GULF WAR Economic Factors: $ 80 billion borrowed to finance war with Iran from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

$ 230 billion required for reconstruction. Falling oil prices in Kuwait. Rumailah Oil Field was a problem - Alleged slant drilling by Kuwait. Political Factors: Failure to be member of Gulf Cooperation Council. Loss of face due to war with Iran. Iraq ally of Soviet Union. Historical Factors: Kuwait established as Sheikhdom in 1756. Kuwait borders were not deliberated till 1932. British protectorate from 1899 to 1961. Iraq claimed Kuwait as part of old Ottoman province of Basra. Seizure of Kuwait: 02 Aug 1990 - Attack by Republican Guards. Kuwait Emir and leadership flee to Saudi Arabia. Formation of provisional government. Jordan, Yemen and PLO support. Secretary of State - James Baker Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff - Gen Colin Powell Ops Cdr - Gen Norman Schwarzkopf Secretary of Defence - Dick Cheney Desert Shield: US defensive mission to prevent Iraq from attacking Saudi Arabia on 07 Aug1990. Aircraft carriers - USS Dwight D Eisenhower, USS Independence. First Gulf War: 02 Aug 1990 - 28 Feb 1991. Also known as Ops Granby, Ops Desert Storm or Persian Gulf War. Withdrawal Offers: Iraq offered to withdraw from Kuwait if Israeli forces withdrew from Palestinian territories and Syrian forces withdrew from Lebanon. On Soviet persuasion, Iraq offered to withdraw within 21 days including withdrawal from Kuwait city in four days.

Not accepted by USA who gave seven days but with this Iraq would incur heavy losses thereby showing Saddam defeated and Iraq incapable of threatening her neighbours, reducing her stand. Air Campaign: US Congress authorised use of military power on 12 Jan 1991. 17/18 Jan 1991 Desert Storm launched. Extensive aerial bombing Coalition flew over 100,000 sorties dropping 88,500 tons of bombs with wide destruction of civil and military infrastructure. Battle of Khafji: Eastern Saudi border city of Khafji occupied by Iraq on 29 Jan. Driven back in two days by Saudi + Qatari + US Marine forces and air support. Heavy losses on both sides. Great strategic error by Iraq to commit several armoured divisions and subsequent use of Khafji as a launching pad for further attacks. Attacks on Israel: Provocative scud attacks on Israel so that coalition disrupts. Israel reluctantly agreed not to retaliate. Ground Campaign: Operation Desert Sabre:Iraq given ultimatum to withdraw by 24 Feb when Iraq had agreed to withdraw within six weeks to pre-invasion positions. Coalition rejected but said would not attack retreating Iraqis and start withdrawing within 24 hrs. Kuwaits Saudi and Iraq borders not fortified by Iraq. Amphibious attack from east and simultaneous attack from south. 26 Feb - Iraqi troops started retreating setting fire to Kuwaiti oil fields- bombed extensively by coalition forces. 27 Feb - Kuwait occupied by coalition. 28 Feb - Bush declares ceasefire. 06 Apr - Kuwait declared liberated. Naval Aspects: 6 CBGs supporting air campaign. Occupied Iraqi naval base at Umm Quasar. Formed a blockade, as the area was very small without much manoeuvrability. This enabled amphibious ops after Iraqi Navy was destroyed. Mine clearance by Iraqi MCM group. Controlled sea lines of communication (SLOC) Lesson Learnt:

Chain of Command: Media: War was heavily televised and instantaneous. US exercised restriction on media freedom which required military approval and censorship so that sensitive information not revealed to Iraq. Learnt from Vietnam War Journalists arrived a day before coalition invaded Kuwait city and covered the entering of coalition forces live. Electronic Warfare: Smart bombs - Precision guided munitions, daisy cutters, clutter bombs, scuds, patriots, J-star radars, AWACS, GPS, etc. used to the maximum. Gave better assessment of the situation. Reduced collateral damage. Government clearance required for offensive. Directives o be issued without delay.

Logistics - Land campaign to be supported from sea for complete victory. Operations: Iraq too ambitious without sufficient forces. Naval power remains unique in its low visibility, promptness, flexibility and sustainability. Importance of mine warfare given low priority. Blockade may not always suffice to coerce the enemy to surrender. Strategy of coalition was controlled/ managed well with use of smart tactics.

Lessons for India: Military doctrine and force structure should be correctly matched. Coalition should be cohesive. Conventional precision weapons. Strategy and tactics. Force multipliers AWACS, precision guided missiles, etc. Importance of C4I.