The Persian Gulf War: A view through the themes of individual and society :: Essays Papers

The Persian Gulf War: A view through the themes of individual and society The Persian Gulf War began in 1990 when Iraqi forces invaded the border of Kuwait. The United States led a coalition of forces between other countries eventually ending the war in 1991.1 The Persian Gulf War made many people of different backgrounds suffer by starvation, malnutrition and disease. The Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, was the main cause for this suffering. Problems between Iraq and Kuwait started when Kuwait gained their independence and gained protection from British. Iraq did not want to recognize Kuwait as a separate country because Iraq believed that Kuwait was in their territory. Iraq and Kuwait were both part of the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century, and Iraq thought Kuwait was still a province from the South of Iraq.2 Oil became the main problem that led to war. Iraqi leaders blamed Kuwait for pumping oil from Iraqi territory, and for not paying revenues for the oil taken out. Since Iraq had debts with Kuwait, Iraq then started harassing Kuwait. Another accusation Iraq placed on Kuwait was that Kuwait was pumping too much oil. According to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), there is a limit of oil extraction on every country.3 All of these complaints led then to war. Kuwait did not want any confrontation and Iraq was not there to take any land away but to intimidate Kuwait. Talks between them did not help and invasion took place in August 2, 1990, when Iraq started mobilizing towards adjoining borders.4 On February 26, 1991 the war was, if not in its end, but to close to the defeat of the Iraqis by the coalition led powerfully by the United States. Public communication mainly by radio in Iraq told the contrary but not even its own people could belief victory but they all accepted defeat. Statistics showed that 148 Americans were dead, and 467 wounded. Many of these deaths or injuries were result of friendly fire. According to New York Times of September 1990, 200,000 Iraqis died.5 The main task for the world and the coalition was to stop Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s Mandatary.