Reference Entry
OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
By August 7th, 1990, Iraqi forces had already invaded and occupied Kuwait, raising fears that they might drive farther south toward the oil fields of Saudi Arabia and disrupt the broader balance of power in the Persian Gulf. On that date, the United States announced Operation Desert Shield, committing air and ground forces to Saudi Arabia at the request of its government and in coordination with other nations.
Dated Historical Context
A RECORDED MOMENT IN HISTORY
Operation Desert Shield announced
By August 7th, 1990, Iraqi forces had already invaded and occupied Kuwait, raising fears that they might drive farther south toward the oil fields of Saudi Arabia and disrupt the broader balance of power in the Persian Gulf. On that date, the United States announced Operation Desert Shield, committing air and ground forces to Saudi Arabia at the request of its government and in coordination with other nations. Initial deployments included airborne and air defense units capable of arriving quickly to deter further Iraqi advances, followed by armored and mechanized formations that would build a substantial defensive line. The movement of forces also signaled a new era of rapid coalition building, as partners from Europe, the Middle East, and beyond joined in. For American service members, Desert Shield meant months of preparation in harsh desert conditions, living under the possibility that deterrence might fail and fighting might follow. The operation’s beginning in this August week sets the stage for the later offensive known as Desert Storm and highlights how swift decisions about deployment can help prevent an even wider conflict.
Read the complete weekly DispatchTrackpads Source Register
