to force Iraq out of Kuwait. The preparation of the operation took two and.
a half months and it involved a massive air- and sea lift. .
Finally, in.
January 1991, the U. S. Congress voted to support Security Council resolution.
660. It authorized using "all necessary means" if Iraq did not withdraw from.
Kuwait by January 15. Shrugging off this final warning, Saddam Hussein resolutely.
maintained the occupation of Kuwait. .
The United States established a broad-based.
international coalition to confront Iraq militarily and diplomatically. The.
military coalition consisted of Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain,.
Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany,.
Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand,.
Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,.
South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom,.
and the United States. The war also was financed by countries which were unable.
to send in troops. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were the main donors. More than.
$53 billion was pledged and received. .
Before the war, it appeared obvious.
that Iraq would have very little chance against the Coalition. The relative.
strength between the parties was extremely unequal. The most critical difference.
was that the Coalition had a total of 2600 aircraft, over three times more.
than Iraq's 800 aircraft. Most Arab observers thought Hussein would not last.
more than six months.
