History 171D The United States and the World Since 1945

Peace & Fellowship

The First Persian Gulf War

The Gulf Crisis and War of left legacy of instability and danger that we still face today

During Iran-Iraq War ( ) Reagan administration tilted toward Saddam Hussein’s Iraq

Saddam Hussein

During Iran-Iraq War ( ) Reagan administration tilted toward Saddam Hussein’s Iraq Special US envoy Donald Rumsfeld meeting Saddam Hussein, 1983

After Iran-Iraq War ended in 1988, tensions arose between Iraq and Kuwait

July 1990—Saddam Hussein demanded islands of Bubiyan and Warba, threatened to invade Kuwait

August 1990—Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, subjecting it to brutal occupation

President George H. W. Bush reacted cautiously at first

Margaret Thatcher and George H. W. Bush... but quickly decided that invasion must not stand

Summer 1990—Bush got UN Security Council to pass resolution demanding Iraqi withdrawal

... even receiving Soviet cooperation

Summer-Fall 1990—Bush lined up diverse coalition of countries prepared to enforce resolution

Massive multinational force materialized in Saudi Arabia—“Operation Desert Shield”

Colin Powell Norman Schwarzkopf

Fall 1990—rapid expansion of military force in Saudi Arabia

November 1990—UN Security Council passed resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq if it didn’t withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991

Antiwar demonstrations

January 1991—Bush agreed Congress could vote on war issue (while making clear he wouldn’t be bound by its vote)

January 1991—Secretary of State James Baker met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz in Geneva but failed to reach agreement James Baker Tariq Aziz

January 1991— Congress debated issue

January 1991— Congress authorized use of force against Iraq

January 17, 1991—After UN deadline passed, Bush launched air war against Iraq (“Desert Storm”)

Damage to Iraqi Infrastructure

February 1991—Coalition launched ground war against Iraqi forces

Iraqi forces quickly capitulated

In wake of victory, Bush’s approval rating shot up to 89 percent

March 1991—Two separate Iraqi rebellions, by Shia in south and Kurds in north, broke out

Saddam crushed both rebellions, creating huge refugee crisis

US military declared “no-fly” zones in northern and southern Iraq, creating safe havens for Kurds and Shia, respectively

Saddam Hussein remained in power in Baghdad

Bill Clinton vs. George H. W. Bush, 1992

Clinton’s World

Despite widespread expectation that he would focus primarily on domestic affairs, Clinton presided over highly activist foreign policy

Late 1992—In response to widespread starvation in Somalia, George H. W. Bush sent US forces to secure supply routes Africa

Late 1992—In response to widespread starvation in Somalia, George H. W. Bush sent US forces to secure supply routes US forces escorting relief convoysPresident Bush visiting troops in Somalia, January 1993 Africa

Late 1992—In response to widespread starvation in Somalia, George H. W. Bush sent US forces to secure supply routes Africa

President-elect Bill Clinton supported Bush’s intervention in Somalia Africa

President-elect Bill Clinton supported Bush’s intervention in Somalia Continued troop commitment into his own presidency Africa

1993—Somali warlords aggressively challenged US/UN presence in country Africa

Fall 1993—Eighteen US servicemen were killed in firefight with Somali gunmen, prompting Clinton to withdraw US forces from country Africa Black Hawk helicopter

Spring 1994—Rwanda was plunged into civil war, pitting Hutus against Tutsis Africa

Spring 1994—Rwanda was plunged into civil war, pitting Hutus against Tutsis; Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) vs. Rwandan government Africa

Spring 1994—About 800,000 Rwandans, mostly Tutsis, were brutally massacred; genocide spearheaded by Hutu extremists Africa

UN failed to act in time to prevent massacres; Clinton administration, gun-shy after Somalia, reinforced inaction Africa

Balkans Former Yugoslavia composed of many different groups, e.g. Serbs, Croats, Muslims, ethnic Albanians

Balkans Early 1990s—Yugoslavia broke up as Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina declared independence

Balkans Serbia, under Slobodan Milosevic, launched wars against breakaway republics to annex portions of their territory

Balkans Serbia, under Slobodan Milosevic, launched wars against breakaway republics to annex portions of their territory

Balkans Milosevic encouraged Serbs in breakaway republics to engage in “ethnic cleansing”; situation especially dire for Bosnian Muslims

Balkans Milosevic encouraged Serbs in breakaway republics to engage in “ethnic cleansing”; situation especially dire for Bosnian Muslims Bosnian Serb militiamen

Balkans Clinton initially did little about Bosnia but eventually supported NATO air strikes against Bosnian Serbs

Balkans 1995—Clinton invited Milosevic and presidents of Croatia and Bosnia to meet in Dayton, Ohio

Balkans Dayton Agreement recognized de facto partition of Bosnia into Serbian republic and Muslim-Croat federation; US stationed troops in Bosnia to help enforce agreement

Balkans Late 1990s—Violence erupted in Kosovo, autonomous province of Serbia Kosovo Liberation Army (ethnic Albanians) forcibly resisted Milosevic’s attempts to populate Kosovo with ethnic Serbs

Balkans March 1999—NATO (with heavy US involvement) launched bombing campaign against Serbia to force it to respect Kosovo’s autonomy Serbian anti-aircraft fire in Belgrade

Balkans NATO bombing provoked massive exodus of Kosovar Albanians

Balkans June 1999—Milosevic relinquished control over Kosovo and allowed NATO to occupy it; refugees returned home