Discussion Questions
Recovery of the Armed Forces and the First Persian Gulf War
Questions for Chapters 12, 13, and 14:
1. What were the causes of the First Persian Gulf War? Delineate the major arguments. Which argument do you believe provides the best explanation? Why?
2. What is doctrine? After the Vietnam War the U.S. Army developed "Air-Land Battle" doctrine. Describe and characterize this doctrine. On what principles of war was it based? What role did the Air Force play in the development of the doctrine? What are joint operations? What is joint doctrine?
3. Explain the outcome of the war? Delineate the major arguments. What is the Army's thesis? What is the Air Force's thesis? Which service was decisive? What does this debate between the Army and the Air Force tell us about the status of joint operations and inter-service rivalry? What role did the Air Force and Marine Corps play?
4. How did the war end? Did the United States and coalition forces achieve their political objectives? What were the results of the war? Delineate the arguments? Was the war stopped too soon? Should American forces taken Baghdad and removed Saddam Hussein? If they had, what would have the most likely outcome of the war, and did George H. W. Bush decide not to take Baghdad?
5. Evaluate the performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq. Compare and contrast it with the performance in Vietnam? What was difference?