The late US President George HW Bush in the Middle East

(5 Dec 2018) LEADIN: The funeral of the late US President George HW Bush takes place today. Here’s a look back at his relationship with the Middle East. STORYLINE: George HW Bush’s links to the region stretch back to before his presidency. As Vice President to Ronald Reagan in 1986, he visited Egypt, Israel and Jordan. In Egypt, he turned down a request from President Hosni Mubarak for more US aid. He proposed peace talks between Israel and Jordan, which did not have diplomatic relations at the time. His suggestion was not a great success - it reportedly received a cool reception. Bush’s greatest impact on the Middle East came with the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Bush quickly began building an international military coalition that included other Arab states. After freeing Kuwait, he rejected suggestions that the US carry the offensive to Baghdad, choosing to end the hostilities a mere 100 hours after the start of