UNIT – V

GULF OF WAR I & II

a) Causes
b) Highlights of the war
c) Role of the UN

Watch video:

Gulf war 1: https://youtu.be/xl_lctDXHuQ

gulf war 2: https://youtu.be/i-Zetl8BYZ4

CAUSES & EFFECTS OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR:

 In 1979, Islamic fundamentalists overthrew the Shah of Iran. U.S. officials were
concerned that if Iran were able to dominate the region, “anti-American extremist”
Shiite-Muslim factions could spread to pro-U.S. oil-rich countries such as Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia.
 In neighboring Iraq, Saddam Hussein grew worried that Islamic fundamentalism
would spread into his country.
 In 1980, Saddam invaded Iran starting the Iran-Iraq War. Despite reports that Saddam
was trying to develop nuclear weapons, the USA supported Iraq by selling them
weapons in order to prevent Iranian power and influence in this region.
 In 1984, U.S. leaders met with Saddam right after reports that the Iraqi military
was using chemical gas almost every day against Iranian soldiers.
 Iraq had been losing the war against Iran up until then. In addition, Saddam
ordered his military to drop bombs with poisonous gas against the Kurds (an
ethnic minority group) in northern Iraq.
 “Saddam's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majeed in the government known as "Ali Chemical"
says, "Who is going to say anything? The international community?" Many U.S.
government officials were concerned about Saddam's use of banned weapons.”
 The Reagan administration did not criticize Saddam for using chemical weapons.
 In 1988, Dow Chemical sold $1.5 million of pesticides to Iraq which could be
used as chemical warfare agents
 The U.S. government restored full diplomatic relations; allowed American
corporations to sell Iraq supplies; gave billions of dollars of loan credits to Iraq; gave
intelligence information to help Iraq fight Iran.
 Reagan’s administration turned a blind eye to the export of “dual use” items such as
chemical precursors and steel tubes that can have military and civilian applications.
 On July 1990, Saddam Hussein accused its neighbor, Kuwait of drilling $2.4
billion worth of Iraqi oil at the border between Iraq and Kuwait and also
bringing down the international price of oil by over-selling.
 Iraq argued that this practice caused its treasury to lose billions of dollars while it
was desperately in debt from its war with Iran.
 Saddam called this an “economic war” with Kuwait and demanded $10 billion in
compensation or it would go to war against Kuwait.
 The Kuwaiti government ignored these demands and Saddam amassed troops at
the border.
 The U.S. government saw Kuwait as a friend in the region and U.S. Ambassador
April Glaspie told Saddam, “We're watching you. We're concerned about the
statements that you've been issuing. But our fundamental feeling is that we have no
direct vested interest in Arab-Arab disputes, including the dispute that you're
having with the Kuwaitis over the mutual border that you share.”
 Saddam was likely confused about
 whether the U.S. will take a stand in this dispute.
 Will the U.S. help settle the conflict to help maintain peace in the Middle East?
 Will they clearly warn Saddam not to invade?
 In July, the Pentagon was busy developing a plan in the case of an Iraqi invasion
of Kuwait or Saudi Arabia or both
 The U.S. government maintained the stance that the U.S. did not have an opinion
on Arab-Arab conflicts but secretly prepared for war if Iraq invaded Kuwait
 After attempts at negotiation, Iraq walked out on talks when Kuwait refused to
meet its demands.
 On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein ordered his Iraqi army to invade Kuwait.
 The United Nations Security Council and the Arab League immediately condemned
the Iraqi invasion.
  Four days later, the UN Security Council imposed an economic embargo on Iraq that
prohibited nearly all trade with Iraq.
 Iraq responded by annexing Kuwait on August 8, prompting the exiled Kuwait
monarchy to call for a stronger international response.
 With Kuwait, Saddam gained control of 20% of the world’s oil supplies. If Saddam
were to continue to invade Saudi Arabia, he would have control of 40% of the world's
oil.
 President Bush viewed Saddam’s aggression as a threat to American security.
 Iraq's invasion gave Saddam Hussein direct control over a significant portion of
the world's oil supply. It disrupted the Middle East balance of power and placed
Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf emirates in jeopardy.
 Iraq's 5,45,000-man army threatened the security of such valuable U.S. allies as Egypt
and Israel.
 Saddam indicated that he would be willing to negotiate a withdrawal from Kuwait in
exchange for his demands.
 Arab countries wanted a chance to resolve the conflict peacefully. Many American
citizens were fear of another war, after the experience of Vietnam. There are many in
Congress who also questioned the idea of going to war.

