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K E V I N M . W O O D S ,

W I L L I A M S O N M U R R A Y, a n d

T H O M A S H O L A D A Y

w i t h M O U N I R E L K H A M R I

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About the Authors

Kevin M. Woodsis a member of the research staff at the Institute forDefense Anayses (IDA) and since 2003 has been the task eader ofthe Iraqi Perspectives Project. Recent pubications incudeThe Iraqi

Perspectives Report: Saddams Senior Leadership on Operation IraqiFreedom, andThe Mother of all Battles: Saddam Husseins StrategicPlan for the Persian Gulf War.

Williamson Murrayis professor emeritus at The Ohio State Universityand senior feow at IDA. He is the author of numerous books and arti-ces. His recent works incudeThe Iraq War: A Military History, The Pastis Prologue(ed.), andA War To Be Won: Fighting the Second World War.

Thomas Holadayhas a degree in Phiosophy and a minor in Arabic fromGeorgetown University. Since joining IDA, he has researched the miitary-

strategic history of Iraq whie working on the Iraqi Perspectives Project. Mounir Elkhamriis a Midde East miitary anayst and inguist forthe U.S. Army Foreign Miitary Studies Office. His artices incudeDeaing with the Iraqi popuace: an Arab-American sodiers perspec-tive (Military Review) and Irans Contribution to the Civi War in Iraq(Jamestown Foundation).

Laila Sabarais senior inguist for both the Terrorism PerspectivesProject and the Iraqi Perspectives Project at IDA. Previousy, she workedas an Arab inguist supporting the U.S. Senate and the Departments of

Defense, Homeand Security, and Justice.

The National Defense University (NDU) educates military and civilianleaders through teaching, research, and outreach in national security strategy,national military strategy, and national resource strategy; joint and multinationaloperations; information strategies, operations, and resource management;acquisition; and regional defense and security studies.

The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is a policy research

and strategic gaming organization within NDU serving the Department of Defense,its components, and interagency partners. Established in 1984, the instituteprovides senior decisionmakers with timely, objective analysis and gaming eventsand supports NDU educational programs in the areas of international securityaffairs and defense strategy and policy. Through an active outreach program,including conferences and publications, INSS seeks to promote understandingof emerging strategic challenges and policy options.

The National Defense University Press publishes books, monographs,reports, and occasional papers on national and international security affairs,defense policy, and military strategy, primarily the output of university research

and academic programs. In addition, it produces Joint Force Quarterly, aprofessional military and security studies journal published for the Chairmanof the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Cover: A view from Wasit Province, Iraq, across the border into Iran (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tiffany Dusterhoft)

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Kevin M. Woods, Williamson Murray,and Thomas Holaday

with Mounir Elkhamri

InstItute for natIonal strategIc studIes

natIonal defense unIversIty

WashIngton d.c.

9

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t pii i mmi xp impiwii i p iw dpm d f gm. ti pb-ii i pbi ; iibi imi.

exp mp p 47 51 5 68 pi i wk mb q pi wi pmii pi ii i i. ndu P w ppi p pi iw.

This work was conducted under contract DASW01-04-C-003, Task ET-8-2579 or the

National Intelligence Council. The publication o this IDA document does not in-

dicate endorsement by the Department o Deense, nor should the contents be

construed as reecting the ofcial position o the Agency.

2007, 2008 Institute or Deense Analyses, 4850 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria,

Virginia 22311-1882 (703) 845-2000.

This material may be reproduced by or or the U.S. Government pursuant to the

copyright license under the clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 (Nov 95).

First printing, March 2009

ISSN 10717552

NDU Press publications are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Ofce. For ordering

information, call (202) 512-1800 or write to the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.

Government Printing Ofce, Washington, DC 20402. For the U.S. Government On-line

Bookstore, go to:

.

For current publications o the Institute or National Strategic Studies, go to the NDU

Press Web site at:.

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iii

c

fw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix

P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi

Ii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii

smm ai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

g cmm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

t ab-Ii W ri

B P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bw 197 W

I-Iq W (1981988) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

t I-Iq W (1981988) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

t I-Iq c-W i 199 . . . . . . 17

cmm sm hi Pii

Mii l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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iv

t Iiw. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

dii o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19ab-Ii W 1967 197 Mii tii Bi r

dii tw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Iqi Mii Pii tii 197 P I-Iq W tii Ii lip Mii dii I sm apii ei P W Pii Pisi diiz cmm c Ii opi

dii t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Early Use of Air Power SIGINT [Signals Intelligence] Wi 1981981Iqi cmm c sm rp fi exi 198198 l am expi dpm Ii Iqif

dii f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

sm P Pi dpm J 1981 amB Ii hm W ti Iqi Mii Kmii spii- I B ab Km l spi f e Iii Iqi oi i M 1981

dii fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491981198 tb i t Ii Iii ti 198 ak B 19841988 M Iii Iqi eii e

Ii spp I cmi Wp u Ii r-sponse to Weapons of Mass Destruction Postwar Preparations with WMD 198198 rizi rii rpbi g P-i spp sm tp Pw rpbi g ri-zi

dii six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6smm 198 Ii oi i hj um n Mi op-i Ki spp a 1-kim f t dm

B upib Ii s ti fb 1984Iqi 6 am diii l Ii M opi Iidpm si spp i M 1985

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v

dii s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71986 Al-Fao Campaign and Baghdads Misinterpretation of Iranian Strategy

ti i Iqi lip Pi W opi Dawn Iqic cmpii Bi Mi

dii ei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77rpbi g expi rp a-f hi Km g hmi cmm ob 1987 Ii ak B c Ii smj: t smm I-Iq W hmiv f Bi cii

dii ni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8J 1987 rpbi g cmm c Bi Mii h-bj f P-1987 si i ci f w IqPi e a-f oi u hip f 1988 J1988 Iqi Ii az Mji--Kq

dii t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9fi Iqi Mii sm dim I hm-

i e Imp Iqi Mii c Qii Mii o Pi l l m I-Iq W fi fw

W sm Ppi vi W

dii e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95si W h 197 opi Iraqi Freedom sm Mi-i W hmi rii u.s. s i u-i o em

dii tw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1199 Mii Pi i I hii expi I-Iqci rii ei em emi ri ap(Pi g) s -ab I Bim Kmii Pci Ii Q I

dii ti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Pi Ii a Ii s Iis a exi Ii Mii dpm cp-biii Mii Ii t Iq Iii I a

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vi

Iqi ciii Ii Miii Iqi Mii dpmi 1991 cpi tib

dii f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119r rii i I-Iq ci hpi Iqi oi aiI P Ppi Ii I i Iq abi B- K ai Mii sik Mii-Ii cmpx y Ii gi sm Wp si ti op-i obji Ii l l Ii Mii d

dii fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17am opi B Wi Mi sm Mi-i Mii t Ii hip tk cp-biii l l ai Iq I c i Iicmm c Ii ti opi dpm

dii six. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1rmmi u.s. ai i Iq m M 7

e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Bibip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Ix tm i dii . . . . . . . . . . 144

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vii

fi

fi 1. fz h m i gs gm am i W W II . . . . . xiii

fi . g r hmi () m Iqi

rpbi g cp mm xpi

i 1986 Ii p a-f

mmb Pj 1946 m . . . xi

fi . t iii Iqi ii I spmb 198 . 9fi 4. t w (i

Km) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

fi 5. s w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

fi 6. g hmi k Ii

iii i 198 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

fi 7. Ii Dawn i

1981986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

fi 8. Ii Dawn i

1981986 . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

fi 9. Bb s -ab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

fi 1. Mp K-simi b

wi g hmi mki . . . . . . . . .117

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fw

W m mj mb pi p op-

i Iraqi Freedom w bi ni p qi w k:

hw i i sm hi im k m Iqi

ppi? t qi w p Ji a Wii Pm

Ii d a ii Iqi Ppi Pj (IPP)

p b u.s. Ji f cmm i -

m i ppi mi wi m i pi.

t IPP i mii b i 1946 w m u.s.

am ii ii i bi iip wi m

mmb gm g s p i mii

m mii pi iw. ti m mk xi m

m i p ni Ii ci -

mp b pm Mi e mii i m ppi

li g r hmi w i opi Iraqi Freedom m-m sm hi II rpbi g cp. Iiw mb

b pj Ki W ii Wiim Wik M

g hmi i kw b wi bj wi pi-

mpi i xpi i Iq w i I.

t pj, bji w p i p izi

mpi ii mp Iq. ti m i i i i

pi wi p i wi imp i Mi e

mii w Iqi mii ibi i mi i w i i u.s. i.

K lw di

Ji a Wii diii

Ii d a

ix

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xi

P

ti pp w pp k s Mii hi

(Pj 1946) ni Ii ci. I p

k bji :

npi i p izi mpi ii

mp Iq

nimpi xpi i Iq i i

npii i i izi wi ii bk

mi pii pi pi i -m

i i

nimii ii u.s. pbiii b -

i p

n ppi i pi pi b impi u.s. -

i ab mii w Iqi mii ibi -i i mi.

t Ji a Wii Pm (JaWP) w bi

Ii d a (Ida) p Ji a Wi-

i diii imi ii bk

. I i p b u s d aqiii t-

lii; u s d Pi; vi ci-

m Ji ci s; cmm u.s. Ji f cmm

(usJfcoM). JaWP i mii p ji im m si iii pii m Ida. t pm i i axi

viii i i i nk viii ii ii

wi usJfcoM.

ti pp i iw Ida p

JaWP. o i i im i ii im i

ii m mi.

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xiii

Ii

I 1946 m u.s. am ii ii i bi

-m x wi p m mmb gm

g s. ti pm pp pm p iz-

i mpi ii gm mii mi ii

u.s. mii i W W II.

