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When George H. sent troops to the Persian
Gulf, people were very apprehensive. The majority did not want to go to
war. A powerful anti-war movement grew more quickly than ever before in
U.S. history.
Soon the streets were filled with demonstrations.
Immediately after the war began, hundreds of thousands of people marched
in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
The government tried to organize pro-war rallies while the bombs were
falling, but only a few people showed up.
[Pro-war demonstrator:] Turn Baghdad into a parking lot! OPERATION
DESERT STORM.
After the bombs started dropping, the pro-war media blitz convinced many
people that they shouldn't oppose the war because they might be
endangering U.S. troops.
[Soldier 1:] The media forgot to mention that it was Bush who put us in
danger in the first place.
[Soldier 2:] And that the best way to get us out of danger is to get us
out of here!
George the Elder knew he had to finish the war quickly and with few U.S.
casualties or the people would turn against it. When Iraq chose to
withdraw rather than fight and the war ended with a one-sided slaughter,
Bush was euphoric.
"By God, we've kicked the Vietnam Syndrome once and for all!" (George
H., February 1991) [139]
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