Foreign and Domestic Wars Against Terror
Key Decision Makers During the Persian Gulf War
Throughout the Persian Gulf War, many people from all different countries effected the events that happened. Here are some short summeries about who was involved and what they did. You can also view additional people by clicking here.
Joint Chief of Staff Colin Powell
Colin Powell was the first African American Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, and he was also the first African American Joint Cheif of Staff, appointed by President Geroge H. W. Bush. Developing the Powell Doctrine, he believed in using overwhelming force to maximize success and minimize casualties. He believed that the policy of containment was sufficient to control the Iraqi regime and warned President Bush that if an attack should happen, it should use overwhelming force and have much international support. He finally agreed to support Bush in going to war. Appearing before the U.S. Security Council in February 2003, he presented evidence that Iraq had concealed an ongoing weapons development program but testified before Congress that the intelligence sources from his U.N. presentation were "wrong" and it was unlikely that Saddam had any stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. He soon after announced his resignation after acknowledging that it was unlikely that Iraq had stockpiles of weapons.
Secretary of State
James Baker
At first, Secretary of State James Baker was the FInancial Chair for the Republican Party. Ronald Reagan appointed him Cheif of Staff. Lastly, he served as George H. W. Bush's Secretary of State. As head of the State Department, he was key in creating a coalition of nations to repel Saddam Hussein and Iraq from Kuwait. He also organized the Madrid Peace Conference that brought arab nations and Isreal to the peace table for the first time in modern history.
Secretary of Defense
Richard Cheney
As Secretary of Defense, Richard Cheney was incharge of warning other countries if Iraq was going to attack. Before Iraq had the chance to invade Kuwait, he went to King Fahd to tell him Iraq's plan. He explianed that Iraq was at Kuwait's border and they wanted to take over Kuwait's oil fields. Cheney was put in charge of Opperation Desert Storm. He threatened Iraq to either leave the Kuwait border or the United States woud get involved. Once the US got involved, we forced Iraqi soldiers out of Kuwait.
US President
George H.W. Bush
Bush’s thought that an enemy of your enemy was your friend. In mid-July of 1989, the US favored Iraq over Iran. Even though Iraq had biochemical and nuclear weapons, Bush didn’t think that Iraq was an essential part of the Persian Gulf balance. Bush thought that he would be able to persuade Hussein to be on his side, against Iran. National Security Directive 26, included food exports and nonlethal items, was put into action in order to help Iraq since they were fighting Iran. Once Iraq invaded Kuwait he considered Iraq “naked aggression”. Bush froze Iraqi and Kuwaiti finances and all trade. Bush gave Hussein 48 hours to get out of Kuwait or the US military will intervene. To get Iraq out of Kuwait Bush launched Operation Desert Storm. After Iraq was out of Kuwait, Bush let the UN take over.