Controversial Issues: Justifying the Persian Gulf War

Controversial Issues: Justifying the Persian Gulf War

On January 16, 1991 the Gulf War had officially started, and for good reason. In August of 1990, Saddam Hussein sent armies to Kuwait, to take it over. When the United States had unwittingly given Saddam help when fighting against the Iranians, we had also given him a military that was one of the world's largest and most lethal. And so, when Saddam did not comply with the ultimatum that the U.S. had given him, Congress voted for the use of force.

Oil was the major reason that Saddam wished to take over Kuwait. In 1962, Kuwait was finally recognized as an independent country, the U.S. wanted it back that way. August 3, 1991, just one day after the invasion, the U.N. Security Council demanded the immediate and unconditional withdraw of Iraq's troops. Later, the Council proclaimed an economic restraint against Iraq. Saddam still would not yield.

The major concern about Saddam was his weapons that he had the power to start a biological warfare. Ironically, it was the U.S. that had supported him with these weapons, helping him build his massive military. The idea of a biological war brings great anxiety to most people, so it was, of course, up to the U.N to stop it.

However, people still remembered Vietnam and didn't like the idea of it happening all over again. When Saddam would no relent, the Council took action by sending him an ultimatum: leave Kuwait by January 15, 1991, or U.N. forces would use all necessary means to drive out Iraq. Of course it held no sway over Saddam, so the next day, the U.N. sent over its forces and in three days had liberated Kuwait, though Saddam was not dislodged from power, and is still there to this day.

Freeing Kuwait, fear of a biological war and trying to limit one mans power are just three reasons that the Gulf War was merited. Today, we don't have to worry about a Saddam and his weapons, because of this war. If it had been left alone, without the help of the U.N. we might have had another world war on our hands, one much more deadly.