Saddam only annexes Bubiyan, Warbah, and Rumalia

Supposedly, Saddam had thought he'd gotten the go-ahead from the US State Department before the Gulf War to invade and annex Kuwait - the State Department meanwhile thought he was only asking about invading Bubiyan and Warbah.

What if Saddam had only invaded Bubiyan, Warbah, and the Kuwaiti portion of the Rumalia oil field (where Kuwait was accused of stealing Iraqi oil).

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The islands and oil field for reference.
 
I remember discussions about this back in 92. Several commentators felt that a withdrawal to what you are referencing would reduce the chances of an invasion of Iraq. Iraq could claim that Kuwait was stealing the oil that Iraq needed to recover from the war with Iran and to maintain an Arabic shield against Iranian expansion.

I do not know if he was serious but one commentator suggested that Iraq then ask that the case be referred to an international court. Iraq could then drag this out in the courts for years until it fades in public memory.

So in your scenario, Iraq could try to keep this tied up in the international courts for years. Meanwhile if Iran continue to push their nuclear program and support of Shiite terrorist eventually the West would accept the annexation so Iraq could be a counter weight against Iran. What was the quote "Yes he is a bastard but he is our bastard."
 
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