Analysis in Combat: First to the Front

August 2nd, 1990, Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, swept aside their army and occupy the nation. To deter further aggression, President George HW Bush deploys the Marines to Saudi Arabia. Some of the forces board amphibious ships, which will arrive in the Persian Gulf over 5 weeks later. But the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade deploys using a novel approach never before tested in wartime. Just 12 days later the unit’s 15,000 Marines, flanked by their tanks, helicopters and artillery are in position and ready for combat. This episode originally aired on Febuary 10, 2021.