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Oil-rich Iraq has been dragged into two wars within 12 years, but this time, the offensive by the US-led coalition forces is focusing on toppling President Saddam Hussein, a different yet much tougher job than the 1991 Gulf war for the United States.
In August 1990, the Iraqi military invaded neighboring Kuwait and briefly occupied the country, triggering fears of the threat to national security among Gulf countries. The Iraqi invasion into Kuwait came as a surprise to the United States and its Western allies too, who immediately felt the threat to their all-important oil supply from the Gulf region.
To end Iraqi occupation of Kuwait and ensure their national interests in this strategically important region, the United States spearheaded efforts to liberate Kuwait by forming a coalition force to root up Iraqi troops in Kuwait.
But the case for war was not so strong this time when US President George W. Bush decided to launch a military offensive against Iraq, citing Iraq's intention to develop weapons of mass destruction and its support for terrorism.
However, only a fraction of the international community accepted Bush's war rhetoric, and most of them voiced opposition to a war with Iraq. Most members of the UN Security Council insisted on continuing weapons inspections to achieve Iraq's disarmament.
Following Iraq's invasion into Kuwait, the UN Security Council passed a series of resolutions condemning the Iraqi aggressive move and accusing Iraq of violating the UN Charter and international laws. The coalition forces headed for the Gulf in 1991 with a UN mandate to drive out Iraqi troops and restore national sovereignty in Kuwait.
A UN resolution that would authorize the use of force was also desperately sought by the United States, Britain and Spain in a swirl of diplomacy earlier this month, but the saber-rattling trio had to give up efforts to secure the UN mandate after failing to recruit support from most members of the UN Security Council, notably Russia and France who vowed to veto it if presented for a vote.
And starting a war in Iraq without a UN mandate does not only mean a high price, literally, for the US but also few partners in action.
In 1991 , a total of 36 countries from Asia, Africa, Europe and America joined the coalition forces in liberating Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. Partners with the US in the Gulf war included Arab countries like Egypt, Syria and six countries in the Gulf region, and a few more countries aided the US-led operation in other ways.
For the current military operation, only Britain and Australia have contributed a sizable force to battlefront in Iraq. NATO allies like Germany, France and Belgium refused to offer military support for the US operation.
Tactical difficulties also stood in the way of US operations. Iraqi troops are scattered around the country, making them less vulnerable to intensive US air strikes.
Massive air strikes are also likely to cause considerable civilian casualties, which will invite stronger opposition to a war whose case is already weakened by the absence of a UN mandate.
Moreover, US and British troops are expected to meet much fiercer resistance from Iraqis than in the 1991 Gulf war, as the Bush administration is bent on ousting their leader.
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2003)
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