Mission Viejo High School Model United Nations
33rd Annual Conference
“Orbis Unum"
Historical Security Council: The Gulf War
Hello delegates! My name is Aaron Moss, and I will be your head chair for the MVHS
MUN 2016 conference. I am a senior at MVHS and this will be the 4 year of Model United
Nations. I have taken part in multiple conferences including RHSMUN 2015 in San Francisco. I
have been active in multiple clubs including CSF. Outside of school I am a very invested in the
sport of airsoft/military simulation, a gamer that departs from the typical association with
“gamer,” and I love going to the beach whenever possible. Security Council has always been my
favorite committee in the UN, and I am anxiously looking forward to you all attending the
MVHSMUN 2016 conference and to hear the surely fantastic debate you have prepared for us!
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I.
Background of The Gulf War
The conflict between the neighboring nations of Iraq and Iran had been underway since
September 22 of 1980 when Iraqi forces plowed across the Iraq-Iran border. The conflict was a
result of a dispute over the Shatt al-Arab, the waterway which forms the border between the two
nations. A UN ceasefire was brokered in August of 1988; however the two nations did not sign a
peace treaty to end the war. By mid-1990, the two nations had not begun negotiating a peace
settlement. Despite the hopes of many, no such settlement was reached in July of that year when
Iraq and Iran met for negotiations. Shortly after, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein issued a statement
claiming that its neighboring nation of Kuwait was responsible for siphoning crude oil directly
from the Ar-Rumaylah oil fields located along their border.
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The 8 year war from 1980-1988 had left Iraq’s economy in devastation, and in an attempt to
quickly mend part of the problem, Saddam also insisted that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia remove
$30 billion in foreign debt from Iraq’s total, and painted a picture of the two decreasing
international oil prices to keep the West happy. Foreseeing possible war, President Hosni
Mubarak of Egypt attempted to defuse the conflict in a negotiation session later that year.
However, 2 hours into the negotiations, Saddam pulled out. Following shortly after, he ordered
the invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. To Saddam’s dismay, 14 of the 21 Arab-League
members condemned his move as an act of aggression, and states such as Saudi Arabia turned to
the U.S. and other Western nations for assistance. Operation Desert Shield began on the 8 of
that month, followed with an ultimatum to Iraq to pull out by January 15 , 1991 or the UN
coalition would forcefully remove them. Operation Desert Storm began on the 17 of January
1991 following Iraq’s refusal to comply with UN Security Council demands. By the 27 of
February Iraqi forces had been all but annihilated in Kuwait and a cease-fire was made the next
day, ending the Gulf War. However, conflict in the air continued as US and UK aircraft
attempted to enforce the No-Fly Zone over Iraq, regularly taking fire from the ground.
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Mission Viejo High School Model United Nations
33rd Annual Conference
“Orbis Unum"
II.
United Nations Involvement
The UN became involved in the conflict the day after Iraq’s opening moves. On August 3 ,
1990 the UN Security Council passed resolution 660, calling for the immediate withdrawal of
Iraqi troops from Kuwait to their positions as of August 1 , 1990. The resolution was ignored by
Saddam Hussein. On August 8 , US Air Force first strike aircraft such as the F-15 Strike Eagle
aircraft began arriving in Saudi Arabia. Other NATO nations, Egypt, and other Arab nations sent
ground troops in addition to protect against a possible attack by Iraq on Saudi-Arabia. This
signified the start of operation Desert Shield. On November 22 , 1990 the UN Security Council
passed Resolution 678, thus authorizing the member nations “to use all necessary means to
uphold and implement Resolution 660 (1990)” if Iraq did not willingly implement 660 by
January 15 1991. The deadline passed and the Gulf War was set to begin shortly.