I ii pii ib k ami mii pbiii

i m m gm i i-

pi ki m p am ik

i pm pi w e f. W b ib

w i w ik i si am mb i i ep

gm? t pm i -i imp i-

i pj im ii U.S. Army in World War IIi i

( g Bk) pm c W mii i m-

pi mp im u.s. pi i 199 i Bk.

fi 1. Franz Halder, ormer Chie o the General Sta o the German Army

in World War II

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xiv

six u.s. gm xmi

i ii pi miipp. t Iqi Ppi Pj (IPP) m pi m-

bii iiw m Iqi i wi p Iqi m

m b i kw ami pi i

i.1 ti qik k i i mpi pi i p-

mp bi p mp i i

Mi e. B i p i wi gm i wi

W W II IPP xp mp ii p -

m pi w wi pi qi.nm Pj 1946 i xp p p p -

i i b xmii i p. a x wi -

m i Iqi mii p p w kw pi xp-

i i 197 ab-Ii W mpi i K I-Iq W

fi .General Raad Hamdani (lef), ormer Iraqi Republican Guard Corpscommander, explains details o the 1986 Iranian capture o Al-Fao tomembers o the Project 1946 research team

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PART ONE. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS xv

opi Desert Storm, 1991 pii mii pi pi

i opi Iraqi Freedom. M w kw

pi b ii i pii i mii m-i Mi e.

t k Pj 1946 i p i p izi

mpi ii mp Iq mii. B pki

ii w m b i p wi x-

p i Iq i i. M p-

i x i p i ii p i p-

ii pi pi i i pi -m

i . I w i Pj 1946 imi i

p ii i u.s. pbiii b

. fi mi i m i pp i p-

i pi b impi i ab mii

mii pbiii i i mi. f Pj 1946

ib xp i i mp ii k

m iiw m Iqi mii p pii mmi Iqi

mp ii b ii .

ti Mni Pp i ii i w p. P o i mm

mj ii ip b b i iiw g

hmi. P tw p i i ipi 16 iiw

i. t iiw p i i wi -

w ii . t p mj m

ii i bii iiw i ix

pbi ii. a bibip i i.

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P o.smm ai

t pp Pj 1946 i p p b -i Mi e mii i. ti pj ik imi

pW W II pj ipi i im xpi mii-

i b xmii m iiwi

piip m i i. ti ppi m m

w pi wi b. n j ib

gm mii xpi 6 pii c

W pbiii Pj 1946 ( imi ) pi imp i

Mi e i wk opi Iraqi Freedom.a m m m Ii d a

(Ida) u.s. am fi Mii si oi J

16 m iiw 8 im ii wi

li g r hmi (m p mm i sm h-

i rpbi g). g hmi pi i

p Iq piipi i 197 ab-Ii W wi i m-

m II rpbi g cp i B i op-

i Iraqi Freedom.

t pii pi i w Iq wwi I (1981988) pi w wi I 1988.

t ii wi g hmi pi ii i m

sm im i ii-mii i

I-Iq W i wk wii Ii pp

w b i 198 b. t ii ip

wk i bk pi . hmi

i B-b si ab w i mb wi mmi - . I m p i mm pi wi i p

-- i mp mii ip w ib

m i mwk mii piim m.

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2 SADDAM'S WAR

B immi p ii hmi ip i

m mpi i i mii

x w b i immi xpi mim

biz sm im.

I w i iiw wi hmi i pk ei

wi ei wi ib mpi. 4 t

i m i p k wi iii w

b i mii xpi i w i wi p-

iip wi pi imp i i.

tpi ii m m immi i

m pi i i I-Iq W ip bw

qim i (ii w ) i pii -

m mii izi pi mp i

w i pi w b wii pi

jm w i ppi mi pp bi. I

p a r Kmii I sm Iq xibi i-

b imiii sm im p

i w i I. o ppi i Kmii i w

ii pp i i i

bi ii iim i pii w imp .g hmi i mm w m

ami mii imp im i b 199 . Pi i-

i w i iw u.s. am w pi i

Mi eii I d f. W pi imp

im i 199 w i u.s. si si-Kwii b i

b m K m i pi opi Desert Shield

pi mp w 1 iii

bi. h im i bi im ami pp i iipi.

t m ii m i P tw k p 4-

pi i M 7. Ki W Wiim M i m q-

ii wi tm h ii mim i abi

mim i ei. t x wi ii k p

w mximm x i w- qi i

m ii.

sm m ii ii ii b wi

xmii hmi mii b B p m

Iq i mii izi. g hmi Iqi

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AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 3

m immi 1967 six-d W Ii i

mp mii si ep J i biz-

ki mpi wk.

h miii 1967 p -

i pii ii i Iq ( ab i) b B

pw b i pp piim i Iqi m

xi b. t i piim p xpi im-

pm i ii biii mi ip i 197 ab-Ii

W.5 ab mi ii Iq k ii ii m i

i b six-d W. t i i Ii m m

m . t b 197 Iqi m w i ii

p i m B i g i b

w wi pii i. ci i kw m hmi

mm i i m i w ji i

kw m pi pmi Ii i.

g hmi piip i 197 ii g

mp i. t Iqi im w b p imp-

i i b ki k Ii w-iii i

dm. W Ii w i i m.

hii w Iqi k p Ii i m i w w epi w

b mp i bk m pii bk sz c.

W w pi ii b hmi mm w i i

197 w p iii i pi Iqi mii p-

iim. t ii mm m Iq g w b m

immi pi b Iqi i b

i i ii g hi bm

m i Iqi m.

I immi m 197 ab-Ii W Iqi

i i imp m piim

pp. g hmi im Iqi m i wm

b B p pii i i

m ab-Ii W. a mb im i k i i mi m -

. o w ab mi m ib ii

i i kw i iii i i

m ab wi mpi i Ii p.

I w hmi ab mi m

m pii i i ii i i pi

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4 SADDAM'S WAR

w mi pp w k b Bii am. I

Ii m m Wm wi i mpi p

m iz ip ik ki. t -

i i w i ii g w

Ii p m qik w i

i i ab pp. t i wk w

i imp i w wi I b i i Iqi pm

i w w i u.s.- ii.

g hmi mi w i pbm wi

piim i w i i Iqi m ( ab mi

m). M ip ib ii i mii i w

mii izi (-ab) mi p. ti im bw

hmi i w mii piim b i

Iqi m w i sm B p xp

i hmi mii .

fwi 197 w B b mk i i m

piim. t p i mii ii mpiz

pii i imp m i ji i i-

pmi. sm iz pw i 1979

piiizi m. W i i p B b b i Bi i b

Bi i. t mpi w w pii ibii

qi bi i mii piim.

M im i sm pm mb i

mj bq mm iii wi

qii m ii imi mm

pii. n pii i i imp m mii

i i w wi m ib.n i w pii ppp pii i; m

w mp i i. B sm pm m b

w i pii . M i m hmi pi

iw mm i bi bi pi i bi

mii xpi. M i pi m

wi mi qipp m i-

mm. I w w i ii-

i p mm.

dpi B i w m imp p-

iim Iqi m i m 1967 197 i p

iii i iii Iq i i Ii i

m i i. B pbm Iqi

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mii w i pii m w i i

i pi i mi pmi w.6

ni Iqi Ii pp i w i

pii m w pii . a bii i

ppi i i qim mii

i iii i w . ti i w

ii piii ii w pb xii -

i mii mm bi wi i mi w p pi i

i . a w i m Iq I

m i i p p p

im wm m. ti i m i b i

b i pii ip w bi

mii pi p ii bi.

B i (sm hi a Kmii) iii

im i pp imi : b i -

i imii i mii iii i

i pp.

sm bi mii i w m wim i mi m pii m i

i ii izi iipi. t im b b-

i xmpii b i p ii ab i w b

m mii i. a hmi mi i sm

i wi ami i p iii-

i pii ami mii.

Kmii q mii i b-

i wi ii iim. o m i b a- sm j i i bi mm

w i mb i i p i b m

W W I pp.7 e i w i mi w pi i

Iqi ppi iii p mm.

fm sm pi iw s Mmm rz Pi

pii b Kmii ii i pi

p ppi im i I. M mb Iq i

i (m b ppi i i pii b sm)

bi pp p s m m w b

piki . W w im hmi w

w x sm p i m w i I xp pp

pi i i Pi. 8

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6 SADDAM'S WAR

I ii pp b w pii mi s-

m ii w: i b 1975 Iq

i wi s wi ww Pi g; m imp i i Pi p

pi iimizi Iq im i p ep

p-ab mm. ti mii w i-

aw s w i ii cmp di wi I

k ep - jii mp. I w sm

w imi m epi Pi gm ab-ni m m

i s.

ai hmi Iqi mii mpi p

i m pi bji i i . sm p-

p bi ii w qik Kmii

pm b im w m w I

Iqi. t iii Iqi pi w i w I wi

miii i i xp ii iib i.

t mj pbm w i sm ip

piiiz m i w i w b m

wii pi i wi m i-

i. e i i m mi Bi im miiiimki p mj w i

pi. dp i i iz m Ii Iqi m

w pp iii Ii. M k -

p ii iim . Mwi i pimii

p w ii m i mm sm mi i

i biii i .

a hmi m ib pi pp

sm w w b iz pi I w Iq (pmi i -

) w i Z Mi wi Ii w

p m . ti w mpi

Ii pp i mii i Iqi. B

ii w sm izi i

wi I w ik b mi w. cq

pi piii Iqi m k ib i w

i i. s pp w i im

i b i ii i i- mpi

p. M w i i sm bi i w

ppw i Kmii Imi rpbi w p m

w i i qik i.

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o i i i m

w iimki p . Kmii m

i wi Iq g-i ppi ii i

i pii pp i t. M i p ppi

i w i m i

sm m w s b i im i mi-197

Iq Pi. I pp Kmii i i i

i mii ii sm.

ai hmi ii Kmii pi w w

bi ii iim i b Pi iim -

wm i i i p. a m i bi Kmii

w p wii mk p wi Iq mp i. I

w bk w m w w mi bm i

pi w i pi i mii

ik ib im i ppi Iq mii

mj i. t wi sm w ki p i P-

i w ki mpi mp w sm im

i pm b si ppp im.9

t Ii mii mb i pbm. fm w

i p wii Ii i p i pii ii i w ii

ppii s im. I mii b p

s wm w im i . e p

Ii mii i i wi i pii m. Mii

piim w imp i b Kmii im. t -

i pi mii i I w mb i miii. n

miii i mii ii hmi w ib

i p wi i i i.t miiii m m m p wi

imm wi pii mbii ip bi

ii iiii mb i wi . l Ii

mm pp m mp m i w

i pi q mi b. ti m w xpi

m Ii i b i Iqi w mii pii i mp

i b Iqi ii b b iiii - mii-

pi. t pk Ii mii pi

m i pi i 4 i.

