1. The Gulf War

2. Beginnings of War Historical Conflict: Until mid-20 th century, native peoples had little to no control over land. Arabs live in small, scattered tribes, fighting each other over land, water, etc. Zionism (the desire to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine) Western exploitation of Middle Eastern natural resources (oil reserves) Establishment of Arab League, which opposed the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine (anti-Zionism)

3. Conflict in the Middle East Israel declares independence before granted by U.N. to acquire more direct control Arab-Israeli war lasts less than 8 months, but proves to be a humiliating defeat for the Arabs, who criticize the U.S. for recognizing and supporting Israel Arabs refuse to accept Israel’s right to exist Conflict over control of the Gulf Both Iraq and Iran desired to control oil shipping in Persian Gulf 1980: Iraq-Iran War over the Shatt al Arab waterway War causes financial strain on Iraq by 1990

4. Iraqis Invade Kuwait Role of Saddam Hussein After taking power as president, Saddam became a dictator His struggle with Iran and anti-Israeli policies made him appear a hero to many Arabs

5. Why Saddam wanted Kuwait: Kuwait refused to raise oil prices, and without OPEC support, Saddam could not raise Iraq’s oil prices Kuwait refused to cancel Iraq’s war debts from the Iran-Iraq war Control of Kuwaiti oil fields would increase the wealth and power of Iraq, as well as open many valuable and strategic ports on the Persian Gulf

6. Saddam’s Campaign Against Kuwait: July 17, 1990: publicly threatens use of force against Kuwaitis unless they agree to raise oil prices By July 23, 100,000+ Iraqi soldiers massed along Iraq-Kuwait border August 2: Iraqis launch attack on Kuwait. The Kuwaitis are crushed Global Reaction: George Bush condemns invasion, freezing Iraqi funds in U.S. banks, banning imports of Iraqi oil, and ordering an American aircraft carrier into the Persian Gulf Other countries join U.S. in calling for Iraq to withdraw, including the U.N. Security Council

7. The World Against Iraq Role of the United Nations Demand Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, waiting 4 days for compliance U.N. Resolution 661 calls for all countries to immediately halt all trade with Iraq and to stop any financial and commercial dealings with the Iraqis

8. U.S. Involvement Operation “Desert Shield” Mobilizes 50,000+ U.S. troops, with preparations for 100,000 more International support from England, France, Saudi Arabia However, confrontation might provoke Saddam to attack U.S. forces as well as Israel (which would engulf the Middle East in War)

9. Saddam Annexes Kuwait August 8, 1990: Iraq formally annexes Kuwait Saddam justifies action, claiming the Kuwaitis had overthrown their corrupt emir and begged for Iraq to aid them The world community rejects the story, and the Security Council declares the annexation null and void Arab Reaction A minority of the Arabs supported Saddam against the U.S. August 10: the Arab League meets in Cairo, criticizing Saddam, denouncing the annexation, endorsing U.N. sanctions, and calling for the creation of an Arab military force to keep peace

10. Conflict Deepens Saddam’s terms Saddam announces that Iraq will not leave Kuwait unless the Israelis withdraw from territories acquired in 1967 and 1973 wars, in an attempt to bolster his image with Arab masses Threatens to destroy any armies that interfere Moves Westerners to key military and industrial sites as “human shields” Orders all foreign embassies in Kuwait to shut down

11. America Prepares for War President George Bush justifies the war on Iraq to gain public support Intense concern for safety of Kuwaiti people Failure of U.N. embargo (Iraq showed no signs of balking under economic pressure) Iraqi possession of large stores of chemical (and possibly biological) weapons

12. American concerns: The Saddam may retaliate by attacking Israel. If Israel attacked Iraq, the Arabs would turn on the U.S. Safety of U.S. soldiers, fearing that military action would require more troops than supplied by the regular army Women in the military. Women were not allowed in combat, only in combat support and combat service support.

13. Preparing for War: Increase of U.S. troop and equipment levels in Saudi Arabia (the largest American military buildup wince the Vietnam War) France and Britain increase military presence in Saudi Arabia U.N. Resolution 678: authorized the Allies to use military action against Iraq if not pulled out of Kuwait by midnight on January 15, 1991.

14. Last-Minute Negotiations January 9, 1991: the U.S. meets with Iraq in Geneva Iraqis inflexible, accusing the U.S. of wanting war Iraq promises that Arabs would refuse to fight Arabs, and that the Arab members of the Allied forces would abandon the U.S. January 12: Congress approves the use of U.S. force if Iraq had not pulled out of Kuwait by the time set by the U.N. Resolution 678

15. The War on Iraq Operation “Desert Storm”: Air Assault Goal: to prevent Iraq from attacking Saudi Arabia and to weaken the Iraqi army in preparation for a ground assault to liberate Kuwait First step of plan: elimination of Iraqi radar defenses Use antiradar jets to jam Iraqi radar signals Iraqi warplanes become radar “blind”

