Desert Storm Revisited

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After the very brief ground attack, the U.S. declared the war over, electing somewhat fatefully to not pursue the Iraqi army into their own soil and leaving Saddam in power. One of the results of this decision is that the American resolve for war was not fully tested. With so few American casualties — 232 American soldiers died in all — the President's approval ratings soared and observers declared the end to "Vietnam syndrome," as the country experienced a surge in pride and patriotism. The victory was celebrated at a ticker tape parade in June in lower Manhattan, not far from the World Trade Center, which, ten years hence, would turn out to be the starting point of another, far more wrenching war experience.

• Going Home from Iraq