Causes and Effects of the Persian Gulf War Essay - 717 Words

Causes and Effects of the Persian Gulf War The Persian Gulf War, often referred to as Operation Desert Storm, was perhaps one of the most successful war campaigns in the history of warfare. Saddam Hussein, leader of Iraq, invaded Kuwait in 1990. In 1991, after weeks of air strikes, US ground forces entered Iraq and Kuwait and eliminated Iraqi presence in 60 hours. Why Would Iraq invade Kuwait? Kuwait supplies much of the world’s oil supplies, and when Hussein invaded Kuwait, he controlled 24% of the world’s oil supplies (O’Hara). Though this is a good reason, it is not the only one. Iraq’s real excuse for annexing Kuwait was that he believed that Kuwait was producing more oil than it was supposed to, taking out of Iraq’s†¦show more content†¦Just before the United States began air strikes over Iraq, Hussein decided to test his new weapon on the city of Iraq. Little damage was caused, but it just was another excuse for the United States to attack (NSA). What happened after the Persian Gulf War? â€Å"Because the world would not look the other way†¦tonight, Kuwait is free.† Those were the words of President Bush after the end of Operation Desert Storm. Though free, Kuwait was a war torn country. While Iraqi troops were retreating, they set fire to many of the Kuwait oil fields causing a constant blaze. Along with a defeat, Iraq has to accept strict cease-fire terms set on by the UN. They include No-Fly-Zones on the north and south borders of Iraq, frequent military inspections, destroy all chemical and ballistic missiles in its possession, and stop any nuclear weapons programs (Brown). Though only about 367 Americans died in this war, about 160 of them were from friendly fire, which is when someone is killed by their own country on accident. This is because of the new â€Å"high-tech† weapons where at times, only infrared light can be read, making it impossible to decipher which is friend or foe (Friendly Fire). After the war, many of the soldiers who fought developed what is known as Gulf War Syndrome. Speculation is that the cause may be chemical or biological weapons used, but nothing has ever been confirmed (Brown). Towards the beginningShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Success of Operation Desert Storm and Shield825 Words   |  4 Pagesmilitary in war time. Moving resources by air and sea the American armed forces presence was made known in the region with resources being staged in the allied countries of Saudi Arabia These later we mobilized initiating operation Desert Storm on January 17th 1991 at 3am Arabia Time when the first tanks rolled across the Saudi border, this conflict would continue until the official cease fire would take effect on April 11th of the same year (Operation). During the 10 month time span of the Persian GulfRead MoreHow the Iraq Invasion of Kuwait Impacted Kuwaits Environment1667 Words   |  7 Pagesportion of the war as well as the beginning of the oil fires. Furthermore the pollution of the oil fires will be looked at in regards to terrestrial pollution as well as wildlife pollution. This investigation will include an evaluation of the origin, purpose, value and l imitations of 2 sources, The Environmental Consequences of War: legal, economic and scientific perspectives by Jay E. Austin and Carl E. Bruch, as well as John Loretz’s article titled The Animal Victims of the Gulf War. Part B: SummaryRead MoreThe Catastrophic Effects Of War1058 Words   |  5 Pagescatastrophic effects of war War is defined as a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations (Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster.com). Warfare has been a tool used to acquire new lands and resources, defend religious beliefs, and to acquire freedom. Although, warfare maybe unable to avoid, it should not be used carelessly or without deep and thoughtful consideration. There are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration before a declaration of war is evenRead MoreMichael Klares Blood and Oil Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pages Michael Klare has written an interesting and very relevant book, dealing as it does with the politics of oil, US foreign policy, the Middle East, and the causes of terrorism. He writes with a clear purpose and that is to argue that Americas securitization of oil and its willingness to use military force in order to secure its supplies of oil have be en a major mistake. His main argument is that ever sinceRead MoreAmerica an Apostle for Justice and a Combatant of Terrorism1391 Words   |  6 Pagestreat war as a sporting event, believing they are going to war with the only objective being to win, and forgetting objectives consistent with their nation’s own self-interest. Nations do go to war, but structured war objectives are usually limited to a nationÊ ¼s foreign and economic policy and the objectives then stem from self-interest. Nations go to war to gain territory, protect markets, or to gain resources, not just to triumph villainous forces. World War 1: Summary: A bloody war thatRead MoreCompare and contrast the 1990 Gulf War to the 2003 Iraq invasion. Did the position of Arab regimes differ?2916 Words   |  12 PagesCOMPARE AND CONTRAST THE 1990 GULF WAR TO THE 2003 IRAQ INVASION. DID THE POSITION OF ARAB REGIMES DIFFER? The Gulf War in 1990 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003 both had a profound impact not just on the countries directly involved - primarily Iraq and the United States (US) - but also on the geo-politics of the world. Arguably, the War ended in a stalemate because the Iraqi regime that had started the War by invading Kuwait remained in power. Perhaps inevitably then, in March 2003 the US and itsRead MoreCritical Reasoning And Battle Of Thermopylae1320 Words   |  6 PagesBattle Analysis of the Battle of Thermopylae One of the most historic battles fought in the 5th century BC was the Battle of Thermopylae. The Greeks and Persians battled for control of a narrow pass located at Thermopylae. This pass served as the most direct route into mainland Greece and allowed freedom of maneuver to the Persians. The Persians received a critical piece of human intelligence that allowed them to defeat the Greeks at the pass. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the battleRead MoreOil Spills May Happen For Many Reasons1512 Words   |  7 PagesOil Spills may happen for several reasons. 1. When oil tankers have equipment faults. When oil tankers break down, it may get stuck on shallow land. When the tanker is attempted to move out of shallow land, abrasion may cause a hole in the tanker that will lead to large amounts of oil being released into the oceanic bodies. However, although this form of oil spill is the most commonly known and has the highest media attention, only 2% of oil in water bodies is a result of this action. 2. from natureRead MoreU.s. National Security Strategy1382 Words   |  6 Pages The Way Ahead for American and Iranian Relations: Engaging in a Cold War Over the past 37 years, Iran has become one of the most complex and stubborn national security strategy issues that the United States has had to deal with. Once a key U.S. ally in the region, Iran is now a chief protagonist. To complicate matters, recently, the U.S. has found itself simultaneously an adversary and a quasi-ally of Iran. An example of this duality would be: on one hand, Iran has provided support to terroristRead MoreThe Battle of Thermopylae began in 480 BC and was a product of the Greeks attempt help defend the900 Words   |  4 Pagesand was a product of the Greeks attempt help defend the Ionians from the Persians. This irritated the Persian Emperor, Xerxes, because he thought of Greece as a small kingdom that had no place revolting against the Persian Empire. The Athenians sympathized with the Ionians because the Persians had also tried to invade Greece on multiple occasions. The Athenians provided feeble help to the Ionians and in retaliation the Persians struck a t athens (23B). Xerxes was known to be irrational with his temper