Part 2 Editorial: Foreign Affairs
The United States was still a world power even after the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, leaving it dominant amongst the world in terms of politics and international affairs. The 1990s was a time of large military involvement in the Middle East. The United States was solely responsible for stopping an Iraq invasion from Kuwait. This event was known as the Persian Gulf War. The United States also experienced a shift in political parties when Bill Clinton was elected in 1992. And two years later the Republican Party gained steady control of Congress. The conflict in the Middle East created a crisis amongst the International community, when Iraq invaded Kuwait in the hopes of annexing it. The United States was afraid that Hussein would be creating a conflict amongst Saudi Arabia, which was the United States biggest supplier in oil. His act of aggression was noted by the United Nations. Bush stated that if something were not done about this incident then evil would continue to prevail. The Security Council gave Iraq a deadline of when to leave Kuwait, however this was ignored. Thus, prompting an authorized military response. The Persian Gulf War began in January 1991. However, conflicts began to arise in other places as well.
In 1992, President Bush was involved in the UN Operation Restore Hope, a relief effort in order to provide aid to Somalia. At the time Somalia was rampaged by a civil war, famine, and a corrupt government. Despite the efforts, twenty four Pakistani soldiers were killed in June 1993. Whilst under President Clinton, US forces attacked Aidid’s stronghold in Mogadishu, the mission was known as Operation Gothic Serpent. After an attack on October 1993, that left eighteen soldiers dead in the Battle of Mogadishu, Clinton ordered them to leave the area. The United States was also involved in another war, however this was through NATO. This is commonly known as the Bosnian War. In early 1998, a brutal war emerged between the Federal Army of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Liberation Army. In 1999, a bombing campaign led by NATO resulted in the deaths of Yugoslavian citizens and soldiers. Yugoslavia eventually withdrew from Kosovo and Kosovo became independent. President Clinton was also involved in the cruise missile strikes on Iraq and bombing raids in Iraq. This was in response to Hussein’s lack of observing several UN resolutions and suggestions. This included repression of those who were minorities and removing UN weapons inspectors. Clinton also signed the Iraq Liberation Act in order to overthrow Hussein’s regime and establish a democracy. The 1990s was also a time in which the United States helped establish peace between Israel and Palestine. President Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin, and Yasser Arafat met and the Oslo Accords were signed. This treaty called for the control of Palestinian areas to the Palestinians in order for peace to prevail.
However, 1993 would start a series of attacks associated with al-Qaeda, which was led by Osama bin Laden. On February 26, 1993, a truck bomb was detonated at the World Trade Center. The attack was supposed to destroy the foundation of the North Tower, knocking down the South Tower, which would destroy multiple buildings and kill thousands of people. Al -Qaeda bombed the US Embassy in Kenya on August 7, 1998, killing 224 people. After this the United States launched missile strikes on terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. However, this did not do much in stopping such a network. In October 2000, al-Qaeda militants bombed the USS Cole, which was responsible for killing seventeen servicemen.
In 1992, President Bush was involved in the UN Operation Restore Hope, a relief effort in order to provide aid to Somalia. At the time Somalia was rampaged by a civil war, famine, and a corrupt government. Despite the efforts, twenty four Pakistani soldiers were killed in June 1993. Whilst under President Clinton, US forces attacked Aidid’s stronghold in Mogadishu, the mission was known as Operation Gothic Serpent. After an attack on October 1993, that left eighteen soldiers dead in the Battle of Mogadishu, Clinton ordered them to leave the area. The United States was also involved in another war, however this was through NATO. This is commonly known as the Bosnian War. In early 1998, a brutal war emerged between the Federal Army of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Liberation Army. In 1999, a bombing campaign led by NATO resulted in the deaths of Yugoslavian citizens and soldiers. Yugoslavia eventually withdrew from Kosovo and Kosovo became independent. President Clinton was also involved in the cruise missile strikes on Iraq and bombing raids in Iraq. This was in response to Hussein’s lack of observing several UN resolutions and suggestions. This included repression of those who were minorities and removing UN weapons inspectors. Clinton also signed the Iraq Liberation Act in order to overthrow Hussein’s regime and establish a democracy. The 1990s was also a time in which the United States helped establish peace between Israel and Palestine. President Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin, and Yasser Arafat met and the Oslo Accords were signed. This treaty called for the control of Palestinian areas to the Palestinians in order for peace to prevail.
However, 1993 would start a series of attacks associated with al-Qaeda, which was led by Osama bin Laden. On February 26, 1993, a truck bomb was detonated at the World Trade Center. The attack was supposed to destroy the foundation of the North Tower, knocking down the South Tower, which would destroy multiple buildings and kill thousands of people. Al -Qaeda bombed the US Embassy in Kenya on August 7, 1998, killing 224 people. After this the United States launched missile strikes on terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. However, this did not do much in stopping such a network. In October 2000, al-Qaeda militants bombed the USS Cole, which was responsible for killing seventeen servicemen.