During Operation Desert Shield, why did the U.S. protect Saudi Arabia??

Answer 1

"Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force."

Carter Doctrine, State of the Union Address, 1980-01-23

"The Persian Gulf region was first proclaimed to be of national interest to the United States during World War II. Petroleum is of central importance to modern armies, and the United States—as the world's leading oil producer at that time—supplied most of the oil for the Allied armies. Many American strategists were concerned that the war would dangerously reduce the U.S. oil supply, and so they sought to establish good relations with Saudi Arabia, a kingdom with large oil reserves. On 1943-02-16, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On 1945-02-14, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region. (During Operation Desert Shield in 1990, this landmark meeting between Roosevelt and King Ibn Saud was cited by Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney as one of the justifications for sending troops to protect Saudi Arabia's border.)"

"The Persian Gulf region continued to be regarded as an area of vital importance to the United States during the Cold War. Three Cold War United States Presidential doctrines—the Truman Doctrine, the Eisenhower Doctrine, and the Nixon Doctrine—played roles in the formulation of the Carter Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine, which stated that the United States would send military aid to countries which were threatened by Soviet communism, was used to strengthen the security of Iran and Saudi Arabia. In October 1950, President Harry Truman wrote to King Ibn Saud that "the United States is interested in the preservation of the independence and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia. No threat to your Kingdom could occur which would not be a matter of immediate concern to the United States." The Eisenhower Doctrine in turn called for U.S. troops to be sent to the Middle East to defend U.S. allies against their Soviet-backed adversaries. Finally, application of the Nixon Doctrine provided military aid to Iran and Saudi Arabia so that these U.S. allies could ensure peace and stability in the region. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan prompted the restatement of U.S. interests in the region in the form of the Carter Doctrine."

"Carter's successor, President Ronald Reagan, extended the policy in October 1981 with what is sometimes called the "Reagan Corollary to the Carter Doctrine", which proclaimed that the United States would intervene to protect Saudi Arabia, whose security was threatened after the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War. Thus, while the Carter Doctrine warned away outside forces from the region, the Reagan Corollary pledged to secure internal stability. According to diplomat Howard Teicher, "with the enunciation of the Reagan Corollary, the policy ground work was laid for Operation Desert Storm." Some analysts have argued that the implementation of the Carter Doctrine and the Reagan Corollary also played a role in the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq War."

"Carter Doctrine" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

"The decision by the West to fight the Iraqi invasion had as much to do with preventing an attack on Saudi Arabia, a nation of far more economic importance to the world than Kuwait, as it did with liberating Kuwait itself. The rapid success of the Iraqi army had brought it within easy striking distance of the Hama oil fields, Saudi Arabia’s most valuable resource. Iraqi control of these fields as well as Kuwait and Iraqi reserves would have given it a way into the Saudi capital of Riyadh."

"[First] Gulf War" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Shield

Answer 2

It was not the US who protected Saudi Arabia but the United Nations, a coalition force lead by the US.
Saudi Arabia has huge oil fields in the north east and they were concerned that Iraq would try to take them as well and asked for help.
As the US and Saudi Arabia are allies, the US sent a RDF (rapid deployment force) and that threw the Iraqi's off. They hadn't expected such a rapid response, but they did launch a few attacks across the boarder of Kuwait on Saudi.

Answer 3

The coalition protected Saudi Arabia because of the oil. If Saddam took SA, he would hold more then half of the world's reserves of oil. They did not want him to control the world through its need for gas and oil. Also SA is are allie and was at the time. Iraq did cross the border of Kuwait and SA, But SA and the USMC kicked them back and blooded Saddam's nose.

Answer 4

Regardless of how they actually behave, Saudi Arabia is an ally. That is why we protect them. Now, as a practical matter, we did have to protect the free flow of oil at market prices. Until we are willing to drill and refine our own, we will have to protect those who will provide the oil for us.

Answer 5

Kuwait was an oil rich nation, and that was the reason Sadam took Kuwait. Saudi Arabia is another oil rich nation and was a possible target for Sadam.

Answer 6

the U. S. already had it is own empire by potential of the definition and had with the aid of fact the Spanish-American conflict in 1898. Cuba, Phillipines and Puerto Rico are evoked as American territories. additionally, don't be so conceited of the united kingdom's empire, we are nevertheless paying the fee (actually!) now by potential of having to assist each and all of the bankrupt Commonwealth countries in one way or yet another. additionally, working an empire became into ridiculously costly and in the top, as quickly as the commercial/production age ended it became into now not properly worth it. the destiny empires would be run with money and economies - not land.

Answer 7

they were an ally, they had deep pockets, they had oil, they were one of our few, though not totally genuine, frineds in the Middle East, and the iraqis were threatening the oil during desert shield. elementary, really.

Answer 8

Oil