Chronology: Important Events

1990: Hussein accuses Kuwait on 17 July of oil overproduction and theft of oil from the Rumailia Oil Field.

1990: On 25 July US Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie, tells Hussien that the Iraq/Kuwaitt dispute is an Arab matter, not one that affects the United States.

1990 :Hussein invades Kuwait on August 2. President Bush freezes Iraqi and Kuwatti assets. The United Nations calls on Hussien to withdraw.


Aug 6,1990: Economic sanctions are authorized.

Aug 7, 1990: Secretery of Defense Cheny visits Suadi Arabia. The 82nd Airborne and several fighter squadrons are dispatched.

Aug 8. 1990: Iraq annexes Kuwait

Aug 9, 1990: The UN declare's Iraq's annexation invalid

Aug 12, 1990: The USA announces intrediction program of Irai shipping.

Aug 22, 1990: President Bush authorizes call up of reserves.

Aug 25, 1990: Military interdiction authorized by the UN.

Sep 14, 1990: Iraqi forces storm a number of diplomatic missions in Kuwait City.

Nov 8, 1990: Bush orders aditional deployments to give "offensive option" to US forces.



Nov 20, 1990: 45 Democrats file suit in Washington to have President Bush first seek Congressional approval of military operations. (eventually thrown out)

Nov 22, 1990: President Bush visits the troops for Thanksgiving. [IMG]

Nov 29, 1990: UN Security Council authorizes force if Iraq doesnt withdraw from Kuwait by midnight EST Janu. 15.

Nov 30, 1990: Bush invites Tariq Aziz to Washington and offers to send Secretary of State James Baker to Baghdad.

Jan 9, 1991: Baker and Aziz meet in Geneva. The meeting is 6 hrs, but no results.
Jan 12, 1991: Congress votes to allow for US troops to be used in offensive operations.

Jan 15, 1991: The deadline set by the UN Resolution 678 for Iraq to withdraw.
Jan 16, 1991: First US government statement of Operation Desert-Storm made.

Marlin Fitzwater announces, "The liberation of Kuwait has begun..."

The air war started Jan 17 at 2:38 a.m. (local time) or January 16 at 6:38PM EST due to an 8 hour time difference, with an Apache helicopter attack.

US warplanes attack Baghdad, Kuwait and other military targets in Iraq.




Jan 17, 1991: Iraq launches first SCUD Missle attack.

Jan 30, 1991: US forces in the Gulf exceed 500,000.

Feb 6, 1991: Jordan King Hussein lashes out against American bombardments and supports Iraq.

Feb 13, 1991: US Bombers destroy a bunker complex in Baghdad with several hundred citizens inside. Nearly 300 die.

Feb 17, 1991: Tariq Aziz travels to Moscow to discuss possible negotiated end to the war.

Feb 22, 1991: President Bush issues an ultimatum of Feb 23 for Iraqi troops to withdraw from Kuwait.

Feb 23, 1991: Ground war begins with Marines, Army and Arab forces moving into Iraq and Kuwait.


Feb 25, 1991: Iraqi SCUD missle hits a US barracks in Saudi Arabia killing 27.
Feb 26, 1991: Kuwaiti resistence leaders declare they are in control of Kuwait City.

Feb 27, 1991: President Bush orders a cease fire effective at midnight Kuwaiti time.

Mar 3, 1991: Iraqi leaders formally accept cease fire terms.

Mar 4, 1991: Ten Allied POWs freed.

Mar 5, 1991: 35 POWs released.

Mar 8, 1991: First US combat forces return home.



FROM: SPIDER-MAN