Wi miii w imp i m pii

wii t mii ii mi iji

wi i i i m Kmii pp

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8 SADDAM'S WAR

xibii i i i pii i mii iii. n pii

i i i w i wii-

m m p i mii pi wi

m. a i i m i bi ii w k i-

bi. t Ii i mi imii miii

imp w. M m w k w

Ii miii . t w pi

mii ii i W W I.

uik i B w sm mp i

x ppi mii mm m w i i t. vi i

imm k i i wi

ii pii w w i jki pii

Kmii. e i w w i I k pp

bji i i i i pi w.

M b ib wi i wi ii i

i m pi . ti ii k

mii i m ii pii i t w

w pp i w.

ai hmi i i

mii ppi i. o mbk p w bb

i ii wi p mp mbiiz

pp bii p i i. sm p-w

i k i mii ii Iqi m

i i-i mm pi i p-

Km w wi bji.1 t w i b wi

bmbm b i w w i bwt B. Wi Ii p wi ib iim

ip i p iii

Iqi m. t b Km (ob 64 198) p b

i b i i wi i 7 i.

e Iqi ipw i pii k mi w

b i.

I zi Ii mii pi i i m -

i hmi pp b i Ii i.

I m miii mm pp b m

(w p mmi i r am

i W W II) p Iqi m w i wi i

ii wi i ii. M i t m

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imp b m i ii pp. o pi

i i b i mipi mpi. nw i

ii i ib ii ib

pi i pp b ki - p m i

I i mii . t i mb i k p m

Ii i w.

Kmii p iii Iqi ii wi mi mbiiz-

i I wi pi mb m miii w

mw w wii i m. I wi i ppi

j iii Iq i i . n Kmii

m mii piim. t

w wi Iq I i b pii i m

s m w i p. hmi i

p Ii i i mii mp

jm w ii mm w w . M

i miii ip i i i xpii xpi

i ii i i.

Ii wi mi mbiizi Kmii p-

bii i i Mi e m i ii

Ii qi wp k w i p kp i ii . I ii w Iqiwi -

m si W wpw b i i i-

pbiii w b i. ai hmi I k

pii m wp w p k

wp p qi b s i i i

pp b imiii m m i. ti w i

i i wmp ik f Pi mi -

B b i p Ii ii i i i pp B w m ii .

a iii i I m Iqi p

i m mpx pi. M i hm-

i pii i k xpi iii mpx m m

wii k i m i bi. t w i i

bii i 1981 Iqi bk b -

i pi i ii.11 t sm m w

m i mpi pii ibii i w wii

w pm w ip m mii mp.

si hmi mpiz i i sm i

p pii i i bi p p-

i i i iip.

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10 SADDAM'S WAR

B mi-198 Iqi m biiz mii ii bk

i w i. hmi ii pi pi m-

bi wi m pp p mj i bii i b. hw

Iq pi p wi b 198 b m

mp x b i . dpi

i w b w mp bi Iqi pi -

mi i. t i ji i

xpi Iqi m m b qi qi i

qii pi pi pp w p .

t mii i ii sm i 198 bi m mbiizi Iqi i. B pi iz i

Iq i w qik i w bi p. I

rpbi g pi i mm wi

xibii i pi i Ii i. t rpbi-

g w m k i mj Ii i

wi mk m ii i pi. t Ii -

i bii i mm 198 wp ik B m

Ii p wk i Iqi . t Ii i i mi mpi i w

i p si i w p i iii m

I (wi i ).1 n Ii i pi p

imm p Iqi .

t Kmii mii b m

miii w ii bmi -i m i m i

m w k ib ii. t k m

i imi p Ii p Iqi b wi mi i b i p-

i m p i i b pi Iqi m wi m

wi i m . simi i w

wmp w i p Ii B b

m p b i B w Iqi.

B i pi i w i iii ii -

p Iqi i p wi pi sm

mbiizi . si Iqi w b mbiiz ii

Ii bi i i w B

mi pp B.

t i pi ppi i w i-

i. t Ii i m w k im wmi

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Iqi pii impi i . o Iqi i

w i i mj k xp w imp

pii . r w ii m i pib

k. t Iqi (pi sm) w p i ii bi-

i i iw i ib Ii w w

Kmii i.

I 198 i i i i k i B -

Ii p mj i i pp B

mi pi. ti im i hm-

i w bi i Iqi i w

i bi i m .1 I i K sm

bk p wi Ii -k.14 I pp Kmii w pi bi p i

mii mm i mj imi 1981 -

k i sm.

t Ii i w . fi w Ii

ibii m b i m i pi

pbii xpi i w . t i i-

w k piim i Ii mii

pii w pp p m (i mi) i Ii i i iimki. t

pi Iqi pi w i pp

w ii i iii qik m w

m i m Ii i .

M Iqi i w bii xibi m w

w p pi w.

a i m w i Ii bm

ii pii iii m i i. I i w pi i pp. t i mi i B

i i wmp i izi

B j ib . B w w

p mb m Iq pi m

bk b -i i i m k ii

ippi i ki Ii. a w k

i W W I ii w i mii qipp

i i i p ii i wi bi

b i ii . B 1984 w Iqi b mi-

wp wi i pi m imp i i

Ii pp . t wp w i

mi w.15

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12 SADDAM'S WAR

I w i i pi w hmi i i m -

im. a im w bi mm i k

bi i mii mp imp

i p i w i i pi. h i sm

w w tiq aziz i i i bi. sm

pp m w i w i i mb Iq

pp m piip i w w w i B -

im. hw sm pi hmi wi m ii: w

i i Ii b impii i i b.

g hmi i i i k b -

mi i . t i bi wi Q sm

i pp pbb kp im pi i mi-199 i mii i i sm iw.

t Ii i ip m bii . I 1986

i i f Pi B. ci Iqi

iz pi wi ji mpibi i pp

b i. t Iqi i m B xp k

B m w mp pp Ii ik f. M i qik wi mii Ii . I

m f Pi Iqi k p b b

i k mbii. n pii Iqi k w

mp i.

I f mpi i im i w b Ii i-

p iii mii piim. t m

p i wi miimizi Iqi. t mj

i wmp i mk p m pi. f -k i i mpibi pp

mb m b i . t i iii i

p p pi ii

wmp pi. ai hmi n K pi -

pii mb ii i pp Kmii . Pp

m iii Ii m i mim pi b-

w m m i miii. ti w m

p pi wi 1985/1986 wi ib pii.

Iqi i wi wii i B

iz w w ppi mi iii Ii .

t mm p w ii b

Ii k wi mm i i B ip k

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imii i zi w Ii w p . exi i pi

b Ii p i ii Iqi b ii i pji

mpi. W Iqi i i iz m-

i mj w i pi i mii pii i

B i i im b

Ii w i pi pi i mi k w

m i B. n i Iqi ppxim iii

b m f Pi i mm i B

B wk . B i w .

t ii i i i pi p-

i 6 diii wi w m p bik

p pp mm m Ii w

mj i i B wi w m

sm im. hi im i i i ii. t

Iqi m p wi k b m i. I b

wmp f Pi i p i pp m

m ; i p i Ii

i m qipm wi ii iii i-

. I w bi xpi i.

I i w pp Ii ik i f Pi w pi m mj i iz B Bi im

imm mii pii bw. t iii B k i b m-

m III vII cp i sm w pii -

i i p w iii Ii-

.16 t w w Ii k i Iqi pii

Iqi w i i B i w w. t

b Ii mik m ibii xpi

i bk i ki m.t ii B w p mi m

. g hmi ib ii B

smm i wi b i xii . t mb

Iqi ki i i pp 5; I w w im

i b hmi im. I Iqi bk Ii

i. cmi wp p mj i i Ii

pp i wi wp.

t ii B i p bi xpi sm

w i i i i p m i mii pi-

. ci iii Iqi i i B

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14 SADDAM'S WAR

f Pi w ib imp i i i

piim m. I 1986 Iqi i

mb m w bi imp

i b 1987 b i k

i 1988 wi i bk bk I Kmiiwii

i i.

t m imp m i Iq m i J 1986. sm m

ii p rpbi g i i bi

w qippi ii m q w ii-

i p mm. ti i i m m si

k m p i BMP (boyevaya mashina pekhoty

i ii i) w i. sm m -

iz mk mj imp Iq mii pbii-

i . t w wii p p i

i mmi m pi i bi p

rpbi g pbiii. I ii sm iz mj -

ii i m w i mii i i

i. t w ib m

wi . I pi ii ab Pi

si Bi pp sm wi w i iii bi pi i Iq i b

i 1991.

ti imp mb i rpbi g

i m xi ii imp i bi

pii i mmi rpbi g i. Iii im w

mi bi b ki Ii i-

pi Iqi i pii. sm iii p 1

iii i pp b Iqi w im b 5. oi w ibii i ii i pii wi

m mp ji i i w i 6 .

sm -i-w hi Km w i

imp rpbi g.17 Pp i imi mii qii-

i Km p wii i m mp rpbi g

i mm m imp wm w a a-rwi.

t pbm mi bi mb rpbi g mm-

w b b pi pp imp i pi-

i . o w b 1987 Iqi w b i mb

i i rpbi g i i mpi Iqi

Ii i w . t rpbi g w

p i i i.

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I ii i 1987m i B

w bi xp rpbi g iii p b -

ii sm b i i 198. t Ii i i

mj k im ki B i wi i w i wii-

m pi xpi. M m ii iim

iz i p i w b bi. gi

wi ib i Ii p-

ii w mii w bii ii mii i i.

hw mj i Iqi bii Ii -

k i ki pbiii xp imp rpbi

g mi. I ii 1987 j

B rpbi g i p mm Ii

bk qik k Ii iz. t i

k i wi Ii m

i mj Iqi i 1988.

t Iqi i 1988 im i i I-

i f Pi. Pi b i i 1988 i

sm ix i i. n i immi b i w

b i pi p. B ix i sm

kw x mi i. t k mj pii w pi b f Pi I-

i j i w w Kmii im mj bw.

dpi pi Iqi ppi i.

