Bandar bin Sultan's Stance on the Second Gulf War (1990 - 1991 AD)

Abstract

This research examines Bandar bin Sultan's stance on the Second Gulf War (1990-1991), shedding light on the events leading to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. It also highlights Bandar bin Sultan's role in influencing the Saudi decision to approve the presence of American forces in the Gulf in general and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular. Moreover, it discusses how he managed to influence King Fahd bin Abdulaziz by emphasizing the threat to the kingdom posed by Iraq, based on satellite imagery showing the movement of Iraqi regime forces towards the Saudi-Iraqi border. Additionally, Bandar bin Sultan also played a prominent role in media efforts to defend the presence of foreign forces, justifying that those forces came at the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and according to agreements, and that they would withdraw once their primary mission was accomplished with the exit of Iraqi forces from Kuwaiti territory.