Many remember Operation Desert Storm as America’s first war against Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq. For a lot of Americans, this was their first introduction to war itself. One major factor that sticks out about this war is the belief of chemical weaponry use against allied forces and how the Chemical Corp played a part in the defense of these believed horrendous attacks. Although this belief was not found to be true, elements from the 9th Chemical Detachment as well as personnel from the Army’s Technical Escort Unit and other various chemical units were on ground to ensure a quick response in case of any CBW attack. (BG Russ Zajtchuk and COL Ronald F. Bellamy, 1997). This assignment will give you an insight to what is known as the “100 hour war”.
To first understand the Chemical Corp’s role during Operation Desert Storm, one must have knowledge of why the war began. Iraq invaded Kuwait in what was said to be done in a very aggressive manner, given the fact that Iraq at the time had the 4th largest Army in the world. Saddam Hussein was trying to gain control of the oil produced in Kuwait in order to pay off the debt accumulated in the Iran/ Iraq war. Kuwait was and still is a large supplier of oil to the United States as well as Saudi Arabia. Saddam Hussein was under the impression that his fellow Arab states would stand by and allow his occupation to occur. Iraq’s invasion threatened the oil connection between both countries and the United States. The President of the United States at that time, George Bush Sr., then gave Iraq a choice. Depart Kuwait or face the wrath of the United States Military.
The ultimatum was not met and therefore the air strikes commenced. You must also know that there was a lot of ...
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...try that would stand by while an ally was being bullied and did nothing, would not be much of a country. At least not one built on morals and values. The death toll was high on both sides and the monetary price of war was extensive as well, yet in the end, a friend in need was helped and a tyrant was put in his place. This served and continues to serve as an example of what one country’s bravery can do.
Works Cited
ONLINE HIGHWAYS. (2005). Desert storm. Retrieved from http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2020.html BG Russ Zajtchuk and COL Ronald F. Bellamy. (1997). Part I, warfare, weapons, and the casualty," textbook of military medicine: Medical aspects of chemical and biological warfare. Retrieved from http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/bw_ii/bw_s02.htm
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One of the major diseases that almost permanently affected the soldiers was Shell Shock which was due to constant exposure to horrific scenes of death. Source A1 is an extract from a historian writing for the First World war aimed at students, focuses on ...
Operation Desert Shield was launched by President H.W. Bush to increase the amount of forces and troops in areas surrounding Kuwait and mainly in Saudi Arabia in response to the 120,000 troops and 2,000 tanks invading Kuwait. The United Nations called for the Iraqi army’s extraction from their presence in Kuwait, however Hussein went ag...
U.S. forces experienced terrible attacks on their positions that consisted of things such as mortar fire and rocket propelled grenade fire. The source of the attacks came from areas all around them. Insurgents attacked from moving vehicles, civilian houses and mosques. The U.S. forces were attacked intensely with small arms direct fire as well as grenades. The ...
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The Web. Blumenson, Martine, and the Patton Papers, (14 March 2014) 2-13-2014) “George S. Patton Jr.” U-s-history.com. Web. The Web. The Web.
Chemical warfare is the use of chemical agents to injure, incapacitate, or kill enemy combatants. First seen during World War I (WWI), the devastating effects of widespread chemical warfare were eventually deemed inhumane by an international consensus and chemical agents were subsequently banned from use. Still, despite the tendency of the modern warrior to overlook antiquated tactics, the threat of chemical agents in the theater of war cannot be entirely discounted by today's Soldier. By analyzing the application, evolution, and overall legacy of chemical weapons in the Great War we can work to minimize the danger they pose in current conflicts and those of the near future. For it is only by understanding the past that we can understand the present and shape tomorrow.
Warfare was in a state of transition. Older commanders and generals in the French and British militaries were very cavalry and infantry focused. These commanders believed that cavalry, infantry, and artillery would assure victory in any circumstance, against any foe. They clung to the static tactics of the bygone World War I era. World War I had been fought primarily on French soil, and the military as well as the government never wanted that to happen again, therefore they wanted to reinforce their main border against any future German. Little did they know that only twenty two years later they would be bested by German forces in a way that would shock the world. This research will be analyzing many important assumptions, oversights,...
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