Lecture 7 - Post Cold War thru 2020s

Question 1

Why didn’t the coalition/United States remove Saddam Hussein at the end of the Persian Gulf War?

Answer 1

1. The Coalition would break down (sovereignty would become compromised)
2. Fears of Civil War btwn Shi’a, Sunni, and Kurd
3. Upset regional balance of power
4. Costly

Question 2

UNSOM I, UNITAF, and UNSOM II all have what in common?

Answer 2

They represent three stages of UN involvement in Somalia
UNOSOM I - Peacekeeping
UNITAF - Enforce UN resolution to stabilize situation
UNOSOM II - Nation-building efforts that leads to Somali retaliation and death

Question 3

Who introduced identity cards into Rwanda?

Answer 3

Belgians when they colonized the area

Question 4

What is the importance of Operation Desert Storm?

Answer 4

1. Reputation/Moral Authoriy - Iraqis knew they wouldn’t get tortured
2. Collective security - UN is more effective as an organization
3. US/Western Powers - Possibilities of Air Power (Ex - Air Force)
4. Economic Sanctions Regime - destroys Iraq infrastructure/economy/citizens

Question 5

What is the Background of the Rwandan Genocide?

Answer 5

1. Belgians - Germans - Belgian country until 1962
2. Hutus and Tutsis are main societal groups, formed by ID cards introduced by Belgians. Very aggressive towards each other
3. Moderate Hutu president is killed, extremist Hutus begin genocide, killing 800k Tutsis
4. Ends when Rwandan Patriotic Front captures country

Question 6

What were the effects of the Rwandan Genocide?

Answer 6

1. Memory impacts (West/UN felt shame for what happens, started using force more after)
2. International Intervention/Law - Development of ICC, protection instead of intervention

Question 7

How was Al Qaeda unique as a terrorist organization?

Answer 7

1. They were explicit about killing civilians (democratic)
2. They had a Caliphate rather than nation-state
3. They rejected international institutions (UN)

Question 8

What was Operation Desert Fox?

Answer 8

US attacks to cripple Iraqi WMD production. Leaves no intelligence inside Iraq 1998-2003

Question 9

What are the three major ethnic groups in Iraq?

Answer 9

1. Sunni (Western)
2. Shi’a (Southern)
3. Kurd (Northern)

Question 10

What did Paul Bremer, head of Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, do?

Answer 10

1. Dissolves Iraqi Army
2. Outlaws Baath party, removes all associates from government buildings
3. Closes down state buildings to stimulate free market

Question 11

Why are Paul Bremer’s actions important?

Answer 11

1. Loss of Security in Iraq
2. Disrupts infrastructure, loses professional classes
3. Alienates non-criminal Iraqis, hollows middle class
4. Loses multi-sectional unifying institutions (military, public sector)

Question 12

What were some consequences to leaving weapons depots unguarded during Operation Iraqi Freedom?

Answer 12

1. It led to some of the material used to make IED’s (improvised explosive devices)
2. It prevented Counterinsurgency and getting out amongst the population and people (random ppl had weapons)

Question 13

What were the results from having a lack of troops in Iraq post-2003?

Answer 13

1. Unguarded borders (foreign fighters)
2. No lawful presence to reconstruct infrastructure
3. Deficit in prison control (20:1)
4. Weapons depots unguarded

Question 14

Why did both Bush and Obama agree to withdraw troops after the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement?

Answer 14

Leaving them in Iraq would place them in Iraqi legal jurisdiction, and Iraqi sovereignty was internationally highlighted

Question 15

What was the agreement signed in February of 2020 that led to the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan?

Answer 15

Doha agreement