In 1991, the United States led a coalition of nations in a war against Iraq, which had invaded and occupied the neighboring country of Kuwait. That war was relatively brief, but ended with the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, leaving dictator Saddam Hussein still in power. Twelve years later, the U.S. led a new international coalition into war in Iraq, to bring down Hussein's government. Once again, the military aims were accomplished quickly-but the long-term U.S. goal of creating a stable democracy in Iraq has failed. This book in the MAJOR U.S. HISTORICAL WARS series examines the events that led up to the 1991 Gulf War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the subsequent occupation and reconstruction of that country by the United States and its allies. It discusses the political and military strategies that were employed in these conflicts, and provides information about key people, battles, and events. Although U.S. troops were withdrawn from Iraq in 2012, the sectarian conflicts in that country have grown worse, evolving into a full-scale civil war for which there is no simple solution.