I i i w pp i b Ii ii p-

p mi i impi Iqi k. t rpbi

g i Ii -. W impm

i i mii bi Iqmj

i mi bw miii m m miiim. t Ii i pbb

m pimii pi t b i mm

mk Iqi pi b Ii k f

Pi i 1986. t w pi xb Ii

p i i mbii i ii i

ii ii.

o i Iqi k mb W W I i wi i

mpi i i Ii. B i

Kmii b pi Iqi w b miimiz i wk i

mm (c) wk b i wwi

mximizi c iii i.18 M Ii

b pi Iqi i w pi

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16 SADDAM'S WAR

ppi b w rpbi g mi bi

ii iii i. fipw pi p-

i i i Ii. s

Kmii mii wi sm Bi im im

I-Iq W m .

g hmi m ii bi w Iqi

bi i m Ii i 199. hii Iq

b b bw ab Pi w wi mj Ii

ii i 166 1754 Mpmi b om

mpi. h mpiz ii Ii i w i b mii m.19 sm iii p Ii pbm i pw p-

i w mpiz i mp i

iii b i b ii. I-

i i i w mpi mbi bii mii wi p

mj i w Iqi m B cii.1

fm w Iqi Ii m mj -

pi bi i mii p b Iqi i

w. t mb ami m Iq mii- i 1991 g W p i Ii . t i p-

p b ib bi P Q miii p m

mb pi . t 1991991 imp

Iqi mii wi i i wi ui s -

i 199 m i ii Ii .

si sm m i bi w w wi I-

i w m ik mj i wi ui s. gi

xpi 1981988 w m i w i

imi i w b Ii ii m

m pp mj bi b si.

g hmi pi i iw sm

mii pii . h i sm p mpx

pi p mip pii. t i-

w i ii w p-mi wi w im qik

p i pi. o mii i i p p

iii Iqi w i im. I w

wi I xmp w qi p xib w pi ii

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mii ii. f m p w i wi

w wi b .

sm w i p xpi. ai hm-

i i w mbii si hi

pii . Ii i mii im sm p w

Iqi i m. hmi sm i bik

wi bw i i pii: I mm mi ki

mmb i w mi wi ; x mm w b

xm ii i i ij . t mk m p-

i ii w wk i i immi i bi

im kw m mm mm wi sm pi-

i w i m.

sm i i mii i w m -

i i mii iii. n i w kw b x

ami mii i pii imi

i bi. W m im w i

ab wi iii w bi i p i pi-

i bi i w w i. ab sm

i .

t mii i pi ii b ii mii im sm pp w

wi I. t w m i 1991991 b

. t mb ii 1981984 im i m

i bi m p m im m pi i i.

n pii B im pi i pi

mi m i ii i i i.

up Kwi sm w bi .

B i Kwi w iii i i pi.Wi bi M 1991 i i Iqi pp i p-

i p. fm pi i ii m pp

miii i Iq. cmbi wi i pi k

i b w Iq w pi ib -

ii b m. M i i immi i ii i

w ii pi w w wii i

mi p i.

I mi-199 i p iii i

w. t i i -i-w Km J im p. fm

sm ppi w pp: mmb tikii mii

i i mi b im. a i im m

. r i m pp. h i i

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18 SADDAM'S WAR

i m i i mii w p wi i im.

fi ii iw rpbi g. I w i i

pi sm b i p Iq w

wi ii.

di i pi ii sm p m i im wii

i pm . I 1995 i i mm ii

iii mm . a im sm w i x

i wi p i wi. t w i xpi

m mi wi sm w m wi

i i i wi im. ti wi mi i i

wii ii m ui s i w

mk b sm ii xpi i ibi-

i i wi i w p m.

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FIGHTING IRAN

P tw.

t Iiw

t wi ip m i i wi g- r hmi M 1419 7 i J. t i

pmi i abi wi mix im p

i i ei. Iiw ip b i i -

bii. Pj mmb (Ki W Wiim M tm h-

) iii b m i i wi qi k.

Murray: P w m m m qi wi w ii i.

t qi i m w ami mii ii

. fi w bii m w

m i i pi w i i

pii i i . t i i w w

pi m . s w mii izi w x w w x .

t i i w w pp p ii w

m. fi mix i wi p pi i

w w b i p b i ii m i

mii pi p w. t i m

qi wi w w Iqi Ii mii mm

i p w .

I ik bi b ki b iw 197 ym Kipp W

izi w ji i imm i

i pp i .

t ab mi i bi b i 197 w i i 1967

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20 SADDAM'S WAR

w. c xpi ppi w impm k p

i imbw 1967 197?

Hamdani: fi i 1967 w ippim

ab ppi b i xpi. I pi w pp

i m ab i i m i iii wi

w k i mii ip

m im. s b ippim i

ab mmi ab pii mii m

1967 w i b . ti m imp

197 w.

B 1967 mb mii w m qipm w

p ii i mmi bi j b

i epi si mi wki

jb i Ii. W i i k

i i miii m. ni ii w

i .

t w imi mm i si i Iq w B

p m q ii ab -rm ai i i -

m w pp ipb i m I

pi .4 t 1968 mii p k p i Iq pijii bk b 1967. o i

ep w w pp pi epi i

im d sii.

y k xpi b ab pp w qi

k spmb 11 1 ami. y mip iii

i ami b 1 mp i ab i

I im. W b b I w i m i k-

i i xm b ii i. e w ip-pi i b 1967i w ii b

ab mi.

s b i i b ab mii pbiiii

ep si Iq. t ab

mii pbiii i w .

Murray: t ci mii i s tz m

imp m i w i kw m. M i i 1967

ab mi b i m pi i w pp i

imp i kw i m w i 197

w m i pi i w p

i pp.

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Hamdani: P w i i i ab mii-

ip 1967 iz i .

M i pii i bji mi

b I m mi ii Iqi m. t iz -

m m ab Bii m wi

Ii w imi gm m W W II.

s w Iqi m p m b i

i i m. B 1967 w b i i

p. a 1967 m mbi m pi

i k. fm i w

m i w m pi. t i k

pi mi imi pp pi b i i w bm

i wi pi. B i ii bw

i w m iz imp -b i m. I

pi w i i m i . d

m ii w w b m ji i -

m. t i iz w i m i i i j i

jb b i m m m w m im.

W q imi m si ui im

m i mii pi i si xp iiIq x i i pp .

t pbm w w w w

i wi i ab i w

bi . a im i w mj pibii p-

i w w q w qipm m si qipm. B i

w qipm w w qi qipm pi Ii b

the Americans. President [Lyndon B.] Johnsons granting of considerable supplies

u.s. wp qipm I f4 Pm II p ii pp . I 1964 I mmb i i wi Pi

[John F.] Kennedy in it, where the Americans displayed a demonstration or train-

i xi wi Pm i ppi i bmb ii mii. ti

pi imp ab i pi Iqi i b

w k i wm w i m i -

pbii. t i Pm wi w kw

i 1964 wi i 1969 w Ii mii b ami

ibi I. s xpi m pbiii w i.

It was clear that [Iraq] needed modern weapons and technology from the

si ui i Ii. B pbm w

i w qipm w i iii xpi ii

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22 SADDAM'S WAR

mk i. ti w bji 1967

i p ab i. ti w mpi i b

i bji mi mii w

w w i i w.

I m mii m i 1967 i J m

pi ii mb xi w b p

pi I. a i I i bk i m

b Ii ii ppi wp ami wp

. eb w i i i b m i b

i pbiii i i. e m m I w w ii

the different tanks and airplanes that I sawseeing the French AMX13 [tank],

the Centurion [British tank], the Phantom [American fighter], the Sukhoi [Soviet

fighter flown by Arab air forces], and the Mystre [French fighter]this sort of

i m imi m b m. I iz

mp i p b w m w m.

I 197 71 Bi m m J Iq wi

am diii wi w b iii i Iqi m pi.

W p m b m Ii m; w i m w

w i m m i i Iq

any future involvement [in a confrontation with the Israelis]. We learned that one has xi i i bi.

s i 197 i w m b i

pbii m; w kw w xp. W mi

i Ii pp. I 1967 w i pi

ab k W i i Ii ? B i 197 w

x Ii w bji .

W mb i 197 I w i i i b I w mp

w Ii m ip m bk i .ti w w m i i i m w . W i

ourselves in 1973 to be in a position to challenge the Israeli army. [Moreover], we

wi w i w b m bk b

b i pii iii ab i i 197 ii.

Woods: l m k w-p qi pi. t

1967 197mpi pi 6 w ab

mi w b pm m i i

1967 pi i 197i ii qi. c xpi

m p 197 w? I w w w

ab mi (pii Iqi m) 197 w i kwi

m w I-Iq W?

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Hamdani: I m 197 i w i

I w bmi w imi. W pp-

i 197 m izi ab

would enable us to eliminate the Israeli army and force it to return to the [pre-

1967] borders of Israel. But the results of the war gave us the impression that Israel

was stronger than we could imagineall of our preparations had still not [made us

equal] to the effectiveness of the Israeli army. We learned that they were far more

w qipp i w w xp 197 i. I ji

Iqi s c i 1978 i 198. a xi w i

i mp m I

I. a bji Iq w mi w m

mi p Ii m bk i ii b.s w w ui s ami b w

w w b Ii b i ami pp

mwi pii pi ii ui s.

a w pi m 1977 1979 ab i bm m

ii miii w ki b Ii i pbiii.

W k b mizi i bw bi

ab ep Ii i cmp di am.5 a i i-

m bw ii pii m ab pii mi ab pp w I. t bw pp

pii ip p. ti pi bw Iq ep.

Iraq was trying to maintain the [split as an] issue and embarrass the Egyptian lead-

ip i p pj wi I. s w pi bw pii

ip Iq m ab i ab pp. ti -

pii m i ppi.

f i im i bm pp w bi i b-

w pii i ( ii) i pii ii.t i pi mj w w i -

i i mb i ip b w w b

k mm. W i i wi ii m ab

leaders. A new school started [within the Iraqi officer corps] that we called the re-

i . W b ii bw w w wi i

iki pki w j i k b w wk ik.

I mi m bm i w i bi -

stand the processes [involved in] any potential conflict.

t pii i Iq i ii mii

i bi i 1979198.6 W m p

i mb i wi Ii . o i w

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24 SADDAM'S WAR

w w. s mki wi bji

m w p mi wii mii m-

mi. o xpi xi pi m wi Ii

iii i qik Ii i

w. t i i wi Ii ppi

x w wi m p pii m bm w-

i wi i pp i ii p p-

iizi p i Iqi m.

Murray: I m 197 i w w w ab -

wi m ib w piii

i i i m mii pi.

ti mximm i mii pi pi i b mii .

