Although the U.S and its friends resented the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, Iraq’s reasons were not unjustified. The question also arose that did the U.S have a hand to play in the events leading to the invasion: was Iraq compelled into a situation where it reached a point of no return? First and foremost, however, not only was this invasion over financial debt but also over the overproduction of oil which Kuwait took in its hands against all kinds of pressures from Iraq and the OPEC. It is true that Iraq wasn’t able to pay the $80 billion (US) debt it had borrowed from Kuwait and other countries, but, this payment was unconditional and didn’t have to be returned according to an agreement between Kuwait and Iraq (Cooper, 2003). Moreover, Kuwait had its own interests in the war against Iran as it was under attack from Iran: weapons were fired at Kuwaiti
Cited: Friedman, Thomas L. (17 December 1990). "Standoff in the Gulf; A Partial Pullout By Iraq is Feared as Deadline 'Ploy '". The New York Times (Brussels). Retrieved 17 April 2010 Gregory, D Invasion of Kuwait. (2013, February 02). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 11, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_kuwait Iran reportedly fires on kuwaiti island Iranian Revolution. (2013, December 02). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 12, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution Linn, R Takhey, R. (2010). The Iran- Iraq War: A Reassessment. The Middle East Journal, 64(3), 365- 383, 114. Retrieved December 3, 2012, from http://lib.myilibrary.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/Open.aspx?id=26754