CHARACTER RESEARCH- notes on the Gulf War presentation

This research crosses over into historical context too- the historical context of our play's setting. Understanding the circumstances our characters are living in is very important when making informed choices throughout the rehearsal process. 

Notes

• The war was between Iran and Iraq spanning from 1980-88. Iran were Islamic Fundamentalists and Iraq was the Ba'ath party. 
• The USA funded Iraq in a bid to avoid Islamic Fundamentalism spreading. 
• SHIFT IN INTEREST: fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the fall of the Soviet Union 1991 means attentions move from Europe to the Middle East. 

Gulf War- August 1990- February 1991

• In the July of 1990 Saddam Hussein accuses Kuwait of stealing Iraq's oil demanding $2 Billion as repayment for the falling oil prices due to overproduction which had knock on effects in Iraq, something Hussein blamed Kuwait for- Kuwait refused. 
• After no support from the USA on the 2nd August 1990 Iraqi troops attacked Kuwait. 
• The UN demanded a full withdrawal from Kuwait- the USA however feared for their oil supply with Iraq holding 20% of the words oil. UN launched OPERATION DESERT SHIELD to be enforced if Kuwait was not left alone. 
• Desert Shield terms- 250000 US troops to be sent to Saudi Arabia if Iraq did not withdraw their troops. 
• OPERATION DESERT STORM- the forcible liberation of Kuwait- Egypt and Syria form coalition to fight Iraq, Britain send 45000 troops to support the USA, France and Germany not physically involved giving only financial aid.
• 16 January 1991- USA and coalition forces attack Iraq.
• HIGHWAY OF DEATH - Highway 80 only linking road from Iraq to Kuwait and was Iraq's road to invasion. The USA bombed the whole highway with many people on the road and 2000 vehicles being hit or abandoned. 
• President Bush states the Gulf War was about a 'new world order.'
• The UN investigates Hussein's possession of weapons of mass destruction. 
• OPERATION DESERT FOX- USA and UK plan to bomb their nuclear production points- this plan failed.  

Gulf War- 2003 Invasion of Iraq

• 9/11 sparked a worldwide attack on terror with the USA believing any actions against terror were necessary.
• OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM- October 2001 the USA attack al-Qaeda's training camps without UN sanction claiming 'self defence' rather than 'aggression.'
• The Taliban regime was removed but Bin Laden was not captured- in 2004 the Taliban started re-gaining power.  
• March 2003- USA and Britain invade Iraq and in December capture Saddam Hussein. 
• USA arguably fell in to Bin Laden's trap of isolating Muslims internationally. 
• By 2004 the UN removed any sanctions on Iraq. 

By having this presentation we could all understand the world of the play better. It seemed to heighten everything: Leonato's house became a safe haven and the beginning scene holding more tension, the returning soldiers knew what they were returning from and therefore carried with them both the weight of war and the relief of safety. Understanding the social politics of a play is key to performing it with truth and credibility.