Course outline
Module 1
Module 1: Origins of the Conflict
Origins of the Conflict
Knowledge check
Q1. Which country invaded Kuwait in August 1990, triggering the Gulf War?
- A. Iran
- B. Iraq ✓
- C. Saudi Arabia
- D. Syria
Why: Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded and occupied Kuwait on August 2, 1990, which led to the international coalition and the Gulf War.
Q2. What was one of the main economic grievances Iraq had against Kuwait before the invasion?
- A. Kuwait refused to sell oil to Iraq
- B. Kuwait was overproducing oil, depressing prices and hurting Iraq's revenues ✓
- C. Kuwait had seized Iraqi oil fields
- D. Kuwait had stopped trading with Iraq entirely
Why: Iraq accused Kuwait of exceeding OPEC production quotas, which lowered oil prices and cut into Iraq's post-Iran-Iraq War revenues, which were already strained by debt.
Q3. Which long-running territorial dispute did Iraq use to justify its claim to Kuwait?
- A. The dispute over the Shatt al-Arab waterway ✓
- B. The dispute over the Golan Heights
- C. The dispute over the Hawar Islands in the Persian Gulf
- D. The dispute over the Ogaden region
Why: Iraq disputed the border and access to the Shatt al-Arab waterway, and it also asserted that Kuwait was historically part of the Ottoman province of Basra, a claim used to justify annexation.
Q4. What was the name of the UN Security Council resolution that authorized the use of force to expel Iraq from Kuwait?
- A. Resolution 242
- B. Resolution 678 ✓
- C. Resolution 1441
- D. Resolution 598
Why: UN Security Council Resolution 678, passed in November 1990, authorized member states to use all necessary means to enforce earlier resolutions if Iraq did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991.
Q5. Which country's government had earlier debt owed by Kuwait to Iraq that Iraq used as a grievance, and what was the nature of that grievance?
- A. Iraq owed money to Kuwait, which Iraq refused to pay
- B. Kuwait owed Iraq war-related loans from the Iran-Iraq War, which Kuwait was pressed to forgive ✓
- C. Saudi Arabia owed Iraq oil revenues
- D. Iran owed Iraq reparations
Why: Iraq had borrowed heavily from Kuwait and other Gulf states during the Iran-Iraq War, and Saddam Hussein demanded that these loans be forgiven as compensation for Iraq having defended the Arab world against Iran.
Module 2
Module 2: Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait
Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait
Knowledge check
Q1. In what year did Iraq invade Kuwait, triggering the Gulf War?
- A. 1980
- B. 1985
- C. 1990 ✓
- D. 1995
Why: Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The invasion led to the international coalition effort known as the Gulf War in 1991.
Q2. Which Iraqi leader ordered the invasion of Kuwait?
- A. Hafez al-Assad
- B. Saddam Hussein ✓
- C. Mustafa Barzani
- D. Abdul Karim Qasim
Why: Saddam Hussein, then President of Iraq, ordered the invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.
Q3. What was one of the main economic reasons Iraq gave for invading Kuwait?
- A. Kuwait refused to sell oil to Iraq
- B. Kuwait was overproducing oil, lowering prices and hurting Iraq's revenue ✓
- C. Kuwait had seized Iraqi territory in the desert
- D. Kuwait had refused to join the Arab League
Why: Iraq accused Kuwait of exceeding OPEC oil quotas and driving down oil prices, which hurt Iraq's economy after its costly war with Iran. Iraq also claimed Kuwait was slant-drilling into Iraqi oil fields and owed Iraq debts.
Q4. Which international body passed Resolution 660 condemning the invasion and demanding Iraq's withdrawal?
- A. The League of Nations
- B. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- C. The United Nations Security Council ✓
- D. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Why: The UN Security Council passed Resolution 660 on August 2, 1990, condemning the invasion and demanding Iraq's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait.
Q5. Approximately how quickly did Iraqi forces occupy the entire country of Kuwait after the invasion began?
- A. Several months
- B. Several weeks
- C. About one year
- D. Within a single day ✓
Why: Iraqi forces overran Kuwait within roughly a day, taking control of the capital and most of the country on August 2, 1990, though fighting continued in some areas briefly.
Module 3
Module 3: Coalition Formation and Diplomacy
Coalition Formation and Diplomacy
Knowledge check
Q1. Which country initially drew the strongest international condemnation in August 1990, prompting the formation of a US-led coalition?
- A. Iraq ✓
- B. Kuwait
- C. Iran
- D. Saudi Arabia
Why: Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait in August 1990. The UN Security Council responded with resolutions condemning the invasion, which led to the formation of the coalition to force Iraq's withdrawal.
Q2. Which UN Security Council resolution authorized member states to use 'all necessary means' to expel Iraq from Kuwait if it did not withdraw by a set deadline?
