Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2014 19:46:28 +0200
Gulf War Documents: Meeting between Saddam Hussein and US Ambassador to Iraq
April Glaspie
July 25, 1990. Eight days before the August 2, 1990 Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait
By <http://www.globalresearch.ca/author/admin> Global Research
Global Research 30 May 2012
GULF WAR DOCUMENTS: Meeting between Saddam Hussein and Ambassador to Iraq
April Glaspie
Saddam-Glaspie meeting
Transcript of Meeting Between Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein and U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie. - July 25, 1990 (Eight days before the
August 2, 1990 Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait)
(published on GR on March 5, 2012)
July 25, 1990 - Presidential Palace - Baghdad
U.S. Ambassador Glaspie - 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. (pause) As you know, I lived here for years and admire your
extraordinary efforts to rebuild your country. We know you need funds. We
understand that, and our opinion is that you should have the opportunity to
rebuild your country. (pause) We can see that you have deployed massive
numbers of troops in the south. Normally that would be none of our business,
but when this happens in the context of your threat s against Kuwait, then
it would be reasonable for us to be concerned. For this reason, I have
received an instruction to ask you, in the spirit of friendship - not
confrontation - regarding your intentions: Why are your troops massed so
very close to Kuwait’s borders?
Saddam Hussein - As you know, for years now I have made every effort to
reach a settlement on our dispute with Kuwait. There is to be a meeting in
two days; I am prepared to give negotiations only this one more brief
chance. (pause) When we (the Iraqis) meet (with the Kuwaitis) and we see
there is hope, then nothing will happen. But if we are unable to find a
solution, then it will be natural that Iraq will not accept death.
U.S. Ambassador Glaspie - What solutions would be acceptable?
Saddam Hussein - If we could keep the whole of the Shatt al Arab - our
strategic goal in our war with Iran - we will make concessions (to the
Kuwaitis). But, if we are forced to choose between keeping half of the Shatt
and the whole of Iraq (i.e., in Saddam s view, including Kuwait ) then we
will give up all of the Shatt to defend our claims on Kuwait to keep the
whole of Iraq in the shape we wish it to be. (pause) What is the United
States’ opinion on this?
U.S. Ambassador Glaspie - We have no opinion on your Arab - Arab conflicts,
such as your dispute with Kuwait. Secretary (of State James) Baker has
directed me to emphasize the instruction, first given to Iraq in the 1960′
s, that the Kuwait issue is not associated with America. (Saddam smiles)
On August 2, 1990, Saddam massed troops to invade and occupy Kuwait. _____
Baghdad, September 2, 1990, U.S. Embassy
One month later, British journalists obtain the the above tape and
transcript of the Saddam - Glaspie meeting of July 29, 1990. Astounded, they
confront Ms. Glaspie as she leaves the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Journalist 1 - Are the transcripts (holding them up) correct, Madam
Ambassador?(Ambassador Glaspie does not respond)
Journalist 2 - You knew Saddam was going to invade (Kuwait ) but you didn’t
warn him not to. You didn’t tell him America would defend Kuwait. You told
him the opposite - that America was not associated with Kuwait.
Journalist 1 - You encouraged this aggression - his invasion. What were you
thinking?
U.S. Ambassador Glaspie - Obviously, I didn’t think, and nobody else did,
that the Iraqis were going to take all of Kuwait.
Journalist 1 - You thought he was just going to take some of it? But, how
could you? Saddam told you that, if negotiations failed , he would give up
his Iran (Shatt al Arab waterway) goal for the Whole of Iraq, in the shape
we wish it to be. You know that includes Kuwait, which the Iraqis have
always viewed as an historic part of their country!
Journalist 1 - American green-lighted the invasion. At a minimum, you admit
signaling Saddam that some aggression was okay - that the U.S. would not
oppose a grab of the al-Rumeilah oil field, the disputed border strip and
the Gulf Islands (including Bubiyan) - the territories claimed by Iraq?
(Ambassador Glaspie says nothing as a limousine door closed behind her and
the car drives off.)
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