George H.W. Bush: Foreign Policy

May 3, 2011

1989: Soviet Union collapsed• U.S. unopposed superpower• New U.S. President: George H.W. Bush– Yale graduate– WWII vet– U.S. ambassador for UN– Director CIA– Reagan VP

South Africa• Controlled by whites• Apartheid Policy (segregation)• Anti-apartheid movement led by Nelson

Mandela– Imprisoned since 1962– Released in 1990 (28 years)

• 1994: 1st free elections– Nelson Mandela elected President

Persian Gulf War• Aug. 2, 1990: 150,000 Iraqi

troops invaded Kuwait• Saddam Hussein– Iraq dictator since 1979– Ruled with “iron fist”

• Why invade Kuwait???– OIL

• Hussein would have 20% of oil produced in world

• U.S. Fears: this would give Hussein HIGH influence

• And…maybe invade Saudi Arabia next

• Bush: will NOT tolerate Iraq aggression

• UN demands Iraq remove troops

• Fall 1990: 700,000 troops in Saudi Arabia (no fighting yet)– 500,000 U.S.– Others: Britain, France, Egypt,

Saudi Arabia– Japan gave $$$

• Bush hope: presence will force Hussein to leave Kuwait

• Bush receives OK from Congress to use force if necessary

Operation Desert Storm• January 16, 1991• Name given on U.S. led attack on Iraq

– Aerial bombardment on Iraq• Gen. Colin Powell & Norman Schwarzkopf devised plan• Iraq counter attack: scud missiles

– Little damage– But fear of chemical warheads

• February 23– U.S. troops invade Iraq

• Iraqi’s surrender or flee• Set fire to Kuwait oil rigs on way• 5 days later: Iraq agrees to UN cease-fire

– 25,000 Iraq soldiers die– 148 U.S. deaths

• Leave Kuwait…But Hussein remains in power of Iraq

• 1991: Persian Gulf War– Bush approval 91%

• In one year, Approval DOWN– Recession/ Deficit– Taxes HIGHER– Saddam still in power

1992 Election• Republican: George H.W. Bush• Democrat: William Jefferson Clinton

– Governor of Arkansas• “New Democrat”

– Strong military– Tough on crime– Free trade– Welfare reform

• Independent: Ross Perot (billionaire)– Clinton WINS (43%)

– Bush (38%)– Perot (19%)