On January 16, 1991, the United States led the massive offensive coalition, Operation Desert Storm, during the Persian Gulf War. The forces of this coalition included at least 32 countries, all combining efforts to stop and remove Iraqi forces that had invaded Kuwait the year prior.
There were more than 900,000 coalition troops; 540,000 of them were American.
Also Read: Veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness won a 30-year war for recognition
The U.S. began its invasion with air attacks that decimated Iraq’s air defenses, taking out communications, weapons and oil refineries. Then, a covert and classified bombing mission began, known as Operation Senior Surprise. Its airmen were known as the Secret Squirrels.
Seven B-52G Stratofortresses took off from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, flying around 14,000 round-trip miles to launch 35 missiles at strategic locations in Iraq. They required air refueling over the Atlantic Ocean, but all made it home safely. At the time, it was a world record for the longest bombing mission.
The world watched live on television as CNN broadcasted around-the-clock coverage. Gens. Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell went on to become household names in America as citizens saw the war unfold in real time.
Liberating Kuwait
The battle intensified when the massive U.S.-led ground offense began. Troops on foot began the “100-hour ground battle” on February 24, 1991. This attack led to a liberated Kuwait in about four days.
On February 28, 1991, the sides declared a cease-fire, and Iraq pledged to honor future peace terms. One of the terms was that Saddam Hussein would get rid of all weapons of mass destruction. He went on to refuse to admit weapons inspectors.
The Gulf War was a test in American diplomacy, with President George H.W. Bush remembering the lessons of the Cold War. The public and Congress supported the war when diplomacy failed. Bush appeared to struggle greatly over going to war, even writing a letter to his children on New Year’s Eve in 1990 about the decision. It went on to become the end of this kind of warfare and the beginning of a new era.
The United States lost nearly 300 troops in the Gulf War, and the Department of Defense estimated that it cost the United States $61 billion. The costs to those who served during the conflict were far greater.
Approximately 175,000-200,000 troops returning from the Gulf War got sick from Gulf War Syndrome. A very wide range of chronic symptoms were reported, including cognitive problems, respiratory disorders, muscle pain, fatigue, insomnia, rashes, and digestive problems. The troops were exposed to dangerous pesticides, and the pills they took as protection against nerve agents proved to be part of the cause.
Protecting Kuwait’s Oil Reserves
The intent of the United States’ involvement in the Middle East was to prevent Saddam Hussein from controlling Kuwait’s oil, which represented 20% of the world’s reserves. This would have greatly impacted not just the United States, but many other countries who depend on oil for their way of life. However, it led to the U.S. becoming even more entangled in foreign politics, which led to more fighting, not less.
The Gulf War didn’t prevent the uprisings in Iraq, and we were right back there a decade later, losing nearly 7,000 troops as of 2019. This time, we attacked without congressional approval and the support of the surrounding Arab nations. We didn’t have a United Nations resolution in our pocket or local support.
Nineteen years later, we are still at war. The lessons in the Persian Gulf War seem to have been forgotten. Twenty-nine years after the cease-fire was declared, it begs the question: Was it worth it?
Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty
• The history of Rip It, the beverage that fueled the War on Terror
• RED Friday returns as combat deployments ramp up
• Operation Tapeworm: How the US Army’s most elite hunted down Saddam’s sons
Featured
