10 - Interventionism and the Special Relationship (1990 - 2021)

How did start the “humanitarian” interventionism ?

Rise of conflict around ethnic and oil: The First Gulf War (**1991**): 

* **1990**: Iraq (Saddam Hussein) attacked Kuwait 
* UK joined coalition led by US (UN resolution), **January 1991**: Op° Desert Storm 
* Victory in a month but Saddam still in power.  

**1992**: UN mission in Bosnia, British peacekeepers = Humanitarian aid only.  

How was back-up the “humanitarian” interventionism ?

By UN resolutions, protection of human rights & international law (“humanitarian interventionism”).

What is the Blair doctrine ? What are the values defended ?

Robin Cook (Foreign Sec): “ethical dimension”. Idealistic, moral approach (≠ realpolitik), Promoting values: 

* Democracy & human rights, 
* Economic liberalism

What is “Liberal interventionism” ?

* Globalisation → interconnectedness (all the world is connected)


* Interventionism (≠ isolationism, non-interference) 

When happened the bombing of Serbia and what events did it trigger ?

**24th March 1999**: bombing of Serbia 

* NATO intervention in Kosovo 
* To protect Albanian Muslims from ethnic cleansing (Slobodan Milosevic) 
* “Humanitarian” but not UN-backed (bc of USSR)

Date and main ideas of the Chicago Speech

**22nd April 1999**: Chicago speech (Blair Doctrine) 

* Trying to convince B. Clinton to send ground troops 
* “international community”; right and duty to intervene 
* Criteria for a “just war”: 

1\. Sure of your case? 2. All other options exhausted? 3. Military operations = reasonable? 4. Long-term commitment? 5. National interest?

Date + consequences of the twin towers attack

**9/11** attacks in US (Twin Towers, Pentagon) 

* 2,996 killed ; al-Qaeda (Osama Bin Laden), Declared a “War on Terror” 
* **Jan 2002**: “axis of evil”, WMDs (North Korea, Iran, Iraq)

Date + information about the war in Afghanistan

**2001**: war in Afghanistan 

* Taliban regime accused of harbouring Bin Laden 
* UK part of a NATO coalition, UN support (but not a UN op°) 
* Nation-building failed → still ongoing.

How did the events of the war in Iras unfold ?

**2003**: the US decided to move against S.Hussein 

* Accused of having WMDs & supporting terrorism 
* **2002**-**2003**: UN inspections in Iraq 
* France & Germany → diplomatic solution 
* **Feb 2003**: US & UK introduced UN resolution for use of military force BUT French veto (Chirac)

What are the consequences of Iraq war on Blair’s popularity ?

Iraq damaged Blair’s popularity: 

* Only **29%** supported the war in **2003** 
* Dramatic loss of support for Labour among British Muslims 
* **15th February 2003**: a million people protesting in London 

What are the consequences of the war in Iras in the cabinet and parliament ?

In Cabinet and Parliament: 

* **17th March 2003**: Robin Cook resigned 
* **139** Labour MPs rebelled (+ Lib Dems and a few Conservatives) – majority of Conservatives in favour 

**18th March 2003**: Parliament voted for the war.

What are the aftermath of the Iraq war ?

Aftermath of the Iraq war:

* No WMDs discovered; Reconstruction, nation-building failed → chaos
* **7th July 2005**: **50** killed by al-Qaeda bombs in London
* **2016** Chilcot Report

When did happen the air raids in Libya + informations, despite what ? + consequences

**2010**: Conservative Manifesto criticised Labour interventionism 

Yet… **2011**: NATO air raids in Libya 

* Arab Spring → rebellion against M. Gaddafi 
* **March 2011**: coalition of 10 states (US, UK, France) → air raids (to depose Gaddafi) 
* **October 2011**: Gaddafi killed, NATO withdrew 

**Consequence**: chaos, bloody civil war; **2016**: Foreign Affairs report → critical of Cameron

Why did Cameron vote a military intervention in Syria + did it work or not ?

Concerns about Bashar al-Assad using chemical weapons  

**Sept 2013**: Cameron lost a vote about military intervention in Syria 

* **30** Conservatives + **9** Lib Dems rebelled = Could not support the US. 

When did happen the second vote for military intervention on the islamic states ? + why

Then… rise of Islamic State (ISIL/ISIS)  

**09/2014**: won vote 524 to 59 → limited use of force, then extended to air strikes (**12/ 2015**); ongoing

How did evolve the “special relationship” under Obama ?

Barack Obama: mostly lip service; even criticised the UK in public: 

* Called Cameron’s policy on Libya a “shitshow” 
* **Brexit**: UK “at the back of the queue” for trade deals (**April 2016**)

How did evolve the “special relationship” under Trump ?

Under Donald Trump (**2017-2020**): much confusion 

* Trump started withdrawal of troops from Syria & Afghanistan → tensions 
* Very low point during Theresa May’s premiership 
* Trump: said B. Johnson would make a ‘great’ PM (**2018**) 
* Criticised T. May’s handling of Brexit


* Good relationship btw D. Trump & B. Johnson 
* **2015**: B. Johnson said D. Trump’s “stupefying ignorance” made him “unfit to be President” 
* Yet, later on: similarities between them, praised each other…