What if Iraq had a few nuclear weapons before first Gulf War

Jason222

Banned
Let say that Israel never knock Iraq nuclear reactor would effect be in Middle East. Personal believe Saddam Hussein would used nuclear bomb on Israel. He did not go down fighting US soldiers but he might used on Iran. What you guy think would have happen Saddam Hussein had the bomb.
 
Let say that Israel never knock Iraq nuclear reactor would effect be in Middle East. Personal believe Saddam Hussein would used nuclear bomb on Israel. He did not go down fighting US soldiers but he might used on Iran. What you guy think would have happen Saddam Hussein had the bomb.

The USA never would have reacted as strongly as the Americans did OTL. that being said, if it comes to light that Saddam has a nuclear weapon, its entirely possible that the Americans, with Soviet permission, hit his nuclear stockpiles with tactical weapons. It will be very hard for Iraq to pull a North Korea, so i see either collapse in Iraq, or a full-out American strike, which may include glassing significant parts of Iraq.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
If Saddam had several, more than 5, operational nuclear missiles, the USA simply would not have attacked. We would have found some reason, way to live with Saddam in Kuwait. Most likely, a operation Desert Shield never ends, and several USA divisions are moved from Germany to Kuwait.
 
I would say there are a few things to consider before defining a response:

When did they acquire/build the nukes? I'd think post cold war is more likely (either some unsecured ex-Soviet nukes or hired skill to build usable weapons using Osirak derived materials).

How good is US/Foreign intel on whether he has nukes? If he keeps it secret, or keeps it to the level of rumour or innuendo, then a pre-emptive nuclear strike is unlikely.

If Saddam gets them early enough and it's well known, I think diplomacy is more likely than bombs - especially in the politically-correct 90s.

It might be interesting to look at the world response to their use in the Iran/Iraq war.
 
Saddam wasn't stupid and if I recall correctly his relationship with the Israelis was, well, variable. The latter also have nukes and Saddam should have known the Israelis would nuke Iraq into a parking lot (figurative) if they perceived him as a threat.

I see Iraqi nukes aimed primarily at Iran and Pakistan. Thus, the Israelis and Americans *could* have found a valuable ally in Saddam - as they did OTL in some ways.

Would he have used them?
- In the 80ies war against Iran - probably, yes. In any other scenario the nukes would likely have been leverage (against Kuwait and Saudi).
- If he obtained them later, around Desert Storm - He may have wanted to, but how? Strap a nuke to a pink BTR with a compliment of Arabian whores to distract Satan's GIs? Nuclear Land Mine? Impractical - Allied forces were moving way too fast.
 
Iraq with nukes BEFORE the first gulf war?

well, in the mid80ties saddam would use one against teheran or another city... just to make clear that iran has to stop the war (ignoring that he started it...)

he used gas against the iran, why should he not nuke them?
this can only improve his situation
a.) the usa will like it, as long as the iraq do not use it against israel
b.) the russians love it, too, cause the iraq is a friend... to have nukes mean to pay for em, they are really expensive...
c.) for israel, it is difficulty, but on the other hand - if iraq bomb israel, israel glass iraq... and saddam knew this. so beside some sable rattling nothing will happen
d.) kuwait will be a iraqi province, nothing changes for people with money and nothing for people without money... as long as the non-sunits want to make trouble (saddam still can gas em)...

world live with a nuclear india, nuclear israel, nuclear pakistan and nuclear northern corea... we do not know if we can live with a nuclear iran... but again, if things went bad israel will build the largest glassed parking lot of the world... so to say it short: who cares?
 
If Saddam had several, more than 5, operational nuclear missiles, the USA simply would not have attacked. We would have found some reason, way to live with Saddam in Kuwait. Most likely, a operation Desert Shield never ends, and several USA divisions are moved from Germany to Kuwait.


yeah

"What first Gulf War?"


edit: and, we could all sit back and say, "Nuclear Weapons Save Lives!"

Saddam Hussein was a brute, but he was a rational brute. He would not have nuked anyone, I dare presume.
 
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