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Many Americans expected the end of the Cold War in 1991 to usher in a new era of peace in the world. Instead, the United States found itself drawn into a series of smaller, regional wars around the globe. Most of these conflicts were legacies of the Cold War. They resulted from the decisions or policies of the United States or its superpower rival, the Soviet Union. These conflicts were the first major US military operations since the Vietnam War. Some, such as the Persian Gulf War (1990–1991) helped restore faith and confidence in the American military. The campaigns further proved invaluable in providing experience for service members and as opportunities to test weapons and tactics. The lessons from these conflicts would later be incorporated into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.