1. The First Gulf War,

2. What GHWB Dealt With in 4 Short Years
Collapse of Communism
Panama/ouster of Noriega
Post-Reagan deficit/debt & recession
First Gulf War,
Collapse of savings and loan industry
Hurricane Andrew ($1 billion in damage)
Break-up of Soviet Union, Aug-Dec 1991
Somalia, 1992

3. Iraqi Problems High Debt from war in 80s with Iran.
Needs to sell oil at as a high a price as possible
Kuwait was selling oil cheaper to the west; tapped oil fields on the border claimed by Iraq

5. US Ambassador to Iraq April Glaspie
Hussein threatens Kuwait over the summer of 1990
Masses troops on the border
Glaspie meets, asks about troop movements

6. US Ambassador to Iraq April Glaspie
Apparently told Hussein US had no interest in “border dispute” with Kuwait
A green light?
She was forbidden from speaking to the press after the invasion!

7. Invasion August 2, 1990: Iraqi army invades Kuwait
Overruns the country in 2 days
At first proclaims a “Republic,” then annexes Kuwait as a province

8. The Saudis
Saudi King terrified that Iraq would invade Saudi Arabia next
If so, Iraq would control 60% of world’s oil supply
“Asks” for American military help

10. The United Nations
August 9: UN Security Council votes 15-0 that annexation is null and void
Other resolutions follow; Iraq ignores them all
President Bush assembles impressive anti-Iraq coalition in the UN and in the field

11. The United States Bush: Hussein is a new Hitler!
Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, Gen. Norman Swartzkopf
Operation “Desert Shield”

12. US Congress Fierce debate over giving Bush authorization to go to war
Republicans behind him
Democrats waiver-“No blood for oil?”

13. US Congress Bush administration carries on effective campaign for war
“Instant books”: Saddam is the anti-Christ!
“Citizens for a Free Kuwait” invented by Kuwaiti government in exile; faked testimony before Congress (“Nurse Nayirah”, e.g.)
Senate voted to authorize the war; House, (closest since war of 1812)

14. War Air campaign begins Jan. 17; ground war, Feb. 24
Iraq forced out of Kuwait by Feb. 27, agrees to cease-fire on March 3

15. Why Not Go to Baghdad?