- A. Resolution 660
- B. Resolution 678 ✓
- C. Resolution 687
- D. Resolution 242
Why: Resolution 678, adopted in November 1990, authorized the use of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991. This resolution provided the legal basis for the coalition's military action.
Q3. Which country's government played a leading diplomatic role in assembling the broad international coalition, including securing support from Arab states and the Soviet Union?
- A. United Kingdom
- B. France
- C. United States ✓
- D. Japan
Why: The United States, under President George H. W. Bush and Secretary of State James Baker, led the diplomatic effort to build the coalition, securing UN backing and contributions from dozens of nations, including key Arab partners and Soviet cooperation.
Q4. Which Arab state's participation in the coalition was considered especially significant because it lent regional legitimacy to a military effort against another Arab country?
- A. Jordan
- B. Egypt
- C. Syria ✓
- D. Libya
Why: Syria's participation was notable because it was an Arab state that joined the coalition against Iraq, helping to present the effort as more than a purely Western undertaking. Egypt also joined, but Syria's role stood out given the rivalry between the Ba'athist regimes.
Q5. Which country agreed to pay a large share of the coalition's military costs, providing financial support that helped sustain the operation?
- A. Germany
- B. Canada
- C. Saudi Arabia ✓
- D. Australia
Why: Saudi Arabia, along with Kuwait and other Gulf states, contributed heavily to the financing of the coalition, covering a major portion of the operation's costs and hosting coalition forces on its territory.
Module 4
Module 4: Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Shield
Knowledge check
Q1. Which country's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 prompted the launch of Operation Desert Shield?
- A. Iran
- B. Iraq ✓
- C. Syria
- D. Saudi Arabia
Why: Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait on August 2, 1990, prompting the US and its allies to deploy forces to defend Saudi Arabia and deter further Iraqi aggression, which led to Operation Desert Shield.
Q2. What was the primary purpose of Operation Desert Shield?
- A. To liberate Kuwait by force
- B. To defend Saudi Arabia and deter an Iraqi attack ✓
- C. To negotiate a peace treaty with Iraq
- D. To overthrow Saddam Hussein's government
Why: Desert Shield was a defensive operation designed to protect Saudi Arabia from a possible Iraqi invasion and to build up forces for a potential offensive, while offensive action to liberate Kuwait came later in Operation Desert Storm.
Q3. Which Saudi city served as a major hub for coalition forces during Operation Desert Shield?
- A. Riyadh
- B. Jeddah
- C. Dhahran ✓
- D. Medina
Why: Dhahran, in the Eastern Province near the Persian Gulf, hosted large numbers of coalition troops and was home to key air and logistics facilities, including King Abdulaziz Air Base.
Q4. Which US military official led the coalition forces during Operation Desert Shield?
- A. Colin Powell
- B. Norman Schwarzkopf ✓
- C. Wesley Clark
- D. John Abizaid
Why: General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of US Central Command, led the coalition forces during Desert Shield and later commanded the ground campaign in Desert Storm.
Q5. Approximately how long did the build-up phase of Operation Desert Shield last before the air campaign of Desert Storm began?
- A. About one month
- B. About three months
- C. About six months ✓
- D. About one year
Why: The deployment and build-up phase lasted roughly from August 1990 to January 1991, about five to six months, during which hundreds of thousands of coalition troops and large amounts of equipment were moved into the region.
Module 5
Module 5: Operation Desert Storm
Operation Desert Storm
Knowledge check
Q1. Which coalition-led operation expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991?
- A. Operation Enduring Freedom
- B. Operation Desert Storm ✓
- C. Operation Iraqi Freedom
- D. Operation Desert Shield
Why: Operation Desert Storm was the military campaign launched on January 17, 1991, by a US-led coalition to force Iraq out of Kuwait after its August 1990 invasion. Operation Desert Shield was the earlier defensive buildup in Saudi Arabia.
Q2. Which country invaded Kuwait in August 1990, triggering the Gulf War?
- A. Iran
- B. Syria
- C. Iraq ✓
- D. Saudi Arabia
Why: Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded and occupied Kuwait on August 2, 1990, citing territorial claims, oil production disputes, and debt. This invasion prompted the international response that led to the Gulf War.
Q3. Which UN Security Council resolution authorized the use of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991?
- A. Resolution 242
- B. Resolution 678 ✓
- C. Resolution 1441
- D. Resolution 661
Why: UN Security Council Resolution 678, passed in November 1990, authorized member states to use 'all necessary means' to enforce earlier resolutions if Iraq did not withdraw by mid-January 1991. Resolution 661 imposed economic sanctions on Iraq.
Q4. Approximately how long did the ground war phase of Operation Desert Storm last?
