I haven't paid much attention to what the left has said about that war. I certainly think that Saddam had plenty of reasons to want the war all on his own. We may never know the full truth, but it is entirely possible that both Carter elements and Reagan/Bush elements signaled (not necessarily encouraged) that we would stay out of any action Saddam took against Iran. I think by Sept. 1980 it was pretty clear that Reagan would be elected, and this may have affected Saddam's decision. Starting then would give him more time in the milder weather to achieve a quick victory. Of course, it did not work out that way.
On the other hand when he marched into Kuwait and threatened Saudi Arabia, he was threatening and/or controlling at least half the world's oil supply. We were not about to let that happen.
"We may never know the full truth, but it is entirely possible that both Carter elements and Reagan/Bush elements signaled (not necessarily encouraged) that we would stay out of any action Saddam took against Iran. I think by Sept. 1980 it was pretty clear that Reagan would be elected,"
I don't believe that by September 1980 it was clear that Reagan would win. I remember that election well, and we were on pin-and-needles up until the Reagan-carter debates. The polls up to the debates showed a very close horserace, and a possible photo finish. I think the Gipper pulled ahead as a result of his stellar debate performance and his famous line to the American people about whether they were better off now than they were four years ago. That line was a killer, and it reduced carter further in the minds of many voters.
From Stolenthunder.com
"In 1980, Carter ran for re-election against Ronald Reagan. In mid-August, Reagan led 39-38, a very close race (bet you didn't remember it was still close in August). After the debates, reagan opened a 47-39 lead, but Carter closed fast and in the last Gallup poll, Carter led Reagan 47-44. Reagan won with 50.8% (to 44.0%) of the PV, and Gallup was embarassed for the wrong pick. Gallup also, was off by an aggregate 9.8 points, their worst call since 1936."
I believe the whole issue of the October "Surprise" was just so much Democrat obfuscation. That so called "surprise" was investigated by a Congressional panel after the Reagan victory and found to be baseless. The thorough Congressional investigation dashes any pretense that the Reagan people were contacting the Iranians, and the same could be said about Reagan contacts with the Iraqis. If there had been a shred of evidence that the Reagan people had, during the 1980 presidential campaign, communicated with the Iraqis, it would have come out in the investigation.