On Jan. 16, 1991, President George H.W. Bush addressed the nation from the Oval Office and announced the start of war against Iraq. America’s objective was clear: to drive Saddam Hussien’s troops out of the neighboring country of Kuwait, which Iraq had invaded in August of 1990. The United States also wanted to discourage Saddam’s expansionist aggression and stabilize the oil markets. Bush did not engage in this mission alone, but as part of a coalition of 28 nations, including European and Middle Eastern nations. It was backed by the United Nations and by a vote in Congress.
The war did not last long. After beginning with punishing air strikes on key Iraqi targets and airfields, the campaign saw Iraqi troops retreating from Kuwait within 43 days. A cease-fire was struck on March 3, 1991. The successful mission—which cost the lives of just under 300 soldiers—made heroes of Allied Commander General Norman Schwarzkopf and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin Powell. And it saw President Bush’s popularity rise to around 80%, a bump that would not last long enough to prevent him from losing re-election to Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton the following year.
In the months and years after the conflict, some faulted Bush for not going all the way to Iraq’s capitol, Bagdad, and overthrowing dictator Saddam Hussein, considering how much of a menace he would be for the next decade. Hussein’s government even tried to assassinate the former President in 1993, leading President Clinton to order air strikes on Iraq. And Hussein attacked Israel, entertained terrorist networks, and threatened the United States and other Western nations repeatedly.
Yet, President George H.W. Bush, showing prudence that later proved wise during the Iraq conflict, chose not to overthrow Saddam since the U.N. resolution did not authorize it. He was wary of a messy aftermath, something the United States later experienced in its chaotic transition after the second Gulf War.
Click Here to Read More (Originally Published at World Magazine)
