Evaluate the impact of the Kuwait attack on U.S. troop deployment
January 22, 2003
Web posted at: 4:19 AM EST (0919 GMT)
Overview: Kuwaiti authorities and U.S. officials are searching for the attacker or attackers who ambushed two Americans on a road just outside a U.S. military base in Kuwait. Michael Rene Pouliot, 46, of San Diego, California, died at the scene, according to the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. David Caraway, who was driving the vehicle, suffered six gunshot wounds but is expected to survive, authorities said. Both men were contract workers for the U.S. military, employed by Tapestry Solutions, a San Diego, California-based company whose Web site says it has "specialized in the area of military modeling and simulation training tools." One U.S. official has called this a "terrorist attack".
After students read "Two Americans ambushed in Kuwait" present the following:
1. Locate Kuwait on a map of Asia (http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/asia.htm). What happened to two American servicemen there? Near what U.S. military base did the shootings take place? Why is the location of the shootings significant? What other incidents in the area have raised concern for the safety of the American military there?
2. How did the U.S. Ambassador react to the shootings? What was the response from the Kuwaiti government? Do you think this incident will have an impact on the U.S. policy on Iraq, or the larger War on Terrorism? Why or why not? How might this attack affect the U.S. troops currently being deployed throughout the Middle East?
3. Poll students to find out how many of them know why we have military activities in Kuwait. Use the Web sites below to help them learn more about the significance of Kuwait with respect to Iraq. In brief, Saddam's forces invaded Kuwait in August 1990, claiming it as Baghdad's 19th province and sparking a crisis that led to the Persian Gulf War in January 1991. A U.S.-led coalition pushed Iraqi troops out of Kuwait in March 1991. U.S. troops have been stationed there since. Inform students that in addition to being in Kuwait, U.S. troops are being deployed throughout the Middle East. Ask students, "Why do you think the U.S. government is sending troops to the Middle East, despite the fact that war on Iraq has not been declared?" Discuss how various members of the international community might interpret these actions and what risks U.S. military personnel might face as a result. Challenge students to hypothesize what actions the U.S. military might take to better insure the safety of its personnel abroad.
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