Why did the United Nations authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein during the first Gulf War of 1991?

Answer 1

The cold war ended; there was no nation capable of preventing the US...as the US was the most powerful nation in the world in 1991. With no Soviet Union to prevent operations, with the life blood of the world in the balance (oil), the US requested approval...the UN saw no reason not to agree to it; no one had anything to lose by the decision...except for Iraq.

Answer 2

Saddam Hussein was considered a threat for many reasons:

• He was openly hostile to the US after the first US-Iraq War.
• He had invaded Kuwait.
• He torched the oil wells in Kuwait.
• He was committed to arousing anti-US sentiment globally.
• He was willing to commit mass murders on some of his people and the Kuwaiti people.
• Iraq was a strong enough country to interfere in other plans the US might have in the area.
• Iraq converted their oil sales to use Euros as opposed to the US dollar, and encouraged other countries to do the same.
• He had fought a war with the US and still ruled the country.
• He could be a rallying symbol for anti-US Imperialism.
• Their country traded with other countries, reducing overall dependence on Western nations.
• He was anti-Israel, and used Kuwait as a bargaining chip with Israel.
• He could not be fully controlled.