Will the U.S. try to negotiate a peaceful solution

or

prepare to go to war against Iraq's invasion?

 In a sharp departure from American foreign policy during the Reagan presidency,
Bush also organized an international coalition against Iraq.
 He convinced Turkey and Syria to close Iraq’s oil pipelines, won Soviet support for an
arms embargo, and established a multi-national army to protect Saudi Arabia.
 President Bush dramatically declared, “This aggression will not stand.” With Iraqi
forces poised near the border of Saudi Arabia, the Bush administration
dispatched 180,000 troops to protect the Saudi kingdom as part of Operation
Desert Shield.

OPERATION DESERT SHIELD:

 Operation Desert Shield, and organized a coalition of 35 nations to defend Saudi
Arabia and ultimately liberate Kuwait. Operation Desert Shield (2 August 1990 – 17 January
1991) for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defense of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES

 Withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait

 Restoration of Kuwait's legitimate government
 Security and stability of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf
 The Objective - Direct all efforts toward a decisive, obtainable goal
 Simplicity - Prepare uncomplicated plans and concise orders to insure thorough
understanding and execution
 Unity of Command - For every task, there should be unity of effort under one
responsible commander
 The Offensive- Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative
 Maneuver - Position your military resources to favor the accomplishment of your
mission
 Mass - Achieve military superiority at the decisive place and time
 Economy of Force – Complete the job with minimum combat power

In addition, President Bush doubled the size of American forces deployed in the
Persian Gulf and initiated Operation Desert Storm to eject Iraq from Kuwait by force.
President Bush's decision to liberate Kuwait was an enormous political and military gamble.

The Iraqi army, the world's fourth largest, was equipped with Exocet missiles, top-of-
the-line Soviet T-72 tanks, and long-range artillery capable of firing nerve gas.

OPERATION DESERT STROM: (17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991) was the
combat phase.

FOUR-PHASED CAMPAIGN

 Phase I: Strategic air campaign-(scud missile of Iraq and patriot missile of US

were used in gulf war)
 Phase II: Air Supremacy in theatre
 Phase III: Battlefield preparations
 Phase IV: Offensive ground campaign
PHASE 1: AIR SUPERIORITY OVER THE ENEMY TO MEET JOINT FORCE
GOALS.

 Freedom to attack any targets, with mission success.

 Freedom to attack and defeat of enemy fighters and SAM’S

AIR CAMPAIGN: 17 JAN 1991

TECHNOLOGY:

 Tomahawks Missiles Launched from surface ships and submarines 52 in the opening
salvo.
 The B-2 Stealth Bomber, F 117 Stealth Fighters
 CV aircraft 1/3 of the total U.S. missions the rest from Air Force Bases.
 CV Groups in the Gulf and Red Sea.
 Naval Command of all U.S. forces in the theater, NAVCENT (Naval Component,
Central Command) in each phase

Phase I and II: Participate in the air campaign, establish sea control, conduct mine
countermeasure operations, and attack shore facilities that threaten naval operations

BATTLEFIELD PREPARATION

 Attacking the Saddam wall

 Moving through desert undetected
 D-Day landing deception

MARITIME CAMPAIGN

 Phase III: Attack ground forces with aircraft and naval gunfire
 Phase IV: Conduct amphibious feints, and demonstrations and prepare for
amphibious assault

ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE

 143 Iraqi naval vessels destroyed/damaged

 All Iraqi naval bases/ports damaged
 All northern Persian Gulf oil platforms were searched and secured
 No attacks by Iraqi surface vessels against coalition forces
  Supply guns to support the ground campaign

NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT

 BB Wisconsin and Missouri - 16-inch guns to support the ground campaign.

