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Reflagging Kuwait as a case study in Persian Gulf maritime operations
The escalation of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two of the most prominent states in the Middle East, signifies continued instability and competition for regional dominance throughout the Persian Gulf.1 Direct war between the two states is unlikely because of numerous factors: the oilproducing facilities that both countries rely on for economic stability are vulnerable to the others missile capabilities, both governments maintain uncertain status quos over antagonistic populations, they lack a shared land border over which to move armies, and the United States' military capabilities in the region serve to deter the motivations of both governments. However, the current Cold War-esque conflicts between Tehran and Riyadh throughout the Middle East, most specifically in Yemen and Syria, showcase new norms for interactions that are likely to continue escalating with the lifting of economic sanctions from Iran.
Navy and Marine Corps planners must begin hypothesizing what roles the forces will play in these Persian Gulf conflicts. The United States has demonstrated a continued desire to help stabilize the Middle East for the last half-century. Freedom of navigation and the free flow of shipping through the Gulf are hallmarks of U.S. Persian Gulf policy. There is no indication of those desires changing in Washington; therefore, the Marine Corps must be prepared for situations in which forces would be involved in maritime combat scenarios within the Persian Gulf. Previous Marine Corps and naval operations in the Gulf are the ideal starting location for critical analysis about the current situation. Operation EARNEST WILL from 1987-1988 shows that specialized small unit training is a must for such an environment.
Operation Earnest Will
The Iran-Iraq War from 1980-1988, the longest conventional war of the 20th century, pitted Iraq (funded by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait) against the newly established Islamic Republic in Iran. Beginning in 1984, the United States played an active role in the conflict when both Iraq and Iran began targeting neutral oil-carrying vessels and oil-producing facilities in the Gulf. Iran focused its attacks on Kuwait's oil transport vessels to discourage the small country from financially supporting Iraq. Iraq responded in kind with attacks against Iranian oil-producing facilities. In 1985, the United States began planning with Saudi...