Operation Desert Storm Impact

During August of 1990, the army of Iraq invaded Kuwait. A few months after this, the impregnable coalition, which was led by the United States, launched its famous Operation Desert Storm, usually noted as one of the most decisive, quick and bloodless victories of all time. After just a few days of combat, the Coalition eventually was able to liberate Kuwait, destroy the Iraqi army at a very minimal cost in casualties. The amount of Iraqi losses was large (around 22,000 killed and 60,000 wounded and/o captured.) In contrast, the United States only suffered approximately 150 battle deaths. It was widely noted by many that Operation Desert Storm was a defining moment in history due to the extraordinary lopsided results. The reasoning of the …show more content…
This new US military could essentially attack with both brain and brawn. Operation Desert Storm serves as a reminder that timing is essentially everything and that all historical occurrences take place within a specific and unique set of circumstances. During 1991, the Soviet Union had vanished and, as a result, the United States was able to turn its entire powerful conventional arsenal against Iraq. The unmistakable absence of the Soviet Union, or any other great power that was determined to force Iraq back into crisis, was evidently more important to the outcome than the presence of any sort of GPS’s or satellites; the fall of the Soviet Union made Operation Desert Storm possible in the first place.
While the outcome of Operation Desert Storm was often noted as a technological marvel, it is more so a lesson in regards to the events that determine the course of history. In society today, technology is forever becoming more advanced, powerful and useful; whatever amount or quality of technology, it will never be able to top the need for strategy that is devised by human beings, clear mindsets on specific goals, rational thinking, and a willingness to make these difficult choices in regards to war and