Desert Storm
1990-1991

Over 40 nations, representatives from each continent, joined America to halt Iraqi aggression in the Persian Gulf. President George H.W. Bush had just emerged from the bleak years of the Cold War and faced a new threat in the Middle East. Iraq had a million man army, a modern air force and an arsenal of surface to surface missiles. President Bush deemed the Iraqi invasion of neighboring Kuwait a threat to world peace and stability.                                       Desert Storm

President Bush met the threat by creating a broad coalition of partners. Not since World War 2, would nations with such diverse ideologies act in concert against a common enemy.  A major hurdle in attracting Arab countries to join the allies was America's relation with Israel. Although Israel was a potential target of Iraqi missiles, Bush convinced Israel to refrain from a military response and thereby resolved Arab doubts about joining the coalition.        Parstimes.com                                                                               click to enlarge                                                   Desert Storm

It had been United States policy to support autocratic regimes throughout the Cold War years provided that the foreign government was anti- communist. Iraq did not quite fit that mold, but sometimes geopolitical imperatives dictated decisions that did not fit the norm.  

After a coup d'etat ousted the Iraq monarchy in 1958, the Soviets became steady suppliers of military arms until persecutions of Iraqi communists  by the ruling Baath Party , and refusal to grant the Soviets bases on the Persian Gulf, cooled the relationship. After a renewed courtship, for a period of time during the 1970s, the rise to power of an independent Saddam Hussein in 1979, and the newly found oil wealth, did not meet the tests of friendship expected by Moscow.                                                                                                         Desert Storm

In 1980, Iraq attacked neighboring Iran and looked to the United States for material aid. President Reagan had restored relations with Iraq during their war with Iran. He furnished aid to Iraq and even intelligence assessments. That relationship would sour when it was disclosed that America was secretly furnishing weapons to Iran in the Iran -Contra affair(1986).

Although Iran's Islamic ideology rejected Marxist-Lenin beliefs, they were already an enemy of the United States having held American Embassy diplomats prisoners for well over a year during the Carter presidency. The Soviet Union made no overt effort to supply military aid to Iran, but their satellite countries filled the breech. With a wink and a nod, some Iranian relationship with the Soviet Union was thus cemented.

The United States believed that Iraq preserved a political balance in the middle east that was favorable to U.S. interests. This policy despite evidence of Saddam's brutality inflicted  against the Kurdish minority and against the Iranian enemy. Proof of the use of deadly chemical agents, both domestically and externally, and enmity toward Israel, American policy during the eight year war (1980-1988) extended support to Iraq. This United States position was recorded in the secret National Security Directive 26. There is some disputed evidence that the United States sanctioned use of chemical toxins against Iran.                                                                                                         Desert Storm

President Bush resisted imposing sanctions on Iraq for human rights violations. Nor did his administration spot illegal loans funneled to Iraq through an Italian bank doing business in the United States. In addition, there was the debt Iraq had run up during the Iran war borrowing from other Arab nations. By 1990, Iraq actions was a game changer that could no longer be rationalized by President Bush.

In 1990, their was a glut of oil on the world market that seriously impacted price. Hussein felt the pinch and accused  the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait of exceeding agreed upon oil quotas (July 17). President Bush responded by suggesting a conciliation process and warning that force was contrary to the United Nations Charter. The advice fell on deaf ears.

With a declining economy, Hussein looked for a life line. Tiny Kuwait, smaller than  New Jersey, shared a common border with Iraq on the Persian Gulf. That border was astride their common Rumaila oil fields. Hussein claimed, possibly with some justification, that Kuwait was draining oil through slant drilling into the Iraqi side and threatened force to establish Iraqi territorial rights. Iraq oil pumped by Kuwait meant lost revenue. Three visible Iraq divisions sat on the border.

