Desert Storm 10 years later, and no end near and no end near

It was 10 years ago today, when Operation Desert Storm erupted over Iraq, 100 hours which blistered Saddam Hussein and crippled his ability to make war. It was a time when Americans could feel proud of their fighting forces and stand in amazement of military technology to see the advancements since Vietnam. It was also the prelude to a coming home of Desert Storm veterans as that operation wrapped up, and a long-overdue recognition and honoring of Vietnam veterans, who had almost ashamedly slipped back into this country after serving their duty. Desert Storm’s roots began with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein accusing Kuwait in July 1990 of driving oil prices down through their own profitable production techniques. The result to Iraq, however, was a sudden drop in national (read “his”) income. In two weeks Iraq invaded Kuwait, and less than a week later then-President George Bush ordered American troops into the region. It was a sudden, dramatic deployment of American fighting forces, drawing from the military at a time when the National Guard and reservists came into greater prominence, assisting the military with vital personnel and equipment. Also, more American women went to war than ever before, creating a new phenomenon – the husband waiting at home with the children while Mom went to war. A lightning-strike air war was launched 10 years ago today against Iraq, with missiles striking at specific targets. One result was a massive surrender of Iraqi forces, unable to cope with the technologically-advanced Allied assault. Since then, Saddam Hussein has clung to power, teasing and threatening while he scratches and claws at various U.S. resolutions and embargoes. Eighteen months after Desert Storm a “no-fly” zone was established to protect Shiite Muslim rebel villages from Saddam’s aerial wrath. Ten years later Saddam is still in power, American pilots still patrol the skies over Northern Iraq with no end in sight, Americans have a greater respect for its own military might and especially for those honorable men and women who proudly serve, and the son of the Desert Storm president is ascending to the White House this weekend. The threat of Saddam Hussein remains in this troubled world and will persist until such time as he either voluntarily steps down, dies or is forcibly removed from office. It was not part of Desert Storm’s mission to remove Saddam from ruling his nation, a point overlooked by some critics, yet the result is that his threat remains in the powderkeg known as the Middle East. We can certainly pray that no such crisis as Desert Storm faces the incoming President Bush during his tenure in office. However, it’s good to know we stand ready, with a matchless military power of which we can be proud.

L’Observateur