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Why was the Persian Gulf War important?

The Persian Gulf War was the first major international crisis to take place after the cold war (1947–89; an unarmed political conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union regarding the spread of communism). The war was the result of Iraqi troops invading neighboring Kuwait and threatening the world's oil supply. The six-week Gulf War introduced a new dimension in modern warfare: the confrontation was telecast around the world from start to finish, beginning in February 1991 and ending the following April. In the war the United Nations (an international peace-keeping force) effectively organized a coalition against Iraq. Leading members of the coalition included Egypt, France, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United States. The Gulf War also tested the ability of the United States and Russia to cooperate in world affairs.

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