International Conflict and the Media

ACTIVITY 12: The Gulf War, Operation Desert Shield

Introduction

Students may not remember much about the Gulf War, although many may recall televisionimages of the war. Activities 9 & 10 gave the students some basic information about the war. Werecommend that you use one of the videos available in many film catalogues. Many of thesevideos were made in the aftermath of the war and are very patriotic in their coverage. Oneexcellent video is CBS's "Desert Triumph," which has also been converted into an episode in theCable Television series "This Century." A video would refresh students' recollections of the warand create a body of images that will be used in subsequent activities. A list of Gulf War videoscan be found at the end of the book.

Student Objectives

• To have a basic understanding of the sequence of events during the Gulf War prior to thebeginning of the air war in January 1991.
• To understand the role played by the United Nations during the War.
• To examine the response of the United States and in particular of President Bush to the crisis.
• To examine the alternatives to the Gulf War.

Time

1-3 class periods

Materials

Copies of Readings 12A-C for each student; poster paper and markers; VCR; video on the GulfWar

Recommended Procedures

1. Distribute Readings 12A and 12B and ask the students to read them for homework.
2. In class, review the events of Desert Shield. Ask the students to consider:

What was the role of the United Nations during the war?

Could the war have been won if the United Nations had not supported the U.S.-led effort?

What was the role of the U.S.? Of President Bush?

Would there have been a war if the U.S. had not taken the lead in expelling the Iraqis fromKuwait?

Could the United States have succeeded without the support of its allies?

What probably would have been the results had there been no war?

3. On a sheet of poster paper, note the students' responses to the following:

Why did Saddam invade Kuwait?

What did he expect would be the consequences of this attack?

4. On a second sheet, note the students' responses to the following:

Why did the U.S. become involved in the Gulf War?

What did President Bush expect to be the consequences of American involvement?

5. If you use a video, ask the to check off the events noted in Reading 12B as they are mentionedin the video. Also, you might want to stop the video before it begins on the air war to discussthe above issues.
6. Distribute Reading 12C. All the selections quoted in this Reading present non-Americanperspectives on events during the Gulf War. Students should be able to understand theperspective of the writer, even if they disagree with it. You may wish to cut off the sources ofthe article and let the students guess whether or not the selection was written by pro-Iraqi,pro-Coalition or neutral writers. Some students may be able to guess the country in which thearticle appeared based upon internal evidence.
7. Ask the students how the perspectives expressed in these selections agree or disagree withthose noted in Reading 12A. Ask the students why these perspectives might differ.
8. Save the poster sheets for use in Activity 13.

Return to the Contents page for International Conflict and the Media.

Go to Activity 13.

Go to the Bibliography.