More than thirty years later, seen through the fog of more recent conflicts, the first Gulf War may today look like a pure military success or even the last significant victory of American and British forces.
Given the West's recent military failures in the region, some might even look back on it with a hint of nostalgia.
At first glance, there was a simple military objective.
Saddam Hussein had invaded neighboring Kuwait, and the world was ready to use force to drive him out.
This unity of purpose was reflected in the almost unanimous decision of the United Nations and the resolution of the Security Council.
"The thing was fair and legal," says Major General Patrick Cordingley, commander of the Seventh Armored Brigade in "Desert Storm" (few will remember it by its British name, "Operation Granby").
More importantly, the military action was in accordance with both international and British law, he adds, a transparency that was lacking in the subsequent invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The first Gulf War brought together the largest military alliance since World War II - more than 30 allies, including Great Britain, which sent more than 50.000 of its troops, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
And it was a conventional fight much simpler than the murky insurgencies, asymmetric and hybrid wars that would follow.
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Military revolution
Michael Clarke, a professor of war studies at King's College London, says that in many ways it was "the NATO war that the West had been preparing for but never waged in Europe."
It was directed against the Iraqi army, which relied to the greatest extent on the equipment and tactics of the Warsaw Pact, but without its discipline and intelligence.
The Iraqis have proven incredibly inept.
Professor Clarke says it was also the start of a "military revolution" - we first heard of "smart bombs" and precision-guided missiles.
The world watched as America fired wave after wave of Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Iraq's arsenal may have been less sophisticated, but, with its Scud missiles and potential use of chemical weapons, it still held the fear factor.
And the revolution was not limited to new types of weapons.
It also happened in communication.
Operation Sandstorm:
- Resolution of the UN Security Council authorized the use of force if the Iraqi army did not withdraw from the territory of its southern neighbor Kuwait by January 15, 1991
- At 23:30 GMT on 16 January, an intense and controlled aerial bombardment began, involving cruise missiles fired from US warships and from British and Saudi fighters, bombers and helicopters
- In the first 24 hours, more than 1.000 sorties were flown
- The main targets were military, but the capital, Baghdad, was hit hard and there were many civilian casualties
- At the end of February, the Iraqi army hastily withdrew from Kuwait
- On February XNUMX, the three-day ground campaign ended when US President George W. Bush declared victory
"Desert Storm" was the first war to be televised live in the new era of 24-hour news - reporting and reporting live from the front lines - a challenge the military is still trying to meet today.
Created illusions
The air campaign to "soften up" the enemy lasted for weeks.
The ground offensive was over within days.
It was the "100-hour war".
But the secondary, tacit goal remained unfulfilled.
General Sir Rupert Smith, who commanded Britain's XNUMXst Armored Division at the time, says that although the goal of liberating Kuwait was achieved, "the strategic situation was not final and subsequently had to be maintained by no-fly zones and UN sanctions."
Every attempt to keep Saddam Hussein "in his box" or to help bring about his downfall has been unsuccessful.
Professor Clarke says that the quick military victory created "numerous illusions which soon came to blows".
Hubris will soon lead to gross sanctification.
Subsequent American-led military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq were costly and protracted campaigns against unconventional armies that would end without a clear victory.
In particular, the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 showed the limitations of US military power and tested the unity of the international order - the UN became bitterly divided.
And General Cordingley says that the British Army, now organized to fight wars "between men", will be "unable" to ever repeat anything on the scale of "Desert Storm".
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