The Iraq War Analysis

On September 22, 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, starting a war that continues to devastate both countries. Over one million casualties have been reported. The interest shown in this conventional war had been low due to superpower noninvolvement and restrictions on foreign press agents in the war zone. Yet, because of oil resources, Southwest Asia has been determined to be of vital interest to the United States. The stability of the entire region is jeopardized by this war. This paper began as an analysis of this lengthy war during the period 1983 to 1984. However, such an approach seemed to lack a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the conflict and the reasons the war has lasted as
About 85 percent of the army is now composed of two-year conscripts. Kurds and Shiites, composing some 70 percent of the population, make up the lower ranks of the army. Sunni
Moslems are heavily represented in the NCO ranks and the senior and middle officer level. Senior officers are carefully selected for their loyalty to Hussein and are all members of the Baathist party. dominated by a corps headquarters. The regions correspond to the three major types of terrain and the various force structures reflect this terrain. To the north are mountains, suitable for infantry forces. In the center are plains, ideal for armor. To the south are marshlands, suitable for mechanized operations.14 The 210,000 man army consisted of twelve divisions designed around Soviet and British models as the recent war started. Saddam Hussein, as Commander-in-Chief, exercises very tight control of his forces. Field commanders achieve exactly what is dictated from the headquarters in Baghdad. It would appear that delegation of authority to prosecute the war at the field level has been withheld for political reasons, nullifying the
He was able to unify tribal contingents into effective fighting forces. The Achaemenians placed a high social value on military service, and service was marked by a regimen designed to strengthen the soldier both physically and psychologically. Training began at an early age during which pride was cultivated, and service was 'owed' for most of adulthood. The concept of elitist units was also established by Cyrus.
Supposedly, a force of 10,000 'elite' soldiers, better than run-of-the-mill, would be attached directly to whomever held the throne in order to secure and consolidate the ruler's power.16 Throughout the centuries, there were continual attempts to organize armies from tribal contingents and to centralize government. None were particularly successful until 1730, when
Shah Nadir Quli revamped the army and reestablished the calvary as an elite unit. He then successfully waged war on India and
Bahrain, but was assassinated in 1747. The pattern of rise and fall of governments within Iran continued. The British began to exert influence in the