At the height of their global hegemony, they attributed to themselves
to be the only super power in the world. Since the cold war, unrivalled and
unchallenged, USA Iran Russia Syria Syria Syria Syria Russia Iran Syria Russia Syria Iran Syria Syria USA America Washington
August 2,
1990 — February 28, 1991
First Gulf War
Rationale: To rebuff Saddam Hussein’s invasion and
annexation of Kuwait.
Type of operation: Airstrikes and ground invasion.
U.S. involvement: Massive investment of military resources, including at least 575,000 troops at vanguard of 34-nation coalition.
Outcome: In conducting the war, 294 U.S. personnel were killed; Iraqi deaths – both civilians and soldiers -- numbered between 20,000 and 40,000
Type of operation: Airstrikes and ground invasion.
U.S. involvement: Massive investment of military resources, including at least 575,000 troops at vanguard of 34-nation coalition.
Outcome: In conducting the war, 294 U.S. personnel were killed; Iraqi deaths – both civilians and soldiers -- numbered between 20,000 and 40,000
December 5,
1992 — March 3, 1994
Somali civil war
Rationale: To protect U.N. food deliveries threatened by
warlords.
Type of operation: Initially, peacekeeping and humanitarian. Later added goal of defeating powerful warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed.
U.S. involvement: Contributed some 25,000 ground troops in overall force of 37,000.
Outcome: Traumatic battle of Mogadishu, the botched operation depicted in the movie "Black Hawk Down," left 18 U.S. soldiers dead. Somali casualties are unknown, but estimates put civilian death toll at close to 1,000. U.S. soldiers withdrew from the UNOSOM II mission less than a year later without defeating Aideed and leaving a country that remains without an effective central government.
Type of operation: Initially, peacekeeping and humanitarian. Later added goal of defeating powerful warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed.
U.S. involvement: Contributed some 25,000 ground troops in overall force of 37,000.
Outcome: Traumatic battle of Mogadishu, the botched operation depicted in the movie "Black Hawk Down," left 18 U.S. soldiers dead. Somali casualties are unknown, but estimates put civilian death toll at close to 1,000. U.S. soldiers withdrew from the UNOSOM II mission less than a year later without defeating Aideed and leaving a country that remains without an effective central government.
August 30,
1995 — September 20, 1995
Bosnia war
Type of operation: Airstrikes.
U.S. involvement: Led aerial bombing campaign. Part of 60,000-member
peacekeeping force until 2004.
Outcome: Bosnian Serbs lost between 25 and 27 fighters. No NATO personnel
killed. Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian leaders signed Dayton Peace Agreement in
December 1995 to partition the former Yugoslavia.
February 28,
1998 — June 11, 1999
Kosovo war
International authority: NATO. No U.N. Security Council authorization.
Type of operation: Airstrikes against Serbian security forces in Kosovo and
against military and economic targets in Serbia.
U.S. involvement: Led 78-day air campaign, launching more than 10,000 combat
sorties. Contributed as many as 7,000 troops to peacekeeping force.
Outcome: No U.S. combat deaths. While estimates of Serbian military personnel
and civilians killed are difficult to ascertain, most estimates put the number
between 5,000 and 18,000. Three journalists died when NATO inadvertently bombed
Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. The bombing campaign prompted Serbian withdrawal
from now-autonomous province that remains under protection of NATO Kosovo
Force, which includes 750 U.S. military troops.
August 20,
1998
Afghanistan/Sudan cruise missile strikes
Rationale: To retaliate for twin al-Qaeda attacks on U.S.
embassies in 1998 that killed 223 people in East Africa.
International authority: None.
Type of operation: Cruise missile strikes.
U.S. involvement: Multiple strikes against alleged al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and an alleged chemical weapons facility in Sudan.
