Why is the U.S. at war with Iraq? What are the root causes of the conflict? Did U.S. policy possibly send mixed signals to Saddam Hussein? What are the long term U.S. goals in the region? These are some of the vital and provacative questions Joel Beinin addresses in the important program. Professor Beinin presents startling information that the U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad told Saddam Hussein just a week before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait that the U.S. "has no opinion on Arab-Arab border disputes." A few days later the Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East was testifying before Congress that the U.S. "has no military alliance with Kuwait or Saudi Arabia." These are some of the critical issues discussed in this program. Many Americans, while supportive of the troops, are skeptical as to the underlying causes of the war.

Joel Beinin
Joel Beinin is Professor of Middle East History at Stanford University. He is editor of Middle East Report and author of several books on the Middle East.