WI: Iraq Invaded Kuwait in the 1980s

Delta Force

Banned
What if Iraq had invaded Kuwait before or during the Iran-Iraq War? Would it have been a more politically advantageous time for Iraq to invade, given that Iraq was being used as a proxy state by just about the entire world against the expansion of the Islamic Revolution in Iran?
 
Most likely, the US Ambassador to Iraq says 'Keep Kuwait, and you're on your own against Iran. Withdraw, and we'll pretend it never happened.' If they take Option 1, then the US (and allies) will quite happily pile in on Iraq. After all, they were the main party attacking oil tankers during the period in question, and it was their aircraft that attacked the STARK.
 
Diverting your military (especially the powerful units that spearheaded the OTL invasion) while the Iranians are at the gates of Basra seems questionable.
 
I could see Iraq invading Kuwait during the war for strategic reasons. Clearing the Faw Peninsula of Iranian troops took alot longer because Kuwait refused to let Iraq base soldiers in its country.
 
The most obvious way for this to happen is the Iranians divert forces and occupy part of Kuwait and Saddam ends up sending forces into Kuwait to 'liberate' them. Two months later he announces Kuwait has become a new province of Iraq after its leadership is disappeared.
 
There's the small matter of Iraq being in the way.

What if Iran defeats Iraq and then pushes onto the Gulf State in order to "spread the revolution." Would this provoke a regional war with the United States intervening to drive the Iranians out of Kuwait and Iraq.
 
What if Iran defeats Iraq and then pushes onto the Gulf State in order to "spread the revolution." Would this provoke a regional war with the United States intervening to drive the Iranians out of Kuwait and Iraq.
almost definitely. This was the nightmare scenario for the US at the time, and the main reason we were backing Iraq (it certainly wasn't because of Saddam's charming personality). If Iraq had been defeated and the Iranians were running wild along the Gulf coast, you can bet that Israel, SA, and whoever was still in the field would be screaming for our direct intervention...
 
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almost definitely. This was the nightmare scenario for the US at the time, and the main reason we were backing Iraq (it certainly wasn't because of Saddam's charming personality). If Iraq had been defeated and the Iranians were running wild along the Gulf coast, you can be that Israel, SA, and whoever was still in the field would be screaming for our direct intervention...
What is the logical end point here? The Second Gulf War, 25 years early?
 
I could see Iraq invading Kuwait during the war for strategic reasons. Clearing the Faw Peninsula of Iranian troops took alot longer because Kuwait refused to let Iraq base soldiers in its country.
Interesting. Iraq requests to base troops in Kuwait to help with the clearing of the peninsula, the Kuwaitis not wanting to sacrifice their neutrality and get dragged into things politely decline, Saddam essentially says 'Fuck it' and encroaches on their territory anyway, things spin out from there.
 

Delta Force

Banned
What if Kuwait ends up in a position akin to Belgium during World War I and is invaded to open a new front to the Iran-Iraq War? Is there anything that could be done to get Iraq out of Kuwait after the war, or would the recognition just be de facto accepted?
 
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