Experience of Kuwait: Difference between revisions

I would like to respond to question about the experience of Kuwait.

The answer suggests that while being an important trade hub for centuries Kuwait drastically changed due to the discovery and production of crude oil, increasing wealth to new levels and altering life in Kuwait. It also enabled the establishment of a modern state administration. However, the oil reserves and Kuwaiti wealth gave the country a strategic value in which it became a target for the aspirations of its neighbouring countries, especially Iraq (then under leadership of Saddam Hussein). It then fell victim to Iraqi agression and pillaging with damage still felt today.

I wonder, though, whether the attack on Kuwait truly was a consequence of its strategic value in a globalised world or due to other reasons. There was once a Roman military writer Vegetius who coined the phrase „He who desires peace, prepares for war.“, and I wonder if the state of Kuwait was simply UNprepared and this became its very undoing? The matter of „War and Peace“ is a question of how much effort a country spends on international relations and defense procurement, or is it not? What do you think?

It was my pleasure to share my experience and experiences with you. I hope I did not discourage you from any further contacts with politicians! You, yourself have the responsibility. If you are not active in public space, the others will occupy it! Thank you for your cooperation.

Even though I was later Ambassador in Kuwait, even though I followed the events of 1990 very closely, and even though I later met with April Glapsie, the truth is that we really do not know, what really happened? The fact is that Kuwait was drilling Rumaila oil field and the fact is that there were tough negotiations going on, and Kuwait did not stop taking oil from Rumaila. The key question, if April Glaspie gave a wrong signal to Saddam, yes or no stays opened.

So I only quote Wikipedia: