United States Marines in Humanitarian Operations. United States Marines in the Persian Gulf, 1990-1991. Tells the story of more than 3,600 United States Marines who supported Operation Provide Comfort, an international relief effort in northern Iraq from 7 April to 15 July 1991. Focuses on Marine activities and contributions. Presents historical glimpses of the Kurds, modern Iraq, and non-Marine activities only to provide necessary background information. Defines Provide Comfort's place in the diplomatic history of the Middle East.

This monograph tells the story of more than 3,600 U.S. Marines who supported Operation Provide Comfort, an international relief effort in northern Iraq from 7 April to 15 July 1991. The author presents historical glimpses of the Kurds, modern Iraq, and non-marine activities in order to provide background information. This work is one of a series about U.S. Marine operations in the Persian Gulf.

With full color photographs and maps. "Humanitarian Intervention" is an operational study of the U.S.-led relief effort PROVIDE COMFORT, hastily organized in the spring of 1991 in response to the international outcry to stop the suffering and dying of the Iraqi Kurds who had been brutally suppressed in the aftermath of DESERT STORM and had fled across a mountainous border into Turkey. Gordon W. Rudd documents and describes this challenging operation involving joint and multinational forces. His study validates the capacity of military forces, well trained for war, not only to adapt quickly for humanitarian relief missions without specialized preparation but also to work alongside civilian relief agencies attempting to assist the refugees, requiring significant cooperation between the two groups. Today the potential of the new round of military-led peace operations to reduce turmoil and conflict-and, in effect, contribute to shaping the international environment-is significant, and soldiers now deployed in distant lands amidst unfamiliar people in the service of their nation will find Rudd's instructive perspective and record of the Army's experience invaluable.

The first half of 1991 was a demanding time for the armed forces of the United States. In January, while elements of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines were still deploying to the Persian Gulf, where they would join other coalition forces in the liberation of Kuwait, a Marine special purpose force conducted Operation Eastern Exit, a daring rescue of American citizens and foreign nationals trapped in the American Embassy at Mogadishu, Somalia. Two weeks later Operation Desert Storm began and coalition aircraft flew against Iraqi targets in the Kuwaiti and Iraqi theaters of operation. In February, coalition ground forces slashed through the vaunted Saddam Line to liberate Kuwait, while their comrades afloat conducted one of the most successful strategic deceptions in military history. Soon thereafter, American and other coalition forces were involved in concurrent humanitarian operations, Provide Comfort in northern Iraq and Seal Angel in Bangladesh. In June, Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted, causing massive damage. In response, American forces participated in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of Clark Air Force and Subic Bay Naval Bases, and Cubi Point Naval Air Station. With so much happening in so short a period, some of these operations did not receive the same amount of attention they would have, had they transpired during less tumultuous times. This monograph provides a detailed look at Joint Task Force Sea Angel, the first join task force to be formed around a nucleus drawn from a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and the Marine-led humanitarian relief effort in Bangladesh.