Transcript US casualties

Overview
 Understand the causes, outcome and impact of Operation Desert
Storm
 Understand how military aviation and national defense strategy
fundamental changed as the result of Operation Desert Storm
Kuwait
 At the request of the Kuwaitis, Kuwait
had become a British Protectorate in 1889
 Kuwait was a part of Iraq until 1923, when
borders were drawn.
 On June 19, 1961, British protection ended
and Kuwait joined the Arab League. Iraq
objected strongly and claimed that
Kuwait was part of their territory.
 Kuwait formed its own constitution and
elected its own assembly in January 1963.
national assembly was elected.
 By October, 1963, Iraq gave up its claim
on Kuwait.
Iraq – Saddam Hussein
 On July 16, 1979, the leader of the
Baath party and President of Iraq
resigned -- Saddam Hussein officially
took the position.
 From 1980 to 1988, Saddam led Iraq in
a war against Iran which largely ended
in a strategic stalemate. However the
Iran-Iraq war created a large welltrained Iraqi military
 Hussein’s rule included significant
human rights violations including the
use chemical weapons against tribal
Kurds within Iraq, including gassing
the Kurdish town of Halabja which
killed 5,000 in March 1988
Mother of All Battles
 Following the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), Iraq was
$60-80 Billion in debt and faced significant U.N.
sanctions over human rights abuses
 Iraq claimed that Kuwait, using high-tech oil
equipment, was side-drilling into Iraqi oil fields
across their border. Kuwait was also undercutting
Iraqi oil prices; revenue Iraq needed to offset its
national debt.
 The U.S. ambassador to Iraq (April Glaspie)
informed Hussein weeks prior to the invasion that,
"We (U.S.) have no opinion on...conflicts like your
border disagreement with Kuwait
 On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and
quickly gained control of the country. The United
States, along with the United Nations, demanded
the immediate withdrawal of Iraqi forces.
U.S./Coalition Reaction
 The United States fearing further Iraqi aggression against Saudi Arabia,
deploys forces to the area as a deterrent.
 As diplomatic strategies dissolved, on November 29, 1990 the UN Security
Council passed a resolution authorizing the use of force if Iraq did not
withdraw from Kuwait by January 15.
 On January 17, 1991….the air campaign of Operation Desert Storm begins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
ZB-JutwqsRY&feature=relmfu
Classroom Exercise
Jan 17 Scud Missiles fired at Israel and Saudi Arabia
Withdrawal and Resolution
 On February 26th, Iraqi troops began to retreat from Kuwait while setting fire to an
estimated 700 Kuwaiti oil wells.
 One hundred hours after the ground campaign began, President Bush declared a cease-fire
— declaring the liberation of Kuwait on February 27, 1991.
 By war's end, U.S. forces released 71,204 Iraqi prisoners to Saudi control.
 U.S. casualties

Army: 98; Navy: 6; Marines: 24; Air Force: 20 battle
Resulting in 148 U.S. battle deaths. Wounded in action: 467.
 Iraqi casualties

Of Iraq's 545,000 troops in the Kuwait theater of operations, an estimated 100,000 were killed,
and300,000 were wounded.
Changing The Nature of Conflict
 Introduction of precision weapons and equipment
 GPS, Communications, Reconnaissance (Space)
 Firepower
 Coalition and Joint Warfare
 Public Media Relations
 Press Pools to Embedded Reporters
 Daily CENTCOM Press Briefings
 U.S. Public’s Perception of U.S. Military Shifts from Vietnam