Hamdani: I wi b w ip

wii Iqi m. fi- p wi pii ip

i b bk mii pbiii. a p xmp i

ab -hkim am w mj w pm mm w

epi m b i mp wi i i wi

im b i.7 a g s -di -sii w

i ii gm ab-ni. h w m ii pi piii.8 h w i b pi i i.

t pi i wii Iqi m i wk i

the Baathist political party came to power. The Baathists actually raised [the level

of the army] and accelerated many promotions for young officers before the con-

i wi I.

Woods: spii xmp w m m 197 pi

pi w b p. B b w p-

p i pi w B p sm i i kim i 1979 j b w. W ii i p-

i i i pi b I-Iq W? hw i

i 197 j b w wi I?

Hamdani: t B p w i pw i 1968 i Iq b i i-

mii ip b i wi I i

p imm. t p w p

mii i b m im m p i i ii

mii piim i im ii. o im

w B i Bi! t i pi m w

sm hi i i i mi-1979. h qik i p-

i pmi w w Bi i p-

i i.

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s i im i i Iqi m w

mb pmi pii . a im i 1979 I w i

. I w sm pm li c him bi-

i w mm i-i iii. a i

li c K . . . w pm bii bm

mm diii b. a w mj ti a-di

w w m mm 9 diii. a w

Mm sk si pm m bii w

bm mm 6 diii. s i pmi w

mj k Iqi m. a w mi pmi. t w

wi I b.

Murray: di i imp piizi Iqi m w pii bm m imp pi

mp?

Hamdani: ti i . B im w w wi I

bi m b sm i. h

politicians to serve at the army level and promoted himself to the military rank [of

marshal]. He also emphasized the principle, a very dangerous saying, that as long

w Bi w b i Bi i

. t w pbm i Bi wii m bi pii-i mii .

Woods: gi xpi b Iqi m i

1967 197 w ib piizi p

i i p i ji ib w

mj bmi i mmb ki p?

di pi i ik kw impii

i p piiizi? di i p i p bkw

m w b i i p i?Hamdani: ti bm mpx wii Iqi mii k b

w kw pi mii i w w p

sm i i piiizi m. n m kw

w i b b mii pi

i i pii p. u b sm iip

w kp i.

t w p m b m a

Ki wm sm pm m p m-

m m ( mii ). e i m

wm w p p w i i w i

w qii pii b i pii b

sm hi mi Ki i w b-i-w.

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26 SADDAM'S WAR

Holaday: di ii 1967 197 Iqi mii p-

p m piiz i i p. hw-

i i im p p ii B- mii

officers to the higher ranksseemed to contradict this [learning] progress. The

mii i m I I wi pii -

ip m m wi i i i im

i. di i pi ib i bw mi

Bi pii ip pi mii- i i-

i i i bq ?

Hamdani: W m w mp mii-

ip 1979. t Bi i iii ip pii.

There were professionals at a higher level than divisions. . . . we [professional soldiers]

w m pi. W q m ixpi ib. W m p p mm b w -

i m pi i mmm b

instructors when we were at the [military] academy and staff college.

This [tension] had a considerable impact during the course of the Iran-Iraq

i. t i k m w wi I w I w

mj mm m i bi. a im I

i mik b m. B i w i Iqi

Ii i i w w i.You see, each war has its own nature. The war with Israel [1973] had its

w i w i m w Ki i-

gency [19741975], or the war with Iran [19801988], or the war with the Kurdish

alliance [post-1991], and different from the nature of this last war in 2003. We ex-

pi i i i; w i i w w

b i b. W m m w iz

mj i i bw i. ti w i

bw pii pi mmb mii i

ppi b w p wi w b mbk.

Woods: I ik p bk i 19781979 pi w

Iq w Ii mii i ww ib. t i-

i i p s i i 1978 m

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Ii i i 1979 i w im i I. t i-

im w bi B p. Iq w

i . W mmb b i

w pii i ? ti m b mi m

1 i mii w. W -

i i i b pi i I?

Hamdani: W i Kmii m i I

w i i b im i pbiii

w w kw b s m. I m w i w w

ppi Ii m. a w kw w Ii mii i-

ii pbiii wi i- ami mm i

f14 i w mi bi i. t i

iii i m p i m I ui s

ii. t w k Ii m imi Ii m

b mb i.

W s m b s i wi

K Iqi i. h i i s -ab

g . h imp im pi i ab g. B

1975 bm i .9 t w pbm wi

I i ii mbiiz i z pp-i i bm i i i i.

W i ii I wk

Ii m. t i Ii m p wi s im

pp i m m i pm. ti pp

k . hw i w-qipp w-i m j

w wi im b p b j m ii k? W

bi s m wi i ami pp w

b p s m. W m wi imi wi b imp w ii

wii w Ii m i pib imp Iqi m

xmppi bi w w w bi Mi

e bk wi i i. s i bi s m

bi p ik . nb xp i.

nw w w k w I w Imi miii m p

of farmers, workers, small groups, and [even] soldiers from the Shahs army. This

i w sm hi b ik b i p i

m b i w s m b. h w

i p mm wi Iq iz b Ii w

w qipp i pb ii imi

Ii .

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28 SADDAM'S WAR

I Iq mp mpiz pii ii i

Bi i i mi. t Ii ii i xp

i b. s Iqi m w wi p

m si i Iq w w i i mip ii b-

i m i i I mb impm m i i Iq.

Woods: a pi i im ab si Iqi si m p

p m i Iq i? di b

i i wii Iqi mii ji i? W i

Ii i w i mi wk i

i? I w w pi i ii wii

i ji i?

Hamdani: a m w i ik b si si

percentage issue then. The [Baathist] Iraqi state was not built on divisions, but on

p . W kw p si w i

i mb w i m b i iii. t

pbm w dw p p m Ii i

ppi I i Iq. t b pii w

mii mmb wki i -m i Iq bm

i wi pp Kmii m.

Murray: I m i 198 b Kmii sm im w m i iii b b biz -

imi wi -m pbiii i pp.

Hamdani: ti i b b pi Iq i ii. I

ii i m I i i w m sm ik

pi w. t I w w i m

inside Iraq through the Dawa party. It was a strange situation. We had young [Shia]

i wii mii i i b i

k i b i i I. t Ii i bi sm w i b i im w . t w p b

p . . . Ibim a-Ji.1

W ik i i w bi wp w

honor. A soldier is not allowed to put his gun down. So the [sabotage] operations

ip i wp m b i I. ti

b i p i m mii i

m. hw m i w wp;

wm w i?

Woods: l xp Iqi bji i

mii i. W ki mii bji p si i

i ii Iq? a ib w -m iii wi dw p

ki -m i. hw w mii im pp

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p p m ppi? f xmp w i iimi-

Ii m j biiz i Ii-

k i p ki Iq? W w Iqi mii pi

pp mpi i m pbm Ii i?

fi .Te initial Iraqi invasion o Iran, September 1980

Source: Satellite image courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Available at .

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30 SADDAM'S WAR

Hamdani: t ii w wi I mp-

i. t i w p xpi Ii i Iq. t

w w Ii m im w i i

mi wi s m w ii. ti p ppi

attack when [the Iranians] were weak. The Iraqi leadership figured that if the Iraqi

mi ppxim 1 kim p i I b

Khomeini would have to send [Iranian] forces from the surrounding area of Tehran

b. ti w t xp i ppi

Mi Bz p i ii ip i

t. s i w bi miii t wk i

for a counterrevolution [see figure 3].

Murray: t i w q i mmi w B

pii m k i ii; i i p

m b mj W pw. I w w p b-

i W i pi i.

Hamdani: t w pi I ik mk w b

w w i w m i m. W

b miii w p ti W i b i im

i p i mii iii i i pii i pii

xpi. aii b pii ip i w pi mii i piip i mki mii ii. r

ii wi pii i w w w w

mp . B miii k i i ii mp

p -m . B i pbiii

xi i w i w i i i

i w ip b pii im . t pii imi

pzi i ii. fm b mi m

imi i b i i. ri mm bmi i impi wp qipm.

Murray: t ii w W W I i 1914 w -

b i pii mwk w. eb

xp w b i b p

w ki immi i i b i.

Hamdani: n p wi i ii

mki p im. e ik i i wi

pp xp w b . J i W W I W W

II w Iqi ip i xp w wi I m

8 wk.

Piii w b i p wii w imp

i p mii . ti p m p mii x

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even if they lack the capability to do so. [Georges] Clemenceau, the French prime

mii i W i imp i j .

Then, during World War II, General [Charles] De Gaulle commented, War is too

imp i piii . t i w b i b

i w mbi w pim.

ti i pbm imi bw pii w.

dmii i qi . W imi pii

w imi w? fii i b i w i

xpi w.

t w i pp Iq i m p i

i m pbm ami miii i

i piii i w m b . t i

m d s d rm P Wwiz b wm

w piii i p mm i i

i m p m i kw xpi. o

g tmm fk i i i i mii

i i w ii i Iq i.

g ci Pw s s w pki m

ppi mii i w P. Wi ci Pw

w i i i i w iki m ii m miippi w k i P. s d. M

pbm i w i wi

. . . i wi i mi pbmi w i fi W

ti W i.

Woods: t pbm w ii

pbb m m i w ik mi.

gi bk 198 I w ik k b m pii

m i mmi. c ib m pi bw4 spmb 198? y i w i qik i

b 6 am diii 1 Miz diii 18 spm-

bj b mi ii. c xpi pi i b

ii spmb? W ki pi w ? W p

ppi mi ii j p pmpi ? hw

m i ii w i w miii t iimi-

im ?

Hamdani: a m i w pp

pi w b Ii i i Iqi i

border. Those villages were supposed to become mobilization areas, safe for [Iraqi]

p i qi pi Ii i bk mbiizi

w pi i mi .

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32 SADDAM'S WAR

Woods: So these operations were designed to secure what [the United

States] calls the line of departure. These operations were designed to secure the

b i ppi mm s -ab.

Hamdani: The [Baath] party leadership met with the State Command

i ab gib 6 J 198 m ii w i

I. t 7 J mii mii w im i-

i w. hw w w w w bi. I

w j bi ppi w. s w x

[given] as to when it was going to take place. On 4 September, the early stage op-

i mbiizi .

Murray: c p i Ii ? W w

i i i b? di w w iib w

i p Iq i mii pi? W ik i -

m mii pii i m i w?

