The United States 's Operation Desert Shield

1183 Words3 Pages

The United States launched an operation known as Operation Desert Shield, also known as the Persian Gulf War, in August of 1990 in response to Saddam Hussein’s order to the Iraqi forces to take over Kuwait. President George Herbert Walker Bush made the decision to send American troops to Saudi Arabia to form an international coalition that would eventually turn into an operation known as Operation Desert Storm. The United States Army had not witnessed an event of such international and Homefront importation since the Cold War.
Saddam Hussein’s main purpose of sending troops to take over Kuwait was to take control of their oil fields, which Hussein believed would be an easy task; however, he failed to understand that the United States and United Nations were keeping a very close watch on the Iraqi’s actions. Hussein also had other motives, such as freeing himself from the debt he was drowning in from the Iran-Iraq War just two years earlier. He set the pretense for war with Kuwait by defining their refusal to give land to Iraq as an act of military belligerence. President Bush ordered the United States to respond just five days after Iraq had invaded Kuwait. If the United States had not taken action, Hussein would have possibly continued to invade other oil producing countries and take control of the United States main sources of oil as well as threaten a number of innocent people’s lives.
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...

... middle of paper ...

...cleanly ending the war was the wrong way to approach the end of war because there were so many open ends with the Iraqis that could possibly lead to conflict in the future; however since the war was expensive, costing 620 billion dollars, and because three hundred ninety American soldiers had already died. After tying up loose ends with handling the Iraqi army and their leader Hussein, General Schwarzkopf, who played a major role and served as a key leader to the American army during Operation Desert Shield and Storm, made his way to where Saddam Hussein was so he could witness his surrender, however Hussein’s actions to follow this event required President Bush to put in place “no-fly zones” to protect the Kurds in Northern Iraq and the Shiites in the South. Eventually Operation Desert Storm, the biggest military operation since Vietnam, came to a successful end.

Show More
Related

  • Operation Anaconda: A Pivotal Battle in Afghanistan

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    The war in Afghanistan sparked numerous operations conducted by the U.S. military and its coalition forces. One of the most influential operation until today was Operation Anaconda. Fought in the Shahi-Kot Valley during early march 2002, it was the largest American battle since the Gulf War, and their first high altitude battle ever encounter. The goal of the Operation Anaconda was to eradicate the remaining Taliban and al Qaeda foothold within the eastern region of Afghanistan. Although, originally intended to last three days, Operation Anaconda lasted seventeen days instead, with seven days of intense battle. The U.S. operation Commander, Major General Franklin Hagenbeck, schemed the “hammer and anvil” plan in order to achieve his objective. However, this plan

    Read More

  • Desert Storm Pros And Cons

    691 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kuwait has the 3rd most oil in the Middle East. Iraq was very poor and needed money. They had just suffered a war with Iran. (Stroilov)They invaded Kuwait in hopes of getting oil to sell and get some money. America was the number 1 country buying oil from Kuwait so we put troops on Kuwait's grounds to defend them.(Stroilov) The deadline for Iraq to leave was Jan. 15, 1991, so Iraq needed to leave and America took action and forced them out of Kuwait. Although before they left they set over 600 oil wells on fire. It took over 1 year to extinguish the fires. In the Gulf War USA played a big part to defend Kuwait. (Stroilov)In 1990 USA defended Kuwait from Iraq invading them for oil to sell it. Later Iraq did get into Kuwait and Desert Storm

    Read More

  • Desert Storm Research Paper

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    Iraq and Saddam Hussein were trying to take over Kuwait, which was a major oil supplier to the world. If Iraq got Kuwait than Saudi Arabia would be right next to them. So then Iraq would pose an Immediate threat to take over Saudi Arabia, which was also a major oil supplier.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Sargent Clint Van Winkle

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to the USA News, the war in Iraq was totally worth it. Despite the loss of almost 4,488 American and more than 32,000 Americans wounded, America have to remember that Iraq was out for the USA and had we not freed Iraq from Saddam dictatorship then we would still be today fighting. The facts and the truth may never be truly reveled, but the fact stands that this war had to happen and Iraq needed America to aid them to their freedom and democracy (USA News).

