The End of the Cold War & the Persian Gulf War

Richard B. Cheney: Secretary of Defense, Richard B. Cheney: Secretary of Defense, George H. W. Bush: President, George H. W. Bush: President, Colin L. Powell: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin L. Powell: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff,

The end of Soviet Communism 1989: Communist regimes fall in Eastern European states. 1989: Communist regimes fall in Eastern European states. Berlin Wall opened in 1989, removed by Berlin Wall opened in 1989, removed by : Communist Party dissolved in Soviet Union. 1990: Communist Party dissolved in Soviet Union. 1991: Soviet Union dissolves, replaced by Commonwealth of Independent States 1991: Soviet Union dissolves, replaced by Commonwealth of Independent States

Fall of the Wall Fall of the Wall Boris Yeltsin, Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, Russian President,

Change facilitates (& complicates) arms control Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty), signed Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty), signed Limited offensive conventional arms held by Eastern and Western states in Europe. Limited offensive conventional arms held by Eastern and Western states in Europe. START Treaty, signed START Treaty, signed Reduced total numbers of delivery vehicles and warheads in U.S. and Soviet arsenals. Reduced total numbers of delivery vehicles and warheads in U.S. and Soviet arsenals.

Fall of U.S.S.R. undercuts Communist efforts elsewhere Nicaragua: peace negotiated between Sandinistas and contras in Nicaragua: peace negotiated between Sandinistas and contras in Sandinistas voted out of power in Sandinistas voted out of power in El Salvador: Peace negotiated between government and Marxist groups in El Salvador: Peace negotiated between government and Marxist groups in Cuba: pulls troops out of interventions in Africa (Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia) Cuba: pulls troops out of interventions in Africa (Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia)

Panama Manuel Noriega: general and de facto ruler of Panama, Manuel Noriega: general and de facto ruler of Panama, Had ties to U.S. intelligence, Fidel Castro, and Latin American drug interests. Had ties to U.S. intelligence, Fidel Castro, and Latin American drug interests. 1989: various incidents provoke confrontation with U.S. 1989: various incidents provoke confrontation with U.S.

Operation JUST CAUSE U.S. invasion of Panama: Dec , U.S. invasion of Panama: Dec , After fleeing to Vatican embassy, Noriega surrenders, flown to U.S. to face drug charges. After fleeing to Vatican embassy, Noriega surrenders, flown to U.S. to face drug charges.

More trouble in the Persian Gulf August 2, 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait. August 2, 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait. Kuwait “annexed” Saddam Hussein, Aug. 8. Kuwait “annexed” Saddam Hussein, Aug. 8. Aug. 5: Bush declares will wage war to restore Kuwaiti independence if necessary. Aug. 5: Bush declares will wage war to restore Kuwaiti independence if necessary.

Larger dangers Unchallenged Iraqi occupation of Kuwait threatened: Unchallenged Iraqi occupation of Kuwait threatened: Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia other regional Arab regimes other regional Arab regimes Israel Israel Iraq also possessed chemical and biological weapons. Iraq also possessed chemical and biological weapons.

Operation DESERT SHIELD Goal: Protect Saudi Arabia Goal: Protect Saudi Arabia Begins August 7, Begins August 7, Thousands of troops transported by air Thousands of troops transported by air Millions of tons of equipment and fuel transported by sea. Millions of tons of equipment and fuel transported by sea.

Diplomacy Bush Administration builds a coalition of 24 nations to confront Iraq: Bush Administration builds a coalition of 24 nations to confront Iraq: 23 countries provide naval forces; 22 ground troops; 12 provide air units 23 countries provide naval forces; 22 ground troops; 12 provide air units Other counties also help pay the bills: Other counties also help pay the bills: U.S. costs about $60-70 billion – foreign contributions covered $50 billion (not counting services in kind). U.S. costs about $60-70 billion – foreign contributions covered $50 billion (not counting services in kind).

The problem of Israel The coalition included many Arab states. The coalition included many Arab states. Israeli participation would have complicated the position of allied Arab governments, leading to their withdrawal from the war. Israeli participation would have complicated the position of allied Arab governments, leading to their withdrawal from the war. Bush Administration successfully keeps Israel out of the conflict. Bush Administration successfully keeps Israel out of the conflict.

