Travel - The Republic of Iraq

Flag of Iraq

Iraq's Crops and Natural Resources

Iraq's most-prized natural resource is its crude oil and natural gas reserves. Other resources found in Iraq include phosphates and sulfur. Crops such as barley, wheat, rice, aubergines, beans, chickpeas, cucumbers, onions, okra, tomatoes, dates, watermelons, sesame, cotton and tobacco can also be found in this middle-eastern country.

Conflicts and UN Sanctions on Iraq

Iraq has been involved in a number of conflicts with other countries in the past few decades. Iraq and Iran were at war for eight years, between 1980-1988, because of a dispute over land. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait in an attempt to take over their oil reserves but the United Nations (UN) stepped in and forced Iraq out. This was known as the Gulf War. After the Gulf War, the UN placed sanctions on Iraq. This means that all trade with Iraq was banned among United Nations countries. In 1995, however, a clause was made so that Iraq could export petroleum and petroleum products as long as the majority of money they received went towards humanitarian projects. In order for the sanctions to be lifted, Iraq must destroy all weapons of mass destruction, improve human rights and respect the boundaries, and independence, of Kuwait.

Iraq's Position

Throughout the UN inspections of the past few months, Iraq has maintained that they do not have any weapons of mass destruction. Inspectors have found some missiles which they have requested be destroyed and Iraq has agreed. Saddam Hussein has suggested that he and President Bush have a televised debate about the United States' evidence against Iraq. Reports have been made however, that much of the evidence the United States has supplied against Iraq is actually false. Click here for the Channel 4 story.