Why is the Gulf War rarely talked about?

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Discuss.

[Mette Frederiksen Stan]

April Glaspie is a moron.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Because the sequel was so much more memorable.

[KingSweden]

It was like four days long

[SingingAnalyst]

That's an excellent question that deserves a good answer. I will attempt to answer it, just as though you were one of my students.

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, a sense of patriotism was running sky-high. Americans, still in shock and horror at the horrific, sickening nature of the attacks, were sad, scared, and angry. Americans were willing to let the government in general and the President in particular do just about anything to keep Americans safe from anything like that ever happening again, even at the cost of civil liberties. Bush's approval reached 90%. At a pre-season NHL hockey game on Thursday, September 20 (nine days after the attacks), the game paused (I believe it was between the 2nd and 3rd periods) and President Bush's speech could be seen on stadium TV's. At one point the announcer said that the game would resume and that Bush's speech could be seen and heard on TVs in the concession area. The crowd roared with disapproval; the game was suspended and Bush's speech was seen in its entirety, from center ice, to wild cheers.

There's more. One poll found that 43% of Americans (including 52% of Southerners) believed any criticism of the President at that time was inappropriate and unpatriotic. Another poll found that a majority (51%) of Americans favored prohibiting all carry-ons on aircraft. In a gym locker room, man A said to man B that he hopes there isn't a war. Shortly after, man A got a visit-- from the FBI. Man B snitched on him, you see.

In this environment, the President could get away with almost anything that was seen as promoting national security. It was in this environment that the PATRIOT Act was passed, which among other things, empowered federal agents to search the buying and checking out habits of patrons of libraries and bookstores. When the state of VT and the city of Ann Arbor, MI passed resolutions opposing this provision of the Act, they were dismissed as left-wing oddities or worse.

As a prologue to the Gulf War, twelve years earlier, we had Operation Desert Storm, after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. That was over in six weeks. One theory (offered by a former colleague) is that Bush Jr. wanted to get back at Saddam Hussein for disrespecting his father. Whatever the reason, a link between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks was soon stated, and Americans were in no mood to ask many questions (and got very impatient with those who did). In addition, allegations were made that Hussein had chemical weapons ("weapons of mass destruction", or WMD). In any event, with the sense of patriotism still running high, the Gulf War was launched in March 2003. TV screens were filled with the "shock and awe" of the bombings, along with pretty much uncritical coverage from the mainstream media.

Hussein was deposed, and executed Dec. 30, 2006. To answer your question as to why the Gulf War is rarely talked about:

(1) Bush's actions had strong opposition, not only from the Dixie Chicks ("I'm ashamed that President Bush is from Texas", they said at a March 2003 concert in London) but from Pope John Paul II, who pleaded with Bush not to invade Iraq.

(2) The action left Iraq in a mess. In the ensuing turmoil, refugees fled by the thousands, especially Chaldeans (Iraqi Catholics), many of whom settled in Metro Detroit.

(3) The war was based on at best questionable assumptions and at worst outright lies. Few people today are proud of what we did in Iraq.

(4) The war was a symptom of the uncritical hyper-patriotism of that era-- the same phenomenon that led to snitching and the passing of the PATRIOT Act.

I hope that helps.

[darklordoftech]

Because the sequel was so much more memorable.

[Take your vitamins and say your prayers, Brother!]

Because the sequel was so much more memorable.

mathstatman provided the reasons the sequel was more memorable.

[Cassandra]

Among other things, a lot of us don't remember it. If you were 15 when it started, you'd be 43 now.

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

That's an excellent question that deserves a good answer. I will attempt to answer it, just as though you were one of my students.

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, a sense of patriotism was running sky-high. Americans, still in shock and horror at the horrific, sickening nature of the attacks, were sad, scared, and angry. Americans were willing to let the government in general and the President in particular do just about anything to keep Americans safe from anything like that ever happening again, even at the cost of civil liberties. Bush's approval reached 90%. At a pre-season NHL hockey game on Thursday, September 20 (nine days after the attacks), the game paused (I believe it was between the 2nd and 3rd periods) and President Bush's speech could be seen on stadium TV's. At one point the announcer said that the game would resume and that Bush's speech could be seen and heard on TVs in the concession area. The crowd roared with disapproval; the game was suspended and Bush's speech was seen in its entirety, from center ice, to wild cheers.

