Ski, you are over-rating a grease monkey. Selling oil isn't sufficient to be a global conqueror. Germany had the world's second largest industrial base and a big and committed population with a lot of talent.
At any time Iraq was trivial in population numbers, talents, commitment, money, know-how and a lot of other things which Germany had. There wasn't even the slightest hint that they could have got anywhere near a German-type conquering spree.
Even without having the USA, China, Britain, France, Spain, Italy and a lot more against them, they couldn't beat Iran, another go-nowhere place.
en.wikipedia.org
Look down the list and find Iraq. Look further down and you'll find NZ. Now there's a threat and I actually do have plans to take over from the USA as global leader, which are well underway. So far so good. No, not NZ take over, but another top-secret plan. Bwahahaha.
Saddam knew he wasn't going far. That's why he wanted a meeting with Glaspie to see what the USA reaction to his massed forces on Kuwait's border would be should he roll into Kuwait and annex it. He was asking permission. Same as Indonesia asked permission from Kissinger before starting the carnage in East Timor - but that wasn't a trap. It was actually okay with the USA for Indonesia to kill off the Fretilin resistance.
Mqurice |
