(英会話リスニングスクリプト)
In the nineteenth century, Iraq and Kuwait
were ruled together by the Ottoman Turks and, after the
fall of the Ottoman Empire, many Iraqis thought that they
should be one country.
Kuwait, although small, had some of the
biggest oil reserves in the world.
In August 1990, Iraqi troops invaded and
occupied Kuwait, leading to worldwide protest and an immediate
rise in oil prices.
In a military operation codenamed "Desert
Shield", 30 countries sent forces to Saudi Arabia to
protect oil supplies.
The UN announced that if Iraq did not withdraw
from Kuwait by January 15, 1991, force would be used.
When Iraq failed to withdraw its forces,
the UN ordered an attack codenamed "Desert Storm".
The UN allies launched a heavy six-week
bombing campaign, followed by a ground invasion of Kuwait,
which was liberated in just 100 hours.
On February 28, a ceasefire was agreed and
Iraq gave up claims to Kuwait.
|