Key words: Iraq, Kuwait, United States, Saddam Hussein, George H. W. Bush, Dick Cheney, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., G-Day.
Introduction
On 2 AUG 1990, the Republic of the Iraq invaded the Emirate of Kuwait. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion of Kuwait in response to Iraq’s perceived Kuwaiti actions to drive down the price of crude oil and Kuwaiti cash loans to Iraq. Saddam Hussein’s Seizure of Kuwait resulted in Iraq accumulating over 20% of the world’s current crude oil production. Iraq at the time possessed the 4th largest military force in the world of over one million soldier, including the Iraq Republican Guard, considered to be Iraq’s most elite fighting force. Iraq’s military was comprised of …show more content…
The number of Iraqi military prisoners surrendered faster than Central Command could count them, but was estimated that the total exceeded 30,000. After the decimation of the Iraqi Army, an official ceasefire went into effect on 28 February 1991. ARCENT divisions faced the remnants of what was incorrectly assumed to be formidable Iraqi force. Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait ultimately cost him 3,847 of his 4,280 tanks, more than half of his 2,880 armored personnel carriers, and nearly all of his 3,100 artillery pieces. Saddam Hussein and his military was driven from Kuwait and the ultimate goal of Kuwaiti liberation was secured. President Bush, the United Nations and coalition partners celebrated the victory of one of the most effective and lopsided conflicts in modern