Persian Gulf War August 1990-February 1991 Opponent: Iraq (Saddam Hussein) Allies: 22 nation coalition (16 involved in combat) President: George H.W. Bush (41 st ) Reasons: Iraq invaded Kuwait, then threatened Saudi Arabia and its oil reserves Area of fighting: Persian Gulf region (Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia)

Number of U.S. troops: 467,000 U.S. military deaths: 148 battle deaths, 121 non-combat (estimated 20,000 Iraqis killed in military, 2,300 civilian deaths) Cost to U.S.: $61 billion Results: Military build-up (Desert Shield), followed by 5-week allied air assault in Jan./Feb and 4-day ground assault liberated Kuwait and chased Iraq back home. Saddam Hussein remained in power. Success in PGW erased some of the bitter loss in Vietnam.

Operation Iraqi Freedom March 20, present Opponent: Iraq (Saddam Hussein) Allies: 40 nation coalition (98% of troops have been U.S. or British) President: George W. Bush (43rd) Reasons: Part of the larger War on Terrorism begun in 2001 after 9/11 terrorist attacks. Iraq believed to be developing weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein seen as threat to stability in Middle East and in Iraq. Area of fighting: Iraq

Number of U.S. troops: 250,000 (invasion), Total current deployment of 154,000 troops U.S. military deaths: Approx. 3,950 (Feb. 2008) Sgt. Mason L. Lewis – Casualty 3867 (11/16/07) Cost to U.S.: $474 billion (estimate as of 12/07) Results: Bush declared “end of major combat” on May 1, Saddam Hussein captured December 2003, executed December 30, Armed insurgency of Sunni and Shia Islamic factions has destabilized country. Bush proposed 21,000 troop “surge” in 2007 State of the Union address. Surge effective?

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Mason L. Lewis, 26, of Gloucester, Va., died in Baghdad on Nov. 16, as a result of a non-combat related training accident. He was assigned to the 26th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.