Saddam Hussein, dictator of Iraq, had eliminated all political competition thus giving himself all power and authority. Regardless of his "political monopoly and dominating military" ("Iraq Invades") Hussein wanted more influence. He essentially wanted to control the entire Arab world. Kuwait, unprepared and inexperienced, was the first step.
Iraq Invades Kuwait.
In mid-July 1990, Iraqi forces began to gather on the border between Iraq and Kuwait while Saddam Hussein threatened with invasion if differences were not resolved. On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait and the entire country was overrun in a matter of hours. 150,000 Iraqi troops easily defeated 20,000 Kuwaitis. Initially, in order to gain the favor of Kuwaiti Democrats, Iraq claimed that they were liberating Kuwait from the ruling Sabah Monarchy. However, that claim gained no support within Kuwait or abroad. Actually, because of Iraq's attempt to politically divide Kuwait, the exiled Sabah family promised democrats that they would restore a constitutional government and parliament if the democrats pledged support to the Sabah family (Brown, Sec III).
The attack on Kuwait promptly led the United Nations Security Council to place an economic embargo on Iraq, which ended all trade with the hostile nation. The UN did allow military enforcement of the embargo; however, Iraq closed its borders keeping foreign citizens as hostages. On November 29, 1990, the UN issued an ultimatum declaring that any means necessary would be used to remove Iraq from Kuwait if Iraq did not leave peacefully by January 15, 1991. Iraq rejected the ultimatum.
Allied Forces Come Together.
A few weeks after the Iraqi attack a large coalition of international powers formed in Saudi Arabia. According to an Encarta Online Encyclopedia article titled "The Persian Gulf War", the United States sent 400,000 troops and 200,000 troops arrived from several other countries including Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, France, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Senegal, Niger, Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