 UAV for spotting and real-time battle damage assessment

GROUND CAMPAIGN:

 24-28 February 100-hour campaign

 I MEF committed two infantry divisions
 Naval force continued support in the form of a prepared amphibious assault on the
Kuwait coast. The highest priority was deception
 The I MEF faced the strongest concentration of enemy defences in theater and
breached two defensive belts.
 By the end of the day, I MEF had taken 8000 enemy prisoners of war and attacked
twenty miles into Kuwait.

All objectives were achieved including Kuwait International Airport by early 27 February.

TANK BATTLES

 Two of the largest tank battles in US History occurring the gulf war. Battle of 73
Easting and Battle of Medina Ridge

CONCLUSION

 Estimated Iraqi losses–100,000 Iraqi soldiers dead, 3847 tanks, 1450 armoured
personnel carriers, 2917 artillery pieces, and 32 aircraft.
 Estimated 86,000 POWs
 U.S. fatalities were 313, both combatant and non-combatant. ¼ was friendly fire

The combined Coalition forces--the first coalition warfare the U.S. had seen since
WW II--had won one of the fastest and most complete victories in military history.

 Importance of unity of command

 Ready land bases may not always be available
 Volunteer soldiers have 10x more impact than those who have been drafted after
WWII
 But after only 1 month of bombings, the American-led coalition forces had achieved
air supremacy; had destroyed thousands of Iraqi tanks and artillery pieces, supply routes and
communications lines, and command-and-control bunkers; plus, had limited Iraq's ability to
produce nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Iraqi troop morale suffered so badly
under the bombing that an estimated 30 percent of Baghdad's forces deserted before the
ground campaign started. By March 1991, Iraqi troops retreated from Kuwait.

EXTRA NOTES:

BACKGROUND TO WAR

1. Iraq had a number of reasons for attacking Kuwait. Iraq had never really accepted
the state of Kuwait and considered it to be part the land between the rivers, Euphrates
and Tigris rivers that belong to Iraq.

2. Iraq thought the underground oil along the border with Kuwait was theirs.

3. Iraq claimed before the war, Kuwait was responsible for the reducing world oil
prices.

4. Saddam Hussein claimed that Kuwait owed his country money for Iraq’s economic
losses. Kuwait's leaders refused all of Saddam's demands and increased its oil
production by 40 percent.

5. It is clear that Iraq expected to claim as its territory Kuwait and that they initially
never expected an allied force to fight back.

WHY DID IRAQ INVADE KUWAIT?

 Economical debt: S. Hussein was seriously indebted: Several Arab nations including
Kuwait had lent him money to finance the war against Iran. They were waiting for
getting a refund. Moreover, the program to reconstruct the country after the war cost a
lot.
 He was unable to repay the money borrowed: and asked Kuwait to forgive the $14
billion debt arguing that the war against Iran had prevented the rise of Iran’s Islamic
fundamentalism over Kuwait and other Arab nations.
 Kuwait refused and wanted its money back.
ROW ABOUT OIL:

 On prices: Petroleum was the Iraq and Kuwait major source of revenue.
 Solution to repay the debt and recover the economy :
 Raising the prices of oil through the OPEC(Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries).
 Kuwait reaction to prevent a global increase in petroleum prices :
 produced more oil, thereby depressing the price of oil From $20 a barrel to $13 a
barrel.
 Every $1 drop caused a $1 billion drop in Iraq annual revenue.
 The collapse had a catastrophic impact on Iraq’s economy and Saddam Hussein saw
the Kuwait reaction as an aggression act.

GULF WAR II (2003-2011);

The Coalition Forces, led by the United States, invaded the country of Iraq on March
20, 2003. This event started the United States war with the Iraqi government. This war pitted
the United States and the Coalition Forces against Iraq and the Ba’ath Party. According to
U.S. President George W. Bush, the purpose of going to war with Iraq was to “disarm Iraq of
weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, and to free the
Iraqi people.”