Hamdani: I bi i i pp w im p

Ii . t Iq i m p i

w i m i i i. t Ii m w -

i i i i . t bji w

m dw p wi w pii i i

mb b im mm 198 i w pp i.4 t Ii ip w i

Iqi im w ip p m i x k. t Ii

actions [aimed at] expediting the overthrow of [Saddams Baath] regime.

W Imi ri g

mi i I b i i w p -

iz mpi p. ti i m i pw

wi i . ti pbb p . W i imi i

i Iq w i wi i pii based on different [Islamic] scholars.

Woods: g hmi ib i mmi m pii

i Iqi 1 am diii w 4 8 dii-

sions. You wrote how in the early weeks of the fighting [September-October 1980],

w ib i pi mm

pi . y w ii pi w .

I iii mm w w i

i bji w. W w ? o

w i pi Iqi mii q p-

p - mip pi?

Hamdani: t pbm w b pi. t w

pii pi. t pi i pii. ti w

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wk w imp w p p p. t

pp i ii.

Murray: W sm i pi pi pi w?

Hamdani: t pii ii w . t p w

m im m ppi. I b i ii

wi i w wk.

Murray: I m sm pi w i mm

198 w Iq w i pii m ep p

ab w. I pi sm m iw I-

i i w qik p im i pii

who could then lead [the Arabs] in the great effort against Israel.

Hamdani: ti i b . a m i

pp sm hi b wi mbii. Pii

wi b mmiiz xp w. Pii wi k

w i i. W sm hi ik m-

bii pii kw pii w b mmiiz i

i xp wi i i w.

Woods: g hmi ib pi i Iqi

II cp i ob 198 I w k b i p mm

ipi p m iii k pi ii-gence. You quote the corps commanders as saying, Youre [Hamdani] ruining our

m p mpii b i bi. . . . ii

m ! c ib i pi mm m? W

pii w ii i? W w i

i m? hw i i bi ?

Hamdani: t pbm w m iii mm

time were not competent commanders. We [the professional soldiers] looked at

things differently because [the political generals] came into those commanding po-sitions due to their loyalty to the [Baath] party.

a im I w i mm i bi I

mb pii k. M iii mm w w iii

commanders, since he was one of these [Baath] appointees. He did not fully under-

i w p i i i i

paratroopers airdrop. Because of his incompetence, I had to carry out his [respon-

sibilities] in addition to all of my tasks.

Murray: I ik m i piiizi Iqi m wi

i p b w w i b sm . ti

ii wi i w k i i m mii i

w i mii izi w p b-

m m m ii i p k m. o

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34 SADDAM'S WAR

i ii mii izi p bm i m pimii

i mm . I w i mii izi

m b w w b m ii i bi

w Iqi m m i ppi b w.

Hamdani: ti i i bw pii bji

mii bji. W b i b. I i w b w

w kw i w b. B piii w i i i.

Murray: g ib ii m 9 ob 198 w

you captured an Iranian lieutenant. You wrote how this Iranian POW [prisoner

of war] described the internal conflicts between the Iranian regular army and the

i . I ik m w Iqi mii w p-w

pii mi mii i 198 Ii pbm w

i w j i m i pw b i

ip i mip i i i-

ii. I i b i i i spmb b w

b b m m i i fi m!

I w ib i w. a -

ib i Ii ii w i i b w

i w.

Hamdani: ti i ii pib. a im w pmi iimki p wii Ii m. I Kmii

at the top, and everyone was vying to prove [himself] to Khomeini or to get closer

b wi i i ii Iqi. t w i b-

w pp Kmii w i im. a

w i w i i Iqi b. s w

ii. t p wi i w pii w i

Kmii.

Woods: l m w i pi. c ib im-

pi w b Iqi Ii mii ipw i

w? W w impi Ii ipw?

Hamdani: f b Iqi Ii mi m

i i i i . I i w mp

i. t k i xpi i pi

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p i i pbiii. B w k Ii i mp

p Iqi i pi i i pp

m ui s. hw w b b i

pii i pbm i. a mb i i

pi w b piip i xi b im bi m

b i Imi m w w piip i

i bw I Iq. s j b Ii pi pbii-

i b qipm i m w b m.

I bii Iqi i i i k

Ii i b imi Ii i k epi i 1967.

u i ik i i i b Iqi i

im w i ii pi m w. I

ik w qi i pbiii - mii

but we lacked that capability. It is true we had the Tu-22 [supersonic bomber and

reconnaissance aircraft] and it was able to go deep enough to bomb Tehran, but

pi i i w iii w p-

m i i.5 t pbm w Iqi i i

bii jm i p I Ii qik iii

i ib i. a bmb pi w w

i bw m w m b . t i p i i i mp b Ii

i p w b p k.

I dw p i ii wi

p w w wki i i mi b ix bmb

ii Iqi b. t Iqi i k mii i i

m i i imi qii mb

bmb i i bji.

Woods: y ibi w w iii mii pi. o i ipw i w w

i mm i mp ix-wi ip i

i? W mi m xpi wi i 198 w

xmp mpm i pp?

Hamdani: t Ii w m pb w w i i ip-

. f p wp m. t mji i-

copters available [to the Iranians] were American Cobras, provided by the United

s s w . o Iqi i w i f

Gazelle [helicopter] or the Soviet MiG25 [FOXBAT ground attack aircraft]. As

w p w i pbiii Iqi i pbiii

i i wi Ii pbiii k mi-

pp imp p p.

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36 SADDAM'S WAR

t i im Iqi i p iiz i ip

w 7 ob 198. t pi 1 p Iqi m

ii pbiii p . hw w pbm i

b i x i i m. t x-

i w bm. a pbm w Iqi i k kw i

b i w i. t ii i b bw

Iqi i Ii i. ti ib mb ii

of friendly fire, especially when ground forces were using the SA7 [shoulder-fired

surface-to-air missile]. We lost many Iraqi aircraft as a result. This led Iraqi com-

m w i i m i mpi w

ip i w i p i i i i . a

m im i m Ii ip w w p w b

p m i .

I mmb ii i mi b w I w p

of a hill and saw two Iranian Cobras [attack helicopters] coming from behind our

ii . t w i w I

pi i b. I p b

pi i b i w w

i ii pbiii.

di w i ppi i i i pi i ii

b. o i i p. t bii

iii i p i p imp w i

i . t pbm m w Ii p

Iqi i xpi i i imp.

Murray: W iii Ii w ipi

Iqi i mii i ki i ii? di w

iii pbii i ii i I p pbi-i i w?

Hamdani: W i qipm i pii b-

Iqi i m b i w (eW) qipm. t

Ii eW qipm b i w imi i m pi.

W ii i p mm b i m

ri.6 I i bi I mm w w b

m im wi ki p. t m

i p kw i bw k

i i i . B

i i I kw w i i. fm i w i .

t I mb p i p. I i w k mi

i biz w i i w i p.

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t i w qipm w f pm w

i 1976 i Ii -

i w i .7 W i imi w

w Ii p w i m wi .

Woods: In your memoir, you mentioned that in late November [1980]

w mm i Iqi mii. spii

sm i II cp mm i J 1981. W

Iqi mii ip i 198 1981 i p p-

m iii p mm? W i i sm

iz pp i pii w pmi p?

Hamdani: t i i m w Iqi w

xpi iz. W b w wi 7 bi. W w

i spmb 7 bi k pmi i

pi i pi p b b w i

Ii i b. s w m p w

xp Iqi m pi iz ip

xp i pm mb i.

sm mm i wi -

i. ti p sm pm w

imi i ip pii w i pii m ppi i.

t pbm wi sm w x i m-

m m . t

pp i w pi m p i xpi

piim.

Woods: t i m m m b w sm

wi i bi pi i I-Iq W.

t i i mm i pm i w pp - m x. I m ii kw w i . d

kw p xpi mm wm sm

p bi ipp mm x p

pm?

Hamdani: This is a tough topic for those officers who, when [Saddam]

started [promoting political generals], knew that the war was going to take longer

b sm i. I bm pbiii w

ii Ii ik wi i k.

sm p p Iqi mm i

wi m p i.8 Wii m p

ii im pp mm i impib m-

b ii. hw i w b pi i i i

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38 SADDAM'S WAR

xi. t xi wi i-ki i wk i

w w k.

Woods: Can you remember the most prominent examples of [battlefield

executions] from the first year of the war?

Hamdani: t i x w mm Bi i

Bi s i s li c Mmm Jw Km

bii 1981. a sm mp mm i

m bi x. I 198 III cp mm Mj g

s a-Qi w x. t Bii g Jw a m-

m diii w.

Murray: I 198198 imm b Iqi m Ii

m i i mb wi mj i mii pi

heavy losses among both NCOs [noncommissioned officers] as well as officers. At

m im b mi w xpi pi. c x-

pi w i i w w i w m w wk

w i wk w i b jb xpi i mii

Ii Iqi?

Hamdani: W i b pi i xp w. t

w i i B p imi i Iq w

i 1 kim i Ii i pii ii w i t wi Kmii w. o Ii

bi i i m w Iqi b B w

i w b Imi i m si. s b pi i

xp w b i m b mbiiz i i.

Wi xpi Iq b b Ii mii-

w i m m bi mii bi b

s izi i ii m. Iq kp m

j i im. W i w m Ii bi ii.

t Ii m i P wi w Imi

ri gi xp xp -

ii Ii m. t izi m w Bij

. I i i p k w i b w

i i ii i wp.

t Iqi mii w xpi ii i

mm i i i m . t i im-

p i m p. t Ii mii

m w ki ii m bi i ii i. s

Ii i : ii m wi i wk

wi i i; P Imi ri g

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wi xp bm mi wi i i ;

Bij wm Ii m i wi ii

i. t p wi ii. W m ik

. t Ii Bij -im mii .

B i . t Ii mj -

pi w mb wi i p i

i Iqi k p ip Kmii -

im (b i). f w x b w i i

p. a imp mpi i w pi ii m b-

i i pi. Ii i w ppxim 116 kim m

B wi Iqi i w 8 kim m t. t w

p mb b z.

M Ii w im Iqi ;

m ppi w i. ti mbiizi m

w . o m w pbm wi i pp

w w w mii pbiii i w

w i i i ii.

t pii m ii i a Kmii w

bii i i m p-

i imp Ii pp. ti i w wii i wki mii i . t bi

Kb w i w j b w

i k x mii.

o i i imp i wi i wk

Ii i. s mbiizi m Iq w b I i

i xpi b 6 p mpw wi Ii i

p. B i p wk i m i 6

p mpw i w. r i i Iqixpi Ii p wmi mb .

