Persian Gulf War or Operation Desert Storm 1991

1. Persian Gulf War or Operation Desert Storm1991 Mrs. Williams

2. Background • 1980-1988 Iran and Iraq fought in a war against neighbors • The war originated over a waterway, Shatt Al Arab, that bordered Iran and Iraq • The Tigris river flows through Iraq and merges with the Euphrates to become the Shatt Al Arab only to drain into the Persian Gulf • A body of water that borders fertile land but more importantly a mode of exportation

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5. Background Continued • This would ultimately threaten oil supplies and economic well being • Before it was desired for it mineral resources it was desired for its outlets to the sea • Its only outlets are the Shatt Al Arab and another inlet to the West • Britain originally controlled the Kuwait in a “protectorate” from 1899 until 1961 • When Kuwait received its independence from Britain, Iraq moved troops to its border

6. The Shatt Al Arab War • Iraq continued to build up its military from its oil income • Suddam Hussein’s knew the Iraq’s continued stability was dependent on having access to the Shatt Al Arab or the country would be “land-locked” • 1975 a treaty was signed between Iran and Iraq which divided this river

7. Causes • Iraq was in serious debt from the war (to Kuwait) • Iraq needed to push up the price of oil by restricting the amount of oil available to sell • This went against OPEC (Org. of Petr. Exp. Countries) agreements and angered Kuwait and other exporters not dependent on oil income • Iraq also shared an oil field with Kuwait, Rumalia oil field, and Iraq felt the oil was not being shared equally

8. Why did the U.S. get involved (Causes) • During 1950 U.S. had an agreement with the King of Saudi Arabia to hold a monopoly over oil supplies with A.R.A.M.C.O. • Carter Doctrine stated that an attack on the Persian Gulf region would mean an “assault on the vital interests of the United States” • Colin Powell and other presidential advisers became nervous about Hussein’s power in the Persian Gulf (See pbs.org for interviews) • Iraq’s possible WMD

9. Practices • In the war against Iran, Iraq used chemical weapons, massive artillery, airplanes • Most of these weapons had been obtained over time from Russia and Africa but they were antiquated and ineffective against U.S., Britain, and French troops but successful against Iran • In the 80s-90s Iraq had the fourth largest Army in the world • On August 2, 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait and the U.S. invaded in air January, ground February 1991 • It started as an air attack and then the ground attack lasted 100 hours

10. Effects • Deaths • Kuwait forms an alliance with Iran • Kuwait forms an alliance with U.S. • Allowed U.S. to pre-position weapons (no base) and practice and drill on their land • Allowed U.S. companies to rebuild country • Environmental • Shatt Al Arab was destroyed • Oil spills and oil fires damaged the surrounding wildlife and agriculture • Economic • Military equipment alone cost Iraq 50 billion

11. Works Consulted • http://www.strom.clemson.edu/opinion/whitehurst/fpolicy.pdf (Great sources for the types of wars with explanations) • www.pbs.org • www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_gulf1990.html • www.worldsocialism.org/articles/economic_causes_of_the.php • www.1american.edu • A History of the Modern World