Did the Persian Gulf War have any effect on the current conflict?

Answer 1

The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988, possibly had some influence, as the US presence in that conflict was well publicized when the USS Stark (Frigate) was nearly sunk after being struck by an Iraqi missile; and later, the USS Vincennes shot down a civilian passenger airliner, by error. Operation Desert Storm Jan/Feb 1991, certainly had some influence, as the US/Coalition Forces physically removed Iraqi Forces from the country of Kuwait within those approximate 30 days of the conflict. Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 to current is a "Police Action" in which the restoration of Law & Order, and the return of Stability, to the country of Iraq is of primary concern to the US/Coalition Forces.