- Occurred because of an Iraqi invasion in Kuwait (oil-rich country of the Persian Gulf) that resulted in its annexation in 1990. - Bush then rushed to defend Kuwait and warned Iraq to withdraw from the country or face far (feared that Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, might next attack Saudi Arabia - major US oil supplier). - The Iraqi invasion was such violation of international law that Bush was able to build a 40 nation coalition committed to restoring Kuwait's independence, secure UN support, and send half a million US troops and a naval armada to the region. - In 1991 the US launched Operation Desert Storm, which quickly drove the Iraqi army from Kuwait. - Tens of thousands of Iraqis and 184 Americans died in this conflict. - The UN ordered Iraq to disarm and impose economic sanctions that produced widespread civilian suffering for the next 10 years. - Hussein remained in power, but so did a large American military establishment in Saudi Arabia (outraged Islamic fundamentalists who deemed US presence insult to their faith). - The first post-Cold War international crisis.- Relied on high tech weaponry like cruise missiles that reached Iraq from bases and aircraft carriers hundreds of miles away. - The US was able to come out victorious quickly avoiding the prolonged involvement and high casualties of Vietnam. - Its immediate aftermath left Bush's approval rate at unseen 89%.- After this Osama Bin Laden's anger increasingly turned against the US though he had joined America in the fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, developed a relationship with the CIA, and received American funds to help him build mountain bases - outraged by the presence of the US military in Saudi Arabia and American support from Israel in their conflict with Palestine. - After this Osama Bin Laden declared war on the US.

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