Triggered by its invasion of Kuwait, Iraq was pitted against a 32-nation coalition of forces commanded by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, whose air attacks led the way for a ground war that met with success in less than four days. Although the coalition was victorious, Saddam Hussein held on as president of Iraq. "War in the Persian Gulf: Primary Sources "covers the pre-war events; Operation Desert Shield, the U.S. effort to prevent an Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia; and Operation Desert Storm, the conflict that ended in the Iraqi defeat and the liberation of Kuwait.