The new policies established were economic sanctions, and the implementation of
United States and United Kingdom patrols of Iraqi no-fly zones, designed to protect the
Kurds in northern Iraq and the Shiites in southern Iraq. However, toward the end of the
millennium, the United States’ policy switched from containment to a regime change.
President Bill Clinton signed the “Iraq Liberation Act.” This act was signed in response to
Iraq ending its cooperation with the United Nations weapons inspection. The act provided
Iraq with $97 million to establish a democracy in Iraq. A month after the act was passed, the
United States and United Kingdom launched a bombing campaign on various Iraqi targets in
response to violations of the U.N. sanctions. That campaign was called Operation Desert
Fox.

OPERATION DESERT FOX-DECEMBER 16–19, 1998

 The primary mission of DESERT FOX was to strike military targets in Iraq that
contributed to its ability to produce, store, maintain, and deliver weapons of mass destruction
(WMD). The U.S. government expected to achieve several goals with the operation.

 First, it would degrade Iraq's ability to create and employ WMD.

 Second, the attacks would diminish Iraq's capability to wage war against its
neighbors.
 Third, the operation would impress upon Saddam Hussein the consequences of
violating international agreements, including allowing United Nations inspectors
unfettered access to Iraqi sites.

The United States and Great Britain launched Operation DESERT FOX on December
16, 1998,

Operation Desert Fox was a four-day bombing campaign on the country of Iraq, by
the United States and United Kingdom. This was in response to Iraq’s unwillingness to
comply with the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and for not cooperating with
United Nations Special Commission Inspectors. This was the start to the Iraqi disarmament
crisis. The United States was also looking to disrupt Saddam Hussein’s grip on the Iraqi
government. The result of the bombardment was the destruction of much of Iraq’s
infrastructure, and close to 2,000 deaths.

2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAMPAIGN

During the 2000 presidential election, George W. Bush and the Republican Party
moved toward a more active policy. That policy was “regime change” in Iraq. The
Republican Party wanted to fully implement the Iraq Liberation Act and remove Saddam
Hussein from power in Iraq. A couple of Bush’s advisers already had dealings with Hussein
Vice President Dick Cheney was the Secretary of Defense during the First Gulf War. In 1983,
Bush’s Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld met with Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War. At
that time, the United States provided weapons to Iraq. By 2000, Cheney and Rumsfeld were
strong advocates for the invasion of Iraq. Former Secretary of the Treasury Paul O’Neill said
the Bush administration had plans to invade Iraq since the presidential inauguration.

SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

On September 11, 2001, four commercial airplanes were hijacked. American Airlines
Flight 11 was the first to crash into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The second
plane, United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the South Tower. The third plane, American
Airlines Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93,
was expected to head toward the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Passengers onboard,
however, prevented that from happening, but the plane crashed in a field in Shanksville,
Pennsylvania.

AL-QAEDA

Almost 3,000 people died that day, and more than 6,000 people were injured. It was
the largest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. The Sunni Islamic militant
organization known as al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, claimed responsibility. It is also
assumed that the Taliban organization in Afghanistan cooperated with al-Qaeda’s planned
attacks. A U.S.-led coalition invaded Afghanistan after the Taliban refused to turn over
Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaeda members. Coalition forces overthrew the Taliban, with
help from the Afghan opposition to the Taliban, the Northern Alliance.

A new government was set up that was favorable to the United States, but bin Laden
and many of his men escaped into the mountains of Pakistan.

IRAQ AND AL-QAEDA

The reasoning for invading Iraq as a response to the September 11 attacks has been
highly debated. Prior to the attacks, there were no direct links between Iraq, Saddam Hussein,
Osama bin Laden, and al-Qaeda. However, on September 20, President Bush addressed
Congress, and formally announced the United States newly established War on Terrorism.
Many of Bush’s advisers wanted to invade Iraq. Bush went in another direction and decided
the best course of action was to form a coalition and get U.N. authorization to invade Iraq
unilaterally. Bush began making his push for the invasion of Iraq in late 2002. The new
resolution, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, was passed in November 2002.
This was Iraq’s final chance to comply with United States Weapons inspection.

Throughout this time, the Bush administration claimed it had intelligence proving that
Iraq still had weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including a nuclear weapons program. It
also claimed that Saddam Hussein was directly supporting al-Qaeda terrorists.

