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Although the Gulf War was a decisive military victory for the coalition, it left many issues unresolved. Saddam Hussein remained in power, uprisings were crushed, and the consequences of the war shaped the Middle East for the next two decades. This lesson examines the aftermath of the conflict.
One of the most controversial decisions of the Gulf War was President George H. W. Bush's decision not to march on Baghdad and remove Saddam Hussein from power.
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| UN mandate | UN Resolution 678 only authorised the liberation of Kuwait, not the overthrow of Saddam |
| Coalition unity | Arab members of the coalition (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria) opposed invading Iraq |
| Fear of chaos | Removing Saddam could destabilise Iraq and the wider region |
| Iran | A weakened Iraq without Saddam might be dominated by Iran |
| Vietnam syndrome | Fear of being drawn into a prolonged occupation with no clear exit strategy |
| Humanitarian concerns | The Highway of Death images made further military action politically difficult |
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