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The US Army in the
Liberation of Kuwait
[Dedicated
to COL Virginia Sincabin, MD, USAR]
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The ill-equipped
Kuwaitis had tried diplomacy, appeasement, and finally hoped to ignore
the demands of the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, for cash and oil to
pay for his long war with Iran (1980-88). After all, Saddam felt
he had done the favor of beating back the threatening spread of
radical
Shia Islam; protecting the Middle East sheikdoms and emirates for their
oil-rich royal families. Now it was time for them to pay!
Saddam stepped up his propaganda
war and launched significant personal attacks on the Kuwaitis and their
ruling family.
By the last week of July 1990, he had placed his lead, Republican Guard Division along Kuwait's northern frontier. Well over 100,000 troops had massed in the
southern region of Iraq and were within minutes of the border.
On August 2, 1990, Saddam began the invasion of his small, southern
neighbor. The attack was largely uncoordinated. The elite
Republican Guard was described by U.S. Army officers observing,
"...they reflected the characteristics of a motley
force; without orders and a total lack of basic tactical tenants and
discipline. For the most part, Iraqi soldiers milled around,
scavenged for
food and water, and seemed to be generally at a loss for what to do
next;
often looting and stealing bedding items for their hastily constructed
fighting positions, complete with beach umbrellas..."
The United Nations called for Saddam to
withdraw
from Kuwait. President Bush froze Kuwaiti and Iraqi assets and economic
sanctions were begun. By early October, seven UN Resolutions were in
place against Iraq. On November 29, the UN set the deadline for
Iraqi forces to leave Kuwait (UN Res # 678); January 15, 1991, midnight
EST.
On January 16, 1991, at 6:38 pm EST;
Operation DESERT STORM was announced, "The liberation of Kuwait has
begun!"
- Insignia of Rank
- Branch Insignia
- Shoulder-Sleeve Patches
- Specialty Badges
- Cap Badges
- Insignia Placement
