In search of a new enemy

1. In search of a new enemy • George Bush, the Gulf War and the New World Order • Bush's invasion of Panama in 1989 had shown that he was willing to take direct action & go to war • Aug. 1990, Iraqi troops occupied & invaded Kuwait, UN security council prodded by US imposed sanctions

2. Bush & Iraq • Iraq had received significant aid from US in the form of credits, military intelligence & assistance during the 1980s • Multinational force gathered to defend Saudi Arabia, included Syria & Egypt both of whom had significant US debt cancelled, • UN imposed deadline of 15 Jan, for Iraqi withdrawal & on 16th massive air bombardment of Iraq began

3. Bush & Iraq • Iraq: the politics of oil was spelt out quite openly by the Bush administration, need to protect oil supplies, but also about defining a post cold-war order, test of collective security • US presidency agency responsible for defining threats to the NWO, UN chosen vehicle of Bush's new diplomacy

4. Bush & Iraq • US had accepted other international violations: Israeli occupation of West Bank & Gaza; Turkish intervention in Cyprus & was condemned for invasion of Panama • Debate about war powers issue came to the fore Congressional war debate of Jan. 1991 - Cheney had sought to proceed without recourse to legislative interference, Baker wanted Congressional support

5. Bush & Iraq • Since invasion US goals had shifted from defence of Saudi Arabia to eradication of Saddam's threat to NWO to liberation of Kuwait - removal of Saddam from office • With liberation of Kuwait, US intention was to allow Saddam enough power to survive as a threat to Iran • War saw return of US to a self-confident role at core of International Relations

6. Bush & Iraq • War was so overwhelmingly a US effort that some warned Bush not to become a middle-eastern riot squad • Conflict in US as to what role it should take post Gulf - isolationism or tackler of world's international problems • Opportunity to remake US foreign policy in terms of NOW: Goals of liberal democracy to be upheld through UN orchestrated by US

7. Bush & Iraq • To some critics it was a case of imperialism's new clothes - world of uncontested US power with subordinate allies • An aim of the war was the achievement of a new economic & security order in the Middle East, would encompass Arab-Israeli reconciliation - role for both Iraq & Iran

8. Bush & Iraq • Ending of the war with Saddam still in power circumventing UN conditions made this impossible • Bush while actively supporting the Israelis tried to once and for all get them to give up the idea of a greater Israel • Bush administration ended with hope of a settlement in Middle-East but with renewed Israeli-Palestinian violence

9. Bush and the New World Order • Can in some senses be termed most successful president of the post-Vietnam era: created & preserved Gulf coalition • Conceptual framework had been laid for NWO based on principles of self-determination & multilateral co-operation against aggression through acting in the UN

10. Bush and the New World Order • Success in terms of trade with deals on GATT & NAFTA • However US was falling behind in terms of economic competitiveness & Bush presidency was unable to sell to the US public a vision of its role in a new international era

11. Bush and the New World Order • Bush also developed 'signing statements': as a significant & unaccountable way of interpreting legislative intent • Made clear that the administration would not be bound by restrictions written into the law (Central America) • Bush asserted his own duty to interpret the Constitution - unaccountable Presidential primacy in national security

12. Bush and the New World Order • Congress while on the backfoot did have some success & defeated Bush in 51% of National Security votes • Legislative activism returned in a Clinton era focused on trade issues: Bush unconstitutional foreign policy activist