Kuwaitis recollect George HW Bush’s great contributions in liberating their country
Late President’s message on February 26, 1991 instilled in Kuwaitis’ heart
KUWAIT: When the name of former US President George HW Bush is mentioned, Kuwaitis recollect his great contributions to liberating their homeland from the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion and his determination to expel the invading forces and restore legitimacy to their country. With the demise of this personality that has had a great impact on the march of Kuwait and the lives of Kuwaitis at the age of 94 years, the biography of a man who made firm decisions in the history of the United States has had important effects on the march of Kuwait, its history and the Arab Gulf and the Middle East. The entire world recalls the decision made by the late President on January 16, 1991, to launch an international air strike against Iraqi forces to liberate Kuwait after the United Nations and the rest of the world exhausted their efforts to persuade the invading forces to withdraw voluntarily from Kuwait. In implementation of that resolution and in pursuance of the Security Council resolution of 29 November, 1990 by 12 votes to two, with one abstention permitting the use of force if Iraq does not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991, coalition forces have struck Iraqi forces to force them to withdraw by force. The Kuwaitis also recall when late president addressed the US Congress, American people and the world on February 26, 1991 in the presence of Kuwait’s ambassador to the United States of America at the time, Sheikh Saud Nasser Al-Sabah, with a historical message which was instilled in their hearts that Kuwait had become completely free of invading forces.
On January 30, 1991, the International Coalition forces launched a ground offensive on Iraqi targets inside Kuwait for 15 continuous hours, while the late US president announced on February 23, 1991 that Baghdad would be given a chance to withdraw its troops from Kuwait without conditions, but Iraq rejected all these conditions, thus, forcing Bush on February 24, 1991 to give the green light to coalition commander General Norman Schwarzkopf to launch a ground offensive to liberate Kuwait.
President Bush had made numerous contacts with the countries concerned to find a peaceful solution to liberate Kuwait and to persuade the invading forces to withdraw, but all the attempts of the late President and other heads of brotherly and friendly countries, as well as the efforts of the United Nations, were met with an insurmountable block of defiance and stubbornness by the invading forces and with a sense of superiority over all peaceful efforts. After exhausting most of the peaceful solutions, the late president began his decisions to force invading troops to withdraw by sending US ground, sea and air forces on November 6, 1990, estimated at 200,000 troops.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said in a cable of condolences to US President Donald Trump, that he recalled the deceased’s honorable and courageous attitudes towards Kuwait and his rejection of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait from the early hours. He also recalled the crucial decisions made by the American administration under the leadership of the late president and his pivotal role in forming the international coalition with the mandate of the United Nations to liberate the State of Kuwait until it was liberated. His Highness said that these positions will remain in the memory of the people of Kuwait and will not be forgotten. — KUNA