Gulf War vs Iraq War: Costs

http://people.psych.cornell.edu/~fhoran/gulf/GW_cost/GW_payments.html

The link posted above shows how much money was spent to fund the Gulf War which was approximately $61 billion . The link also states that about $54 billion was paid by other countries in the coalition. When taken into account, the US really only paid about $7 billion of the total cost of the Gulf War.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11880954/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/t/cost-iraq-war-could-surpass-trillion/#.TuUAEdWwVEM

The cost of the Iraq War, which is stilling going up everyday, is shown in the link above. Many experts believe the full cost of the Iraq War could go as high as $1 trillion or more! That is a ridiculous amount of money to be spent on a "forgotten war". Who will pay for this war? How will it be eventually paid? These are all questions Americans need to know.

Gulf War vs Iraq War: Timeline

http://www.warchronicle.com/iraq/news/timeline_two_wars.htm

In the link above, there is a timeline showing the progression of the Gulf War all the way into the Iraq War. The timeline begins with the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein in Iraq on August 2nd 1990. This timeline then goes on to show when the U.S. got involved and the beginning of Desert Storm. On March 3rd 1991, Iraq agrees to a ceasefire. It wasn't until March 19th that the Iraq War officially started.

The Aftermath of the Gulf War and the Eventual End of Saddam's Regime

On February 27, 1991, after 100 hours of ground war, US President Bush declared a ceasefire. At this point, the Iraqi military had been driven from Kuwait, and Allied forces were deep inside Iraq.

At the time of the ceasefire, Shiites and Kurds within Iraq, encouraged by American radio broadcasts, rose up against Saddam Hussein’s regime. With the Iraqi military greatly weakened, the regime's loyalist Republican heavily bombed, and with much of the population in open revolt, few outside observers expected Hussein to be able to stay in power for too much longer. In spite of these predictions, he was able to defeat the revolts and retain power. In retrospect, the fact that the international Coalition did not go on to capture Baghdad and overthrow the Ba'athist regime, has sometimes been heavily criticized - but the reality is that very few countries in the Coalition would have been willing to do so.

Because Hussein remained in power, Britain and the United States had no choice but to continue to maintain significant military forces in the region for the next few years. Allied forces attempted to enforce United Nations provisions, particularly those relating to no-fly-zones for Iraqi military aircraft, the continued economic embargo on Iraq, and disarmament. During this period, there were repeated confrontations between Allied and Iraqi forces.

Finally, in 2003, after a changed political situation following the September 11^th attacks on the United States, and yet another crisis over Iraqi disarmament, Allied forces, led by the United States and Britain, invaded Iraq and overthrew Hussein’s regime. He was then subsequently tried, convicted and then executed by his own people on December 30, 2006, and thus finally putting an end to his regime.

References:     http://www.historyguy.com/GulfWar.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/crisis_in_the_gulf/decision_makers_and_diplomacy/216328.stm

Could “Desert Storm Two” aka “Operation Iraqi Freedom” been avoided?

While doing some continued research and reading about the First Gulf War, I came across this very interesting this article that really makes the reader think. The author asks an interesting question: Did Desert Storm end too quickly, enabling much of Saddam Hussein's army to escape from Kuwait and ensuring the Iraqi dictator would remain a threat for years to come? In the article, retired Marine Lt. Gen. Walter Boomer was interviewed, asked this question and answered yes to it. Boomer commanded all of the U.S. Marines in the first Persian Gulf War that began almost 21 years ago this upcoming January.

To this day Boomer remains convinced that had Operation Desert Storm last only 72 more hours that “we could have killed or captured most of the remaining Iraqi soldiers as they fled Kuwait and were between the MEF [Marine Expeditionary Force] and Basra.” Even though the ground war combat had not been as fierce as expected, Boomer said he knew the Iraqis were fleeing with most of their forces intact. “We had taken 22,000 Iraqi prisoners,” he said. Left unsaid was that Iraq had an army of some half a million in theater. The vast majority were still alive, although much of their armor, artillery and other equipment had been destroyed. Given the order to pursue, the allies “would have left Hussein without an effective army,” Boomer said, “and the future of his regime would have been very bleak – in my opinion.”

I thought this was such an interesting thing to think about. Imaging if the fighting lasted for just a few more days, could that have brought down Sadam Hussein once and for all and thus, Operation Iraqi Freedom would never have been? I suppose we will never know the answer to this question, but it is certainly one I have never pondered and is certainly something for those in command, to think about in conflicts to come. We need to learn to finish what we start and not leave a battle or war early, but leave when the job has been complete. If we do this hopefully it will help to avoid future conflict.