It was apparent that Hussein had more designs then merely equalizing oil resources. He also coveted the unique Kuwaiti port on the Gulf and extending the tiny Iraq coast line by almost 200 miles.  On August 2, 1990, 100,000 Iraqi soldiers crossed into Kuwait with its population under one million and an equal number of guest workers at risk. Hussein backed his force with a million man army and a modern air force comprised of French aircraft and Soviet MiGs. The Emir of fled to neighboring Saudi Arabia. Reports of massive atrocities, unprovoked shooting of civilians were circulated to the world community. The Kuwait tank (below left) offered no opposition to the 700 Iraqi tanks that crossed the border and neither did its 16,000 man army. The invasion was led by the well trained Republican Guard easily identifiable with their red berets.                                                                                                              Desert Storm

The United Nations Security council  acted on the same day as the invasion with a resolution condemning the invasion and granted Iraq four days to leave Kuwait. On August 6, second Resolution 661 imposed trade barriers barring Iraq oil and financial sanctions. Cuba and Yemen abstained. Significantly, there were no veto votes by the Russians (former Iraq ally) or the Chinese. The Soviet Union was totally engaged in its own disintegration. Neither the soviets or Chinese contributed armed forces or monetary aid to the force assembled by the United States.

President Bush was concerned that Hussein might have plans to continue south and cross into Saudi Arabia. Conquest of that country would place 40% of the world's oil in Iraqi control. Bush dispatched Secretary of Defense, Richard Cheney, to consult with the Saudis (King Fahd) and gain their permission to stage American troops on Saudi soil. With the approval in hand, 150,000 Americans were readied to embark under the field command of General  H. Norman Schwarzkopf, a Vietnam veteran and an extremely well designed and coordinated plan by General Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This first phase was known as "Operation Desert Shield".                                                                                   

Desert Storm

Hussein conditioned his withdrawal with an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza and establishment of a Palestine state. Bush rejected the link out of hand. On November 29, the Security council passed Resolution 678 demanding that Hussein leave Kuwait by January 15, 1991, or all "necessary means" would be used to enforce the Resolution. China, Cuba and Yemen abstained.

Bush ran into a problem in Washington. Congress insisted that they be made a party to the decision to go to war, and insisted that the Constitution granted them the sole right to declare war. The president demurred. After a two day debate, the congress, by a small margin, granted Bush the right to "use force". Short of a declaration of war, and a reminder of Truman sidestepping congress with a United Nations "police action" in Korea (1950). The Constitutional  requirement that only the congress could declare war was eliminated. This was a giant step in rationalizing that war was not a war if it was a police action. President Bush employed a similar rationale.

                                                  Operation Desert Storm                                        Desert Storm 

On January 16, America commenced a bombing campaign of the Iraq capital, Baghdad, and their ground forces in Kuwait. The six week campaign was around the clock and decimated their targets. On January 29, an American pilot observed after his sortie, "There was little in the way of air defense there. The Iraqi Army cannot hide. They are being obliterated". (Michael Donelly)                                                                                    Desert Storm

Hussein hoped to deconstruct the American coalition by striking Israel with Scud missiles with conventional warheads . It was the Iraqi hope that Israel would respond and then draw Arab sympathy for Iraq. Israel refrained from a response, but was struck by 38 missiles. Additionally, 4 scuds fell short and struck the Arab West Bank. The coalition held, but Israel paid the price.                                                                                                                 Desert Storm

On February 22, Bush delivered another ultimatum. Hussein was given 24 hours to withdraw from Kuwait. Saddam Hussein must have realized he could not withstand an attack of United States forces and began a scorched earth policy in Kuwait and put the oil fields to the torch.

On February 24, Saudi forces commenced an attack on Kuwait City. Two U.S. Marine divisions hit the oil fields.                          

                                                             Battle Plan                                                  Desert Storm

The coalition forces anticipated that the major actions would involve the elite Republican Guards. A British/American armored force met the enemy at the map coordinate designated 73 Easting. The flat desert terrain was south west of the southern Iraq port city of Basra. The coalition had significant air support. The Coalition goal was to destroy 5 Republican divisions and to cut off any retreat from Kuwait. The Abrams M1 and Bradley brigades (1st Armored Division) were arrayed against the older Chinese 59s and 69s ( below right).  The low profile of the Bradley presented a problem for opposing gunners.                                           Desert Storm  

The tank battle at 73 Easting was a slice of a two day battle February 26-27. The coalition had a resounding victory knocking out 85 tanks with a loss of one Bradley and one killed. The after action report -  600 Iraqi dead.

