Although the Iraqi people were not of themselves violent, Iraq under the tyranny of Sadaam Hussein was a threat to neighboring nations, having already attacked and invaded Kuwait, causing thousands of deaths in the 1990/1991 war, as historian Gregory Ball writes:
In response to Saddam Hussein’s continued refusal to cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors, the United States Government planned Operation DESERT FOX in the fall of 1998. The primary mission of DESERT FOX was to strike military targets in Iraq that contributed to its ability to produce, store, maintain, and deliver weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The U.S. government expected to achieve several goals with the operation. First, it would degrade Iraq’s ability to create and employ WMD. Second, the attacks would diminish Iraq’s capability to wage war against its neighbors. Third, the operation would impress upon Saddam Hussein the consequences of violating international agreements, including allowing United Nations inspectors unfettered access to Iraqi sites. The United States and Great Britain launched Operation DESERT FOX on December 16, 1998, after U.N. Chief Inspector Richard Butler notified the U.N. that Iraq had failed to provide full cooperation during inspections.
Although Operation Desert Fox was short in duration, lasting only a few days, it nonetheless inflicted massive destruction and numerous casualties on Iraq. President Clinton was able to demonstrate his willingness to engage in warfare, and his commitment to serving the United Nations and to implementing the consequences which Sadaam Hussein brought upon himself for violating UN agreements — agreements to which Hussein had committed himself.
