General H. Norman Schwarzkops Involvement in the Conflict...

In 1990, the U.S. found itself in the middle of a conflict between Iraq and Kuwait. Iraq invaded Kuwait and took over the country and was threatening the world’s oil economy. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf is the Commander in Chief of the United States Army Central Command, CENTCOM, at the time and is about to make his mark in military history. GEN Schwarzkopf along with GEN Colin Powell will become the newest military commanders to lead the U.S. military into battle. This conflict will go down in history as one of the fastest battles of all times. This will also bring to end the career of one of the U.S. military’s greatest leaders. On August 22, 1934, Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. was born in Trenton, New Jersey to Herbert†¦show more content†¦In 1971 now Colonel Schwarzkopf returned to the United States. The Army sent him out to talk to civilian groups about the war. Schwarzkopf was shocked at the depth of public hostility to the war and to the military. He came to believe that the government had embarked on a military venture with unclear objectives, no support from the public and a confused strategy that made victory impossible. For a time, he considered leaving the service, but determined that he would stay, and that any war fought under his command would be conducted very differently. Over the next 20 years, Schwarzkopf worked his way up the ranks, alternating between administrative positions in Washington, and command assignments with infantry divisions throughout the U.S. and Germany. In 1988 Schwarzkopf was promoted to General and was assigned as Commander in Chief of CENTCOM, located at McDill Air Force Base. CENTCOM is responsible for operations in the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. In his capacity as commander, Schwarzkopf prepared a detailed plan for the defense of the oil fields of the Persian Gulf against a hypothetical invasion by Iraq. Within months, Iraq invaded Kuwait, and Schwarzkopf’s plan h ad an immediate practical application. In August 1990 Iraq Invaded Kuwait and took over the country. The United States was tasked with defending Saudi