Operation Desert Storm

Recently in class, there has been much discussion about George H.W. Bush's presidency and some of the defining moments during his career that has shaped his legacy as our nation's former leader. One of those major events was that of the growing crisis in the Middle East between the countries of Kuwait and Iraq, eventually rising to a point where war would become inevitable. This entire conflict later became referred to as the First Persian Gulf War, and it begun when Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq at the time, ordered an invasion of neighboring Kuwait in 1990 in response to alleged reports of the Kuwait oil producers stealing oil from the Ar-Rumaylah oil fields situated near the Iraq-Kuwait border. This was a deliberate act of aggression set forth by Iraq, and more nations around the world became frightened in viewing Iraq, a nation with the fourth largest military in the world, annex some of the richest oil fields that the Middle East has to offer. To Saddam Hussein, the annexing of Kuwait was justified, for he believed it to be a sector of Iraq that was carved out by former colonial powers, and with the annexation, Iraq would be able to expand its influence in the surrounding territory and reduce its national debt by acquiring Kuwait's rich oil fields.

Terror and anger sparked around the world as a result of this invasion, particularly in nations like the United States who worried that the invasion would continue to other neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia who possessed even more oil reserves and hinder foreign access to such sources. As a result, President George Bush would not stand such a travesty, and the United Nations joined in opposition against Iraq and ordered them to leave. This later escalated to a worldwide trade ban with Iraq and an ultimatum for them to leave the invaded Kuwait by the beginning of 1991 or else become opposed to by a coalition of massive retaliation forces. Iraq did not withdraw, and the coalition against Iraq that had now grown to include numerous nations from the Middle East like Egypt and other NATO alliance powers, eventually giving way to the ant-Iraq group being called "Operation Desert Shield."  Official attacks began on January 17, 1991, beginning Operation Desert Storm (the actual offensive military actions taken by the opponents to Iraq). This operation entailed the bombing of Iraq's air defenses and communication networks and the sending of ground troops to liberate Kuwait. By mid-February, Kuwait was liberated once again, and President Bush ordered a ceasefire against Iraq. However, he feared that if Hussein were deposed from his position of being the leader of Iraq, a massive and catastrophic civil war would break out and ravage the Middle East, so Hussein retained power again.

The aftermath of the war witnessed a continual pervasive American fear that Iraq would rise up again and fight more neighboring powers as in 1990, so there continued to remain surveillance planes around the country in establishing a no-fly zone around Iraq and monitor any artillery developments. The United States and other powers of NATO were able to receive more supplies of oil once again and not fear over the possible acquisition of twenty percent of the world's oil by Iraq. Millions of dollars were lost through the severe damage of the conflict in the Middle East, but international diplomacy was able to demonstrate its strength through the mutual conflict and interest, snuffing out another potential reign of tyranny.

     

Works Cited:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Persian-Gulf-War
http://www.ushistory.org/us/60a.asp
http://www.history.com/topics/persian-gulf-war