Aerospace Science 1, Chapter 6, Lesson 3 Study Guide
Global Interventions From 1990
March 28, 2008
Isn’t it amazing how long lasting some of the world’s “bad guys” can be? For example, Communist leader Fidel Castro ruled Cuba from 1959 to 2008. By comparison, Saddam Hussein was only in power in Iraq from 1979 to 2004, just 25 years. In this lesson, we’ll study how the United States-led coalition defended the Middle East oil supply during Operation DESERT SHIELD and then drove Iraq out of Kuwait during Operation DESERT STORM, one of the Air Force’s greatest moments.
Iran/Iraq War: (1980-1988)
• Iran and Iraq both had plenty of weapons…bought with money from the sale of oil.
• The U.S. and Russia both sold weapons to Iranand Iraq at various times during the war.
• The U.S., Russia, and China never made a serious attempt to end the war between Iran and Iraq. Why not?
- They might have been curious to see how well their weapons would work in an actual war.
- Many Americans were openly saying, “Let them fight to the last man. Who cares?”
• Both sides used teens as young as 14, many unarmed, chained together on the front lines to clear landmines.
• Both sides used SCUD surface-to-surface missiles against each other as weapons of terror.
• Saddam used poison gas against some of his own people (especially the Kurds in Northern Iraq).
• Iraq emerged from the war much stronger than Iran.
IraqInvades Kuwait: (August 1990)
• By the summer of 1990, Iraq had the world’s 4th largest army and 6th largest air force.
• In a pure land grab and oil grab, Iraq invaded its small neighbor Kuwait in early August 1990.
- Saddam’s “cover story” for the invasion was that Kuwait was Iraq’s missing 19th province.
• Iraq’s army was soon in position to threaten Saudi Arabia, which had the world’s largest oil reserves.
• The U.S. invoked the Carter Doctrine to respond to the threat.
Operation DESERT SHIELD: (August 1990-January 1991)
• After seeing satellite photographs of the Iraqi buildup along their border, Saudi Arabia agreed to allow the U.S. military to bring more troops and equipment into the country.
- U.S. briefing team was led by Dick Cheney (Secretary of Defense) and General Colin Powell (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)
• Oh, no, could this be another Vietnam?
- Saddam used psychological warfare, saying he’d fill America’s airlines with body bags and unleash a fiery hell against the coalition forces if they were foolish enough to attack him.
• But no, this war would be no Vietnam:
- All-volunteer force (no more draft).
- Significant reserve unit participation (which led to strong public interest and support).
- Coalition forces had United Nations support, too.
- Many countries provided troops, equipment, or money.
Operation DESERT STORM: (January-February 1991)
• The coalition’s attack began on January 17, 1991 at 0300 after Iraq ignored President Bush's ultimatum to leave Kuwait.
• Parallel warfare (as opposed to serialwarfare) became a buzzword.
- Attacking many targets simultaneously, using stealth aircraft (F-117) and “smart” bombs.
• Fearing the destruction of his best aircraft, Saddam actually sent some of them to Iran to hide.
- “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
• U.S. used psychological warfare, too.
- Pamphlets showed cartoons of pilots with night-vision goggles bombing Iraqi tanks.
- Some Iraqi units even wanted to surrender to CNN camera crews (which were everywhere).
• After more than a month of air attacks, the ground forces finally got into the action
- General Schwarzkopf’s famous “left hook” deception maneuver.
• Ground forces did not take Baghdad, although they certainly could have.
- One “goofy” idea was to occupy Iraq and give part to the Palestinians (to resolve conflict with Israel).
- U.S. strategic planners feared Saddam’s successor might be worse…didn’t want a power vacuum.
-- Were probably hoping for more Iran/Iraq warfare in coming years.
What The Textbooks Probably Won’t Tell You:
• The Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force was fired shortly before Operation DESERT STORM.
- He was accused of “overselling” the capabilities of airpower.
- Turns out he was correct, but he wasn’t politically correct.
• The Persian Gulf War was much easier for the U.S. to win than it should have been. Why?
- Saddam allowed the U.S. to have almost 6 months to build up forces.
- The open, nearly flat terrain made it difficult for Iraqi armored units to hide from U.S. airpower.
- Schwarzkopf’s deception would not have worked if Saddam had access to satellite imagery.
• Saddam’s attempt to split the coalition by attacking Israel with SCUD missiles should have worked but didn’t. Why not?
- Israel has always believed in “an eye for an eye,” yet they allowed the U.S. to respond for them this time.
- The diplomat who convinced Israel to exercise restraint deserves the Medal of Honor. The situation could easily have degenerated into World War III.
• The Patriot air defense missile was not as effective against Iraqi SCUD missiles as we were first led to believe. Its ineffectiveness led Israel and the U.S. to jointly develop an improved anti-ballistic missile system called the Arrow for deployment within Israel.
What Did Your Unit Do In the Persian Gulf War, Major Closson?
• Sent several Arabic linguists to Saudi Arabia to debrief Iraqi POWs.
- U.S. teen 2-striper impersonated a captain and wrote some great reports.
- Many Kuwaiti college students living in the U.S. also served as interpreters.
• Uncovered plans for an Iraqi rail gun project.
• Analyzed blueprints for underground leadership bunker in Iraq.
- With just a little bit of luck, the coalition could have killed Saddam Hussein in a bunker.
