Conflict in the Middle East has existed almost as long as Iraq has existed. There have been conflicts between various ethnic groups and conflicts over the abundance of oil in the region. However, by the late 1970s, changes were occurring in the Middle East. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein violently killed political leaders. Meanwhile, in Iran, the Shah used violence as his primary means of governing, which made him an unpopular ruler. Hussein observed the ongoing political unrest in Iran and saw an opportunity to invade the country. Tension between the two countries lasted for years, with neither side truly able to claim victory. This continuing struggle laid the foundation for the first Iraq War. The First Iraq War impacted the United States by reestablishing it as a superior military force and restoring government credibility. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayTo understand how the Gulf War reestablished the United States as a superior military force and restored government credibility, it is necessary to understand the events leading up to the war and how the United States became involved. Iraq was under the rule of Saddam Hussein, who ultimately posed a threat to the United States. Saddam Hussein was born on April 28, 1937 in a village near Tikrit, on the banks of the Tigris River. Throughout his youth, he showed an enthusiasm for guns and violence. He joined the radical Iraqi Baath political party at the age of 20. At the age of 22, Hussein and other Baathists attempted to kill the Iraqi dictator. At the age of 31, he became deputy secretary general, then obtained the position of head of the Iraqi security police. He named himself president in 1979 and took over leadership of Iraq. Hitler and Stalin were his heroes. He used violence, such as firing squads and poison gas, to achieve his goals and demonstrate his power. Finally, in September 1980, Hussein saw an opportunity and invaded Iran. This invasion led to a war that lasted eight years and left the country with a debt of $80 billion. As Iraq struggled with the enormous war debt, Hussein had financial worries. His strategy for getting out of the enormous war debt was to use his military to force other countries to help him. He went so far as to demand monetary aid from other Persian countries, saying: "...if they don't give it to me, I'll take it from them." » By July 1990, the price of oil had fallen considerably. For every dollar of drop in the price of a barrel of oil, Iraq falls further into debt. Hussein believed that neighboring countries owed him a debt and were conspiring against Iraq. He thought Kuwait was stealing oil from Iraq. In fact, “he said the oil field they were using was between the two countries.” On August 2, Iraq invaded Kuwait and, within hours, Hussein captured the country. The First Iraq War impacted the United States by re-establishing it as a superior military force. Before the First Iraq War, the last major land battle in which the United States participated was Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, American citizens questioned the government because they did not understand the purpose of the war or why the United States was involved. Additionally, according to General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the government had failed to mobilize its troops during Vietnam. The U.S. military enjoyed no support from American citizens and, to theirReturning, they were blamed for the war. Therefore, the United States was deeply and negatively affected by the Vietnam War and its people were in no hurry to engage in further ground battles. Despite negative feelings toward the war, after Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, the United States made a decision. intentional decision to take a military stance against Iraq. On August 6, 1990, President Bush publicly stated that the United States would not tolerate the invasion. In a smart move, based on the government's previous failure to seek the support of its people, President Bush requested the support of American citizens in this endeavor on August 8, 1990. Hussein later transferred the Americans into three hotels. to serve as human shields, and told Bush he would receive the bodies in bags. President Bush had been threatened enough to finally tell Congress, "Iraq will not be allowed to annex Kuwait." And this is neither a threat nor a boast. This is how it's going to happen. Former Vietnam veterans General Colin L. Powell and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf were key military advisors and leaders of the efforts against Iraq. President Bush knew he had to build a coalition and be intentional in the Iraqi efforts. Therefore, in August he immediately sent troops to protect Saudi Arabia. The 82nd Airborne Division was the first American unit to reach Saudi Arabia. The United States deployed 430,000 troops to Saudi Arabia, joined by 30 other countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Czechoslovakia, Bangladesh, France, Britain, Syria, Kuwait , Italy, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands. Some protesters believed the United States was only involved to protect its access to oil, while others believed Hussein should be stopped; however, most Americans supported the effort and proudly displayed yellow ribbons showing their support for the troops. On November 29, 1990, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 678 which set a six-week deadline for Hussein to withdraw from Kuwait. Additionally, it gave the United States and its allies the opportunity to use force to withdraw Iraqi troops and liberate Kuwait. The six-week deadline passed and Iraqi troops were still present. The United States had to make the decision to enter the war. On January 12, 1991, Congress voted to authorize President Bush to go to war. President Bush addressed the nation on television, saying, “The goal of the United States is not the conquest of Iraq; it is the liberation of Kuwait. He then let the Americans know that the United States would use force and any means necessary to stop Hussein. In the early hours, the United States' presence was known as more than 400 fighter jets and 160 tankers and command planes watched the skies over the Persian Gulf. The first attacks were airstrikes aimed at destroying specific targets in Iraq and Kuwait. These airstrikes weakened Hussein's troops and destroyed important buildings, including government buildings and power plants. On January 18, Hussein ordered eight Iraqi Scud missiles to land in Israel; no one was killed, but many were injured and Hussein once again showed his evil ways. He hoped that Israel would retaliate so that it could justify the war by "pitting Arab Islamic nations against their hated Jewish neighbor Israel and its American ally." Hussein's efforts did not work. President Bush once.