Middle East and War

Presidential Negotiations President George H.W. Bush is an eloquent speaker and an effective negotiator. Regardless of what your particular feelings on the what the US policies have been in the Middle East, it is clear by the address before Congress that President Bush offered before the American people how support for the war was gained. He acted with firm conviction and dedication to what he believed, as well as operated in an organized and effective leadership style.

It is also clear that he was a skilled politician and carefully selected his battles. Although his calls for intervention in the Middle East were dressed in rhetoric that focuses on high ideals, there is reason to believe that Bush's motivations were largely pragmatic.

For example, in June 1989, the Chinese military suppressed a pro-democracy movement demonstrating in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in a violent demonstration that used a disproportionate use of tanks and armored cars on civilians; the military crushed the demonstrations and fired into the crowd, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of protestors (Miller Center, N.d.). Although H.W. found the actions of the Chinese revolting, he acted in a pragmatic manner and with resolve.

He understood the impacts of trying to take on the Chinese and how this would affect the U.S. economy on a whole due to the growing trade partnership. Therefore, while many people in Congress called for some action against China, in the form of sanctions, Bush acted in limited moderation to condemn these acts. If you contrast the situation and China with the situation in the Middle East, there are many similarities, as well as some fundamental differences.

In both situations, there were atrocities being conducted on the civilian populations which was against "civilized values", as Bush refers to them in his speech before Congress. If the defense of civilized values was Bush's primary motivation in foreign policy, then one might expect a more consistent approach to defending those values around the globe.

However, the primary differences in these two regions of the world, is how they affect the US economy; the US trade with China was perceived as strong, whereas the influences of Iraq on world oil prices was hurting the economy. In a transcript published on March 5, 2012, a meeting between the US Ambassador and Saddam Hussein himself provides insights into the US interest in this region. The Ambassador begins by explaining to Hussein (Global Research, 2012): "I have direct instructions from President Bush to improve our relations with Iraq.

We have considerable sympathy for your quest for higher oil prices, the immediate cause of your confrontation with Kuwait. I lived here for years and admire your extraordinary efforts to rebuild your country. We know you need funds." The Ambassador later states, We have no opinion on your Arab -- Arab conflicts, such as your dispute with Kuwait." Although in Bush's negotiations it appears that he argues in response to Iraq's actions, but his plan had already been formed long before.

It seems evident that the plan for war was already in place, and Bush was building an international coalition and domestic support to follow through with these plans. Based on the revelations that were later released to the public, it is clear that Bush's negotiations with Saddam had ulterior motives. The higher oil prices were hurting.