What if we (the US & UK) had NOT fought in the Gulf War in 1991?

[misaltas 0]

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These aren't my remarks; they are in the introduction to Dunnigan's

I'm not sure many could argue with those remarks.

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It's a hard and simple fact of life that no nation goes to war until it has somehow convinced itself that it's worth the cost.

And my position is that Hussein didn't believe anyone would really stop him, even if Glaspie had wagged her finger more strongly at him. That meets the 'worth the cost' test.

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A corollary to this is that throughout history, most nations that start wars usually end up regretting it.

Rotting slowly in a jail cell and courtroom, with two spawn accomplices planted in the ground, I'm sure he does.

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Ohne Liebe sind wir nichts

[billvon 3,132]

>I simply don't believe most in the world, including Hussein, (at
>the time please) thought that we would be willing and determined to
>project our military so heavily in SW Asia under any circumstances . . .

I agree. After all, we'd been helping him in his war against Iran. From his perspective, we actually _supported_ conflict in the Middle East, and supported him in his wars against other countries.

Now, he was too smart to think that we'd support him in the Kuwait war since we had much stronger relations with Kuwait than with Iran. But as demonstrated by the questions he was asking, he was hoping that we'd at least stay out of it. From Glaspie's replies, he did not get any refutation of that hope.

>The answer to that is that is was not all that guaranteed or
>even believable that this would have been our response . . .

From his perspective - correct. Which is why telling him that we WOULD stop him was important. Had that been done, it's likely he would have delayed or cancelled the invasion.