The United States and Iran: Sanctions, Wars and the Policy of Dual Containment - Essay Example

United s and Iran: Sanctions, wars and the policy of dual containment The book “United s and Iran: Sanctions, wars and the policy of dual containment” was written by Sasan Fayazmanesh, 272 pages New York: Routldege publishers ISBN number 978-0415773966. It is now 30 years since the United State of America adopted the policy of dual containment of Iran and Iraq. When did the policy of containment came into being? What is its destiny? Much has been said about policy of dual containment, especially in Iraq. There has been little attention of this policy when it comes to analyzing Iran. The author breaks down this neglected subject by critically analyzing the history of containment policy. In his analysis, he analyses the roles that Carter and Reagan governments played in the Iran-Iraq war, the sanctions imposed on Iran by the Clinton government, confrontational policy towards Iran, which was later adopted by President George W. Bush following September 11, 2001 attacks on World Trade centre and the Pentagon. In his book, Sasan has tried to discuss and analyze when and why the United States of America decided to adopt the policy of dual containment of Iran and Iraq, how it progressed and its role today. It is clear that Israel has been involved in United States policymaking decisions. The author studied the role that Israel played in the containment policy of Iran. It is important to note that Iran’s fate is directly associated with that of Iraq, therefore, the study will overlap with the containment measures in Iraq. This policy originated during the reign of Carter as the president of United States but the policy became popular during the Clinton administration. Many people did not understand what it really meant. For some, it meant keeping the two countries politically, economically, and militarily in check. This was true in reference to Iraq in early 1990s when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and Iraq was later sanctioned by the United Nations and in 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq and occupied. It was widely believed that if Iraq was sanctioned, it would lead to regime change because the country was cut out of its military operations. The second invasion of Iraq by United States in 2003 meant that the containment could surpass sanctions and limited military works, it could ignore invasion of the country to attain its desired goal of creating a democratic nation (Fayazmanesh, 38). Today, United States military operations in Iraq have not been fruitful, and the future of Iraq and its administration remains unknown. In this case, the author argues that United States has failed to contain Iraq. However, to some, they think that Iraq has been contained because the country is economically damaged, militarily ruined, and politically unstable. For years to come Iraq will not be in a position to rise and challenge Israel and United States and this, in view of these individuals is successful containment. In his book, the author argues that many American and Israeli officials believe that the Iran-Iraq war indicates successful containment. These officials desired to see Iran and Iraq engage in a deadly protracted and costly war (Fayazmanesh, 54-56). The dangerous and horrendous eight years war in Iran and Iraq, which led to massive loss of human life and severe economic damages, was viewed as kind of containment. The same view still exists today where many people are advocating for bombing of Iran. Many people have interpreted the dual containment policy differently but the main element of this policy has been the use of war or threats of war to achieve the desired objectives. Another aspect has been reliance on sanctions. The United States unilateral sanctions against Iran began after the 1979 revolution and continued all through the Iran-Iraq war. In this time, many of the imposed sanctions aimed at preventing Iran from winning the war against Iraq. In addition, it was hoped that sanctions would lead to dissatisfaction on the part of Iran and eventually result in the overthrow of the government in power. These sanctions continued and became more severe after the Iran-Iraq war especially in the 1990s. Despite the fact that these sanctions did not harm the economy of Iran, they failed to bring the intended regime change. There failure was associated to the unilateral nature of these sanctions. They decided to seek multilateral sanctions from United Nations. Up to now, only three sanctions have been successfully imposed on Iran. Whether these sanctions would yield the desired results and would do to Iran what has been done to Iraq is difficult to tell. It is harder to make predict the future without knowing what happened in the past. It was in this line of putting down this history in order to comprehend the present and the future, that this book was written. During the Carter administration, officials within the government gave Saddam Hussein authority to invade Iran and help him after the invasion. The main mission of the invasion was to lead to the overthrow of the Iranian government and restoration of the older one where the leader of Iran enjoyed symbiotic relationship with the United States and Israel. In addition, they thought it would result in the resolution of the hostage crisis. However, the United States relationship with Iraq was not long term; they were only befriending Iraq temporarily. On the other hand, Israel was selling weapons to Iran with full knowledge of the United States. The Carter government was considering offering military spare parts to Iran. This was the start of the dual containment policy, when the United States assumed the role of double agent helping both countries at war but ensuring that neither side would attain decisive victory during