The Gulf War in 1991 was a war that woke up the world. The US navy, air force, and air force conducted joint operations and defeated Saddam's 860,000-strong army in only 42 days through electronic information tactics. For us, this battle became an important turning point in the development of the Chinese military and promoted the modernization of China's military forces.
In this war, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein made a special decision, which is still incomprehensible, in the face of the strong attack of the US military and the indiscriminate bombing of the air force fighters, he chose to bury the more than 800 fighters he has into the desert, instead of using them to confront the US air force.
You know, because of the lack of air power to balance, Iraq's tank armor was destroyed more than 2,000 units, and the losses were huge. Various speculations have been raised as to why Saddam Hussein made this unusual decision. It has been argued that these fighters were supplied to Iraq mainly during the Soviet era, and their maintenance and operation required specific skills and knowledge.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union on 26 December 1991, the Iraqi Air Force may not have the capability to operate the Soviet technicians who had arrived in Iraq with the aircraft. Therefore, even if these fighters are put into the battlefield, they may not be able to play their due role because of the lack of skilled pilots, and eventually become cannon fodder and suffer greater losses.
Second, Saddam Hussein was well aware of the gap in military strength between Iraq and the United States. At that time, the United States far surpassed Iraq in military technology and equipment, especially in terms of air force and air supremacy, which was not at all a level. Therefore, even if Iraq uses all its warplanes to resist, it will be difficult to change the final outcome of the war. Moreover, a protracted war will only deplete Iraq's vital forces and plunge it into a deeper predicament.
Third, the strategy adopted by Saddam Hussein is to preserve his strength and prepare for a comeback in the future. He understands that if Iraq is exhausted in this war, then even if the war ends, the country will face a long period of turmoil and chaos, which will be disastrous for the country and the people.
Therefore, he chose to bury his fighters in the desert and retain his strength so that he could quickly rebuild his army after the war and restore the stability and development of the country.
Saddam's decision also reflects his wisdom and foresight. He knew that in war, sometimes it was more important to preserve strength than to confront it directly. By hiding the fighters, he successfully avoided the strikes of the US military, protected Iraq's military strength, and preserved hope for Iraq's future.
However, the outcome of the Gulf War proved that the difference in strength between the two sides was too great, and Saddam's attempt was ultimately unrealized. After the U.S. military occupied Iraq, these buried warplanes were also found one by one and became part of the trophies of the U.S. military.
In any case, Saddam's decision to hide 800 fighters in the desert was a wise and clever choice. It embodies Saddam's profound understanding and strategic vision of the war situation, retains important military strength for Iraq, and makes sufficient plans for a comeback in the future.
In the end, in the second Gulf War, Saddam Hussein was captured by the US army, tortured for 3 years, and sentenced to death by hanging. This also illustrates the uncertain and brutal nature of war, and it is difficult for even the most resourceful leader to fully control the development of the war.