There's more. One poll found that 43% of Americans (including 52% of Southerners) believed any criticism of the President at that time was inappropriate and unpatriotic. Another poll found that a majority (51%) of Americans favored prohibiting all carry-ons on aircraft. In a gym locker room, man A said to man B that he hopes there isn't a war. Shortly after, man A got a visit-- from the FBI. Man B snitched on him, you see.

In this environment, the President could get away with almost anything that was seen as promoting national security. It was in this environment that the PATRIOT Act was passed, which among other things, empowered federal agents to search the buying and checking out habits of patrons of libraries and bookstores. When the state of VT and the city of Ann Arbor, MI passed resolutions opposing this provision of the Act, they were dismissed as left-wing oddities or worse.

As a prologue to the Gulf War, twelve years earlier, we had Operation Desert Storm, after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. That was over in six weeks. One theory (offered by a former colleague) is that Bush Jr. wanted to get back at Saddam Hussein for disrespecting his father. Whatever the reason, a link between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks was soon stated, and Americans were in no mood to ask many questions (and got very impatient with those who did). In addition, allegations were made that Hussein had chemical weapons ("weapons of mass destruction", or WMD). In any event, with the sense of patriotism still running high, the Gulf War was launched in March 2003. TV screens were filled with the "shock and awe" of the bombings, along with pretty much uncritical coverage from the mainstream media.

Hussein was deposed, and executed Dec. 30, 2006. To answer your question as to why the Gulf War is rarely talked about:

(1) Bush's actions had strong opposition, not only from the Dixie Chicks ("I'm ashamed that President Bush is from Texas", they said at a March 2003 concert in London) but from Pope John Paul II, who pleaded with Bush not to invade Iraq.

(2) The action left Iraq in a mess. In the ensuing turmoil, refugees fled by the thousands, especially Chaldeans (Iraqi Catholics), many of whom settled in Metro Detroit.

(3) The war was based on at best questionable assumptions and at worst outright lies. Few people today are proud of what we did in Iraq.

(4) The war was a symptom of the uncritical hyper-patriotism of that era-- the same phenomenon that led to snitching and the passing of the PATRIOT Act.

I hope that helps.

Not really. OP asked about the Gulf War (1991). Your post is about the Iraq War (2003-2011, although its effects continue through today).

[Grassroots]

It was such a massive success no one really cared.

[All Along The Watchtower]

It was a successful propaganda effort.

[Democrat 2028]

I think it's because compared to the other major wars since 1900, it hasn't really left an major impact on the world like the World Wars did, doesn't get mentioned every once in a while like Korea or Afghanistan do when something happens with those countries, and didn't have the unpopularity that Vietnam and Iraq did. Hence, it gets overlooked.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Well, the reason I asked why the Gulf War isn't talked about as much is because I think that the war and the situation surrounding it, was a precursor to the 2000s and 2010s.

The Gulf War was...

*The prequel to the Iraq War

*The first time the public was aware of new technologies such as stealth technology, GPS for navigation, missile warning systems, more advanced surveillance plane radar, large amounts of precision-focused laser-guided bombs and unmanned aerial vehicles.

*The war that made Osama Bin Laden turn against the United States.

*Currently, the last time there was a military parade in the U.S. (barring Trump's shenanigans).

*The United States only victorious war in the past 70 years.

[Senator Sirius]

Probably because it was and still is uncontroversial unlike the Iraq war.

[SingingAnalyst]

That's an excellent question that deserves a good answer. I will attempt to answer it, just as though you were one of my students.

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, a sense of patriotism was running sky-high. Americans, still in shock and horror at the horrific, sickening nature of the attacks, were sad, scared, and angry. Americans were willing to let the government in general and the President in particular do just about anything to keep Americans safe from anything like that ever happening again, even at the cost of civil liberties. Bush's approval reached 90%. At a pre-season NHL hockey game on Thursday, September 20 (nine days after the attacks), the game paused (I believe it was between the 2nd and 3rd periods) and President Bush's speech could be seen on stadium TV's. At one point the announcer said that the game would resume and that Bush's speech could be seen and heard on TVs in the concession area. The crowd roared with disapproval; the game was suspended and Bush's speech was seen in its entirety, from center ice, to wild cheers.

