List of Abbreviations CPA Coalition Provisional Authority DPK Democratic Party of Kurdistan IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IIP Iraqi Islamic Party IMIK Islamic Movement of Iraqi Kurdistan INA Iraq National Accord INC Iraqi National Congress INF Iraqi National Front INM Iraqi National Movement INOC Iraq National Oil Company KDP Kurdistan Democratic Party KNA Kurdish National Assembly KPC Kuwait Petroleum Company OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries PKK Kurdish Worker's Party PUK Patriotic Union of Kurdistan SCIRI Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq UAE United Arab Emirates UN United Nations UNIKOM UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission UNMIK UN Interim Administration in Kosovo UNMOVIC UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission UNSCOM UN Special Commission on Disarmament US United States WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction WTC World Trade Centre in PREFACE Iraq has always been a country whose activities and actions iiave impacted all its neighbours in the Gulf region. Its natural wealth, if optimally exploited, can bring great benefit to the Iraqi people. It is also a country that can contribute to regional stability and economic prosperity. A stable Iraq under a legitimate and stable Government has the potential to be a positive force in the Middle East. Iraq is one of the largest reservoirs of oil in Persian Gulf region. The strategic and economic importance of Iraq increased along with the rising importance of petroleum in the world economy. Iraq since ages had been under different rulers and dynasties. The Ottomans ruled Iraq till 1914 after which it came under the mandatory authority of the British Empire. In 1932 Iraq gained independence after a long struggle against the British Empire but the real power rested with the Britishers and it was in 1958 that Iraq got complete freedom from Britishers. From 1958 till 1979 there were several changes in the administration of Iraq, which witnessed the changing of monarchy into dictatorship. Not only, this during this period Saddam Hussein made his position very strong and ultimately compelled Ahmad Hasan al Bakr to resign in 1979. In 1979, Saddam Hussein took over the Presidentship of Iraq and in 1980 launched a war against Iran which continued till 1988. In 1990-91, the Gulf crisis broke out when Iraqi forces crossed into Kuwait and captured it on the basis of historical claims. However, the international community did not entertain this act of aggression by Iraq on Kuwait. As a result US led coalition forces took action against Iraq and liberated Kuwait in 1991. With this disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991, US emerged as a sole super power in International politics. The end of Cold War has entirely changed the political 1 landscape of International relations from where the US adopted and operated policy of containment of Soviet Union till 1991. After the end of Cold War, realizing the growing power of Iran and Iraq US adopted a policy of dual containment. This policy states the US determination to weaken Iran and Iraq militarally, economically and politically. Assuming power in January 2001 the US President George W. Bush decided to take action against Iraq on the pretext of WMD. Subsequently, US invaded Iraq on March 2003 stating the reason that Iraq has failed to abandon its nuclear, biological and chemical weapons development programs that were considered to be in violation of the UN Resolution 687. Another reason given by US for invasion was to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein from power to bring democracy and stability in Iraq. The war of 2003 turned the entire situation of Iraq critical and murky. The war in Iraq 2003 that led to the toppling of Saddam Hussein has received mixed reaction and international controversy and placed the politics of Iraq in international affairs as crucial and significant. The 9/11, 2001, event in US have dramatically changed the political matrix of international system. The current study entitled "Iraq: A Study of Changing Political Dynamics Since 2001" explores different dimensions of Iraq and its internal and external elements which particularly emerged after 2001. The dissertation also attempts to provide a detailed description of events leading to the war of 2003 and the internal and external political conditions of Iraq since 2001. It seeks to unfold the underlying reasons for unstable political situation in Iraq and the role of various political dynamics since 2001. This dissertation offers to examine the role played by the internal political dynamics such as Kurdish problem, Shia-Sunni tension and other factors which greatly influence the political affairs of Iraq. This study also focuses on the behaviour of Iraq as an independent country at regional and international level. It seeks to analyse the reactions and response of Iraq on September II, 2001, the issues of WMD in Iraq and US unilateral action on Iraq in 2003. The study attempts to show the role of US in Iraq before and after 2003. The central aim of the dissertation is to highlight the major political dynamics of Iraq, which have emerged since 2001 till the war of 2003 and thereafter. Another aim is to point out the impacts of war on Iraqi people and its changing political system. It was necessary to make a detailed study on this issue because the general public domain must also understand the present political situation of Iraq, as how the political instability in Iraq is hampering its development and causing impediments in proper functioning of the government. This work also highlights the problems of Iraqi people, the condition of minorities and other external political dynamics and forces in Iraq and US as pre­ eminent political factor since 2003. This work highlights the reactions of US since 9/11, against Iraq and reasons for attacking Iraq in 2003. This study is divided into four Chapters and a Conclusion, which gives a detailed description about the internal and external political dynamics of Iraq since 2001. Chapter first deals with the historical and political background of Iraq. The attempts are made to provide a brief history of Iraq from the Mongol invasion till the coming up of Saddam Hussein as leader in 1979. In this chapter, the rule of Ottomans i.e. from 1516-1955 is described in a comprise manner, detailed study of Iraq and mandatory authority under League of Nations (1914-1932) is done.