SADDAM'S WAR 1990Blitzkrieg in the Gulf
Iraq invades the Arabian Peninsula 2 August 1990What if Saddam Hussein had properly accessed the Western reaction to his invasion of Kuwait and decided it was all or nothing from the very beginning. Special thanks to Trey Marshall, who allowed me to use, and modify, his TWW Persian Gulf Map to design this scenario. Player: Either, but plays best with a Coalition human player. 1. UNIT COLORS 1.1. IRAQ - Iraqi Army/Air Force - Beige/Black on Tan
- Revolutionary Guards - Crimson/Yellow on Red
1.2. COALITION FORCES GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL - Saudi - Green/White on Tan
- UAE - Blue/White on Tan
- Oman - Red/White on Tan
- Qatar/Bahrain - Blue/Red - Tan
- Kuwait - Black/Red on Tan
ARAB/PERSIAN ALLIES - Egypt - Beige/Black on Brown
- Jordan - Yellow/Green - Beige
- Syria - Black/red on Yellow
- Iran - Lgt Green/Black on Beige
WESTERN FORCES - Turkey - White/Black on Gray
- United Kingdom - Dk Brown/White on Brown
- France - White/Black on Blue
- US Marine - Lgt Blue/White on Olive
- US Army - White/Black on Olive
- US Navy - Lgt Blue/Black on Blue
- USAF - Blue/White on Lgt Blue
2. BACKGROUND In August of 1989, Saddam Hussein had decided on the invasion of the Arabian Peninsula. The logistical build up began in October and gradually the necessary supplies for 60 to 90 days of action had been stockpiled in southern Iraq. By June and July of 1990 the mobilization and buildup of Iraqi forces in southern Iraqi was hardly a cause for concern in Western circles. Western governments for the most part turned a blind eye to the developing crisis, calling it an exercise or saber rattling toward Kuwait. No one believed that a new war in the Middle East was imminent. In Washington a junior analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency attempted to raise the alarm, but Washington, Paris and London had been stripped of the important mid-level decision makers, who were mainly away from their posts on vacation/holiday. Israel on the other hand was not napping and the preparations for war were not lost on the MOSAD. In late July, Israel quietly warned the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia of the threat and belatedly the latter two nations took measures to defend their frontiers, it would be too little too late! The West remained mute other than to send the American Ambassador to see Saddam. This meeting was less than successful as a confused Ambassador April Glaspie seemed to give Saddam a green light to invade northern Kuwait. When the juggernaut fell the West was shocked, Saudi and Kuwaiti positions were quickly overrun and Iraqi Armor began to run wild through 25 percent of the worlds known oil reserves. The American President Bush and English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher quickly put together a military Coalition to resist the Iraqi aggression, but the question remained could Western forces arrive in time to stave off defeat. Japan provided the saving grace augmenting Western sea lift with car carriers from her extensive maritime fleet and Israel allowed the United States full basing rights. The die was now cast, could the West hold on to an Omani Perimeter and go on to defeat Saddam? 3. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS - 1. If the Iraqi Forces use chemical weapons there is a chance of a Western nuclear response.
- 2. There is a very slight chance that the Iraqi Forces may have a deliverable nuclear device. If this is the case and if it is used, there is a chance of a Western nuclear response.
- 3. If Al Riyad is captured there is a chance that either Jordan, Syria and Turkey and/or Iran may enter the war on the Western side.
- 4. Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey are all leaning toward the West and refugee Western air units may flee to those bases. You will loose control of those units until/if that nation becomes a full belligerent.
- 5. The Coalition will destroy the Iraqi Sea Lift and Air Transport capability sometime before turn 7.
- 6. If Al Riyad is captured and the Iraqi Forces are winning there is a chance the West will capitulate and Iraq will gain control of most of the Arabian Peninsula.
- 7. The game will end when Baghdad is captured. (Hint to the Iraqi player, Garrison Baghdad against airborne/airmobile raids! I don't want to hear you lost the game to a raiding company!)
- 8. Israel offered basing to the West and 6 American units will appear and base out of Israel.
4. HINTS - 1. If playing the Iraqi player, Garrison Victory hexes and ports after you take them, this is the desert after all and raids happen.
- 2. If playing the Coalition Player, let the GCC Forces bleed while the Western forces build their strength. Preserve your airborne and airmobile forces for flanking and surrounding attacks. Once again this is the desert raid and be mobile! Don't forget about air units basing in Turkey and Israel!
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