The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, sparked one of the most serious international crises of the late twentieth century. The response of the international community to the invasion was swift and harshly critical of Iraq's actions. The United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously called for Iraq's complete and unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait, and sought to achieve that withdrawal through diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions imposed under UN Resolution 661 on August 6, 1990. UN diplomatic initiatives were backed up by a multinational armed force deployed to deter further Iraqi aggression in the Middle East. When diplomatic entreaties and economic sanctions failed to persuade Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 678 on November 29, 1990. This resolution authorized member states to "use all necessary means" to force Iraq out of Kuwait if it did not voluntarily withdraw by January 15, 1991. Ultimately...