The Role of the United Nations Bush Administration uses the UN as a forum to build and maintain the coalition against Iraq. Bush Administration uses the UN as a forum to build and maintain the coalition against Iraq. Gets UN to impose various sanctions upon Iraq between August and November Gets UN to impose various sanctions upon Iraq between August and November UN Security Council authorized use of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, UN Security Council authorized use of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991.

Increasing the commitment October 1990: Bush wanted a plan to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. October 1990: Bush wanted a plan to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Military planners fail to come up with convincing plans given projected force levels. Military planners fail to come up with convincing plans given projected force levels. November 1990: Bush increases number of U.S. troops to facilitate offensive operations. November 1990: Bush increases number of U.S. troops to facilitate offensive operations.

The Powell Doctrine U.S. military action: U.S. military action: should be used only as a last resort. should be used only as a last resort. only for a clear national security risk. only for a clear national security risk. force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force used by the enemy. force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force used by the enemy. there must be strong support for the campaign by the general public. there must be strong support for the campaign by the general public. there must be a clear exit strategy. there must be a clear exit strategy.

U.S. manpower 237,800 Reservists & National Guardsmen (& women) were called to active duty during the Gulf War. 237,800 Reservists & National Guardsmen (& women) were called to active duty during the Gulf War. 40,000 in August 40,000 in August 187,000 between November 1990 and January ,000 between November 1990 and January ,000 volunteered for active duty 10,000 volunteered for active duty

H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. Commander, U.S. Central Command and of coalition forces in the Gulf. Commander, U.S. Central Command and of coalition forces in the Gulf.

The plan to attack Iraq Month-long air campaign Month-long air campaign Preliminary goal of destroying Iraqi air defenses. Preliminary goal of destroying Iraqi air defenses. Other targets included military and industrial facilities, first in Iraq, then Kuwait Other targets included military and industrial facilities, first in Iraq, then Kuwait If needed, ground offensive would follow air operations. If needed, ground offensive would follow air operations.

The ground plan

Operation DESERT STORM January 15, 1991: Ordered by President George H. W. Bush January 15, 1991: Ordered by President George H. W. Bush January 17: air operations began January 17: air operations began February 24: ground campaign launched February 24: ground campaign launched February 28: ceasefire and coalition victory. February 28: ceasefire and coalition victory.

High-tech air war Smart bombs, precision-guided munitions. Smart bombs, precision-guided munitions. Advanced air control & target acquisition systems. Advanced air control & target acquisition systems. New planes New planes

Scud Attacks Iraq launches missiles at Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Iraq launches missiles at Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Coalition responds with “Great Scud Hunt,” sending planes and special operations units to locate and destroy these weapons. Coalition responds with “Great Scud Hunt,” sending planes and special operations units to locate and destroy these weapons.

“The 100-hour War” Coalition ground forces blast through Iraqi defenses. Coalition ground forces blast through Iraqi defenses. Highly effective artillery and air support. Highly effective artillery and air support. Iraqi forces not as numerous or tough as anticipated. Iraqi forces not as numerous or tough as anticipated. Failure: Republican Guard divisions escape. Failure: Republican Guard divisions escape.

“The Highway of Death” Fears of public reaction to large numbers of Iraqi casualties helps push for quick conclusion to hostilities. Fears of public reaction to large numbers of Iraqi casualties helps push for quick conclusion to hostilities.

Assessment Casualties: Casualties: US – 613: 146 killed, 467 wounded. US – 613: 146 killed, 467 wounded. Coalition – 410: 92 killed, 318 wounded. Coalition – 410: 92 killed, 318 wounded. Iraqi – 12,000 killed, about 86,000 surrendered. Iraqi – 12,000 killed, about 86,000 surrendered. Kuwaiti independence restored. Kuwaiti independence restored. Iraqi strategic military capability devastated. Iraqi strategic military capability devastated.

Problems for the future Saddam Hussein remains in power in Iraq. Saddam Hussein remains in power in Iraq.