    Read More

  • Desert Storm Air Defense Essay

    1624 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Iraqi forces fired 93 Scud missiles at coalition forces in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. (Rostker) Air Defense Artillery (ADA) played an immensely significant role in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with units from 11th Brigade Air Defense Artillery and the 32d Air Defense Command rapidly deploying into theater. The effectiveness of the units and their roles in fighting this war proved that Air Defense Artillery was critical to the success of the campaign. Although Patriot Batteries placed strategically throughout Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel played a tremendous tactical role in these wars, High-Medium Air Defense (HIMAD) was not the only type of surface to air missile system in place to protect ground forces and valuable military assets. Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) units also deployed with the air defense units. These weapon systems, integrated with ground forces, provided air defense to dominate against aircraft and Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM) on the front lines.

    Read More

  • Interview With a Veteran of Desert Storm

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... Iraqi forces surrendered after the bombings on their military forces by the United States military. Rob Hernandez explained that he was proud to serve in the military and never got tired of serving for his country. The Persian Gulf War and Desert Storm were one of many conflicts that America has won and has promoted peace throughout the world. At the end of this war, there was still divergence between Saddam Hussein’s forces and the United States, which will lead into the future Iraqi war. George H.W Bush’s efforts and command of the military during the Gulf War helped create peace in Kuwait and areas around it. At the end of the interview Rob Hernandez gave information about how life was in the military where a person would have to move from Europe to America and possibly back, and then life working on the different air bases located around the different nations.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Iraq War and the Vietnam War

    2081 Words  | 5 Pages

    No matter how well intentioned the invasion of Iraq may have been, it was an act of violence and deception that has left many American men dead for no clear reason.

    Read More

  • Operation Viglant Resolve in Iraq

    1664 Words  | 4 Pages

    This is a historical examination of the first battle fought for Fallujah, Iraq: Operation Vigilant Resolve. We will examine the history, location, composition, and social background of Fallujah. Analysis of Operation Vigilant Resolve will identify participating units, basic strategy, why Vigilant Resolve failed and lessons learned. Most scholars agree that future battlefields will be urbanized; with lessons learned from this operation we will be better suited for similar, future conflicts.

    Read More

  • Geography and History in the Iraq War

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... Kuwait to get to the southern part of Iraq. In this situation, Iraq was left cornered. Also the movement of some of Osama Bin Laden's beliefs had greatly affected the war. This brought forth many opposing forces against the United States.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Fallujah

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    U.S. Military Commanders promised an overwhelming response. On the morning of Sunday, the 4th of April, 2004, platoons of Marines began to position themselves around the city. The following day, the fighting began and quickly intensified. This day was the start of what is known as Operation Vigilant Resolve. It was an operation set to take back control of Fallujah from the insurgents (McCarthy, 2004).

    Read More

  • Saddam Hussein: The U.S Portrayal of Evil Encarnate

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Iraq invaded and occupied the country of Kuwait in August 1990, the Bush administration was faced with several dilemmas. From a foreign policy point of view, this action could greatly destabilize the balance of power in a part of the world that was vital to U.S. interests. The United States was dependant on a continuous flow of oil to drive its economic machine, which Kuwait supplied greatly. In addition, this move would put more power into the hands of a government that was not only unfriendly to the U.S., but a sworn enemy of the state of Israel, a strong U.S. ally. In addition to, the fall of communism had created what George Bush had described as, "A new world order," and would become the first major test of how the U.S. would handle its role as the sole remaining super power in this "new world order." There were many challenges facing the Bush administration as to the manner in which they would handle this first major international crisis. The Bush administration had to develop a consensus of the major remaining powers, and appear not acting alone in its response to President Saddam Hussein's actions of invading Kuwait. They also yearned to keep Israel from being involved so as not to alienate the remaining Middle Eastern nations. Lastly, they faced a domestic dilemma, in that much of the American public had significant reservations about involving U.S. troops involved in a foreign conflict. There remained a bad taste of Vietnam among the American public, and there were very mixed responses to American involvement in Somalia, Nicaragua, and Grenada. For the Bush administration, Hussein was not a merchant who could be bargained with, but rather an outlaw who would have to be defeated by force. The Bush administration was faced with a task of developing (more or less) overwhelming support from the U.S. people to take any action in Kuwait, which was accomplished by a dramatic public relations move to demonize Saddam Hussein in the eyes of the American people.

