NATO (North atlantic treaty organization)
MISSION STATEMENT OF NATO:
"NATO promotes democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on defense and security issues to build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis-management operations. These are carried out under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty - NATO’s founding treaty - or under a UN mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organizations." The North American Treaty Organization was formed in 1949 after World War II, and it currently consists of 28 countries |
THE GULF WAR
The Gulf War began on August 2, 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait. There are many reasons to why Iraq’s president Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. One of them is that Kuwait had stolen 2.5 billion barrels of oil from Iraq, another is that Iraq claimed that it had a right to Kuwait. On August 8, 1990 Iraq annexes Kuwait, and then in November the UN allows the use of force to liberate Kuwait after January 15.
On January 16th & 17th 1991 Operation Desert Storm begins. It is a U.S led air attack made up of approximately 750 000 forces from the allied coalition. Around 4500 Canadian soldiers were deployed and there were no casualties. This attack lead to the destruction of Iraq’s air defenses, weapon factories, communications towers and more. In this operation, the latest military weapon technology was used they used. The main point of this attack was to “minimize battling on the ground and to put an end to the war by fighting in the air”. This was to be done by destroying the Iraq forces early on in battle and making them incapable of fighting.
Another attack that Canada participated in was Operation Friction. Operation Friction implemented the UN trade blockade, provided air transport, combat air patrols and refueling missions. They also participated in 56 bombing sorties (a short flight over enemy land to bomb the city).
Before the war began Canada had patrolled the Persian Gulfs. During the war Canada played a huge role in combat air patrols in the north and central gulf. They worked very closely with the United States Naval air force to protect their soldiers from Iraqi air attack. After, Canadian soldiers were sent to Saudi Arabia as peacekeepers for the Iraqi-Kuwait mission. Some soldiers were sent to a “buffer zone area” where they cleared mines and played a role in construction.
On January 16th & 17th 1991 Operation Desert Storm begins. It is a U.S led air attack made up of approximately 750 000 forces from the allied coalition. Around 4500 Canadian soldiers were deployed and there were no casualties. This attack lead to the destruction of Iraq’s air defenses, weapon factories, communications towers and more. In this operation, the latest military weapon technology was used they used. The main point of this attack was to “minimize battling on the ground and to put an end to the war by fighting in the air”. This was to be done by destroying the Iraq forces early on in battle and making them incapable of fighting.
Another attack that Canada participated in was Operation Friction. Operation Friction implemented the UN trade blockade, provided air transport, combat air patrols and refueling missions. They also participated in 56 bombing sorties (a short flight over enemy land to bomb the city).
Before the war began Canada had patrolled the Persian Gulfs. During the war Canada played a huge role in combat air patrols in the north and central gulf. They worked very closely with the United States Naval air force to protect their soldiers from Iraqi air attack. After, Canadian soldiers were sent to Saudi Arabia as peacekeepers for the Iraqi-Kuwait mission. Some soldiers were sent to a “buffer zone area” where they cleared mines and played a role in construction.
THE BOSNIAN WAR
The Bosnian War started as a conflict between the Serbians, Croatians, and Muslims. When Slovenia and Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, they were invaded by Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milosevic for his want of “protecting the Serbian minority” of these countries. Since there were no Serbians in Slovenia, Milosevic moved on to Croatia. By the end of 1991 a US sponsored cease fire was put in place between the Serbians and Croatians fighting.
In April 1992 the European committee and the US decided to recognize Bosnia as an independent country. Milosevic was outraged and attacked Sarajevo this attack was lead by the Bosnian Serb Army (leader-Ratko Mladic). Bosnia’s population at the time consisted mostly of those in the Muslim religion with only around 32% Serbians. The Bosnian Muslims were brutally gunned down, put into concentration camps and rounded up in the same manner as the Nazi’s did in WWII. The UN distributed food to the Muslim people however they did not interfere with the Serbian military. The world was exposed to this problem but no one did anything to stop it. Until in “1994 a Sarajevo market was hit by a Serbian mortar shell and killed over 60 and injured approximately 200”. After this incident, Bill Clinton issued an ultimatum through NATO telling the Serbians to remove their weapons and artillery from Sarajevo. The Serbians listened and this was called the NATO- imposed cease fire. At the time an alliance between Muslim and Croatians was created. The Bosnian Muslim-Croatian alliance caused the Serbians to attack safe zones and peacekeepers which lead to NATO airstrikes against the Serbians.
