The First World War Mesopotamian Campaigns: Military Lessons on Iraqi Ground Warfare

Abstract

In no other time has it been important to re-examine the lessons from the 1914 British and Indian campaigns in Mesopotamia. In Ottoman, Arabic and British sources there are important lessons to be shared with coalition military planners as they work towards stabilizing Iraq despite an increase in insurgency activity. This essay will explore various sources to highlight what can be learned from a campaign in Iraq that was conducted eighty years ago. Much like studying Vietcong, North Korean and Soviet tactics in the cold war, today's staff colleges must look at obscure campaigns in the Middle East, and Africa as we face the problems of religious radicalism, tribal and clan warfare as well as rising nationalism in places like Afghanistan, Somalia and Basilan Island in the Philippines.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA521545

Entities

People

  • Youssef Aboul-enein

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Reconnaissance
  • Artillery
  • Casualties
  • Civil Affairs
  • Civil War
  • First World War
  • Floods
  • Insurgency
  • International Organizations
  • Iraqi-War
  • Joint Military Activities
  • National Politics
  • Security
  • Urban Areas
  • War
  • Warfare
  • Waterways

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.