16. Air Strikes War planes converge of Baghdad, striking the defennse ministry, presidential palace, and airport In first 24 hours of combat, Allies pound Iraq with more than 2200 tons of explosives The Iraqi air force lacked the training and preparedness to fight off the Allied air assault

17. Saddam Strikes Back Counters the air assault with threats, calling on all Arabs to rise up against Iraq’s enemies (calls go unheeded) January 18: Saddam launches a military counterattack, ordering a missile attack on the Israelis Missiles strike randomly, inflicting minimal damage Attack scorned internationally (violation of international law to attack civilian targets)

18. Israeli retaliation U.S. President Bush requests restraint, fearing an Israeli attack on Iraq would enrage all Arabs Israel abandons retaliation as a signal to the Arabs that Israel wanted peace

19. Saddam’s desperate and irrational acts Attacks Saudi Arabia randomly, uncoordinated and largely ineffective Desperately trying to show the world he could fight back January 23: Iraqis release oil from storage tanks directly into the Persian gulf in an act of environmental terrorism Iraqi unable to mount a standard counterattack using planes, due to the destruction of the Iraqi air force during Operation “Desert Storm” January 29: Iraqi troops invade Saudi Arabia, trying to show that the Iraqi could go on the offensive Suffered a humiliating defeat

20. Countdown to a ground attack Saddam stubbornly refuses to order Iraqi forces out of Kuwait February 22: President Bush gives Saddam until noon on February 23 to withdraw or face an Allied ground assault Goal of ground assault: To cut off and isolate Iraqi troops in Kuwait so that the Allied troops could move in for the kill

21. Allied Ground Offensive Allied forces move into southeast Iraq to cut off Kuwait, then suddenly shift west, catching the Iraqis off guard The Iraqi Republican Guard (which had been held in reserve) was rendered ineffective as U.S. troops attacked from behind. American helicopters and French troops establish well-guarded supply bases in the desert

22. Attack on Kuwait Americans, Saudis, Egyptians, and Syrians launch lightning assault into southern Kuwait with little resistance from Iraqi troops, who had been battered into submission from bomb raids Allied forces push towards the capital Iraqi troops rampage the city frantically before retreat Burn houses and businesses Rape Kuwaiti women Loot homes and stores However, the Iraqis waited too long to retreat, and on February 26 were pounded, smashed and burned by Allied forces on the “highway to hell” which led out of Kuwait city

23. The “Highway to Hell”

24. Liberation of Kuwait City February 27: Allied forces move into Kuwait City, which was mostly free of Iraqi soldiers Greeted by jubilant Kuwaitis

25. But the Gulf War was not over yet Though Kuwait City was liberated, the Allies still had to eliminate the threat of the Republican Guard in southeastern Iraq in what became the largest tank battle fought since WWII The Republican Guard surrendered on February 28

26. Casualties at time of surrender IraqAllies DeadAt least 50,000177 Wounded50,000597 Captured125,000Less than 60

27. The surrender turned out to be a tainted victory Kuwait was devastated, and thousands of Kuwaitis had been killed or tortured by Iraqi soldiers Iraqi soldiers also adopted a “scorched earth” policy when defeat became imminent, systematically destroying all things the enemy would find most valuable The Iraqis also set 640 of Kuwaits 950 oil wells on fire. The wells continued to burn out of control for several months.

28. President Bush and the end of the Gulf War President Bush threatened to resume the war unless the Iraqis freed all Allied prisoners of war The Gulf War proved to be an impressive victory for the Allies over the Iraqi army, and successful at liberating Kuwait for Saddam Hussein

29. Effects of the Gulf War on Iraq The cease-fire did not ensure peace in Iraq Iraqi citizens in several southern cities rose in rebellion By April 1991, however, Saddam crushed the rebellions The Kurds, who had suffered the wrath of Saddam, engaged in guerilla warfare with Iraqi army units However, the Kurds fled to the mountains of northern Iraq and refused to return for fear of being massacred by Saddam’s soldiers Economic sanctions remained, including a massive embargo on Iraq, even though the war was over A “no fly zone” was established for Iraqi planes over northern Iraq (to protect the Kurds) Ultimately, however, the political infrastructure of the country collapsed

30. Effects of the Gulf War on America President Bush’s popularity soars The U.S. all-volunteer army proved to be a well- coordinated and superior fighting force Years after Vietnam, Americans once more had confidence in their military and pride in their country March 3: Cease-fire terms met Release of Allied prisoners To reduce tension, contact between Allied and Iraqi forces was avoided Iraqis were required to provide information about the location of their explosive land mines in Kuwait

31. America’s jubilant mood was matched in the other Allied nations The war had lasted only 43 days with few casualties for the Allies Though the war had failed to remove Saddam from power, his aggression had been contained to his own country

32. The Bottom Line Essentially, the Gulf War was a victory for the U.S. and the Allied forces However, Saddam’s continued rule would set the stage for President Bush’s son to wage Gulf War II ten years later