Newscast Old Newscast: The Gulf War, The Legacy (Part 3)
Aug 24, 2025
Join former BBC chief news correspondent Kate Adie and Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen for a compelling discussion on the Gulf War's legacy. They dissect the myths of post-Cold War stability and question whether the Gulf War marked a true advancement in liberal democracy or the beginning of ongoing conflict in the region. Personal anecdotes reveal the human cost of war, while insights into the evolution of media coverage highlight both enhanced access to information and misunderstanding of key lessons. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of complex consequences and enduring impacts.
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Helicopters Allowed, Uprisings Crushed
- Bowen describes how Iraq was allowed to fly helicopters under the ceasefire and then used them to massacre uprisings.
- He links that decision directly to the slaughter of Shia and Kurdish uprisings after the war.
Liberation Joy Amid Visible Devastation
- Kate Adie recalls liberations in Kuwait with celebratory gunfire that made streets dangerous.
- She stresses seeing the Basra Road's devastation which made the cost of war painfully visible.
A Tank's Sudden Retreat
- Justin Webb recounts driving into Iraq and meeting a US tank that suddenly turned and sped back to Kuwait.
- That abrupt withdrawal on the ground illustrated how geopolitical choices dissolved the coalition's forward momentum.