Bush Sr. did not "liberate" Kuwait

[Stop_the_War]

I know this issue is an old one but the freepers are sometimes using it. So here's why the U.S. invaded Kuwait:

Kuwait has a massive supply of oil. It was for this and for this only that the U.S. involved itself in the conflict. Kuwait is and has been an absolute monarchy (dictatorship) ruled by the al-Sabah family. When Saddam Hussein took the reigning al-Sabah out of power, the U.S. came in , won the war, and re-instated the dictator because the U.S. wanted to protect their oil interests. There are no real elections in Kuwait. The head of state is the royal Emir. There is a "national assembly" of only 50 members. I don't know how many people of this are actually elected, since government ministers (appointed by the Emir) are included in the assembly. In elections to elect the "national assembly", only 15% of the population are allowed to vote. There are many that are not allowed to vote, including women, recently naturalised citizens and members of the armed forces. There are no political parties in Kuwait.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. We also started the war. Saddam (our ally) asked us if we would

mind if he invaded Kuwait. Our envoy told him that we would consider it an"internal Arab issue" and not interfere.

Not to mention the fake intelligence (read: LIES) about huge armies lined up on the Saudi border, ready to invade.

[bryant69]

2. That bit about being better under Saddam I'd drop

For one thing it's flame bait as you know. For another, if you allow that as an argument, than you open the door to what we are currently doing in Iraq. After all, President Bush and most conservatives believe that Iraqis lives will be better under us and under the new government than they have in the past (and in 5 years, there's an outside chance they will be right (although that's not a horse I would put money on)).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[bloom]

5. I don't know what he said about

being better under Saddam - since he must have edited it - but that is a common opinion over in Iraq - from what I hear - as far as the current situation.

[PsN2Wind]

3. I don't have the exact quote

but Bush the Elder referred to "returning democracy to Kuwait".

[FloridaPat]

4. The Kuwait government also promised to allow women the vote.

As you pointed out, they're still waiting. Seems our gov't is only interested in women's right to vote before invasions.