- A. About 100 hours ✓
- B. About 6 months
- C. About 3 weeks
- D. About 2 years
Why: The ground offensive began on February 24, 1991, and a ceasefire was declared on February 28, 1991, so the ground war lasted roughly 100 hours. The air campaign that preceded it lasted about five weeks.
Q5. Which coalition commander is most associated with leading the forces in Operation Desert Storm?
- A. Colin Powell
- B. Norman Schwarzkopf ✓
- C. Wesley Clark
- D. David Petraeus
Why: General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. commanded the coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm. Colin Powell, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was a key military adviser but not the field commander.
Module 6
Module 6: The Ground War and Ceasefire
The Ground War and Ceasefire
Knowledge check
Q1. What was the name of the coalition military operation that launched the ground offensive to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait in February 1991?
- A. Operation Desert Shield
- B. Operation Desert Storm ✓
- C. Operation Iraqi Freedom
- D. Operation Desert Fox
Why: Operation Desert Storm was the name of the coalition offensive that began with an air campaign in January 1991 and included the ground war launched in late February 1991. Operation Desert Shield was the earlier defensive buildup in Saudi Arabia following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
Q2. How long did the ground war of the Gulf War last before the coalition declared a ceasefire?
- A. About 100 hours ✓
- B. About 6 months
- C. About 3 weeks
- D. About 2 days
Why: The ground war lasted roughly 100 hours, from February 24 to February 28, 1991. The ceasefire was declared shortly after, ending major combat operations.
Q3. Which Iraqi city was the site of a major armored battle during the ground war, involving U.S. Marines and Iraqi forces?
- A. Baghdad
- B. Basra
- C. Khafji ✓
- D. Mosul
Why: Khafji, a Saudi town near the border, was the site of an early Iraqi incursion in January 1991 and a battle involving U.S. Marines before the main ground war. Baghdad and Basra were not primary battlegrounds during the ground campaign, and Mosul is in northern Iraq, far from the main fighting.
Q4. What was the name of the major Iraqi army units that were largely destroyed during the retreat from Kuwait, sometimes called the 'Highway of Death'?
- A. The Republican Guard units were never engaged
- B. Iraqi forces retreating north along the road from Kuwait City to Basra ✓
- C. Iraqi forces retreating west into the Syrian desert
- D. Iraqi forces retreating south into Saudi Arabia
Why: The 'Highway of Death' refers to the road from Kuwait City toward Basra in Iraq, where retreating Iraqi forces were heavily attacked by coalition aircraft in late February 1991. Iraq's retreat was north and west toward Iraq, not into Syria or Saudi Arabia.
Q5. What agreement formally established the end of hostilities in the Gulf War in 1991?
- A. The Treaty of Versailles
- B. The Camp David Accords
- C. UN Security Council Resolution 687 ✓
- D. The Oslo Accords
Why: UN Security Council Resolution 687, adopted in April 1991, set the terms of the ceasefire, including Iraqi disarmament obligations and border arrangements. The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I, the Camp David Accords concerned Egypt and Israel, and the Oslo Accords concerned Israel and the Palestinians.
Module 7
Module 7: Legacy and Aftermath
Legacy and Aftermath
Knowledge check
Q1. Which country's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 triggered the Gulf War?
- A. Iran
- B. Iraq ✓
- C. Saudi Arabia
- D. Syria
Why: In August 1990 Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded and annexed Kuwait, prompting a US-led coalition to expel Iraqi forces in 1991.
Q2. What was the name of the US-led military operation launched in January 1991 to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait?
- A. Operation Desert Storm ✓
- B. Operation Iraqi Freedom
- C. Operation Desert Shield
- D. Operation Enduring Freedom
Why: Operation Desert Storm was the air and ground offensive that began in January 1991. Operation Desert Shield was the earlier defensive buildup of forces in Saudi Arabia.
Q3. Which UN Security Council resolution authorized the use of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait?
- A. Resolution 242
- B. Resolution 678 ✓
- C. Resolution 1441
- D. Resolution 687
Why: Resolution 678, passed in November 1990, authorized member states to use all necessary means to enforce earlier resolutions if Iraq did not withdraw by a set deadline.
Q4. What was a major environmental legacy of the Gulf War?
- A. Massive deforestation in Kuwait
- B. Burning of Kuwaiti oil wells that caused widespread air pollution ✓
- C. Nuclear contamination of the Persian Gulf
- D. Flooding of the Tigris River
Why: Retreating Iraqi forces set fire to over 600 Kuwaiti oil wells and released large amounts of oil into the Gulf, causing severe air and environmental damage that took months to control.
Q5. Which Iraqi leader remained in power for more than a decade after the Gulf War?
- A. Abdul Karim Qasim
- B. Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr
- C. Saddam Hussein ✓
- D. Abd al-Salam Arif
Why: Saddam Hussein stayed in power after the 1991 war, despite the defeat and post-war sanctions, until the US-led invasion of 2003 removed him.