References: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8946142/

Gulf War vs Iraq War: Protests?

War and Terrorism Collection - Document

During the Iraq War, which started in 2003, there were many people who greatly disagreed with the decision to invade Afghanistan. Media coverage constantly showed the American disapproval of the Iraq War. Many believed it was completely unnecessary. However, during the Gulf War, there were very few anti-war protests. Why is that? I believe that was because the Gulf War went well. In my opinion, people will be more likely to approve of a war if it is going well and is thought of as a "just war".

The Finance Aftermath- Finances Past Due

"By 2009, funds for Iraq and Afghanistan fighting had totaled $1 trillion. Over the same time period, another $1 trillion had been added to core budget spending."

It seems as though many different house representatives have given proposals on how to tax the people to help begin paying for the war but, none of the plans have taken action. "In 2009, Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and others in the House called for one. It would have established a 1 percent surtax on what each taxpayer owed, plus an additional percentage on returns where the higher-income payer owed $22,600 or more." At this point, any plan would help to being paying for the war. As a country, if we keep putting off these billions of dollars for future generations to pay back, our economy will most likely fail. Every small dollar counts when the total amount owed is sky high.“If we don’t address the cost of this war, we will continue shoving billions of dollars in taxes off on future generations and will devour money that could be used to rebuild our economy.” (Obey). Our economy is already in a tough spot, although it is trying to come back, but all of this money spent on the war could help piece together our economy bit by bit.

Another proposal made by Senator Al Franken "took another approach, introducing a resolution that would have required Obama or a future president to find funding at the same time he or she planned to send U.S. troops into combat situations." This plan makes plenty of sense. If the president is unable to find sufficient funding, then the country would have to face budget cuts or added revenue. By not choosing a plan and putting all of these finances for the war off, the government is making the billions of dollars spent on the war a problem for future generations. “Who will bear the financial sacrifice, the generation that has decided to go to war or its children and grandchildren?” (Franken). Later generations are going to be responsible for the finances of a war that they did not cause nor have any recollection of. If the Senate budget committee could decide on a resolution on how to pay back this massive amount of money, our country may be able to make a turn

around.

Source & Quotes:http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/were-past-due-on-handling-the-finances-of-war/2011/12/02/gIQAL0epXO_story.html

Veterans Transition from "Combat to College"

As young veterans return from their tours in Iraq, many of them plan to pursue an education. Brian Hawthorne, who served twice as a medic in Iraq, found himself lost in a sea of students at George Washington University "who didn't know anyone in the military." As he began studying he became concerned because he wasn't understanding much. He looked for help on campus and was directed to Veterans Affair Medical Center. Doctors diagnosed Hawthore with a mild brain traumatic injury, which they said was probably caused from being close to bomb blasts overseas. This is just one of the many stories about veterans trying to transition back to a normal life after combat.

"Some student veterans say they have little in common with their younger, more sheltered classmates whose concerns typically revolve around their social lives and separating from their parents." Many typical college students would not be able to point out veterans unless they were told. The only difference about them is how they are dealing with their day to day lives. For example, Brian Hawthorne (mentioned earlier) was concerned with his grades and sought help. Other students are worried about their social lives at college and where tonights party is. Some veteran students also feel that they are "put on the spot when they are singled out in class by well-meaning faculty members who solicit their views on foreign policy." Although professors do not try to make those students feel uncomfortable, they do it without knowing. Veterans are afraid to admit that they are having difficulty and feel uncomfortable when put on the spot. Along with veterans dealing with their injuries and post-war stress, suicide has also become a factor in their lives after war.

"A study of 525 student veterans published last month and conducted with the help of the Student Veterans Association (SVA), a national advocacy group with chapters on 400 campuses, found that 46 percent had contemplated suicide." 46 percent is a high number, but it all makes sense. It seems as though many veterans keep their feelings and experiences in and they build up. A mind of a veteran is something that an everyday person can't understand. People, especially veterans college classmates, don't know how to cope with someone who has experienced such gruesome events at such a young age. Colleges are taking action in different ways. The University of Texas at Austin opened a veterans center on campus. At the center, a psychologist from the Department of Veterans Affairs will be available for student veterans. Other campuses have held sessions to train college counselors to deal with student veterans. Even though student veterans just want to be like any other student on a college campus, they should be payed attention to because they are at risk whether it be academically or personally.

Source & Quotes: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/veterans-find-that-their-transition-from-combat-to-college-can-be-difficult/2011/10/20/gIQAugW54N_story.html