The Persian Gulf War

Paper Summary:

This paper summarizes and analyzes the United States foreign policy decisions and military events which led to, perpetuated and ended American involvement in the Persian Gulf War, including the military strategy employed by Iraq and the United States during that war. It examines how the Persian Gulf War was precipitated by the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990 and the determination by the United States that its vital interests were thereby threatened.

Outline
Background to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990
Pre-Gulf War Military Buildup and Diplomacy
Military Strategy of Iraq and the United States
War Termination
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"American satellite photographs alerted United States intelligence to Iraq's buildup of forces north of the Kuwaiti border which reached over 100,000 troops by late July 1990. The administration of George Bush dismissed these moves as saber-rattling. American Ambassador to Iraq April Glaspie told Hussein on July 25, 1990: "we have no opinion on the Arab-Arab conflicts, like your border disagreements with Kuwait" (Bennis and Moushabeck 395). These mixed signals violated the first rule of an effective policy of deterrence, which Craig and George said was that any threat to an opponent must be "credible and sufficiently potent in the eyes of the aggressor to prevent him from attempting the undesired course of action" (190). "

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