    Read More

  • Operation Vigilant Resolve

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    On March 18, 2003, Coalition forces would launch the initial attacks on Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. A full invasion of the country followed, and Hussein was overthrown from power. While the end of Hussein’s oppressive reign was considered a victory for many of the Iraqi people, the Sunnis of the Ba’ath Party refused to accept his demise. Although the Sunnis were in the minority, the city of Fallujah would remain home to many of the Ba’ath Party supporters. On March 31, 2004, almost a year to date from the end of Hussein’s reign, four American Blackwater contactors working in Fallujah were attacked, brutally beaten, burned and dismembered by a group of Iraqi insurgents. Two of the bodies were hung from a bridge for all of the citizens of Fallujah to see, and a mob style celebration took place in the city. The highly publicized incident would be the igniter for the First Battle of Fallujah, known as Operation Vigilant Resolve. On May 1, 2004, the battle would end with the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the city and control being turned over to the newly formed Fallujah Brigade. The mission as a whole was a failure, and the shortcomings of Operation Vigilant Resolve were ultimately a demonstration of the underestimation of the power, size, efficiency, organization and control that the Insurgent Forces had in Iraq as well as the lack of a consistent strategic plan from the American forces.

    Read More

  • The Success of Operation Desert Storm and Shield

    811 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2nd 1990, Operation Desert shield was implemented by the United States on August 7th. Trying to deter Iraq from advancing farther into the country the U.S. began staging troops, equipment and other supplies needed to sustain a military in war time. Moving resources by air and sea the American armed forces presence was made known in the region with resources being staged in the allied countries of Saudi Arabia These later we mobilized initiating operation Desert Storm on January 17th 1991 at 3am Arabia Time when the first tanks rolled across the Saudi border, this conflict would continue until the official cease fire would take effect on April 11th of the same year (Operation). During the 10 month time span of the Persian Gulf War I, Military Sealift Command had conducted the largest modern sealift operation of war materials of the American military. The ability for the United States to mobilize and sustain during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm displays America’s national security goals of forward power projection, maritime supremacy and the effective planning of their sealift strategy.

    Read More

  • Machiavelli On The Iraq War

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Iraq war, also known as the second Gulf War, is a five-year, ongoing military campaign which started on March 20, 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by U.S. troops. One of the most controversial events in the history of the western world, the war has caused an unimaginable number of deaths, and spending of ridiculous amounts of money. The reason for invasion war Iraq’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction, which eventually was disproved by weapons inspectors. Many people question George W. Bush’s decision to engage a war in Iraq, but there might be greater reason why the decision was made. The ideas of George W. Bush might have been sculpted by one of the greatest works of all time, "The Prince."

    Read More

  • The Battle of Fallujah

    1702 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Battle of Fallujah forever changed the methods in which the American military conducts combat operations. The American military was not expecting to engage in such a bloody and intense battle like Fallujah. Fallujah changed the way the military conducted its tactical operations, its intelligence operations, and its Information Operations (IO). There are also a number of other factors that were changed to due this intense urban conflict. The Battle of Fallujah was started by one singular incident, which will now be expanded upon.

    Read More

More about The United States 's Operation Desert Shield

Open Document