In Srebrenica the worst mass murder after World War II occurred when the Serbians lead by Ratko Mladic selected 8000 men and killed them, the NATO lead a bomb raid in response to the mass murder. By the end of the war in 1995, over 200 000 people were murdered. In 1995 peace agreements were reached and 60 000 NATO soldiers were dispatched to maintain the ceasefire. These peace missions were put in place to protect civilians and help stabilize the country
Canada played a huge role in the Bosnian war, several peacekeeping troops were sent in 1992 to Bosnia and the troops delivered food, supplies, and medicine to anyone in need. Canada was also part of the NATO which meant that they were in the midst of the fighting, and were also attacked as well.
In April 1992 the European committee and the US decided to recognize Bosnia as an independent country. Milosevic was outraged and attacked Sarajevo this attack was lead by the Bosnian Serb Army (leader-Ratko Mladic). Bosnia’s population at the time consisted mostly of those in the Muslim religion with only around 32% Serbians. The Bosnian Muslims were brutally gunned down, put into concentration camps and rounded up in the same manner as the Nazi’s did in WWII. The UN distributed food to the Muslim people however they did not interfere with the Serbian military. The world was exposed to this problem but no one did anything to stop it. Until in “1994 a Sarajevo market was hit by a Serbian mortar shell and killed over 60 and injured approximately 200”. After this incident, Bill Clinton issued an ultimatum through NATO telling the Serbians to remove their weapons and artillery from Sarajevo. The Serbians listened and this was called the NATO- imposed cease fire. At the time an alliance between Muslim and Croatians was created. The Bosnian Muslim-Croatian alliance caused the Serbians to attack safe zones and peacekeepers which lead to NATO airstrikes against the Serbians.
In Srebrenica the worst mass murder after World War II occurred when the Serbians lead by Ratko Mladic selected 8000 men and killed them, the NATO lead a bomb raid in response to the mass murder. By the end of the war in 1995, over 200 000 people were murdered. In 1995 peace agreements were reached and 60 000 NATO soldiers were dispatched to maintain the ceasefire. These peace missions were put in place to protect civilians and help stabilize the country
Canada played a huge role in the Bosnian war, several peacekeeping troops were sent in 1992 to Bosnia and the troops delivered food, supplies, and medicine to anyone in need. Canada was also part of the NATO which meant that they were in the midst of the fighting, and were also attacked as well.
Canadian PEACEKEEPERS IN RWANDA
- Background: For centuries, the African country of Rwanda has been made up of two tribes: The Hutus and the Tutsis. The Tutsis tribe dominated the country's economy and politics, so the Hutus saw this as a threat to their rise for power. Consequently, the tribe committed dozens of crimes, one including banishing the own country's king and the majority of the country's population in their rising upheaval. Millions of other citizens lost their homes and access to food during the uprise. Though Rwanda gained its independence in 1961, the Tutsis tribe returned, reeking havoc over the country. This would eventually begin a full-scale civil war.
- Canadian involvement: The UN undertook peace missions to Rwanda from 1993 to 1996. One of the main accomplices in the missions and an important member of the UN, was Canada. At times, more than 400 Canadian soldiers would find themselves in the middle of the violence, helping with humanitarian efforts, mine clearing and refugee resettlement. Though Canadian troops fought their very best, the violence still could not end so quickly. In despair, Canadian troops were forced to leave the devastated country in 1996. Even today, the supporters of the original tribes still quarrel today, as the civil war, genocide and massive refugee upheavals continue in the country more than a decade later.
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