History 102SY The United States and the Middle East 1900 to the Present

The First 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

Special US envoy Donald Rumsfeld meeting Saddam Hussein, 1983

When Iraq used chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers and Iraqi Kurdish civilians, US crititicized Iraq, but only mildly

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

Kuwait demanded repayment of $32 billion loan, but Iraq refused

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

Meeting between Ambassador April Glaspie and Saddam Hussein, July 25, 1990

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

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

... including even Soviet Union

To break up anti-Iraq coalition, Saddam offered to withdraw from Kuwait if Israel withdrew from Arab territories taken in 1967; Saddam’s offer generated enthusiasm in Arab world

Bush refused any quid pro quo but made vague commitment to address Arab-Israeli dispute after Iraq was ousted from Kuwait

Meanwhile, massive multinational force materialized in Saudi Arabia—“Operation Desert Shield”

Colin Powell Norman Schwarzkopf

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—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

Iraq launched “Scud” missiles against Israel and Saudi Arabia; “Patriot” missiles appeared to shoot down Scuds “Scud” missile “Patriot” missile

Actually, Scuds broke up on their own “Scud” missile “Patriot” missile

“Stormin’ Norman” Schwarzkopf

February 1991—Coalition launched ground war against Iraqi forces

Iraqi forces quickly capitulated

Casualties of war

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