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The UN coalition was lead mostly by US forces, and so on the 17 of January US coalition
aircraft began Operation: Desert Strom via striking Iraqi air defense and communication systems,
refineries, weapon manufacturing sites/storage, and a variety of other targets. Thanks to the new
“Smart Bomb” technology, the coalition was able to destroy critical targets without major loss of
life to any civilians. On February 24 , the UN ground forces began their offensive to encircle and
destroy Iraqi forces in Kuwait. In response Iraq launched 88 SCUD missiles at targets mainly in
Israel and Saudi Arabia, with minor focus on Bahrain. Israel demanded they be allowed to begin
bombing targets, however President Bush managed to convince them to remain out of direct
fighting, keeping the coalition intact. On February 27 , the majority of the Iraqi Republican
Guard was defeated, and George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire the following day. This did not
end UN involvement however, as US and UK aircraft enforced a UN mandated No-Fly Zone
over Iraq, regularly exchanging fire. In addition Iraq was set on making the implementations of
peace terms as hard as possible, specifically with UN weapons inspections. Hostilities shortly
resumed in 1998 leading to Iraq’s complete refusal to allow UN weapon inspectors into Iraq.
However, even 4 years later in 2002 the fight over weapon inspectors continued.
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III.
Possible Solutions to the Gulf War
Any solutions to the Gulf War must be strongly backed, implemented, and enforced for the
years after conflict ceased. Because of Iraq’s open ignorance of UN Security Council authority
and disregard for country sovereignty, it is not hard to come to the conclusion that Iraq will need
to be removed by force and kept out of Kuwait for some time. Iraq at the time had a military
capable of putting up a stiff fight and so a larger, better equipped and informed force would be
needed to counter Iraq’s military. However, due to the possibility of destabilization in the region,
it may be wise to consider an attempt to destroy limited parts of Iraq’s military rather than it as a
whole and attempt to get Iraq to concede and withdraw before its forces are completely
obliterated. In addition, the aftermath of the war will undoubtedly leave Iraq worse off
economically than before. So despite the wrong-doing of Iraq, some may consider taking an
approach to Iraq similar to that of Germany after World War 2, focusing on mending
relationships and helping Iraq get back on its feet.
Mission Viejo High School Model United Nations
33rd Annual Conference
“Orbis Unum"
IV.
Bloc Positions
Western – The western bloc shares the same position on the Gulf War among all its components.
Particular nations such as the US, UK, and Poland are adamant about sending military support to
protect Saudi Arabia and help Kuwait.
African – UN Security Council Representatives of Ivory Coast and Ethiopia would express
strong support for resolution 678. In addition, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Morocco would
send forces to directly assist the UN coalition during Desert Strom.
Asian – The USSR sent a smaller force to assist the UN coalition and to keep its promises with
the resolutions passed on the crisis. China, who usually vetoes resolutions involving action
against a state, abstained in an attempt to gain some cushioning after the Tiananmen Square
Massacre in 1989. However, other than Turkey and Bangladesh directly participating in Desert
Strom, Asia was largely inactive in the conflict.
Latin – Central American nations would express discontent over Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait but
abstain from sending military support. Argentina would be the only state of the bloc to contribute
military aid to the UN coalition
Middle Eastern – The Arab League divided in a 2:1 ratio against Iraq’s actions. The only nations
supporting Iraq were Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, and Tunisia. Essentially all other members
of the bloc supported the UN resolution, and multiple members sent direct military aid to
reinforce the coalition.
V.
Questions to Consider
1. How was the global economy affected by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, and what ripple
effects did your nation experience?
2.
How adamant was your nation about the violations of sovereignty Iraq committed and
how quickly were these stances made apparent?
3.
Did your nation sponsor any of the UN resolutions leading up to the Gulf War?
4.
Was any military support sent by your nation to assist the UN coalition in the Gulf War?
If so, how significant was it compared to other members?
5.
After the conclusion of the war, what goals had been achieved/missed? How did your
nation feel about the results?
6.
Knowing what we know today about the events that occurred after the Gulf War, in what
ways could the results have been improved?
Mission Viejo High School Model United Nations
33rd Annual Conference
“Orbis Unum"
VI.
Works Cited
http://www.gulfwar1991.com/
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/meast/gulf-war-fast-facts/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4260420.stm
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/1991-06-01/moscow-and-gulf-war
http://www.history.com/topics/persian-gulf-war
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_678
http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/678(1990)
http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/660(1990)