The Gulf War (1990-91) between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait has slipped into history and nowadays is rarely cited. However, for three principal reasons the shortlived conflict was and is of lasting consequence: First. In the Middle East, scene of much American difficulty and disappointment, the U.S. once more demonstrated at the highest levels power, leadership and diplomacy.
Second. In a manner unknown in human history, the war produced an enemy’s deliberate ignition of towering infernos. They destroyed property and assaulted the environment — on an unbelievable scale.
Third. A huge international coalition, with much American assistance, proved indispensable for extinguishing the fires and repairing damages. In the process, it won worldwide acclaim for the great results.
By 1990 friction had arisen between Iraq (pop. 17.66 million) and Kuwait (pop. 4.5 million) a tiny, adjoining, oil-rich neighbor to the west, abutting the Persian Gulf. The border separating them stretched 150 miles across an arid section. Among other things, Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s murderous ruler, accused Kuwait of exceeding OPEC quotas of oil production and thus of flooding the market. Iraq also owed Kuwait a debt totaling $14 billion.
When Kuwait proved unresponsive to either problem, Hussein resorted to force August 2, 1990. One hundred and twenty thousand Iraqi troops and 850 tanks poured across the border. The small Kuwaiti army of 16,000, half of whom were on leave, was overrun the next day.
President George H.W. Bush condemned the invasion and declared: “This cannot be allowed to stand.” He immediately dispatched Secretary of State James Baker to the Middle East. The Secretary began rounding up allies. In a matter of weeks, America was leading a 42-nation Coalition, the largest since WWII.
The Coalition issued its own ultimatum January 15, 1991: It demanded Iraq’s forces withdraw from Kuwait. Receiving no response, the coalition unleashed Operation Desert Storm with an aerial bombardment campaign. The date was January 17, 1991. Six weeks later Kuwait was liberated.
The fleeing Iraqi soldiers caused a catastrophe that engulfed Kuwait and much of its surroundings. With their defeat certain, the retreating invaders resorted to arson and sabotage by setting ablaze 650 oil wells, 85 percent of Kuwait’s petroleum reserve. Records indicate the burning wells consumed five million barrels of oil each day.
Compounding their crimes, the invaders released six to eight million barrels of crude into the pristine waters of the Persian Gulf. The slick spread 25 miles long and 10 miles wide. It is generally considered the largest oil spill in recorded history.
Upon the Earth descended a horrendous economic and environmental catastrophe. From the burning wells rose a smoke plume covering 600 square miles. The emission of soot reached 3,400 metric tons per day, causing a black, smelly mist that covered much of the landscape. Air quality plummeted. Respiratory illness spiked. People were forced to use flashlights to find their way in Kuwait City.
A tough Texas fire fighter gave his first impression: “When I arrived in Kuwait and had my first look at the burning wells, I lack words of the English language to describe the conflagration.”
The international coalition organized Operation Desert Hell and aimed it at extinguishing the fires and repairing the damages. The force included workers, oilfield experts, and engineers of 35 nationalities. They imported 200,000 tons of equipment to fill 9,000 orders, flown in on 200 flights of wide-body jets. Bechtel, the great American engineering firm, and the Red Adair fire experts led the non-stop enterprise, to which the U.S. generously contributed.
The coalition achieved miraculous results. The first burning well was extinguished in early April, 1991, the last on November 6, 1991. Other environmental damages were duly repaired. By any standard, Operation Desert Hell was the triumph of human ingenuity, cooperation and courage when confronting the hellfire oil fields on the Persian Gulf.
Recommended is the superb IMAX documentary “Fires of Kuwait.” It’s available online.
