David Horner talk marks anniversary of 1991 Gulf War

Eminent historian Professor David Horner AM delivered a talk titled ‘The 1991 Gulf War: its place in Australian military history’ at the Australian War Memorial today, to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of the First Gulf War.

After Australian military forces withdrew from Vietnam in 1972 it seemed that they would never again be sent overseas on warlike operations, unless the nation was under direct threat. Yet just 19 years later, the Australian government committed forces to serve across the globe in the Gulf War.

The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August 1990 led to the formation of a multinational force comprising 40,000 troops from 30 countries in order to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Over 1,800 Australian Defence Force personnel were deployed in the First Gulf War from August 1990 to September 1991. The force comprised elements from the army, navy and air force. In addition, 75 Australian Defence Force personnel were subsequently deployed to Kurdistan, Northern Iraq, on Operation Habitat from 16 May to 30 June 1991 in the aftermath of the war.

In his address, Professor Horner discussed the reasons for the Australian government’s decision to commit military forces and the extent to which this led to Australia’s involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Director of the Australian War Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson said the First Gulf War was an important event in Australia’s history which should be acknowledged for its significance, both diplomatically and strategically.

“It is important that we acknowledge the commitment and professionalism Australian Defence Force personnel displayed in providing support to our United Nations allies who fought for the freedoms we all experience today,” Dr Nelson said.

The event today, attended by veterans and serving ADF personnel, as well as members of the public, included a video link with the Honourable Bob Hawke AC who provided his insights as Prime Minister of Australia at the time of the Gulf War.

Professor David Horner AM is the Official Historian of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian, and Post–Cold War Operations, and the author of the second volume in this six-volume series, Australia and the “New World Order”: From peacekeeping to peace enforcement: 1988–1991, published by Cambridge University Press in 2011.