There's more. One poll found that 43% of Americans (including 52% of Southerners) believed any criticism of the President at that time was inappropriate and unpatriotic. Another poll found that a majority (51%) of Americans favored prohibiting all carry-ons on aircraft. In a gym locker room, man A said to man B that he hopes there isn't a war. Shortly after, man A got a visit-- from the FBI. Man B snitched on him, you see.

In this environment, the President could get away with almost anything that was seen as promoting national security. It was in this environment that the PATRIOT Act was passed, which among other things, empowered federal agents to search the buying and checking out habits of patrons of libraries and bookstores. When the state of VT and the city of Ann Arbor, MI passed resolutions opposing this provision of the Act, they were dismissed as left-wing oddities or worse.

As a prologue to the Gulf War, twelve years earlier, we had Operation Desert Storm, after Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. That was over in six weeks. One theory (offered by a former colleague) is that Bush Jr. wanted to get back at Saddam Hussein for disrespecting his father. Whatever the reason, a link between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks was soon stated, and Americans were in no mood to ask many questions (and got very impatient with those who did). In addition, allegations were made that Hussein had chemical weapons ("weapons of mass destruction", or WMD). In any event, with the sense of patriotism still running high, the Gulf War was launched in March 2003. TV screens were filled with the "shock and awe" of the bombings, along with pretty much uncritical coverage from the mainstream media.

Hussein was deposed, and executed Dec. 30, 2006. To answer your question as to why the Gulf War is rarely talked about:

(1) Bush's actions had strong opposition, not only from the Dixie Chicks ("I'm ashamed that President Bush is from Texas", they said at a March 2003 concert in London) but from Pope John Paul II, who pleaded with Bush not to invade Iraq.

(2) The action left Iraq in a mess. In the ensuing turmoil, refugees fled by the thousands, especially Chaldeans (Iraqi Catholics), many of whom settled in Metro Detroit.

(3) The war was based on at best questionable assumptions and at worst outright lies. Few people today are proud of what we did in Iraq.

(4) The war was a symptom of the uncritical hyper-patriotism of that era-- the same phenomenon that led to snitching and the passing of the PATRIOT Act.

I hope that helps.

Not really. OP asked about the Gulf War (1991). Your post is about the Iraq War (2003-2011, although its effects continue through today).

Thank you. I stand corrected.

[Koharu]

Because it was short and didn't accomplish much except exposing folks to something that is causing most of the vets to have multisymptom issues. It's kind of like the Korean war is to the Vietnam war. We talk about Iraq and Afghanistan because they're still ongoing and have been for a decade and a half. And honestly, there's not a lot to say about the Gulf War.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Because it was short and didn't accomplish much except exposing folks to something that is causing most of the vets to have multisymptom issues. It's kind of like the Korean war is to the Vietnam war. We talk about Iraq and Afghanistan because they're still ongoing and have been for a decade and a half. And honestly, there's not a lot to say about the Gulf War.

Fair enough. Thanks for your answer.

[Banana Republican]

When it comes to war, Americans only care about body bags. More specifically, they only care about American body bags.

So the Gulf War is rarely talked about for the same reason that the invasion of Panama (at roughly the same time) is rarely talked about, because there were comparatively few American body bags. Come to think of it, there are probably a lot of young millennial who have no idea that the US invaded Panama in 1990.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Due to the fact Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are dead.  The War on Terror is still a factor, and so is the containment of Nukes in Korea and Iran, now.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Because the sequel was so much more memorable.

[Mr. Smith]

Because Bush Sr was more proper in how he talked compared to Jr, Donald, or even Ronald. This somehow led to the image of him being more moderate, which allowed some benefit of the doubt both at the time and in current retrospect.

That and it was in and out relatively.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

We got what we came for, we were only in there for like a month, it wasn't hideously unpopular, barely any soldiers died, and the POTUS who oversaw it would have been forgettable even if he hadn't been sandwiched between St. Ronnie and Slick Willie.

[darklordoftech]

The recession of 1992 made people forget about it before it had time to become something that people talked about.

[Silent Hunter]

Probably because it was and still is uncontroversial unlike the Iraq war.

Well, I know Jeremy Corbyn opposed it.