Gulf War Echoes: U.S.-Iran Conflict Risks

0:00This is Corey, here with your quick two-minute global update. In 1991, during the First Gulf War, President George Bush, Sr, visited a factory making Patreon missiles and urged Iraqis to rise up. Against Saddam Hussein, he suggested the Iraqi military and people forced the dictator out to end the bloodshed. After coalition forces pushed Iraq out of Kuwait, uprisings did erupt among she is in the south and Kurds in the north. But the U.S. and Allies stood by without intervening. Hussein's weakened forces, using helicopters they were allowed to keep, crushed the revolts brutally. Thousands of rebels died, and many Kurds fled to snowy mountains, facing death from cold and disease before a late humanitarian rescue. The failed uprisings led to years of no-fly zones over Iraq, U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia, an anger that fueled Osama bin Laden's rise toward al-Qaeda. The second Gulf War in 2003 finally removed Hussein, but it boosted Iran's power in the region.

1:00Now, with the U.S. and Israel striking Iran to curb its nuclear program and military reach, some see echoes of that history. President Trump joined Israel in bombings, aiming to topple the regime, but polls show most Americans oppose it. Experts warn of messy outcomes, like chaos after Hussein's fall, that bred Islamic state. Without a clear plan, this war could spread, disrupt alliances, raise oil prices, and trap U.S. forces longer than promised. Appreciation to our sponsor for backing this episode. Relax deeper, reset faster, comfort you can hear, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com