America's rocky relationship with Iraq didn't start 10 years ago with the beginning of the war that would eventually oust Saddam Hussein.
It didn't even start in 1990, following Saddam's invasion of Kuwait.
In fact, the two countries began their modern relationship some 33 years ago, becoming entangled due to a violently deposed Persian Monarch and Washington's push to rein in an intransigent Iran.
Policy planners thought the key to maintaining control over the resource rich Middle East started with shaking Saddam's hand.
Things haven't exactly worked out as planned.
The year was 1980 and America was losing control of the Middle East. The Iranian Revolution, the deposed U.S.-installed Shah, had taken a vital ally from the west.
In losing Iran, America lost one of it's key "brothers" in the region, leaving only Israel as a powerful friend. Iraq was more important than ever.
Tensions between Iran and Iraq just so happened to break out into war shortly after the coup. America's side was clear.
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