Page 86 - History of War - Issue 01-14

KEY FIGURES signifi cant concern to the world at large. For one,
it represented a threat to what US President
George Bush Snr described as the “new world
order” – a post-Cold War dawn that had seen
the Iron Curtain fall, Germany unifi ed and, in
theory at least, an end to nuclear brinkmanship.
Secondly, if Saddam’s forces were to invade, Iraq
would be in control of 20 per cent of the world’s
oil supply – and potentially 40 per cent were
they to attack Saudi Arabia as well. And thirdly,
though Saddam had previously enjoyed good
relations with the west (by 1990, Britain was
Iraq’s third-largest trade partner, while France
SADDAM HUSSEIN TARIQ AZIZ GEORGE BUSH SNR COLIN POWELL had supplied it with billions of francs’ worth of
Having previously been The Deputy Prime Minister Upon hearing of As Chairman of the Joint arms), stories had begun to emerge of the Iraqi
a close ally of many of Iraq from 1979-2003, Saddam’s invasion of Chiefs of Staff under President’s tyrannical ruling methods, which
western nations, the Aziz acted as Saddam’s Kuwait, President Bush President Bush, Powell extended to torture, murder and a willingness to
Iraqi President became right-hand man and immediately condemned was responsible for the use chemical and biological weapons – even on
an international pariah stood in for the President the move and, together overall command of his own Kurdish people.
overnight after ordering his at numerous high-level with his coalition military operations in the So the US Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie,
troops to invade Kuwait. diplomatic summits due to administration, called for Gulf region, despite initially arranged an emergency meeting with Saddam,
While Saddam survived concerns over Saddam’s the withdrawal of Iraqi expressing reservations
the ensuing coalition safety. It was his job troops from Kuwait. In about Bush’s plan to who explained, “Brother President Mubarak
onslaught that left his to explain and justify their failure to do so, use military action to told me [the Kuwaitis] were scared. They said
country defeated, in the Saddam’s actions to the war was declared in the liberate Kuwait (a move troops were only 20km north of The Arab League
wake of the 2001 World international community, skies. When the conflict that contributed to his line. I said to him that regardless of what’s

Trade Center attacks his even though he disagreed was over, Bush declared nickname, “the reluctant there – whether they’re police, border guards or
Government was accused with the plan to invade a “new world order”, in warrior”). In lieu of his army – and regardless of how many are there,
of possessing weapons of Kuwait, fearing foreign which international affairs feelings, he deployed give [the Kuwaitis] our word that we’re not going
mass destruction. When – and particularly US – could move away from a ground invasion force to do anything until we meet with them. When
US forces invaded Baghdad intervention. He has been the debilitating effects that overwhelmed Iraqi we see that there’s hope, nothing will happen.”

in 2003, Saddam fled in prison since 2003, when of nuclear rivalry and defences. Powell stood Suffi ciently reassured, Glaspie fl ew back to
the city but was later he surrendered to US arms races, towards a down as Chairman in 2003,
captured and executed. forces invading Baghdad. more harmonious future. having overseen 28 crises. Washington on 30 July and went on holiday.
The following day, as scheduled, Saddam’s
representative, Izzat Ibrahim, began discussions
with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince, Sa’d Abdallah
Al-Sabah, in Jeddah. Iraq demanded $10billion
for the loss of oil from its Rumaila oilfi elds and,
in return, promised to reduce the number of its
troops along the border. When Kuwait denied
the allegations and came back with an offer of
$9billion, Saddam saw it as a slight against his
nation and, despite an agreement to resume
negotiations on 4 August, gave the order to
attack. “The Kuwaitis acted in an arrogant and
MARGARET THATCHER NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF MIKHAIL GORBACHEV KING FAHD provocative manner,” Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister
The British Prime Minister Nicknamed “Stormin’ In the wake of the Cold While he was a supporter Tariq Aziz later insisted, “and that led to the
from 1979 until 1990, Norman” by the world’s War, the Soviet Union’s of the UN and a staunch deterioration of the situation.”
Thatcher played an media, Schwarzkopf economy was crumbling. ally of the US, the King In the early hours of 2 August 1990, around
instrumental role in commanded the Allied Its head of state, Mikhail of Saudi Arabia was
encouraging President forces during the Gulf War. Gorbachev (in power from understandably reluctant 100,000 Iraqi soldiers and almost 2,000 tanks
Bush to use force against When Saddam Hussein 1985-1991), was therefore to allow coalition forces descended on Kuwait City, while helicopters
Iraq. Just days after ignored President Bush’s reluctant to completely to be stationed in his holy dropped troops in other strategic sites across
he’d claimed that there call for the withdrawal of sever ties with Iraq and land during Operation the country. By 1pm, the Kuwaiti resistance had
would be no intervention Iraqi troops from Kuwait, attempted to solve the Gulf Desert Shield. He was been all but defeated and its royal family had

from the US, Bush flew Schwarzkopf ordered crisis with a diplomatic eventually persuaded fl ed to Saudi Arabia. (Curiously, aside from the
to Colorado, to meet with six weeks of air attacks approach. While Saddam by a UN delegation aforementioned reasons, the Iraqis claimed that
Thatcher. She reportedly against key military warmed to his efforts, they including Dick Cheney it was their right to invade Kuwait. In a letter
warned him against going installations around failed to achieve their goal and Norman Schwarzkopf, sent to foreign ministers, Aziz denounced Britain
“wobbly” and the President Baghdad and elsewhere. and the coalition resorted who showed him satellite
later announced in a This was followed up to force. By the end of surveillance suggesting for having created an “artifi cial entity called
press conference that he with a ground offensive 1991, the Soviet Union had that Saudi was in grave Kuwait” that cut off Iraq from “its natural access
was considering the next that allowed coalition collapsed and Gorbachev danger from Iraqi forces. to the waters of the Arab Gulf”.)
steps needed to bring forces to defeat Iraqi resigned as President on King Fahd remained the Some 6,500 miles away in Washington DC,
the invasion to an end. troops within 100 hours. Christmas Day of that year. Saudi ruler until 1996. the Pentagon watched events develop and

1990 TIMELINE

28-30 MAY 15 JULY 2 AUGUST 4 AUGUST 29 NOVEMBER
Saddam Hussein asks all OPEC In retaliation, Saddam begins Having moved around 100,000 With Kuwait now under Iraqi The UN increases pressure on
members to reduce their oil claiming that Kuwait has been troops to the Kuwaiti border control, Saddam declares Saddam’s Government by issuing
production, the idea being that drilling for oil in Iraq. Kuwait weeks earlier, Saddam plays his victory. The UN Security Council Resolution 678, which demands

greater demand will inflate prices fiercely denies the allegations. final hand and orders them to responds with Resolution 660, that Iraqi troops withdraw from

and increase revenue for Iraq – invade, with the aim of seizing which condemns the offensive. Kuwait by midnight on 15 January
poverty-stricken since their war the oil-rich nation and its reserves. 1991 or face military action. In
with Iran. While most countries the meantime, a huge coalition
agree to this, Kuwait and the force is deployed to Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates refuse. in Operation Desert Shield.
HISTORY WAR
of