the war. During Reagan and George H.W Bush administrations, the dual containment policy was still operational. The United States helped Iraq during the Carter administration; it did so during Reagan governance despite her policy of being neutral during the war. The United States tried all means possible to prevent Iran from winning the war by giving Iraq weapons, extension of credit and intelligence personnel. They also lifted all sanctions imposed against Iraq, increased her diplomatic relations and instead imposed heavy economic sanctions against Iran. The author argues that when Iran defeated Iraq, the United States entered the war against Iran to make sure that Iran did not defeat Iraq. With the entry of United States in the war, Iran was forced to accept a ceasefire in 1988. In the end, the United States had managed to defeat Iran for sensible reasons and managed to contain it. Dual Containment policy stated that both Iran and Iraq were seen as potential challengers. Therefore, by assisting Iraq, the United States also helped Iran with arms with the assistance of Israeli in what was known as the “Iran-contra scandal.” The United States provided both countries with intelligence information, which in most cases was deliberately distorted. This was achieved through made sensational incidents and news, and United States sudden interest in the gross violation of international law by Iraq during the war with Iran. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, United States gave contradicting and confusing information to Hussein. After this invasion, the United States tried to contain Iraq by means of United Nations economic sanctions, limited military operation, and war (Fayazmanesh p75). It is very hard to understand the US policy of dual containment without comprehending the role of Israel. The 1979 revolution in Iran led to an end in mutual relationship between Israel and the Shah country, whereby Israel immediately opposed the Iranian government. When the Iran-Iraq war started, Israel started to sell arms to Iran. This did not mean that Israel was going against the US dual containment policy and the destruction of Iran in the war but she desired to see Iraq contained first before Iran. The United States concentrated on assisting Iraq while Israel was selling weapons to Iran and at the end made the United States to sell arms to Iran in the controversial Iran-contra scandal. This affair does not appear as isolated scenario. It was an aspect of the policy in aiding to contain both Iran and Iraq at the same time. The United Nations imposed sanctions against Iraq in 1990 and US invaded Iraq the same year, then Israel turned her attention to containing Iran. Israel made her plan successful by seeking support from lobby groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. She aimed at ensuring tough economic sanctions were imposed against Iran. Martin Indyk rose to power during the Clinton administration and he was appointed as the head of Washington institute for Near East Policy, which helped in executing the dual containment policy. according to Fayazmanesh (45), in order to increase sanctions against Iran, the policy ensured that Iran was charged of misbehaving by stating that she has been sponsoring terrorism activities across the world, developing weapons of mass destruction, and opposing peace initiatives in the Middle East. During the Clinton era, more severe sanctions were imposed against Iran. The end of Clinton reign led to new focus on the US policy of dual containment of Iran. Much focus was placed on the policies of Bush governance towards Middle East especially Iran. Some officials in the governance had called for use of military against Iraq but Israel was reluctant to these ideas since her intention was to contain Iran rather than Iraq. The events of September 11, 2001 made dramatic turn over of events of these containments. The neoconservatives got what they wanted when they called for use of force against Iraq. The United States was reluctant to invade Iran after the September 11, 2001 events but this did not bring to an end US involvement in trying to contain Iran. Israel accused Iran of making dangerous missile and biological weapons that Iran developed to use against Israel in future. This development increased US efforts to contain Iran after the Iraq conflict was concluded (Fayazmanesh, 67-68). The US and Israel continued with their threat against Iran in 2005 when the arguments had shifted from Iran developing weapons of mass destruction to her having knowledge of nuclear weapons. In 2006, the US tightened its sanctions against Iran by imposing severe financial sanctions and Israel accused Iran of trying to commit another holocaust like that of the Nazis. The United Nations restricted Iran from undertaking any heavy underwater projects. It also warned all nations against selling goods and materials to Iran that could be used in manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. In conclusion, sanctioning of Iran has not stopped instead, the United Nations multilateral sanctions and US unilateral sanction are being increased and intensified. It is sensible to say that Iran is feeling the pain of these sanctions but it is hard to know whether it will cease to develop nuclear weapons. The United Nations and United States are not ending their sanctions soon until Iran is successfully contained even if it means by means of war. It is possible that what happened in Iraq will also happen in Iran if she continues with her aggressiveness. The proprietors of dual containment policy especially those who wished to see Iran contained before Iraq will not stop until they attain their goals of containing Iran. Work Cited Fayazmanesh, Sasan. United States and Iran: Sanctions, Wars, and the Policy of Dual Containment. New York: Routledge Publisher, 2008. Print. Read More