Saddam's generals
Subtitle: perspectives of the Iran-Iraq War
By: Kevin M. Woods ... [et al.].
Contributors: Woods, Kevin M.; Woods, Kenneth M.; National Intelligence Council (U.S.)
Publisher: Institute for Defense Analyses
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Alexandria, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 238
ISBN-13: 9780160896132
Subjects: Military History; Personal narratives; Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988
Other titles: Perspectives of the Iran-Iraq War
Description: Among the insights gained were: 1) the growth of Iraqi intelligence capabilities during the war's course, 2) the growth of Saddam's perceptions on the nature of war and his broadening understanding of the naval and air wars, 3) the development of Iraqi military doctrine, 4) the lack of a clear strategic or operational vision among Iraq's leaders, military as well as civilian, at the beginning of the war, and 5) the difficulties the Iraqis confronted in incorporating technology and modern conceptions of war into military organizations that did not possess a high level of education"--p. 5-6.

These were Major General Mizher Rashid al-Tarfa al-Ubaydi, a senior officer and section leader in Iraq's military intelligence service dealing with Iran during the conflict; Major General (ret) Aladdin Hussein Makki Khamas, corps chief of staff, division commander, and director of Iraq's Combat Development Directorate during the war; Lieutenant General Abid Mohammed al-Kabi, commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Navy from 1982 to 1988; and Major General 'Alwan Hassoun 'Alwan al-Abousi, a squadron and wing commander during the conflict. As a result of these interviews, the Project 1946 team deepened and extended its understanding of a number of aspects and incidents during the period.

Overview: This monograph represents a continuation of a series of research efforts designed to extend the knowledge of the contemporary Middle East, military history, and Iraqi military effectiveness during the course of three major wars: the Iran-Iraq War, the First Gulf War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. This second volume is based on interviews with figures significant in the Iran-Iraq War, extensive examination and study of captured Iraqi records, and a review of secondary sources. The interviews presented here involve not only lengthy discussions with Lieutenant General Ra'ad Majid Rashid al-Hamdani, staff officer and battalion commander during the Iran-Iraq War, whom the Project 1946 research team had interviewed before, but similar types of discussions with a number of senior Iraqi military leaders who played key parts in the Iran-Iraq War.
Notes: "This ... volume is based on interviews with figures signigicant in the Iran-Iraq War, extensive examination and study of captured Iraqi records, and a review of secondary sources ... As a result of these interviews .. among the insights gained were: 1) the growth of Iraqi intelligence capabilities during the war's course, 2) the growth of Saddam's perceptions on the nature of war and his broadening understanding of the naval and air wars, 3) the development of Iraqi military doctrine, 4) the lack of a clear strategic or operational vision among Iraq's leaders, military as well as civilian, at the beginning of the war, and 5) the difficulties the Iraqis confronted in incorporating technology and modern conceptions of war into military organizations that did not possess a high level of education"--p. 5-6.

Pages A1-2: bibliography; p. B1-13, colored maps; p. C1-2, index of themes.

"This work was conducted under contract ... for the National Intelligence Council"--p. [iv].

