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CPE and Cold War Conflicts > The Gulf War > Flashcards

The Gulf War Flashcards

1
Q

Long-Term Causes: Iran/Iraq War

A
  • 1979, the Pro-US Shah of Iran is overthrown by a Shi’ite revolution. Iran wanted Iraq Shi’ites to revolt against the Sunni regime.
  • 22 Aug 1980, Iraq invades Iran. The war lasts 8 years
  • Iraq claimed victory but had a damaged economy ($230billion debt to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait)
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2
Q

Long-Term Causes: Iraq and the West

A
  • USA supported Saddam Hussein’s government, with $3 billion in trades annually
  • France provided billions $ worth of technology
  • Believed Hussein could become a moderate force in the region and could benefit US interests
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3
Q

Long-Term Causes: Decline of the USSR

A
  • USA stepped in to a void, and tried to create peace between Israel and Palestine. This influenced Arabian dislike of the USA.
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4
Q

Short-Term Causes: Western Support of Iraq decreased

A
  • Concerns surrounding human rights issues
  • March 1990, British journalist is executed for ‘spying’
  • Iraq was buying technology for weapons of mass destruction and threatening to use it against Israel
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5
Q

Short-Term Causes: Iraq’s Economic Crisis

A
  • Feb 1990, Iraq told Egypt and Jordan to inform Kuwait of its desire to have its debt cancelled and for Iraq to have a $30billion loan
  • Kuwait were rumoured to purposefully lowered oil prices (by increasing its supply) so Iraq had a lower national income.
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6
Q

Immediate Causes

A
  • 2 Aug 1990, Iraqi forces invade Kuwait:
    • Meant Iraq had a higher level of influence and Arab states were angered
  • 8 Aug 1990, US + Arab forces arrive on the Saudi-Kuwait border
  • Peace settlement: Hussein’s proposals were extreme and he rejected all others
  • 15 Jan 1991, 550,000 were on the border, with 370,00 being from 37 other countries
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7
Q

War: Operation Desert Storm

A
  • 29 Nov 1990, UN approves forceful removal of Iraq from 16 Jan onwards
  • 16 Jan 1991, Operation Desert Shield becomes Op Desert Storm
  • Two parts to Op Deser Storm: 1. Bombings on Iraqi military instillation (100,000 sorties). 2. Ground Campaign from 24 Feb
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8
Q

War: Nature of Fighting

A
  • New Technology (US):
    • Precision Ground missiles (accounted for 75% of useful missions despite only being 9% of missiles used)
    • Night vision devices
    • Global Positioning System (GPS, better navigation)
    • Stealth technology
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9
Q

War: Aerial

A
  • US had superiority with B-52 bombers (could make a 15hr round trip, 89% of its missiles/bombs hit their target + had thermal imaging and laser designation systems)
  • Around 90,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped
  • Coalition bombed command/communication facilities and weaponry facilities e.g SCUD launchers
  • Air superiority was achieved within days
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10
Q

War: Land

A
  • Coalition technology: US M1A1 and British Challenger tanks could move and shoot (Iraqi tanks could not), GPS and night vision
  • Emphasised close integration with air ops
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10
Q

War: Important Dates

A
  • 24 Feb AM: US + Saudi forces advance into Kuwait/US + French forces attack Salman airfield
  • 24 Feb PM: VII Corp (3 armoured divisions + 1 US Infantry div + 1 British Armoured Div) attack into Iraq
  • 25-26 Feb: Coalition closes in on Kuwait City, forces in Iraq move into Kuwait
  • 27 Feb: Iraqi forces surrender, Biden announces liberation of Kuwait
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10
Q

War: Important Dates

A
  • 24 Feb AM: US + Saudi forces advance into Kuwait/US + French forces attack Salman airfield
  • 24 Feb PM: VII Corp (3 armoured divisions + 1 US Infantry div + 1 British Armoured Div) attack into Iraq
  • 25-26 Feb: Coalition closes in on Kuwait City, forces in Iraq move into Kuwait
  • 27 Feb: Iraqi forces surrender, Biden announces liberation of Kuwait
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11
Q

War: Naval

A
  • US and British supplied
  • Enforced UN embargo
  • Supported air campaign (carried F-14 Tomcats and fired Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles)
  • Iraqi navy put up little resistance
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12
Q

Reasons for Coalition Victory: Timing

A
  • Modernized weaponry, originally planned for Cold War
  • West was at full strength due to Cold War
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13
Q

Reasons for Coalition Victory: Quality of Technology

A
  • US superiority:
    • Able to fight at night (night vision)
    • Smart bombs (laser guided)
    • State-of-the-art tanks + aircraft
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14
Q

Reasons for Coalition Victory: Saddam Hussein’s Errors

A
  • Miscalculated US willingness for war
  • Underestimated air warfare
  • Withheld key units to protect his regime
14
Q

Reasons for Coalition Victory: Saddam Hussein’s Errors

A
  • Miscalculated US willingness for war
  • Underestimated air warfare
  • Withheld key units to protect his regime
15
Q

Results of Iraq War: Casualties

A
  • 111 US troops and 38 British troops killed in combat
  • 35 US and 9 British troops killed due to friendly fire
  • 35 US and 1 British troops killed due to accidents
  • 37 Arab (but not Kuwaiti) troops killed
  • Estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Iraqi troops killed
  • 1,000 to 15,000 civilian deaths
16
Q

Results of Gulf War: Physical Damage

A
  • To Iraq:
    • Loss of power, water and sanitation facilities (“relegated to pre-industrial age” according to a UN report)
  • To Kuwait:
    • Damage to oil fields
    • Loss of foreign investment (estimated $30billion)
17
Q

Results of Gulf War: Environmental Damage

A
  • Iraq was accused of dumping 400million gallons of crude oil into Persian Gulf (killed thousands of seabirds and marine animals)
  • Iraq set alight 600 Kuwaiti Oil wells (“Some five million gallons of oil a day, worth about $100mil, were going up in flames” - J.G. Stoessinger)
18
Q

Results of Gulf War: Political Effects (Iraq)

A
  • Kurds in the North, Shia in the South rebel (brutally crushed by Hussein)
  • USA and Britain declare a ‘no-fly’ zone over Iraq
  • April, UN Security Council passes Resolution 687 stating that Iraq has to be open about WMD for sanctions to be lifted (including a ban on Iraqi oil)
  • Infant mortality trebled and life expectancy fell by 15-20 years
  • Hussein remained in power until 2003 (US Invasion)
19
Q

Results of Iraq War: Political Effects (USA and the Middle East)

A
  • Highlighted a new world order (USA would play a dominant part in dealing with world problems)
  • USA became more prevalent in the region. This (+ the war) meant radicals became more hostile towards the West (was a catalyst for 9/11 attacks and US invasions of Iraq)
  • No move to democracy apart from Kuwait’s Male only National Assembly

CPE and Cold War Conflicts (3 decks)

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