PESTLE Analysis of the United States and Iraq 1980 to 2002 Case Study Help
The United States and Iraq have been involved in wars since 1980. Both countries have seen tremendous changes throughout the years. These changes have had a significant impact on the region. In order to understand why these changes occurred, it is important to conduct a PESTLE analysis. This will help you to understand why the wars have occurred and what the impact of these changes have been on the region. By conducting a PESTLE analysis, you will be able to make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to take action in relation to these situations.
Problem Statement
In the War on Terror, Iraq was a prime target for the next strike. The United States wanted to rid the Middle East of a dangerous dictator and his weapons of mass destruction.
It's no secret that Iraq's WMD manufacturing program represented an existential threat to the US. However, removing Saddam Hussein would not have solved all of the problems of terrorism and international relations.
The US invasion of Iraq was the first step to a new era of transnational asymmetrical warfare. This was part of a strategic plan to bring about a more stable and prosperous Middle East.
To achieve this, the US would have to build a new force. Initially, this plan had an ambitious goal of transforming the Middle East.
The Bush administration hoped that removal of the infamous dictator would intimidate regimes that are hostile to the United States. They believed that this would lead to a domino effect. Eventually, these friendly governments would emerge, replacing the rogue ones.
While these scenarios are plausible, they do not resemble reality. Instead, Iraq has limited access to technology, science, and other important components of a successful military. Moreover, Iraq has a nexus with some of the most notorious terrorist groups. These include Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, Osama bin Laden's right-hand man.
Although the US did not find the WMD it claimed to possess, it did discover other items of interest. These included a state-of-the-art missile defense system.
Case Study Solution
The United States and Iraq faced many difficult decisions over the years. These include how to establish order and a government that could govern the nation without being overly dictatorial. There is also the problem of how to defeat a regime that possesses weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
As the U.S. and the Iraqi governments enter into a war with each other, it's possible that the two will use terrorism to intimidate and deter each other. It's also possible that they will use chemical or biological agents.
In fact, Iraq has been working to develop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for several years. These aircraft are well-suited for dispensing biological and chemical agents.
Currently, Iraq is concentrating on smaller UAVs. Some of its facilities are designed for a chemical weapons program, including a facility called al-Moussaid. This facility has been transshipping chemical weapons for at least three years.
The Iraqi government has been using chemical munitions to kill tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians. These chemicals were used in the Anfal genocide in 1988, when the government massacred 50,000 to 100,000 people.
During the first Gulf War, Iraqi operatives were involved in bombings of U.S. and allied facilities.
In addition to the Abu Nidal Organization, which has been known to conduct attacks at the behest of the government, Iraq has worked with many terrorist groups. They have helped these groups to establish a safe haven in Iraq.
Porters Five Forces
Michael Porter's five forces model is used to analyze the structure and competitiveness of an industry. It is a tool for managers to better understand how the forces that influence profitability affect their firms.
Porter's five forces analysis model provides a framework for understanding how a firm's competitive strategy needs to be adjusted to a changing competitive environment. The model focuses on factors such as market shifts and structural features.
These forces include: customers, new entrants, suppliers, competitors and buyers. Each of the five forces affects competition in a particular way.
Porter's five forces can be a useful tool in analyzing the Iraq War. Specifically, it can help to evaluate the competition between the protagonist and other parties in the war. Using this model, the War can identify its strengths and weaknesses, and determine its strategy to improve its position.
One of the most important issues with Porter's five forces is its lack of similarity. A new entrant may have a good idea of how to do things, but will likely not have the same experience. In the case of the Iraq War, there are many potential new entrants. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a generic strategy that will help the firm defend against the adverse effects of the five forces.
Porter's five forces analysis is most useful when it is used to examine a broad market segment. This means taking a look at the overall competition in the industry, rather than just one company or sector.
Financial Analysis
Iraq's economy suffered an absolute decline in gross domestic product (GDP) from the 1980s to the 1990s. Oil revenue, which had been an essential component of Iraq's economy, fell dramatically during the Iran-Iraq war. It was not until 1995 that Iraq began to export its oil through the U.N. Oil for Food Program.
By the early 1990s, over half of the Iraqi population was on government-controlled food rations. This distorted the society's social dynamics and economic structure. In addition, the country's agricultural land was leased to private investors on favorable terms.
However, the US invasion and occupation left much of the Iraqi economy in ruins. During the first year of war, Iraq's oil production fell from 3.4 million barrels per day to less than one million barrels per day.
Military spending remained high. In addition, the government was still the agency of choice for big contracts.
The military had the ability to shape Iraqi society and the economy. However, it also destroyed many state regulatory agencies. As the result, a large and professional middle class fled the country.
In the early 1980s, Iraq had a healthy, productive economy. Its transportation system was advanced and its industrial capacity was comparatively strong. But, in the 1990s, it was hit by a series of military campaigns and the Iranian-Iraq war. Many of its professionals were forced to flee the country, leaving behind their technical expertise.
Recommendations
If you've been following the war in Iraq since it started in October 2002, you know that the United States has a long list of recommendations. One of them is that the United Nations should play a big role in post-war Iraq.
The Bush Administration has been adamant in making this case. Specifically, it has said that the United Nations should help Iraq regain stability after the invasion. But its policy has also led to increased anti-American sentiment overseas. In fact, a number of nations have vowed to boycott U.S. products and services.
Before the war, there was a wide range of opinion on the issue. Many of the Bush Administration's critics accused the Administration of exaggerating the threat of Iraq. Others were unsure of the Administration's motives. Still others were skeptical of the use of force against Iraq.
As it became more clear that the United States would not be allowed to use force against Iraq by the U.N., a number of press accounts indicated divisions within the Administration. Some were skeptical of the Administration's claims that the use of force against Iraq would bring about regime change and disarmament.
Despite the Administration's claims, there has been little progress in locating or destroying the banned WMD programs. A small monitoring team has been sent to northern Iraq to monitor conditions.
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