An In-Depth History and Analysis of the Third World War
Kuwait was a different matter. The tiny emirate remained under Iraqi occupation, and its future was tentative to put it lightly. In the final days of the war US air attacks and spoiling attacks on the ground against Iraqi forces in Kuwait made the US position crystal clear. The climax in Europe and the subsequent …
Continue reading "Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf Postwar Addendum Part II"
Following the end of hostilities in Europe, the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf region took a backseat. Global attention remained focused on the ceasefire and formal negotiations that took place, relief and recovery following the nuclear exchanges, and the political drama unfolding in the Soviet Union. The world did not stop turning though. Other theaters …
Continue reading "Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf Postwar Addendum Part I"
In the weeks following the cessation of hostilities in Europe, the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf region took a backseat in the eyes of the world. Global attention remained fixated on the ceasefire and subsequent negotiations that took place, relief and recovery following the nuclear exchanges, and the drama unfolding inside the Soviet Union. Yet …
Continue reading "Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf August-December 1987"
The Third World War reached every corner of the globe with the effects ranging from direct to incidental. Australia was no exception. Although the land down under was not a major player in the conflict, it had a significant effect on the nation as a whole and marked the first time Australia’s military went into …
The Third World War reached its apogee on D+24. Yet as the hours went by and appeared to be pushing the world towards an imminent nuclear war, in Central America and the Caribbean, the mood and actions were guided by a fatalistic attitude on the part of national leaders and populations alike. In places such …
Continue reading "Central America/Caribbean D+24 (2 August, 1987)"
As the conflict in Europe escalated with near reckless abandon throughout most of the day and raised the prospect of a global nuclear exchange, Iran and Iraq were moving to maintain low profiles for the time being. An unofficial ceasefire took effect over the battleline by the afternoon. Neither Tehran or Baghdad wanted to attract …
Continue reading "Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+24 (2 August, 1987)"
The time zone differences between Greenwich, UK (GMT/Zulu) and the Western Pacific in 1987 was 9-10 hours. This meant that as the NATO retaliatory chemical attacks were underway and GSFG headquarters at Wunsdorf was struck by an air-delivered nuclear gravity bomb in the opening moments of midnight D+24, it was mid-morning in Tokyo and Seoul. …
Faced with emerging threats on two fronts, Saddam Hussein’s perspective shifted on D+22 towards one embedded deeper in realism. Continuing to battle a newly aggressive Iran with one hand tied behind its back was not conducive for the Iraqi military. Holding Iraq was particularly critical, there was little debate on this point. Contending with the …
Continue reading "Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+22 (31 July, 1987) Part II"
Author’s Note: I ran out of time with this post, so I’ll wrap it up on Sunday night with Part II. Apologies. –Mike At approximately 0245 hours local time, the first wave of US air missions against targets in Iraq began. The primary targets were suspected SCUD and FROG launch sites in central Iraq. USAF …
Continue reading "Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+22 (31 July, 1987) Part I"
As the Third World War teetered on the brink of escalating to a global nuclear war on D+18, Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega remained indifferent to events going on in Europe and North America. Whereas the leaders of Cuba and Nicaragua saw the writing on the wall and attempted to reach accommodation with the US government, …
Continue reading "Central America/Caribbean D+21 (30 July, 1987) Part II"
Third World War 1987 