Before the Gulf war, Iraq imported about two-thirds of its food.

ECONOMIST: Iraq

We asked two questions about World War II, Vietnam, the 1991 Gulf War and the current Iraq War.

FORBES: The End Of Vietnam In American Politics

In the first few years after the Gulf war, America took in only about 4, 000 Iraqi refugees a year.

ECONOMIST: Immigration policy

They already spread the lie about "Nayirah" that led into the First Gulf War, the supposed fate of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

FORBES: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

The United States has had about 5, 000 troops stationed in Saudi Arabia since the 1991 Gulf War.

BBC: Saudis criticise US dress-code change

For them, the world was now about international law, and the newfound faith in multilateralism that emerged after the first Gulf War.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Peace through strength in a globalized world

W. Bush learned when his Gulf War popularity numbers had disappeared by election time, people have short memories about foreign policy successes.

FORBES: Why The Change In The Campaign 2012 Polls? The World Is Still A Dangerous Place

Nevertheless, during the Gulf war in 1991 the American air force found that its 2, 000lb (about a tonne) bunker-busters were incapable of piercing some Iraqi bunkers.

ECONOMIST: Bunker-busting

These limitations mean that pupils are not learning about military conflicts that have preceded the current attacks on Afghanistan, such as in the Balkans and the Gulf War.

BBC: Afghan bombsite