It is twenty three years ago this week that Saddam Husseins retreating army caused the biggest to date oil spill the world has ever seen, details of this can be found here

 

It was an integral part of the Gulf War, for those that don't know about the conflict click here

 

There is an amazing photographic tale of what happened by a well known photographer Steve McCurry it is called Tide of Destruction it can be seen here

 

What are your memories / thoughts??

1991? I barely remember the world cup prior to that year and I wasn't aware of any war at the time.

I was only a child, thank god.

Remember it well. I was in the TA at the time and was on standby to go to Germany to replace troops there if it escalated more than it did. Never got the call but they did 'borrow' the engines and gearboxes out of our vehicles.

I have a lot of friends who fought there and they class it as a 'dirty war' that shouldnt have been.

Respect to all that fought and died there.

Remember it well. I have a slightly slanted view with family who are Yanks and always lead the line so to speak so I keep up to date with the American view of the war.

The general view from the USA is that they are totally divided. Half think they should have dealt with Saddam immediately, while others believe that if they had gone in to remove him first off, they would never have got out again.

Quite frankly though it is still an emotive issue on both sides of the pond. War, whether fought on your own door step or far off lands, that most only see on tv will always split people into different groups. Then again, isn't that what war is all about?

Edited January 22, 201510 yr by hissingdwarf

i was not even born!!

I get mixed up with all these different wars. Is that the one where Saddam was supposed to have weapons of mass destruction so we had to go in and stop him. Then afterwards it turned out they didn't have any WMD's at all, despite an intensive search.

I get mixed up with all these different wars. Is that the one where Saddam was supposed to have weapons of mass destruction so we had to go in and stop him. Then afterwards it turned out they didn't have any WMD's at all, despite an intensive search.

 

Yeah he had something far more imperative for America to get their hands on,....... OIL

I remember being able to turn on the news without them trying to scare people.

Horrible time mind.

I remember it well.... too well

I remember it well.... too well

 

 

Is that where you served?

I Was 11 and just starting to understand life, as such.

 

Now as i've learned over the years, with most wars, the main Mitigating Factor is Oil.

 

Why do you think the Petrol Prices are down so far?? Russia & Ukraine (We're bringing Russia to it's knees again)

@Northants Pie could well have been... and trust me, war isn't nice for anybody win or lose

Edited January 23, 201510 yr by PTID1862

I Was 11 and just starting to understand life, as such.

 

Now as i've learned over the years, with most wars, the main Mitigating Factor is Oil.

 

 

 

And religion!