As Coalition forces moved into enemy territory, large groups of soldiers who had thrown away their weapons waved to the passing vehicles. Some gave the "thumbs up". An enormous amount of these soldiers were surrendering ----many never touched by the battle. Americans recall passing food and water to the men who look forwarded to be prisoners of war, but would never be taken into captivity.                                                               Desert Storm

The following is a small slice of an eye witness account of one of the many tank battles at 73 Easting on February 26 as related  by Captain H.R. McMaster, Eagle Troop. Second Squadron, Second Armored Cavalry Regiment .

http://www.benning.army.mil/Library/content/McMasterHR%20CPT_Battleof73Easting.pdf

"In an instant, I counted eight tanks in dugin fighting positions.                           Desert Storm
Large mounds of loose dirt were pushed up in front of the
vehicles and they were easily discernible to the naked eye.
They had cleverly established their position on the back slope
of the ridge (reverse slope defense) so they could surprise
us as we came over the rise. We, however, had surprised them.
We had destroyed their scouts earlier in the day and, because
of the sandstorm, they had neither seen nor heard us.
They were close! Koch hit the button on the laser range
finder and the display under the gun sight showed 1420 meters.
I yelled, "fire, fire SABOT." A HEAT round was loaded but
Taylor would load a high velocity kinetic energy round next;
a tank defeating depleted uranium dart which travels at about
one mile per second. As Koch depressed the trigger, the gun
breach recoiled and the HEAT round flew toward the enemy tank.
We were still moving forward but the tank's stabilization
system kept the gun right on target. The enemy tank exploded
in a huge fireball as Koch swung onto another tank. This
tank was much closer and was positioned forward of the main
defense. It was swinging its turret toward our tank. Taylor
actuated the ammunition door. As the door slid open, he grabbed
a SABOT round, slammed it in the breach, and screamed, "up."
Only three seconds had elapsed since we destroyed the first
tank. I was talking on the radio as Koch let the round go.
The enemy tank's turret separated from its hull in a hail
of sparks. The tank hull burst into flames as the penetrator
ignited the fuel and ammunition compartments".

A further visual report from Captain McMaster:                                                           Desert Storm

On February 27, a similar battle raged at an area called Medina Ridge between the 1st Armored Division along with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division matched against the crack Medina Division. The battle was fought over a two hour period and considered  the largest tank  battle in U.S. history.  The enemy was entrenched behind a ridge that presented the strongest defensive position of the war. Iraqi resistance was intense. Apache helicopters and fixed wing planes aided the ground forces that destroyed 186 enemy tanks. The Coalition suffered 4 damaged tanks and one soldier was killed.

in four days the war was over. President bush was able to  state that Kuwait was free and Iraq had surrendered.On February 28 Iraq accepted a cease fire with conditions. General Schwarzkoph desired to press on to Baghdad, but the President was firm in halting the war explaining that objective had been to liberate Kuwait. Bush believed the victory had reinforced his belief in a "new world order". Terrorist attacks in the United States emanating from Afghanistan and the president's son, the 43rd president, George W. Bush, challenged that vision.

A protective no-fly zone barred Iraqi military craft to fly north of the 38 th parallel (Kurdish territory), and south of the 32nd parallel (Shia territory) in effort to protect minority populations. American policy was particularly concerned to furnish protection for those with religious differences other than that of the ruling Baathist Party. In the final week of the President Bush term, he ordered American planes to strike Iraqi installations because of no-fly zone violations.The incoming President William (Bill) Clinton (1993-2001) would repeat air attacks on Iraqi infrastructure to address similar Saddam Hussein violations.

The era of three centuries of American wars ended and so did the Bush vision of a peaceful "new world order". The 21st Century would produce new enemies for Americans. Its citizen soldiers will again be called to defend the nation's noble ideals, and as in past centuries, equal to the task.  In 1630, John Winthrop viewed the rocky coast of Massachusetts and saw the future: "We will be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us...".

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Sources and references:                                                                                          Desert Storm

American Decades 1990-1999. Bruccoli, Mathew J. and Layman, Richard, Editors, Gale Group, Farmington Hills, MI. 1994.

Graff, Henry F. The President-Third Edition, Gale Group, Farmington Hills, MI 1997.

Kane, Joseph Nathan, Podell, Janet. Facts About the Presidents, H.W. Wilson Company, New York 2009.

Melville, Andrew. Russian Foreign Policy in Transition, Central European University Press, Budapest 2005. Iraqi-Russian Relations, 1992.

Yetiv, Steve A.  The Persian Gulf Crisis. Greenwood press. Westport, CT 1997.

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