Outcome: Missiles sent to Afghanistan may have killed between six and 20 people, but had little effect on al-Qaeda's capabilities. Strike on Shifa pharmaceutical facility in Khartoum sparked controversy, as allegations that it produced chemical weapons have never been substantiated.
International authority: None.
Type of operation: Cruise missile strikes.
U.S. involvement: Multiple strikes against alleged al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and an alleged chemical weapons facility in Sudan.
Outcome: Missiles sent to Afghanistan may have killed between six and 20 people, but had little effect on al-Qaeda's capabilities. Strike on Shifa pharmaceutical facility in Khartoum sparked controversy, as allegations that it produced chemical weapons have never been substantiated.
December 16,
1998 — December 19, 1998
'Operation Desert Fox' bombing of Iraq
Rationale: To punish Saddam Hussein’s regime for expelling
U.N. arms inspectors.
International authority: None. The United States argued that action was justified by previous U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Type of operation: Airstrikes against Iraqi military targets thought to be linked to production of weapons of mass destruction, though four-day bombing campaign also targeted security forces.
U.S. involvement: Led airstrike operations with British allies.
Outcome: No U.S. or British casualties. Iraqi military casualties are unknown; Iraqi civilian casualties estimated at about 100. Iraq’s military capability was severely reduced. Tensions between Iraq and Western nations continued, culminating in 2003 U.S. invasion following return of U.N. weapons inspectors.
International authority: None. The United States argued that action was justified by previous U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Type of operation: Airstrikes against Iraqi military targets thought to be linked to production of weapons of mass destruction, though four-day bombing campaign also targeted security forces.
U.S. involvement: Led airstrike operations with British allies.
Outcome: No U.S. or British casualties. Iraqi military casualties are unknown; Iraqi civilian casualties estimated at about 100. Iraq’s military capability was severely reduced. Tensions between Iraq and Western nations continued, culminating in 2003 U.S. invasion following return of U.N. weapons inspectors.
October 7,
2001 — August 31, 2013
Afghanistan war
Rationale: To retaliate for 9/11 attacks, overthrow Taliban
harboring al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
International authority: None initially. In December 2001, U.N. Security Council established International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to secure post-Taliban Afghan transitional government. NATO assumed ISAF leadership in 2003.
Type of operation: Airstrikes followed by Special Forces-led ground offensive coordinated with local anti-Taliban allies. Large-scale occupation, nation building and counterinsurgency operations followed.
U.S. involvement: Led air campaign and ground offensive. More than 100,000 troops deployed at height of operation in 2011.
Outcome: Taliban overthrown. More than a decade later, after the longest war in U.S. history, Washington still props up embattled Afghan government against a resilient insurgency amid nascent peace negotiations. Discussions are underway over continued troop deployments after 2014, It is estimated about 80000 people have so far died from war
International authority: None initially. In December 2001, U.N. Security Council established International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to secure post-Taliban Afghan transitional government. NATO assumed ISAF leadership in 2003.
Type of operation: Airstrikes followed by Special Forces-led ground offensive coordinated with local anti-Taliban allies. Large-scale occupation, nation building and counterinsurgency operations followed.
U.S. involvement: Led air campaign and ground offensive. More than 100,000 troops deployed at height of operation in 2011.
Outcome: Taliban overthrown. More than a decade later, after the longest war in U.S. history, Washington still props up embattled Afghan government against a resilient insurgency amid nascent peace negotiations. Discussions are underway over continued troop deployments after 2014, It is estimated about 80000 people have so far died from war
November 3,
2002 — August 28, 2013
Drone campaign – Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia
Rationale: To eliminate alleged al-Qaeda operatives.
International authority: None.
Type of operation: Deployment of unpiloted aerial vehicles to launch missiles at targets judged by U.S. intelligence to represent a violent threat to United States or its allies.
U.S. involvement:CIA program began under George W. Bush administration
following the 9/11 attacks. Has been substantially expanded under Barack Obama.