Woods: c xp pp P Ii

pp i m?

Hamdani: t pp bii p pp Ii w

mp bi Iqi m p. t ii

Iqi m i I k i Kmii i

i bi i w impib i . h w i

pp Iqi si b i i pp i m

i -m pi.

Woods: Pi w Ii P Bij w

w i Iqi pp m. c b w Iqi pp

m pi im w Iq w i m

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40 SADDAM'S WAR

m? W i w p p bi

kip miimiz ii w pp pp m?

Hamdani: Iq mbiiz pib mb Iqi

pp wp. l w mpi i xpi

mp b i pi w iz i wi

mp i Iqi m . t pi w

m xp iz. s w p i p

mi p i p m pp

m. t pp m wk m im b 6 p

wk w ib m m. t sm

m w i pp m w i i m

iii w b b bw

m m wk mpw qi w .

Murray: l sm hi i wi. I m

i I-Iq W b iz mii p-

iim w mi i pp i ii

i w I-Iq W w i i

m w pi b w. ti m b p

i i ii bk b w i ii

pii ibii pi mp.

Hamdani: ti i . t i b sm hi w m w bii w i mii xpi

m pibpi Mii d

m. f xmp sm i g ab -Jbb s

ib x m w w pi xpi b m

im i sm. t w m i g-

ab -Jbb -ai w w Bi b pi.9

t iii mm w sm m w Bi. a m

im sm w bi i i w. I i i -

w b . s mii xpi. h i -

i p b i w i i

w i w mii m. h

pp i w b pi im i bi.

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sm hi i b im i mi wi i

ab oizi bii w I i w I

imi i pi i Iqi m wi I m

m . h w w mi i b wi

i i i mii pp w i

ip w mm ii im i xpi xp-

i w. sm bk w i i w

pii pw b w i I.

Woods: M m b I w k b -

ipi w b i mmi i J-

1981 bw Iqi 1 Armored [Brigade] and the Iranian 16 am

[Division]. Could you describe the character of the battle, how big it was, the sorts

m i w pipi i?

Hamdani: W Iqi 1 am Bi i -

k Ii 16 am diii ii mj m i. o

m bi w i m b Ii m b

m i i ob W i i i -

m w wi Ii i 1967 197.

t Iqi m w pi j p . t ri

t7 k w b Bii c. M t7 m-bii w pi i i i i i m xib.

Murray: gi bk smm ppi w w

sm wk w ki m w j

pii m mii pii ppi b i m wi im

pi i? hw w m im p ?

Hamdani: W sm hi i m mpx pi. W mi

p pii. W z sm hi

personality according to the theories of [Sigmund] Freud or [Alfred] Adler, or even[Ivan] Pavlov. We need the theories of these psychologists in order to analyze Sadd-

m pi. a i i i; i pi w mpx. I

mi pi b bi i i m: f

w i m i p; a i

w p w w iii mpx wi P k

b pbii pi pi. s w

xpi sm pi pi ii i i mpxi. t

iii mpx pp b w b k

i i i . P ii pbii

xpi iii p bi i mi

m pi m p wk. sm

pw imi pi.

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42 SADDAM'S WAR

Woods: W ii w i ?

Hamdani: h mbii hi si pii. h

w im ik i si w . h iq

. h w ik hi i i iii mpx. B pi

p pi im i pii mm

i i Iq m p p i mii

kw mp i mi. sm pi m-

b m i w m i. a i w pi

. a im w m piipi i

i i w bm -w. sm p

pi mm mi ki p im mmb

i mi wi ; x mm w b xm ii

i i ij . h i ki b pi.

Holaday: W w bi m i im?

di iz m i b im?

Hamdani: W i izpi b sm i i im-

pi w pi w m i i. f i i

mm w i sm hi i w w ik

p pip w bj iimk.

t x mm w b ik bkw m. h w wim bi iiiz p bb Bi pi p

wii im. ti wii bk i w pp w wi im

.

a i i impi b i

ii i. W I w mi m p w

i 15 b p mi b i kw w xp w w

m x. W kw w ki bi xp m sm

mi. M im w ik i m m b sm hi b i ii w b m

pi i w b imii.

W ik sm pi i i

p. fi w p b ii Kwi; p

m ii; w i p wi p h-

i Km i 1995. I p pi Kwi i pi w i

i b m i j wii Iq b

ab w. a m w mpii bii i pii

w ii m w im i i

i i -m bji. a ii Kwi Iq

i pi pi si mmi i 14 p-

i. t w k im b w pp

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Iqi pp. W p b

i i w pp bm mp m. h

i i i-ki im mmb i mi b mb m m i

m i i ii Kwi.

t x p w p hi Km sm

imii i -i-w. a bm b i

im m . sm hi w x-

p i i. B wii i w b i

pp w m m m miii. a

point, I was the commander of the Al-Madina [Al-Munawarra] Division and then

p i i tiki.4 I mmb w w m m

p p w i i p. I pi w w

i pp ab ii Ki hi J. I p

b i p iii p i miii

i m bim i i

Iq. I i w p pp ii qii mii

m im m mb ii. sm mi-

i ki i wi sm hi m .

a i mii . sm i ii i rpbi g. n w q m m

im ii mi.

sm hi im i pm p i

Iq i i m bii iib p-

. h w p b W

ab pw imi im i mk i Iq.

h p m i im i ii wii p

p. h w w bi i i wi xmp m i w i. hi m M ci Zbib Ki. y -

p m! t w p m im i

w b pi mb im p ii. h w

mi w wi i p

m Iqi i sm w . W kw i w w

im. I wk xp i w i i

pbm wi i wi i i i i i i pp

i i. h xp w w i i .

h ii : a 1997 sm m i p-

i tiki w Pii P i tikiii m

b p wi iii mm pib. I

b p i im p-pii mi. I p

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44 SADDAM'S WAR

w pi i wk ik mii p m ki pi . I

k m m im p iii mm w w w

. I pp m iw i

p I bi sm i w k m qi. a I wk

i wi mm I w i w p iii-

; w p i mpi wi sm. I

i wi iii mm ii wii 5

i wi kwi w .

W b w w i ! sm i pk . s

I w iki wi w i b i mii

I iw i p iki w b mii

mb mm. I j kp iwi i i i

pm i; I j b p. t i

p w i w w p sm k im si

i; i mi i? j i o

. y . a w i.

o J I ii wi sm I i

bj i wi pi i wi ami. I

k 45 mi i Iq i i

m ik i w i w w i i wwi ami. t m i m 45 mi wi ip-

i. W i i i b w w ii i w

ami wk pbiii. a ipp m -

i m b pp smwi

pibii i p w.

a i i sm hi bm ii. h i i

w w i g w wi im w

iiib pw. h i i ii pii i ab i i ppb i g w im. a

ii i i mi wi i mii w

w ki b ii. a sm

violently pounded his fist on the table, saying, King Hussein Abu Abdullah [of

Jordan], I will never forget that you dragged me into a war, when I was the one

w pp w i p p i m?! sm

w i Ki hi w k i im. sm

mp i m pi ii mii p

i p i qik m i i

m.

s sm pi i

m p im.

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h m ii m bb bji

w m i pii i. hi i w bm! h w

w P . a i i i ixm im: w w i

i xi; p i . h m

mm w i i i .

W i ii b i ii i sm w pibi

m i mbi p i i b i w j pibi

mbi p i i im. h i ki i

. h i iii b i mbi p

w i im p w bi

b i .

Woods: gi bk mii i I i w i i -

ipi 8 I-Iq W. a pi xp k

i w Ii m w i wi Bij i

m mii. a w mp m w

ii m wi i i i w . c

i pi w ki k w ik Iqi m

i i i? W m m miii-

m ppi i ii i w i i k ik? di 8 w? t w i i

m w i i 1986 1987 w i i j

m m?

Hamdani: a bii Ii i w i

of [the rising] Khomeini. So there was a doctrine that glorified religious scholars.

a bii w Ii ri Ii i w

z xm w . a m

mb pp wi i ii m . Wi im w Kmii i wk

pi wk. t m i i 1985

1986. s w ii m w i w pi b

1985. I i w i pi w P

Bij i i mb Iqi . I mp

wi i i i pi i w b 1 im w

i i i w i Iq.

ab mi w i i i i b

mii. I m i p Ii i i

w i i b mii. W w i Ii i ij

i i qii m b w p m

mii w w i

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46 SADDAM'S WAR

m w i mii. M i pp

Ii ii kp i imi m

b w b m i i m w

k mii.

Woods: di Iq p pii i i m ipw wk

i i w i mi m i p ?

Hamdani: W i w i mii. W i

m Ii i mii

. s mii w 6 m wi; w w mi

m. t w mii. t w iii m

i w w 1 pibiii i b ij b mi

6 m. t w b i ki mi: k mi i

mi iii mi w i Ii bi mi

wi w xp wi mximm m m.41 W i

pi wp mii ik mi. I i w

p pi iii.

Woods: a i i qi ii

ab Km. W m m

b w w i b w w pp Iqi m w

b pi (i m m) wi pp-i mpxi i i bii . a

b w b i i ii w bw

i i ab i api 1981 Km mm? W

i w Ii wi m b i w

i 198 m bk p Iqi

in the case of Khorramshahr and some other small cities? [See figure 4.]

Hamdani: W Km4 pii

imp Iqi. t w ii w Iqi w i I b Bi-i i i. s w ib pi Iqi ii.

M Iqi w i pii i i Iq i w b

mb Iqi i. I w imp k wii

Iqi k w i mmb mm i ib

Km. I w mm m mm mb 99. e-

w mmb i b i mbi imp.

a im pi w i ib m w -

ami epi mi. t p ib i w

i i i pi Iqi pi . t b Ii

ip i i i b ii pi w i

bm ii p i. t w w mp k

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fi 4. Te southern sector o the war (region o Khorramshahr)

Source: Copyright 1991 from The Longest War: The Iran Iraq Military Conflictby Dilip Hiro. Reproduced by permis-sion of Routledge, Inc., a division of Informa plc. Original map title "The Southernmost War Sector on Land," p. 16.

i b w p m bi. t w

pi bi w b ii .

t b w b ii m b Ii

leadership accepted the heavy losses [their soldiers] suffered, enabling them,

i mii bb i i m w . I w b mi i pii w

i pk ii bii w w bb mi ii

other, each one driven by its own belief [system]. Unfortunately, this caused us to

b p ii pi i i

w. o Ii b i p i

.

a i b i i i m m

m m pi pp w . f Iqi i w pi

i 1986 1987. t w m mb

b i mi m m. J s tz i

B wi i pi wi i m m.

