The 1990s began as America's decade, the time when Amercian political ideology seemed to prevail among major powers and when American military might was unquestioned.  The Middle East had been the most likely flashpoint for World War III for a quarter of a century; yet, ironically, prospects for a lasting peace seemed to increase when America was finally drawn into combat in the Gulf War in August 1990, following the invasion of oil-rich Kuwait by the forces led by tyrannical leader Saddam Hussein of Iraq.  The United States provided the leadership and the military muscle for a coalition against Hussein that included such unlikely allies as Great Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria.  Having softened Iraqi resolve with air attacks, American forces led a ground attack on Sunday, February 24, 1991, to recapture Kuwait City, and within two days Hussein had ordered his forces out of the country.  Four days later President Bush declared total victory in a war that served to confirm Americans' attitude that the United States was the strongest and most influential country in the world.  Three months later key nations in the Middle East agreed to a joint Arab-Israeli peace conference, which included a Jordanian-Palestinian delegation.
 
    Some problems that caused the Persian Gulf War: geopolitical problems, border disputes, tribal rivalries, uneven economic growth, and lack of social and political reforms within the Persian Gulf nations.  After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the discovery of oil created internal problems, but also outside from other industrialized countries.

    After the Ottoman Empire was destroyed during World War I, the European countries were quick to put the pieces back together with their influence.  They decided to set boundaries to their liking.  Many countries had problems with their borders and Iraqi was one of them.  They would not let the issue rest always putting pressure to get things changed.  For the next couple of decades the Iraqi government would be a sore spot for the rest of the world.  Always trying to push their way around things.  They would also anger the United States many times during this time.  Then a turing point came on January 23, 1980, President Jimmy Carter announced what became known as the Carter Doctrine.  He stated that "any attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force."  This put new precedent on the Persian Gulf area.  Then Iraqi became too greedy after the Iran-Iraq War, (which after the U.S. supported Iraq) they wanted Kuwait.

    On January 16, 1991, after an ultimatum was issued by President Bush warning Iraq's Saddam Hussien not to "cross the line in the sand."  After he did not listen Operation Desert Storm was launched.  Saddam had put a major threat to the U.S. oil supplies, so he set into motion forces that literally rampaged Hussein's troops.

    After a series of disputes about land ownership and oil prices conflict seemed inevitable.  Iraq invaded the wealthy but defenseless nation.  Just after the invasion, the United Nations Security Council voted to impose a strigent trade embargo on Iraq.  Then, President Bush sent nearly 500,000 troops to the area and started "Operation Desert Shield."  By November there was a massive military presence in the region, but it was almost ingored by Hussein.  Who said he would unlease biological and chemical weapons if anything was done.

    Iraq had amassed a huge arsenal of US and Soviet weapons, and had the fourth largest army in the world.  President Bush thought the invasion of Kuwait was the first step of Iraqi forces taking the rest of the Middle East over.  The United Nations set a deadline and it was not met for the retreat of Hussein's forces.  So, on January 16, 1991, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the U.S.-led coalition unleashed an air attack on Baghdad and other sites in Iraq.  Thus, Operation Desert Storm was underway.

    The coalition continued the air attack on Iraq for a while, and then in retaliation, Iraq bombarded Israel with Scud missles, but the United States moved quickly to install and operate a missle defense system to neutralize that threat.  Over the next five weeks, Allied Forces flew some 72,000 sorties over Iraq and Kuwait, dropping 141,921 tons of bombs on sites in both nations.  After five weeks of air attacks had passed the offensive had shut down Iraq's offensive capabilities.  Bush then ordered a ground attack.  On February 24, 1991, a force of over 100,000 troops commanded by General Norman Schwarzkopf went through on a swift and well planned assault that brought the troops within 150 miles of Baghdad during the first 24 hours.  They performed their offensive manuevers almost to perfection.

    In one battle about 800 tanks took on nearly 300 Iraqi tanks and demolished them in a very short time.  Almost six weeks from that victory was the ending of the war when Kuwait City welcomed the troops into their city.  The victory, was very lopsided.  American casualties of Operation Desert Storm totaled 263, fewer than the number of drivers killed on U.S. highways during a typical holiday weekend.  Iraq, however lost between 80,000 and 100,000 soldiers and civilians.  Many more were captured or surrendered.

    Even though Iraq never did follow through with there threat of using chemical weapons still caused great environmental damage.  The Iraqi troops set fire to  Kuwait's oil fields.  Many were kept ablazed for weeks.  the black smoke could be seen all the way from space.  The fires were finally were contained with the help of U.S. firefighters and cleanup crews.  Despite this American victory we were unable to get Saddam out of power and is still in power.  With this in mind the Middle East will always be a hot spot for the United States.


Links

 Desert Storm

 

 Eye of the Storm

Bibliography

"Frontline: The Gulf War."  [database online] (cited 16 April 1998); available from  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/.

"Gulf War."  [database online] (cited 16 April 1998); available from  http://www.netwizards.net/~cryan/war.html.

 "Gulf War Chronicles." [database online] (cited 16 April 1998); available from  http://munshi.sonoma.edu/jamal/gulfwar.html.

"Background to War."  [database online] (cited 16 April 1998); available from
http://imabbs.army.mil/cmh-pg/www1.htm.


Written and directed by Aaron Chinn
Fueled by Clutch and the Elephant Riders.