Doctors note a dramatic rise in lung cancers and respiratory diseases they blame on a toxic fog that lasted six months, until the oil fires were put out. Psychological trauma still marks many survivors of the invasion. Many feel that the liberation of Kuwait gave an opportunity to fix what was wrong with their society, but that the chance was missed. We have to reorganize our house in a better way. After the shock of invasion, the pain of occupation and the promise of liberation, Kuwait fell back into its old habits.
Oil pays for glitter.
Foreigners do the dirty work. Women are still awaiting the vote. Hardly anyone expects Saddam to return anytime soon across the U.N.-monitored border. But rather than build its own army, Kuwait finances a rotating force of 5,000 American and British soldiers. Some of the old certainties are gone.