
Iraq was tricked in the late 1970s into going from eco-friendly welfare state to corrupt, belligerent dictatorship. In this way, the West could invade the country and buy its oil resources cheaply from the West.
Iraq has paid for America's war with millions dead. 20 years after the launch of George W Bush the younger's attack on Iraq, there is no doubt that it has had devastating consequences for the country. With a huge oil resource, it should have been one of the Middle East's most developed countries. Instead, Iraq is the most tortured, poisoned and decimated country in the region, with millions dead.
Iraq was an emerging welfare state
After the liberation from the colonial powers, Iraq first moved towards a promising future. The country invested in free education, an industry that could exist even after the oil ran out, and the environment. Huge export earnings from the nationalized oil financed it all. Iraq was among the Arab world's first functioning welfare states during the 1970s.
Under President Ronald Reagan, the United States offered military support in the form of chemical weapons and satellite reconnaissance to start the Iraq-Iran war. At the same time, the US and Israel supported Iran with weapons so that the two countries hated by the West would destroy each other. Subsequently, Saddam Hussein felt, on unclear and incorrect grounds, that he had the support of the United States to invade Kuwait. This led to both the first and the second US and Western wars against Iraq. In the aftermath of the second war, the terrorist organization Daesh was born. Source: https://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/a/15rpbX/jan-guillou-20-ar-efter-usa-s-invasion-av-irak
When the world relies on oil, it leads to war and terror in the fight for finite resources. We need to bet on government deficits and green technology/energy to create a peaceful, equal and environmentally friendly world.
But that was a bit simplified, wasn't it? Without forces within the country that wanted it that way, the US would never have been able to trick them into anything.
It is much like Sweden and NATO today. The Swedish upper class has always writhed in shame over the neutral welfare state.
No state can ever get another to do what it wants without there being those in power within the other country who are more than happy to stand up.
As I read on, what I found supported my post.
And I didn't say you were wrong outright. I said that no one can be tricked into anything without agreeing to it. The pawn catcher's victim must believe he's getting a good deal by doing as the pawn catcher wants, or he won't be cheated.
Saddam Hussein went to war against Iran of his own free will. Like he tried to occupy Kuwait of his own free will. He thought he had the United States on the villain's side, in the first case he was right, in the second wrong. But the villain streak was his own choice.