During the first two weeks of the air campaign in January 1991, the allied forces dropped more conventional explosives on Iraq and Kuwait than during the 310 weeks of the Second World War. How did Saddam Hussein fail to draw the right lesson from the Iran-Iraq War--the United States would never allow an unfriendly nation to dominate the region containing two-thirds of the world's oil reserves? And how was President George Bush able to assemble and hold together such a formidable coalition of 28 European and Arab countries?

Iraq and Kuwait: Neighbours or One Family -- Prelude to the Crisis -- Saddam's Blitzkrieg, Bush's Line in the Sand -- Diplomacy, Hostages and military build-ups -- Bush and the domestic front -- Blood on the mount -- Desert Shield into Desert Sword -- The Countdown -- Desert Storm: the Air Campaign -- Desert Sabre: The Ground War -- The Aftermath -- Conclusions.