Norman Schwarzkopf
Norman Schwarzkopf, (1935- ). US general, who commanded the US-led alliance in the Gulf War against Iraq (1991). The son of a prominent police chief, he quickly made his mark as a young army officer with his remarkable IQ and ebullient personality. The latter is reflected in his nicknames `Stormins Norman’ and ‘The Bear’. During the Vietnam War he was decorated for bravery on five occasions. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Schwarzkopf was appointed overall commander of the multinational force assembled in Saudi Arabia, a job requiring considerable diplomatic as well as military skills. His abilities as a strategist were confirmed by his swift liberation of Kuwait with minimal allied casualties (1991). The many honours he received included an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.