US Intervention: Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm Essay

Abstract

This dissertation is an in depth review of Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. The paper covers a wide range of information and issues related to Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. The main objective of the paper is to present a detailed account of all the information related to the history, performance, activities, and all the related questions like how and why the United States Military has repeatedly been unprepared to execute its primary mission at the outbreak of hostilities.

To identify the root factors affecting the United States military’s readiness to perform its primary function during the initial stages of the conflicts under investigation is also an important point of discussion. The dissertation focuses on the topic to include the role of the Noncommissioned officer (NCO) in preparing Soldiers to conduct combat operations.The paper also deals with the question that whether or not the United States Military has overcome the fundamental obstacles to achieving force readiness prior to the commencement of combat operations.

Introduction

Thesis statement

This is an argumentative essay which requires some thesis statement and some argument to be discussed as well. The thesis statement is “is the intervention of US in any war is right that has somehow related to it or not?

The answer to this question can be described in many ways. But to be precise and accurate one must have to prove it by facts and figures as well as by scenarios and events. The intervention of US in any war that happens at any part of the world has two major causes. One, it can be due to safeguarding of the US based citizens working and living in the country where the war is going on. The second reason is to protect the rights of human in general, means to help the affected people, injured and hungry citizens. This thesis revolves around the two operations;

• Operation Desert Storm
• Operation just cause.

Both of these operations are example of the US intervention in the invasions made at different times in history. May it be the 1950’s or 1990’s the causes are to maintain discipline and peace worldwide. Just like what happened in Operation Just Cause when, US invaded Panama this had many reason such as to protect Americans in Panama, to stop drugs smuggling to US etc; similarly when in 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait there was a great chance of disturbance and war condition throughout the middle east since all the neighboring countries were supporting Kuwait, therefore it was important to stop such a mishap to happen and hence US forces were sent and even trained to for the combat in the deserts.

One might only think it’s an act of interference but when hopeless and wounded people are waiting for help and relieve in the war time the UNO reaches at first to help those people in the affected areas. Also such an involvement create cease-fire situation sometimes. After the Iraq-Kuwait war when for so many years, there was silence between these two countries the US intervention helped to create negotiations. The scenario presented in this paper has only two of the wars happened in different times of history. Although there are number of times the US military forces have prepared their troops and sent them for different combats worldwide and have made the country free from the hostile enemy.

History and Background Operation Just Cause:

Since 1959 to 1980’s Noriega had friendly relations with US, Noriega was that the job of US and served the intelligence department. The relation of George.W Bush and Noriega developed in 1970’s when Bush was the head of CIA. He played a role in advancing U.S. interests in South America; Noriega was paid $100,000 for this purpose. The foreign policy of Panama in 1980’s let the President Reagan to do negotiations with General Noriega, in his negotiations he requested that the Panamian leaders will leave power peacefully, and as a replacement Noriega’s association with the drug business will be disregarded.

President George Bush adopted a soft foreign policy against Panama and Noriega which labeled him as ‘wimp’ by the media. In short “operations just cause “was a result of tension created between US and Panama, the reason might be the few charges from US to Noriega, that Noriega is illegally involved in the drug smuggling and money laundering etc. the US troops were trained and prepared to work within the former Panama canal zone. After the Vietnam War this was the biggest troop buildup of US.

History and background Operation Desert Storm

On 2, August 1990, the troops of Iraq along with weapons and tanks attacked on Iraq. This attack caused the US intervention in the war and resulted with the Operation desert Storm, this was done due to stop the intervention of Saudi Arabia the oil rich neighbor country of Kuwait. US forces started their operation on August, 7 and tried to exile Iraqi forces from Kuwait. (Richelson, 2001)

The In-depth of the Desert Storm or Gulf-War

We can take an outlook of the gulf war by comparing it with the past wars that have been fought by the US. The following statistics shows the bombings done by the US forces in gulf-war and all other wars:

In the DESERT STORM the ADA brigade, from Germany asked for the forces from US, Israel and Dutch to defend Tel Aviv and Haifa. In 38-days the deserts were filled with Iraqi troops, the Iraqi Army was flattened in just 100 hours. They just surrendered after being weary, Hungary and tired of war since everything was blocked to them and severe bombings were made. (Operation Desert Storm, n.d)

Root Factors operation desert storm and operation just cause

Root factors affecting the United States military’s willingness to perform its primary function during the initial stages of the conflicts under investigation can be many but here we will take some under consideration

• To give protection to Americans in Panama: In his statement Bush said that Noriega has declared that there is some rivalry and War situation between US and Panama and that he endangered the lives of some 35,000 Americans living in panama.
• To take measures in order to safeguard the Democracy and rights of civilians in Panama: sometime back in the year of invasion the Govt. of Panama said that the presidential elections which they won were actually run and owned by the US backed parties.
• Struggle against drugs: Panama was become the drug smuggling hub to Europe and US. Although Noriega was separated and took leniently for the involvement of drugs trafficking till 1970’s.

One of the above reasons caused the invasion to occur. And resulted in the form of war by US to Panama, (Wikipedia, n.d.)

The Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm Timeline

• “Iraq invades Kuwait, Aug. 2, 1990.
• Operation Desert Shield begins, Aug. 7.
• First U.S. forces (F-15 Eagle fighters from Langley Air Force Base, Va.) arrive in Saudi Arabia, Aug. 7.
• First Operation Desert Shield-related U.S. death, Aug. 12. subsequent authorizations; period of service extended to 180 days on Nov. 12 by executive order.)
• Operation Desert Storm and air war phase begins, 3 a.m., Jan. 17, 1991 (Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Eastern time).
• Iraq attacks Israel with seven Scud missiles, Jan. 17.
• U.S. Patriot missile successfully intercepts first Scud, over Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 17.
• President Bush authorizes the call-up of up to 1 million National Guardsmen and Reservist for up to two years, Jan. 18.
• DoD announces deployment of Europe-based Patriot missiles and crews to Israel, Jan. 19.
• Iraq creates massive oil slick in gulf, Jan. 25.
• Iraqis attack Khafji, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29.
• Iraq captures first U.S. female prisoner of war, Jan. 31.
• Award of the National Defense Service Medal authorized, Feb. 21.
• Iraqis ignite estimate 700 oil wells in Kuwait, Feb. 23.
• Allied ground assault begins, 4 a.m., Feb 24 (Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Eastern time).
• Iraqi Scud destroys U.S. barracks in Dhahran, killing 28 U.S. soldiers, Feb. 25.
• Cessation of hostilities declared, 8:01 a.m., Feb. 28 (12:01 a.m. Eastern).
• Cease-fire terms negotiated in Safwan, Iraq, March 1.
• DoD announces first troop redeployment home, March l7 (24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.)
• Award of the Southwest Asia Service medal authorized, March 13.
• President Bush announces U.S. relief supply airdrops to Kurdish refugees in Turkey and northern Iraq, April 5.
• Iraq officially accepts cease-fire terms, April 6.
• Task Force Provide Comfort forms and deploys, April 6.
• U.S. transports deliver 72,000 pounds of supplies in first six Operation Provide Comfort missions, April 7.
• Cease-fire takes effect, April 11.
• Construction of first Provide Comfort tent city begins near Zakhu, Iraq, April 20.
• U.N. commission assumes responsibility for Kurdish refugees, June 7. (The Operation desert Shield timeline, August 8, 2000)”

(Buffalo Police Then and Now Desert Shield and Desert Storm, n.d.)

The role of NCO

Task Force 3-15 Infantry of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) was sent to Kuwait on October 2002, which was performed as a part of Operation Intrinsic Action. The soldiers were trained for the combat and finally on 20^th march the border was crossed to perform Operation Iraqi freedom. The training given to the soldiers prove to be the best as every soldier was ready to burn alive. The TF 3-15’s intense infantry training program was very useful when the combat begun. Before the combat even rehearsals were done, this played a major role in the unit’s success.

The camp New York at Kuwait was the training area where the soldiers were taken to be prepared for the war. They were first left in the desert and it was very strange to stay unconnected from the world in some vast deserts. Also in desert areas it is very much easy to be detected. In the training camp, all difficult ways were adopted like live fire training for some days to prepare the soldiers stay in the hasty attacks. (McCrea, 2004)

During the training camp, the discussion was also done about how to make the soldiers prepare best for the combat which is the sole purpose of the camp. The NCOs are perfect in maintaining their troops to be in proper uniforms, at the right place on the right time and to take exact and prompt decisions where necessary. The pre-combat rehearsals are very important for the soldiers before the actual combat and the NCOs play a key role in doing that. The NCOs hired for this must be expertise so as to let the soldiers acknowledge about the right use of every weapon at the right time and also bringing a lot of spirit in them to die for a cause, for some noble cause, for their duty and their post. (Rakow, 2005)

Conclusion

The conflict between Iraq and the 35 nations of the world which happen due to the Iraqi invasion on Kuwait ended up by the US intervention into the war in order to liberate Kuwait. The US name to this conflict is Operation Desert Storm, while on the other hand Operation Just cause was the hiring US troops from navy, air force and army to invade Panama on December 20, 1989 due to many reasons like safeguarding the Americans in Panama, eradicate drug smuggling to US from Panama etc.

Summarizing the debate one must observe from the roots of history or in the present time, from the US invasion on Panama or the settlement of Iraq conflict and liberation of Kuwait the US military services have always performed well. However at some places there might not be correct decisions or right use of power to achieve its primary goals especially in war times but still it has always prepared master plans, efficient teams and fruitful results to resolve any conflict!!

References

Buffalo Police Then and Now. Desert Shield and Desert Storm, n.d. Web.

Derek McCrea, Preparing a mechanized infantry task force for combat. 2004. Web.

Jeffrey T. Richelson. Operation desert Storm Ten Years After, 2001. Web.

Operation desert Storm, (n.d). Web.

Operation Urgent Fury and Operation Just Cause (n.d). Web.

The Operation Desert Storm Timeline, 2000. Web.

Walter E. Rakow, NCO-focused AARs: how to make the unit better, Infantry Magazine, 2005. Web.

United States Invasion of Panama (n.d). Web.