PREPARING FOR INVASION-MARCH 2003

 In March 2003, the coalition, led by the United States and United Kingdom, began its
preparations for the impending invasion of Iraq. In the middle of March, President Bush
demanded that Saddam Hussein, along with his two sons Uday and Qusay, surrender and
leave Iraq. He gave the men a 48-hour deadline. After the deadline expired, the bombing of
Iraq by the coalition began on March 18, 2003. Unlike the first Iraq War in 1991, the United
Nations did not back this coalition and questioned the accuracy of U.S. intelligence
information. President Bush referred to the coalition he had assembled as the “Coalition of
the Willing.”

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM-MARCH 20–APRIL 30, 2003

The invasion of Iraq, codenamed Operation Iraqi Freedom, began at 5:24 a.m. on
March 20, 2003 in Baghdad. In the invasion, there were eight military objectives. Each of the
eight dealt with key points laid out in President Bush’s National Security Strategy:

• Remove Saddam Hussein from power.

• Search, discover, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction.

• Capture and drive out the terrorist element.

• Obtain intelligence related to terrorist networks.

• Accumulate intelligence that is related to the illicit network of weapons of

mass destruction.

• Distribute humanitarian aid to those in need.

• Secure Iraqi oil fields.

Transition Iraq to a democratic government.

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

Operation Iraqi Freedom was the largest Special Operations mission since the
Vietnam War. The “special ops” team found a possible chemical weapons plant, and also the
possible location of a number of al-Qaeda officials. The Iraqi Army did not stand a chance
against the coalition military. The Saddam Hussein regime officially fell on April 9, 2003.
This ended Hussein’s rule over Iraq after twenty-four years. Symbolically, American troops
helped the civilians tear down the statue of the dictator. When American Marines took control
of Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, the invasion was over.
POST-INVASION IRAQ

On May 1, 2003, President Bush landed in a Lockheed S-3 Viking aboard the USS
Abraham Lincoln operating off the coast of San Diego. On board the Abraham Lincoln, Bush
gave his famous “Mission Accomplished” speech. In the speech, Bush declared victory over
Iraq’s military forces, but Saddam Hussein was still in hiding and coalition forces were still
being met with insurgent forces.

Since the fall of the Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi government was in disarray. There was
massive looting of government buildings, museums, banks and military facilities. According
to the Pentagon, 250,000 tons of Iraqi ammunition were stolen as well. These provided much
support for a rise in Iraqi insurgency. Millions of dollars in U.S. currency were also missing.

THE DEATHS OF UDAY AND QUSAY HUSSEIN-JULY 22, 2003

OPERATION RED DAWN-DECEMBER 13, 2003

This was a military operation set by the United States military in the early morning of
December 13, 2003 in the small town of ad-Dawr, near Saddam Hussein’s hometown of
Tikrit. The operation resulted in the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, based
upon a tip to his whereabouts. He was discovered hiding in a small mud-walled compound,
known as a “spider hole.” Hussein did not resist when captured, but he was armed with a
pistol and a AK-47 rifle. They, also, found in his possession, $750,000 in $100 bills.
Saddam’s brother and his former cook were also taken into custody.

TRIAL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN

Saddam Hussein’s trial began on October 19, 2005 in front of the Special Iraqi
Tribunal. He was tried alongside seven other defendants. They were being tried for crimes
against humanity, specifically the events that transpired after an assassination attempt on him.
Hussein accused one hundred and forty-eight Iraqi Shiites for the attempt on his life and had
them executed. During the trial, Hussein maintained that he was still president of Iraq, and he
was unjustly overthrown. Hussein was convicted and on November 5, 2006, was sentenced to
death.

EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN-DECEMBER 30, 2006

 Hussein appealed the sentencing of death, but on December 26 , the appeal was
rejected and sentencing was upheld. Hussein was set to executed within thirty days. Days
before his execution, he wrote a letter to the Ba’ath Party, advising the party not to be angry
with the people who invaded Iraq, but to hate the decision-makers. He explained he was
proud to die as a martyr, and he was ready to die. He was executed at 6 a.m. on December 30,
2006.