Persian Gulf War

Persian Gulf War President Bush, speaking before the National Association of Religious Broadcasters on the hostilities in the Persian Gulf, said the United States would take the lead in bringing about peace in the Middle East. His speech, which also mentioned that the United States was attempting to reduce civilian casualties in the war, was interpreted by administration officials as an attempt by President Bush to quell anxieties of other Arab countries watching the destruction of Iraq. Although the president mentioned the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, his remarks on it were deliberately vague in order to prevent alienating allies on either side. The speech was marked by Bush’s attempt to frame the Persian Gulf war in higher moral and ethical values, citing the Bible, Lincoln, and Thomas Aquinas to provide justification for the conflict. The speech was mainly designed to reassure Arab leaders of coalition countries that the U.S. sought a fair and impartial peace following the hostilities. close