U.S. National Security Bush the Elder and the Persian Gulf War.

U.S. National SecurityBush the Elder and the Persian Gulf War

Resource Dependence WWII-1979: Iran (led by Shah Reza Pahlevi)

is closest ally of US in the region Iran guarantees US access to Persian Gulf oil

1979: Iranian Revolution - violently anti-US 1980: Carter Doctrine

Access to Persian Gulf oil is part of US nat’l. interest

President George H. W. Bush Term: 1989-1993 Nickname: Poppy Former Careers:

Navy pilot in WWII (youngest at the time he began flying)

Oil industry in W. Texas US Rep. (TX-R) Ambassador to the UN Chairman of the GOP Diplomat to China D-CIA VP

Time of Change Cold War ends Soviet empire

disintegrates Berlin Wall falls

Security Crises Panama (1989)

Strategic concern: Panama Canal

Political concern: Americans in the area

Gulf War (1990-1) Strategic concern: oil Political concern: ally

Persian Gulf War August 1990: Iraq invades

Kuwait, threatens to annex Iraq: 4th largest army in

the world; battle-tested (1980-88: Iran-Iraq War)

Worry about casualties US pulls together coalition

of 25 states, including some Islamic states from the region

Success of Operation Desert Storm Once air war began, US

destroyed Iraqi radar and communications infrastructure on the first day

Thus, Iraqi forces limited to ground, and US conducted a primarily air campaign

Sources Revolution in Military

Affairs (RMA) Powell Doctrine

Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) Application of electronic

technology to warfare = force multipliers Reconnaissance Weapons accuracy

Gap between US military and all others grows; US becomes a military hyperpower

Pros and cons?

Powell Doctrine National security

interest Clear, obtainable

objective Public support Overwhelming force

Gulf War and the Public Media access restricted heavily (effect of Vietnam)

- only a few press members, only a few carefully selected actions

High public support

Today: Production vs. Imports 2011: Goal of

reducing oil imports by 1/3

2012: Goal increased to cut in half

2012 60%: Produced

in US 40%: Imported

Today: Source of Imports Largest source of

imports: Canada 53%: W. Hemisphere 28%: Persian Gulf 16%: Africa

Discussion Takeaways from the article? What lessons did the US

military learn from Vietnam?

What did the US take away from the Gulf War?

Guns vs. butter? Does every president have to pick a side?

Guns vs. Butter ''That bitch of a

war,'' Johnson lamented toward the end of his life, ''killed the lady I really loved -- the Great Society.'’

NY Times: “The Nation: Guns and Butter; The Nation Can Run More Than War” (2001)