Lesson 2: The Persian Gulf War

Lesson Focus

When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the world faced a crisis. We'll explore how the U.S. led an international coalition to counter this aggression after diplomacy and sanctions failed.

People to Know

George Bush, Saddam Hussein, Norman Schwarzkopf

Learning Objectives

• List the key events, from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait to the international military response, that sparked the Persian Gulf War.
• Discuss the immediate outcomes of the war, including the liberation of Kuwait and its impact on regional stability and U.S. foreign policy.

Deep in debt from its war with Iran, Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein accused Kuwait of damaging his country's economy and demanded billions in payments.
When diplomacy failed, Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, seizing its vast oil fields in just 12 hours.
This act of “naked aggression” gave Hussein control of 20 percent of the world's oil and triggered immediate international condemnation, setting the stage for a global crisis.

After Iraq's invasion, President Bush and the United Nations feared Saddam Hussein would threaten the world's oil supply and invade Saudi Arabia.
They imposed economic sanctions and organized a massive military coalition called Operation Desert Shield to defend Saudi Arabia.
For nearly six months, the world hoped this show of force would be enough, but Hussein refused to withdraw his troops from Kuwait, making armed conflict almost certain. Note that this was a defensive buildup.

Saddam Hussein defied the United Nations' final deadline of January 15, 1991, to pull his army out of Kuwait.
In response, President Bush ordered the start of Operation Desert Storm on January 16. Coalition forces began a massive air war, using high-tech missiles and bombers against Iraqi targets.
Iraq's military was quickly overwhelmed by the coalition's superior firepower, and its attempts to broaden the war by attacking Israel failed.

With diplomatic efforts exhausted and weeks of air strikes not forcing a full retreat, President Bush set a final deadline for an unconditional Iraqi withdrawal.
On February 23, hours after the deadline passed, General Norman Schwarzkopf led a powerful ground invasion. The attack was swift and decisive.
In just 100 hours, allied forces liberated Kuwait and crushed the Iraqi army, though Bush chose not to occupy Iraq to maintain regional stability.

The Persian Gulf War's success made Americans question their country's expensive role as the world's only military superpower.
Leaders like Secretary of State James Baker pushed for diplomacy, while others debated cutting defense spending. However, some warned that global threats remained.
Events like the Tiananmen Square massacre in China showed that dangers still existed, creating a tough choice between saving money and maintaining a strong military to ensure global peace.