Product Description

The Iran-Iraq War, which ended in August 1988, one month short of its eighth anniversary, was one of the longest, bloodiest and costliest third world armed conflicts in the 20th century. This volume addresses the causes of the Iran-Iraq War, unpacking the objectives of the two belligerents and examining how far objectives were matched by strategy. It assesses the war's military lessons regarding such key areas as strategy, tactics and escalation and in particular the use of non-conventional weapons. Finally, it examines the utility of armed forces as an instrument of foreign policy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57114 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

About the Author
Efraim Karsh is Professor and Head of the Mediterranean Studies Programme at King's College, University of London. He has held various academic posts at the Sorbonne, the London School of Economics, Columbia University, Helsinki University and Tel-Aviv University. Professor Karsh has published extensively on Middle Eastern affairs, Soviet foreign policy and European neutrality.

Customer Reviews

Concise military account of 1980-88 war
Very readable and informative (and concise, it's not very long) account of one the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century. It's part of a series on military history, which in a way, as the author acknowledges, limits its usefulness as the war, for both sides, was far more a political battle than anything else. The politicians in both Tehran and Baghdad rarely allowed their generals to conduct the war in the way they wanted, and this tended to prolong the agony of the people on both sides. The conflict was very important in bolstering support for the Islamic Republic at home and in consolidating the alliance between Saddam Hussein and the west. The scale of suffering that resulted is still hinted at in the battlefields of eastern Iraq today - mines being just one very dangerous scar. Kissinger famously remarked that "it's a pity both sides can't lose" which sadly reflects an all too prevalent inhuman indifference of the US and the international community to the Iraqi and Iranian people.

Informative read
This seems to be one of the few books dedicated to the Iran Iraq War. As with all the 'Essential Histories' books this takes a very brief look at the subject, making it easly readable within a few hours. It covers the reasons for war, the sides and their supporters, and the offensives of the war. None of the battles are really covered (not that i could name any)but thats no bad thing.