Read the report from the focus groups and write a memorandum to the Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney, that describes what sort of intervention the American people want (or don’t want), public expectations for a “successful” intervention.

Assignment Question

Bush Focus Group, Persian Gulf 1990 Claiming his neighboring country of Kuwait of stealing oil from his country, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein invades with 100,000 troops on August 2, 1990. Here is a short history: https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/persian-gulf-war. The use of force is a no-brainer for America, right? Not so fast. After years of struggle and loss of blood and treasure in Vietnam, the American people were skittish about another lengthy and taxing war. The Bush White House recognized this reluctance but could not ignore the serious foreign policy problem bubbling in the oil-rich Middle East. The White House turned to focus groups in December of 1990 to help them understand the dynamics of public opinion on the subject and the boundaries of possible intervention in Iraq.

Read the report from the focus groups and write a memorandum to the Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney, that describes what sort of intervention the American people want (or don’t want), public expectations for a “successful” intervention, how far a military strategy can go without violating public opinion, and what language the White House can use to persuade the American people that intervention may be necessary