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Iraq, 1991

Main article: Gulf War
H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. and President George H. W. Bush visit US troops in Saudi Arabia on Thanksgiving Day, 1990

Low oil prices during the 1980s, coinciding with the Iran-Iraq War, put Saddam Hussein's Iraq in dire financial straits, prompting it to act on accusations of slant drilling and "economic warfare" by neighboring Kuwait by invading it in August, 1990.[1] Fearing an invasion of Saudi Arabia, President George H. W. Bush authorized Operation Desert Shield, a troop buildup in Saudi Arabia along the Iraqi border.[2] On November 29, 1990, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 678, demanding Iraq withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991.[3] On January 12, 1991, Congress authorized President Bush to use military force to liberate Kuwait in accordance with the U.N. resolution.[4]

Coalition forces began an air campaign over Iraq and Kuwait on January 17,[5] a ground campaign began on February 24[6]. After Iraqi troops were driven out of Kuwait, and with coalition forces in Iraq, a formal cease-fire was declared on April 6,[7] leaving Saddam in power, with Washington officials hoping that an internal coup would occur.[8]

In the aftermath of the war, no-fly zones were established over Iraq, enforced by the U.S., the U.K., and France, citing U.N. Resolution 688, though this interpretation was disputed by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.[9] Soldiers returning from Iraq began reporting symptoms of an illness, now labeled Gulf War syndrome, affecting roughly one in four Gulf War veterans.[10]

The L.A. riots

Main article: Los Angeles riots of 1992

On March 3, 1991, four members of the Los Angeles Police Department beat and tasered Rodney King, an African-American motorist, after a high-speed chase, alleging Mr. King to have been under the influence of PCP.[11] The incident was caught on camera by George Holliday from his apartment nearby,[12] prompting a trial over the police officers' actions.[13]

The acquittal of the four police officers on April 29, 1992 set off rioting, mostly in and around the South Central region of the city,[14] with the California National Guard, the Army, and the Marines eventually being called in.[15][16] Over the course of five days, 53 people died in the riots, mostly African-Americans and Latinos.[17] Tensions between the African-American and Korean-American communities in particular erupted during the riots, with Koreans arming themselves in response to what they perceived to be a slow police response to violence aimed at their shops.[18]

President Bush, although being "stunned" by the trial's verdict, said of the riots: "What we saw last night and the night before in Los Angeles is not about civil rights. It's not about the great cause of equality that all Americans must uphold. It's not a message of protest. It's been the brutality of a mob, pure and simple."[16] Vice President Dan Quayle pointed blame at "the breakdown of the family structure, personal responsibility and social order in too many areas of our society" and the welfare state.[19] Democratic challenger Bill Clinton also condemned the violence, but blamed a decade of Republican economic policies for the looting.[20]

President Bill Clinton, along with Vice President Al Gore (top left), and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (top right) in 1997.

The Clinton administration

Main article: Presidency of Bill Clinton

President Bush had enjoyed high approval ratings after the Gulf War, but by the time the 1992 Presidential election took place, the economy was in recession, and many voters expressed dissatisfaction with Bush, who had pledged earlier not to raise taxes, but reneged.[21] Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton defeated Bush and independent challenger Ross Perot with 43% of the popular vote. Clinton, who positioned himself as a centrist New Democrat,[22] made major inroads into previously-Republican territory during the election.[21]

Conservative discontent with President Clinton, growing over his efforts on issues like gun control and health care, exploded in the 1994 midterm elections when the Republicans were voted into majorities in the House and Senate, with many voters citing dissatisfaction with the President and the Democratic Congress.[23] Deadlock with the new Republican Congress over budgetary issues prompted a government shutdown in 1995.[24]

Clinton handily won reelection in 1996 against Bob Dole, but his second term would be dogged by a sex scandal involving a former White House aide named Monica Lewinsky. In a sworn deposition on January 17, 1998, Clinton denied having sexual relations with Lewinsky,[25]. He further denied the affair in a press conference with infamous words: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."[26] On August 17, however, Clinton admitted to the affair,[27] opening himself up to impeachment hearings in Congress for perjury and obstruction of justice. After being impeached by the House of Representatives, Clinton was acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999.[28]

Foreign conflicts

Somalia

Main articles: Operation Restore Hope and Battle of Mogadishu (1993)

After President Mohammed Siad Barre of Somalia was overthrown in January, 1991, the country entered into a period of civil war.[29]

The Balkans

References

  1. ^ Hayes, Thomas C. (September 3, 1990), "Confrontation in the Gulf; The Oilfield Lying Below the Iraq-Kuwait Dispute", The New York Times
  2. ^ Address Before a Joint Session of Congress (September 11, 1990), Miller Center of Public Affairs
  3. ^ Essential Documents: UN Security Council Resolution 678, Council on Foreign Relations
  4. ^ Clymer, Adam (January 13, 1991), "Confrontation in the Gulf; Congress Acts to Authorize War in Gulf; Margins are 5 Votes in Senate, 67 in House", The New York Times {{citation}}: line feed character in |title= at position 27 (help)
  5. ^ Fairhall; et al. (January 17, 1991), "Allied planes bomb Iraq: Kuwait's liberation begun, says US, Bush vows to wreck Saddam's war ability", The Guardian {{citation}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help)
  6. ^ Murtagh, Peter (February 25, 1991), "The Gulf War: Allies punch through Kuwait and Iraq - Commanders say objectives of the first day of simultaneous assault by land, sea and air were met within 10 hours", The Guardian
  7. ^ "Iraq accepts ceasefire", Sunday Herald Sun, April 7, 1991
  8. ^ Sciolino, Elaine (April 7, 1991), "Back in Business; Iraq Is Left to the Mercy of Saddam Hussein", The New York Times
  9. ^ Pilger, John (August 7, 2000), Labour claims its actions are lawful while it bombs Iraq, strarves its people and sells arms to corrupt states
  10. ^ Silverleib, Alan (December 9, 2008), Gulf War illness is real, new federal report says
  11. ^ "Sergeant Says King Appeared to Be on Drugs", The New York Times, March 20, 1992
  12. ^ "Brutality in Los Angeles", St. Petersburg Times, March 7, 1991
  13. ^ Mydans, Seth (March 6, 1992), "Police Beating Trial Opens With Replay of Videotape", The New York Times
  14. ^ Campbell, Murray (April 30, 1992), "Officers acquitted in King beating trial Surprising verdict sets off violence", The Globe and Mail
  15. ^ Mydans, Seth (May 1, 1992), "RIOTS IN LOS ANGELES: Overview; 23 DEAD AFTER 2D DAY OF LOS ANGELES RIOTS; FIRES AND LOOTING PERSIST DESPITE CURFEW", The New York Times
  16. ^ a b Bush, George H. W. (May 1, 1992), Address to the Nation on the Civil Disturbances in Los Angeles, California, George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
  17. ^ Crogan, Jim (May 2, 2002), "The L.A. 53", LA Weekly
  18. ^ Mydans, Seth (May 3, 1992), "RIOT IN LOS ANGLES: Pocket of Tension; A Target of Rioters, Koreatown Is Bitter, Armed and Determined", The New York Times
  19. ^ Quayle, Dan (May 19, 1992), The Vice President Speaks
  20. ^ Donne, Jr., E.J.; Schwartz, Maralee (May 3, 1992), "Clinton Issues Plea For Racial Harmony; Candidate Plans to Visit Los Angeles Today", The Washington Post
  21. ^ a b Schmaltz, Jeffrey (November 4, 1992), "THE 1992 ELECTION: THE NATION'S VOTERS; Clinton Carves a Wide Path Deep Into Reagan Country", The New York Times
  22. ^ Kelly, Michael (September 28, 1992), "The 1992 Campaign: The Democrats; Clinton Uses Farm Speech to Begin New Offensive", The New York Times
  23. ^ Apple, Jr., R. W. (November 9, 1994), "THE 1994 ELECTIONS: NEWS ANALYSIS; A Vote Against Clinton", The New York Times
  24. ^ Devroy, Ann; Pianin, Eric (November 14, 1995), "Federal Agencies Prepare for Shutdown; Negotiations on Budget Resume After 2 Vetoes", The Washington Post
  25. ^ What Clinton Said, The Washington Post
  26. ^ Response to the Lewinsky Allegations (January 26, 1998), Miller Center of Public Affairs
  27. ^ Addressing the Nation, PBS
  28. ^ Baker, Peter; Dewar, Helen (February 13, 1999), "The Senate Acquits President Clinton", The Washington Post
  29. ^ Biles, Peter (January 28, 1991), "Somalia's leader flees as capital falls to rebels", The Guardian
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