Shipping list no.: 2012-0040-P.
Table of contents: title: Foreword; title: Introduction; title: Summary and analysis; title: Background; title: Origins and planning for war; title: Saddam's education in war; title: Adaption of Iraqi military forces to the reality of war; title: Technology, intelligence, and the war; title: Final comments; title: Historical context and timeline; title: Interview: Lieutenant General Ra'ad Majid Rashid al-Hamdani; title: Section 1: Senior leadership; title: Foreign assistance; title: Officer Corps; title: Saddam's personality; title: First Gulf War; title: Section 2: Chemical weapons; title: Conditions and events leading to the Iran-Iraq War; title: Military training; title: Section 3: Personal interactions with Saddam; title: Senior leadership; title: Section 4: Officer Corps; title: Loss of Fao (1986); title: Recovery of Fao (1988); title: Intelligence capabilities; title: Fourth Battle of Basra (1986); title: Fifth Battle of Basra (1987); title: Section 5: Expansion of Iraqi military; title: Military training; title: End of Iran-Iraq War; title: Interview: Major General Mizher Rashid al-Tarfa al-Ubaydi; title: Section 6: Personal background; title: Attitudes toward Iran; title: Expansion of Iraqi intelligence; title: Section 7: Loss of Fao (1986); title: General military intelligence directorate; title: Iranian intelligence capabilities; title: Deception operations; title: Section 8: Senior leadership; title: SIGINT; title: Foreign assistance; title: Attitudes toward Iran; title: Interview: Major General (ret) Aladdin Hussein Makki Khamas; title: Section 9: Personal background; title: Saddam's personality; title: Senior leadership; title: Events leading to Iran-Iraq War; title: Preparations for Iran-Iraq War; title: Section 10: Battle of Allahu Akbar Hill; title: First Battle of Basra (1982); title: Battle at al-Amara; title: Second Battle of Basra (1984); title: Battles at Abadan and Ahvaz (1980); title: Battle at Susangard (1980); title: Section 11: Adaptation in Iraqi military; title: Combat development directorate; title: Military training; title: Section12: Chemical weapons; title: NCO Corps; title: Iranian operations and tactics; title: Saddam's personality; title: Interview: Lieutenant General Abid Mohammed al-Kabi; title: Section 13: Personal background; title: History of Iraqi navy; title: Expansion of naval involvement in Iran-Iraq War; title: Preparation for Iran-Iraq War; title: Foreign technology; title: Section 14: Defensive naval operations (1980-82); title: Offensive Naval Operations (1982-86); title: Naval operations after the loss of Fao (1986-88); title: Intelligence capabilities and bombing of USS Stark; title: Section 15: Shatt al-Arab; title: Attacks on Iranian oil terminals; title: Loss of Fao (1986); title: Bombing of USS Stark; title: Recovery of Fao (1988); title: Section 16: Intelligence capabilities; title: Development of navy and naval operations; title: Significance of Iranian operations; title: Saddam and senior leadership; title: Interview: Major General 'Alwan Hassoun 'Alwan al-Abousi; title: Section 17: Personal background; title: State of Iraqi Air Force readiness; title: Initial air strikes (Fall 1980); title: Planning and training; title: Foreign technology; title: Saddam's personality; title: Intelligence and the bombing of Osirak Reactor; title: Section 18: Long-range strikes; title: Military cooperation; title: Foreign technology; title: Chemical weapons; title: Intelligence; title: Section 19: Attitudes toward the Air Force; title: Air defense systems; title: Bombing of USS Stark; title: Section 20: Senior leadership; title: Foreign assistance; title: Iraqi F-1s shot down by Saudi F-15s during First Gulf War; title: Evacuation of Iraqi fighters to Iran during First Gulf War; title: War of the cities; title: Appendix A: References; title: Appendix B: Place names index and reference maps; title: Map 1: Iraq, with North, Central and South regions outlined; title: Map 2A: Southern Iraq, Iraqi offensives, 1980; title: Map 2B: Southern Iraq, extent of Iraqi advances, 1981-82; Iranian offensives; extent of Iranian advances during the war; Basra defenses 1982-87; title: Map 2C: Southern Iraq, Iraqi offensives, 1988; title: Map 3A: Central Iraq, Iraqi offensives, 1980; title: Map 3B: Central Iraq, extent of Iraqi advances, 1981-82; Iranian offensives; extent of Iranian advances during the war; title: Map 3C: Central Iraq, Iraqi offensives, 1988; title: Map 4A: Northern Iraq, Iraqi offensives, 1980; title: Map 4B: Northern Iraq, extent of Iraqi advances, 1981-82; Iranian offensives; extent of Iranian advances during the war; title: Map 5: Persian Gulf, tanker war; title: Map 6: Persian Gulf, air raids on Iranian islands; title: Map 7: Persian Gulf, attack on Larak Island with mid-air refueling; title: Appendix C: Index of themes; title: Bibliography.