goals had to be specific, public support had to be
curried, and the military had to have the power to
accomplish the mission. In the two decades follow-
ing Vietnam, Schwarzkopf worked within the mili-
tary to achieve those goals.
When Kuwait was invaded by Iraq on August 2,
1990, Schwarzkopf was head of Central Command,
which was responsible for the American military
presence in the Middle East. There was probably
no one better equipped to handle the task of lead-
ing a U.N.-sanctioned military force of almost three-
quarters of a million (541,000 of whom were Ameri-
can) from thirty-four nations while simultaneously
maintaining an effective relationship with Arab po-
litical and military leaders and with Washington. He
moved his command post to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
and became the military face of the Gulf War. He was
also fortunate to have the complete support of Gen-
eral Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, and of President George H. W. Bush. Media
coverage of the Vietnam War left him wary of any
possible threat to his security, so he closely moni-
tored and controlled information, this to the dismay
(and anger) of reporters.
Operation Desert Storm began with an air inter-
diction of Iraqi forces on January 17, 1991, and was
followed by the ground attack on February 24. In a
span of one hundred hours, Schwarzkopf’s battle
plan resulted in the annihilation of the Iraqi military
presence in Kuwait at a cost of 146 Americans killed
in action. He retired from the military in August,
1991, and wrote his autobiography. While he made
numerous public appearances, he has steadfastly de-
clined to capitalize on his popularity as the hero of
the Gulf War.
Impact The Gulf War occurred at a time when the
Cold War was ending and many international roles
were changing. Russia was not the major player it
had been, although it did attempt to broker a deal
with Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. The U.S. pres-
ence in the Middle East expanded, but the oil-rich
area remained volatile as peace between Arabs, Jews
(Israel), and Westerners remained elusive. Political
instability in places like Somalia plagued the 1990’s.
Iraq was severely battered militarily and economi-
cally, but its dictator remained. George W. Bush,
elected president following two terms by President
Bill Clinton, used the “war on terror” as a way to elim-
inate the dictator.
Further Reading
Cohen, Roger, and Claudio Gatti.In the Eye of the
Storm: The Life of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1991.
Hughes, Libby. Norman Schwarzkopf: Hero with a
Heart. New York: Dillon Press, 1992.
Morris, M. E.H. Norman Schwarzkopf: Road to Tri-
umph. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1991.
Schwarzkopf, H. Norman.It Doesn’t Take a Hero. New
York: Bantam Books, 1992.
William S. Brockington, Jr.See also Arnett, Peter; Baker, James; Bush, George
H. W.; Cheney, Dick; CNN coverage of the Gulf War;
Foreign policy of the United States; Gulf War; Israel
and the United States; Jewish Americans; Middle
East and North America; Patriot missile; Powell,
Colin; Terrorism; United Nations.The Nineties in America Schwarzkopf, Norman 753
Norman Schwarzkopf.(U.S. Department of Defense)