Home>>Opinion
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 21, 2003

'War against Saddam': 'Desert Storm' to Rage Again?

Twelve years ago, the United States waged a war , code named ""Desert Storm", against Iraq. Now, the United States again masses large-scale forces on the Persian Gulf, with "the sword of Damocles" hanging high above Saddam's head. However, as circumstances change with the passage of time, the United States of today is no longer what it was before, and today's Iraq is no longer that of yesterday...


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


HIGHLIGHTS:*Under the circumstances in which the United States enjoyed favorable climatic, geographical and human conditions during the 1991 Gulf War, the country made full use of the anti-Iraqi alliance to attack and disintegrate Iraq in the military and psychological aspects. The attempt to "topple Saddam" this time is no longer what it was before. Taking advantage of the anti-terrorism momentum, the United States wields the banner of "preemptive strikes", assuming the posture of casting aside other big powers and going its own way.

*Known as a "war lion", Saddam Hussein was marshalling his soldiers in an orderly and methodical way. Today, Saddem is still in the presence of mind in the face of the "Down with Saddam War", he uses both internal and external policies to cope with the situation.

*The United States served as the "savior" of the Arab world during the Gulf War and was accorded a "welcome with crowds lining the street" by Arab countries when it drove on to the Persian Gulf. Whereas this "Down with Saddam War" is obviously tinted with US "anti-terrorism chessboard" color, the uninvited United States was treated with disdain by the Arab Muslims.



Twelve years ago, the United States waged a war , code named ""Desert Storm", against Iraq. Now, the United States again masses large-scale forces on the Persian Gulf, with "the sword of Damocles" hanging high above Saddam's head. However, as circumstances change with the passage of time, the United States of today is no longer what it was before, and today's Iraq is no longer that of yesterday. The approaching "war against Saddam" is vastly different from the past "Desert Storm" war whether in terms of the balance of strength between the two sides, the operation of strategies and tactics, or postwar effects.

The magnitude of US forces sent to the Gulf region for the war of "overthrowing Saddam" is greatly different from what it was in the "Desert Storm", but the weapons allocated are much advanced than before, during the "Desert Storm", the United States easily organized a formidable anti-Iraqi alliance, most of the military expenditures (US$80 billion) was borne by the allies, but this time, the United States ready to "fight it alone" has to independently undertake the huge amount of expenses (US$50-60 billion). At present, taking advantage of the anti-terrorism opportunity, the United States wields the banner of "preemptive strikes".

The Deployment of Forces In the period from the Gulf crisis triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 to the eve of the outbreak of the Gulf War on January 15, 1991, the United States amassed a total of 415,000 troops in the Gulf area, 2,000 tanks, and more than 100 warships of various types including six aircraft carriers, each of which sent out nearly 1,400 operational aircraft, with a total force of 545,000 soldiers. In addition, the United States formed an extensive anti-Iraq alliance, involving over 1 million people from 36 countries, more than 3,700 tanks, over 4,000 armored cars, about 4,000 field artillery, 2,790 airplanes of various types, an excess of 2,000 helicopters and upwards of 210 war vessels of different types.

At present, in order to launch the war aimed to "oust Saddam", the US military is busy deploying troops in the Gulf area. Although numerically they are much smaller, the high-tech components of weaponry and equipment increase considerably. So far, the number of US and British land, sea and air forces in the Gulf area has reached 150,000 people, and around 400 airplanes have been disposed in the military bases in Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain.

In comparison, the weapons to be used in the war to "topple Saddam" this time are more advanced than those used during the Gulf War, these weapons mainly include accurate guided bombs, B1 strategic bombers, B2 contact bombers, hot-pressed bombs and FA 18E super-class bumblebee fighters.

War Expenditure During the 1991 Gulf War, the United States got a war donation of US$54.5 billion provided by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, Germany, United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Korea, the war cost US$80 billion, most of which was borne by these allies.

According to the estimate of Mitchell Daniels, bureau head in charge of administrative management and budgeting affairs, the expense needed for the war against Iraq this time ranges between US$50-US$60 billion, but the United States will have to independently undertake this huge sum of expense.

The Use of Tactics During the "Desert Storm", under the circumstances of favorable climatic, geographical and human conditions, the United States organized a colossal anti-Iraq alliance without exerting much effort to attack and demoralize Iraq militarily and psychologically. The large-scale military action this time differs categorically from the previous Gulf War. On the one hand, with the exception of Britain, the firm supporter of impending US "war against Saddam", EU nations including France and Germany, as well as Russia all oppose the American projected use of force against Iraq under the circumstance without authorization from the United Nations, and they unanimously indicated that they would not participate in the war. On the other hand, the Arab world's voice in opposition to US military actions against Iraq is running high. Under this circumstance, the United States will have to face the situation of "fighting single-handedly". Taking advantage of the anti-terrorism struggle, it wields the banner of "preemptive strike", assuming the posture of casting aside other big powers and going it alone.

The United States dubs Iraq as an "axis of evils" country, and definitely accuses Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction and thus posing fatal threats to the "civilized society" of the West. At the same time, in order to avoid evoking strong reaction from the international community, particularly from the Arab world, America tries its best to assume the posture of seeking support from various quarters and solving the Iraqi issue through the "legal" channel of UN authorization. On the other hand, it concentrates its energy on actively preparing for war and makes preparation for postwar arrangements through supporting Iraqi opposition factions and other moves. (To be continued)

By People's Daily Online


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






US, Iraq Change from 'Allies' to Enemies: Commentary 

Jiang: Next Move on Iraq Up To UN Security Council



>> Full Coverage

 


Reason for China's Development of Manned Spacecraft ( 2 Messages)

China's First Fuel Cell Car Make Debuts in Shanghai ( 4 Messages)

How's US$52.7bn Foreign Investment Introduced Into China? ( 3 Messages)

China Recognizes Coca-Cola for its Social, Environmental Contributions ( 2 Messages)

Roundup: Saddam Vows to Defeat US, While US Sends More Ships to Gulf Region ( 2 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved