Downloaded 122 times
More Related Content
Persian Gulf War
- 1.
- 2. Causes of theWar Iraq was facing economic problems Continued military expansion spending billions on weapons Debt of 80-100 billion High ambitions Kuwait was capable of adding 2 million barrels a day of oil to Iraqi exports and increasing total oil reserved to 198 billion
- 3. Unjustified Invasion Iraqinvaded on August 1, 1990 No political justification for invasion Iraq claimed Kuwait violated oil quotas and did not drain oil properly Kuwait provided Iraq with billions in aid during the War with Iran
- 4. Iraq’s Justification Saidthey were supporting an uprising by Democratic Kuwaiti forces Nonexistent Claimed to be liberating territory stolen from it by Britain Iraq had no claim to Kuwait as a successor state
- 5. Hussein’s Expectations Husseinfelt Saudi Arabia would be too scared to fight He also felt US would not be willing to go to war Underestimated Saudi Arabia gave Kuwaiti gov’t full support and gained support of Gulf Cooperation Council States
- 6. US Response • GeorgeH.W Bush committed massive military forces and announces they will send air, naval, and land forces Known as Operation Desert Shield (August 7th 1990)US deploys tens of thousands of troops to defend Saudi Arabia Goal: Contain Iraq and liberate Kuwait • Froze Iraqi assets • Obtained UN support for a Naval Blockade on Iraq and an embargo on Iraqi imports and exports
- 7. Why did theUS attack? No possibility for peace resolution Hussein’s atrocities- raped, pillaged, etc. Tortures to Kuwait were a challenge to freedom Damage to the economies of the world US did not attack to conquest Iraq Saddam Hussein was a threat to the region and to the world order
- 8. Beginning of theWar Began January 17th, 1991 War codenamed Operation Desert Storm US led air units launched attacks on Iraqi targets (control facilities, air bases, etc.) Apache helicopters knocked out Iraq’s radar system Launched cruise missiles and precision guided weapons
- 9. Air Combat Iraqhas 770 combat aircraft Coalition air forces much stronger Iraqi aircraft flees to Iran Iraq fired long range SCUD missiles into Israel and Saudi Arabia US Patriot defense missiles hit the Scuds Did not provoke Israel to enter the war
- 10. Ground Combat Cutlogistic supply to Iraqis Quick and decisive attack US held massive advantage in intelligence Iraqi forces poorly trained Lacked weapons and man power US did not invade Iraq Avoid Iraqi civil war and keep some stability in region
- 11. February 24,1991 Two simultaneous attacks Pan Arab and US marines attack penetrating Iraqi Defenses along South Kuwait border Second attack at far west edge of Iraqi Saudi border- largest air assault operation in Military history, US and British forces advance into Iraq – Attacks crushed Iraqi army
- 12. February 26,1991 Longest sustained armored advance in history Fight for international airport Iraqi forces had limited resistance Coalition forces had superior tanks and helicopters with rocket launch systems Cease-fire called on February 28, 1991
- 13. Overview Fighting lasted43 days Shift in East-West Relations Forced Iraq to retreat from Kuwait Dictator vs. Democracy Iraq vs. UN, US, etc. War killed 100,000 Iraqi Soldiers and only 200 allied troops
- 14. Foreign Policy USin period of interventionist foreign policy Saudi Arabia saw US as vital ally in maintaining stability in Middle East Established US as trustworthy ally- nations can count on the US to maintain world order, and not only act out of self-interest Set up tensions that would lead US to war with Iraq in 21st century
- 15. Works Cited Cruden,Alexander, ed. The Persian Gulf War. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2011. Print. Kalaitzidis, Akis, and Gregory W. Streich. U.S. Foreign Policy: A Documentary and Reference Guide. Santa Barbara: Greenwood, 2011. Print.
- 16. Image Citation "UnitedStates soldier during Persian Gulf War. In 1990, Iraqi forces under the control of military..." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. Ed. Maryanne Cline Horowitz. Vol. 6. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005. World History In Context. Web. 26 May 2013.