Week 4 Blog

Hello again interested readers. This week of research has seen me continue to categorically examine the relationship between the U.S. and Iran during specific presidencies, and I have also been working on researching papers similar to mine to get an idea for the correct way to present and interpret my results. I have begun to record and table my relevant results, and I will also be continuing this process until I have completed my research with the Obama administration, hopefully completing the results section of my paper. With these goals in mind, I have conducted an intensive week of work and research.

I began the week by resuming my research with the Congressional Research Service (CRS), and by actively observing Iran-U.S. relations during the time of the Bush senior administration. The first factor that immediately became apparent when I began my research with Bush was that the hostage-taking that had previously pestered Carter had made a return and was a present issue for the administration. While Iran did not get directly involved, according to a source entitled “The George H.W. Bush Administration,” Iranian allies in Lebanon continued a hostage situation for a significant period of the term. The relations during this first and only term were marked by a clear presence of frustration and rockiness due to persisting issues like this hostage-taking and more.

Another major shock to Iran-U.S. relations during this period was that Iraq had begun a very serious and coordinated invasion of Kuwait for its oil resources and wealth. Iraq’s invasion placed a very serious threat to Iranian interests and made the nation feel extremely pressured by this new military presence, eventually leading to U.S. involvement in the ending of Iraq’s occupation. A source called “The Crimes of Saddam Hussein” focused on how the implication of the Iraqi invasion provided the U.S. and Iran with grounds for peaceful, cooperative relations, and the source explains that Bush’s term in office was actually a period of relative compromise and collaboration for the two nations, at least until the end of the Iraqi occupation.

After finishing my work with the Bush senior administration, I began my research for the results section of my paper, trying to find papers that were similar to my own in terms of subject matter and organization. The first paper that I ended up examining was one that I have had since my lit review, a source titled “The Changing Political Utility of Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear Threats From 1970 to 2010,” where the author examines and records data on nuclear threats that were spoken or indicated publicly. I realized that for my own results section, I could tabulate the information I found on each president separately and then I could simply compare the results for information on the most effective strategy or diplomatic action for dealing with Iran.

This week has seen me both continue my previous work with the CRS and U.S. presidents and has seen me introduce new work with my examination of other results sections.

Regards,
Lazar Vukcevic