The Energy Jihad: The Mother of All Battles

In late 1988 and early 1989, dozens of high-ranking veteran officers, who fought for Saddam in Iraq-Iraq War, were arrested or executed on conspiracy charges. And hundreds of those who were fortunate, were forced into retirement.

After purge of "internal enemies," the Neo-Nebuchadnezzar focused on "external enemies" in 1989. According to him, some foreign powers and neighbors such as the US and its allies Israel, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Iran, were attempting to infiltrate Iraqi society to gather intelligence, to topple his regime, and to confine Iraq's role in the region, etc.

Iran agreed withdrawal with Saddam. By the end of the month, the withdrawal of troops of both countries to the internationally recognized boundaries had been almost complete, except a few small locations.

On September 28, Al-Sabah of Kuwait addressed to the UN General Assembly and met Bush, pleaded for liberation of his country, urged the UN to stand by the sanctions, and offered poor third-world countries relief on debts to Kuwait.

Rafsanjani, president of Iran warned Kuwaiti government in exile: "If, to reach a settlement, you accept ceding the island of Bubiyan to the Iraqis, we will be absolutely opposed, even to a minimal change of the existing frontiers. If Kuwait were to go ahead and cede Bubiyan to Saddam all the same, we would act within our means to stop it." He reiterated that Iran was abiding by the UNSC embargo against Iraq.

Saddam, now a "dedicated Mujaheed," was calling Arabs and Muslims to wage Jihad against Gulf Arabs and their allies: "The great duel, the mother of all battles has begun.... The dawn of victory nears as this great showdown begins!", "When the deaths and dead mount for them, the infidels will leave and the flag of Allahu-Akbar will fly over the mother of all battles," "We are calling on all Arabs, all Mujahideen, to join the Jihad! We call on you to attack the powers of evil, of treason and corruption, and their interests everywhere! It is your duty!"