Military and Strategic Perspectives of the Iran-Iraq War

Abstract

Strategic realities and long-standing national interests all but ensure that the United States will find its military forces involved in the Middle East into the forseeable future. One way to prepare for an uncertain future is to develop a deeper understanding of the relevant past. The legacy of the Iran-Iraq War had a profound impact on the region. Issues of brutal dictatorial regimes, revolutionary religious zeal, deep sectartian divides, complex alliances, the risk of a wider war, all find their contemporary roots in the bloody inconclusive eight-year war that began in 1980. A window into the military and strategic decision making of the Iran-Iraq War can provide insights into the perspectives and world view of regional decision makers still shaping an unfolding future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2015
Accession Number
AD1124084

Entities

People

  • Kevin M. Woods
  • Williamson Murray

Organizations

  • Institute for Defense Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Availability
  • Battlefields
  • Case Studies
  • Casualties
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • Iran Iraq War
  • Iraqi-War
  • Middle East
  • Military Organizations
  • New York
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Philosophy
  • Political Theory
  • Revolutions
  • Supply Chain Management
  • United States
  • Universities
  • War

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Strategic Security Studies