Outcome: At least 440 drone strikes that killed between 2,044 and 3,377 people in Pakistan and between 630 and 876 people in Yemen. U.S. officials say vast majority of those killed belonged to violent groups, though claim is impossible to verify. The program has been controversial in targeted countries. Domestic critics have urged Obama administration to implement greater oversight rules.
International authority: None.
Type of operation: Deployment of unpiloted aerial vehicles to launch missiles at targets judged by U.S. intelligence to represent a violent threat to United States or its allies.
U.S. involvement:
Outcome: At least 440 drone strikes that killed between 2,044 and 3,377 people in Pakistan and between 630 and 876 people in Yemen. U.S. officials say vast majority of those killed belonged to violent groups, though claim is impossible to verify. The program has been controversial in targeted countries. Domestic critics have urged Obama administration to implement greater oversight rules.
Getty Images
March 20,
2003 — December 15, 2011
Iraq invasion and occupation
Rationale: To oust Saddam Hussein on suspicions that he
possessed weapons of mass destruction.
International authority: None. U.S. formed ad hoc "coalition of the willing" that included Britain, Australia, Poland and other countries.
Type of operation: Ground invasion followed by occupation and counterinsurgency.
U.S. involvement: Huge deployment of military forces, peaking at 176,000 troops at height of counterinsurgency campaign in 2007.
Outcome: Saddam Hussein ousted, later captured, tried and executed. Short-lived Coalition Provisional Authority replaced after internationally supervised elections. Resulting governments have been ambivalent toward the U.S. while maintaining friendly ties with Iran. By end of U.S. military involvement in December 2011, 4,487 U.S. service members had died. Death toll for Iraqi civilians, insurgents and soldiers is at least 100,000 and may total five times that number. Iraq still struggles to recover from the war as a new insurgency gains traction. War’s cost to U.S. is calculated by some economists at more than $1 trillion.
International authority: None. U.S. formed ad hoc "coalition of the willing" that included Britain, Australia, Poland and other countries.
Type of operation: Ground invasion followed by occupation and counterinsurgency.
U.S. involvement: Huge deployment of military forces, peaking at 176,000 troops at height of counterinsurgency campaign in 2007.
Outcome: Saddam Hussein ousted, later captured, tried and executed. Short-lived Coalition Provisional Authority replaced after internationally supervised elections. Resulting governments have been ambivalent toward the U.S. while maintaining friendly ties with Iran. By end of U.S. military involvement in December 2011, 4,487 U.S. service members had died. Death toll for Iraqi civilians, insurgents and soldiers is at least 100,000 and may total five times that number. Iraq still struggles to recover from the war as a new insurgency gains traction. War’s cost to U.S. is calculated by some economists at more than $1 trillion.
Getty Images
March 19,
2011 — October 23, 2011
Libyan uprising
Rationale: To stop forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi regime
from overrunning rebel-held Benghazi.
International authority: U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at protecting Libyan civilians, though critics charged that Western and Arab countries used it as cover for a regime-changing military campaign.
Type of operation: NATO-led airstrikes, supported by Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Sweden.
U.S. involvement: Although Britain and France played larger role than in previous NATO air campaigns, U.S. still did much of the heavy lifting in the seven-month campaign.
Outcome: Aided rebel overthrow of Gaddafi regime and its replacement by interim National Transitional Council. Political and security situation in Libya remains turbulent, as seen in the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that left four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, dead.
International authority: U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at protecting Libyan civilians, though critics charged that Western and Arab countries used it as cover for a regime-changing military campaign.
Type of operation: NATO-led airstrikes, supported by Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Sweden.
U.S. involvement: Although Britain and France played larger role than in previous NATO air campaigns, U.S. still did much of the heavy lifting in the seven-month campaign.
Outcome: Aided rebel overthrow of Gaddafi regime and its replacement by interim National Transitional Council. Political and security situation in Libya remains turbulent, as seen in the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that left four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, dead.
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