about800,000. The allied troops were better trained, equipped, and led than theIraqis. They were also more loyal, although that was not discovered untilthe ground war began and Iraqi troops began to desert, tens of thousands ata time. The US would not have entered into this conflict if they had notclearly known that they would win.Sanctions were placed against Iraq almost immediately, and were in placeand doing nothing for six months before President Bush realized that theyhad to turn to their last resort, the use of force, to get the Iraqis outof Kuwait. All diplomatic means had failed, from the initial meetingbetween US ambassador April Glaspie and Saddam Hussein to theimplementation of sanctions. The use of force was clearly our last resort.Epilogue-Who Won The WarThe Persian Gulf War, in military terms, was won by the United States andher allies. The Iraqis were forced out of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia wasprotected, and the US casualties were only in the hundreds. However,politically, the war may have resulted in a draw. Saddam Hussein is stillin control of Iraq, and Bush is no longer in office. Kuwait is once again afree country, but Hussein is still right next door to threaten them again.Although it would have gone against St. Agustin's Just War Theory, it wouldhave been intelligent to have marched on Baghdad and forced Hussein out ofpower. The real victory, however, goes to all the troops who gave theirLives to restore 6,880 square miles of desert to its original leadership....
