

(a rude awakening that Thursday morning)



Twenty years ago this week Iraq invaded Kuwait and started what has come to be known as our odyssey in the Middle East. In what was largely a dispute over oil and profits, Iraq decided on settling the argument the old fashioned way - invading a neighboring country and setting up a puppet government. Kuwait immediately appealed to the United Nations and Iraq countered by saying it was for "the good of the Kuwaiti people" and it spiraled rapidly out of control, with the U.S. quickly getting involved with the aid of the Saudi's who were concerned the invasion would head in their direction.

Over the next six months the U.S. would mount one of the largest invasion forces in recent history with Desert Storm finally getting underway in February of 1991. But until then, it was an almost constant barrage of saber rattling, bluster, bluff and stabs at diplomacy.

Here is a review of August 2-5, 1990 as reported by ABC News World News This Week.