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48 SADDAM'S WAR

Murray: s wi m pi pi w -

b 198 b i w i i i pbii -

i p p b Iq I mii i xi-

i mi wi w xpi w?

Hamdani: t w mp b i i b k im

i m i. t i

pi p m ii. a ii i qi

im. t iz xpi k p xp

i xpi i m bii pbiii. t w i qi-

m qi b mmb pi wi i mmb pi

i mi tk ep si ui p w

w i iim w impib p.

Woods: a i w w ik b w

iii Iqi i 19 M 1981. fm w i i

i m ik ii w mbii i pii

m i 9 am diii w b i i

p wi k w b w mi qik w

i i. I m b ki

ppi ii iii Ii -

k w i. W i k p w mi Iq j i I p i i w pp

w i w b b w i i? I m ik

j pp b ii . W i k

pi k ii Iqi m w b i i?

W w Ii k i?

Hamdani: W w i i k. t Ii k w

i k p p i k p

m. M k i p Ii m i. t I-i mi b wi w w ki b

i Iq. t w w i. o mi p w wk b

i k. s wi i w pib pi ii pp

w m i. t Ii i i

i p i ii. a iz i w b

b p i k w b pi. s w w

i Ii ii m b i

w pi w i w m i i p.

t iz w k pbiii. t Ii

m kw t w

p m i i pii i w pii i

i k. W i b.

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Woods: W w Ii i Iqi w

? W i kw pi imi mb

Iq m ii Iqi p w? W w

imii Iq pi i M 1981?

Hamdani: ti w w. W w i w w

i p i I? f xmp iii m-

m w m 4 kim i Ii i w

w b pi? gi i w t b

i w i b 8 kim Ii pi. s i imp

imi Iqi i. W b m m i pi-

i. W i pbii p iii 4 kim i I

w p w. o

bm i b p i i. cii ik t I-

w p i i i. W kw w pbii

xp i i wi p ii .

Discussion Five

19811982 Turbulence in Tehran Iranian Infiltration Tactics

1982 Attacks around Basra

19841988 Marsh Infiltrations and IraqiEngineering EffortsInternational Support to IranChemical Weapons

Usage (Anecdotes, including Halabjah)Iranian Response to Weapons

of Mass Destruction (WMD)Postwar Preparations with WMD

19821983 Reorganization and Recruiting for Republican Guard

Psychological Support of Saddam to TroopsPostwar Republican

Guard Reorganization

Woods: Immi Iqi i mi i

i pi i 1981 198 i m w iii m b i t pipi b bmb ( bmb i xpi)

ii i i i iii m izi ik

MEK [Mujahideen-e-Khalq].4 d ik i w sm

i i ii bi w m ik i

w m wii i ii? o w i j

ki i pp wi i w?

Hamdani: a i w Iq i. I w

m i I i i Ii

pii wi m pi ii wi s. t Ii

i i ii i i-

. B ii Kmii mp ii

iii w b b i i w ip

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50 SADDAM'S WAR

Kmii. o w ip mpii m ii

b Kmii w b i i ii imi p-

i wi i f mi p. s pp w m p

mpi i i i ii pi. o

Mji--Kq i k Imi

[office of the Islamic Republic Party] in 1981, which killed 72 people, including

a Bi.44

o Iq i wi i Bz.

t i I ik bw Iq I w wi pii

p f I. I w p b Mi Bz w p

i pim mii i.45

Kmii p im i m m

[had him] arrested. Other governments came after that. Ali Rajai was also killed,

Mii fi ai s gbz w x w

CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] agent.46 t w piii m

after him called Omar Shukri Zadeh [note: the authors can find no public refer-

ences to this individual] to be the revolutionary minister of foreign affairs, and he

w bi cIa p x. a i Iq

pi pp MeK.

Woods: y mi i p i mmi m i Ii i i b w i ii-

i i. ti i ii i ik b W W I xpi-

gm. c ib Ii i

pi i Iqi Iv cp i 198 dwiij ri?

[See figure 5.]

Hamdani: ti w III Iv cp m

w w w -K i bw -K -am dwiij ri.

The IV Corps was here [northwest of Tib to the south and west of Dehlo-ran], and this was the area of our largest minefield.47 t w ib m

i. t mji iii w b i w

p. W 1 diii i (dz) i w b

m ii. s w mii p Ii m.

t Ii mbiiz i w k p i

pii. t b p p m i m p

i p m i i . ti p k m b 5

m. t iii p i im i i w

k pii i i iii bi pi mmm wi m . t i w dz. W i p w w pp m

w m p i . ti i

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fi 5. Southern war sector

Source: Copyright 1991 from The Longest War: The Iran Iraq Military Conflictby Dilip Hiro. Reproduced by permissionof Routledge, Inc., a division of Informa plc. Original map title "The Southernmost War Sector on Land," p. 16.

m xibii i i p b wi

w k ii mpw w b. t k m

m ii w- b.

M xibii i i. I i

i pi b w p w

m pp i kp mmm i i i ii. t w

xmp i i 198. t w k i m i iii

im b i i w bk

w ji k.

Woods: W Iq b iz i pi pp w

Ii i impm i? di Iqi 1 diii iz Ii -

w mi i diii pii i p i?

W Iq b p I mm i w?

Hamdani: W Ii iii w p b i i i w iii i i. s m

m 1 kim i. t w imi iii. W

come up with plans for how to contain such attacks [see figure 6].

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52 SADDAM'S WAR

fi 6. General Hamdanis sketch o Iranian iniltration tactics, 1982

Source: Copyright 1991 from The Longest War: The Iran Iraq Military Conflictby Dilip Hiro. Reproduced by permis-sion of Routledge, Inc., a division of Informa plc. Original map title "The Southernmost War Sector on Land," p. 16.Subsection of map in figure 5 with Hamdani's notations.

t ki w k wi ( k). ti w

w pi Ii m. appxim

9 p Ii k w i b k i-

ib i mmm. t w iz i i-

w w m xi wi i bmb

m wi i pp. B w pi.

t Ii iz i p

. s b iz mm m wk imp i i i

w- m ( b). I i

imp m i/i bmb w i. I 1984

Ii ii m m m w

b m b w i i.

Murray: di i p b Ii w i

-m w ii w w Iq i i i bk?

Hamdani: y i p 1984 w

mi w i w ii m m.

ti w i pi w p w i w 1984.

t w pi i i wi w w pi i m -

iz m i i i.

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Woods: You described the Iranian operations around Basra [tactically

suicidal attacks] in the summer of 1982 as mad. What was different about Basra?

di Ii ik bi Iqi i i bk i

p B mb w b b bk sm im? W

w i b w I k B?

Hamdani: t B i p ib

m i w i p Ii k b m b-

mk i s -ab -B .48

Murray: a Ii p iii im i B wi

i p i Iq w w mpi i

bk B w mi w i? W

i m ii?

Hamdani: I i B i p

m p i rpbi g

w pi b Ii. s i ik

w i i B. ti m i mi im

at [making gains in] the south. Moreover, they preferred Basra for several reasons:

mji ppi i sii i m i g -

i Iq i i. I I w b p B i i

mi ip m p m Iq (i w b p Mmm abi awz ) w Iq m

g. s w i i i i .

t i pi B m Ii ii bk

s i w Iq fi lk i

mi-197. t k w bi Ii m p. I w i

imi i mm pi i -m k

B. t Iqi ni d P w pp b sm k pw

pi Ii 9

am diii k pBasra. At that time [early 1970s], we had fewer armored units, and those we did

have were focusing on moving into Jordan [to support an Arab war against Israel].

t w bi i w bi imi pibii Ii k i

. W i i p i w i mi

197. I w w p Iqi i.

I 198 Ii m iii b iii i i -

k w x i i . B

p i B Iqi m ip

Ii. t Ii wki i w i i

w ii. s i w i 198 m

fi lk 9 diii. dpi i Ii m

p w b k i ii.

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54 SADDAM'S WAR

a 1984 m m k Mj-

nun Islands [see figure 5]. And their infantry operated well down in this area. They

i 198 b i p b

east of Basra and east of Amara [see figure 4]. After 1987, they began a strategy of

ii im m i i i

mi imi b w i .

Woods: Wi pi m k -

i i wk m. B Iqi Ii i

p w m. f Iq i ib m bii

i iii b. Ii i bii

m p bi mi m qik. c ib m i

i ii im?

Hamdani: o i Ii i p w i

i mm. t b i bi m

k mi wi w w. t m m

the same material to float artillery inside the rivers [like an artillery barge].

t w ii i i w bi i

stoppers [berms]. They occupied these areas and expanded them with the [cork

material] because the longest of the reed plants was 3 meters. They were able to

bi mb b i i bm i i i wi xp wi k. e i i i ii

. t i p m i ii

pi w w w m w i xmp w

Ii p i i i pii. W bi i bi

p bi i ip i i w i i

i b iw. s pi m 1984 1988.

We had a hard time maneuvering our Republican Guard troops [in this

area], and used amphibious forces and engineering troops, as well as amphibiousm BMP1 BMP. W i ip p-

pi ib i i i i k. a i

i im w mi wp xi.

Murray: I pp w w Iqi ppi p

i k qipm wi t7 wi Ii w i

w k i w. t i k w p

bm i i p i i. I i ?

Hamdani: y i i . t wi m i

m b i pm.

M Ii i xpi n K. a

i ii m i bi i bi

pipi bi s -ab m m K xp w

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wk wi m. I i mii pp i m n K

w Pkii pi i b m m m

n K. ti w m i mii ii -

i w. B i w m-p pp. I m m

w p b w xp. t Ii w k i

i m sii Pkii.49

Woods: ci bj bi i m m i pi b-

m mmi i ii mi wp i i.

W i i WMd ? W i b im i wi

w wii wi w i ibi wp m i

mi wp ki? B i I w ik im-

pi pi i impii i mi wp

bi. obi i b i i i

. a i wk b w; wi mi m-

mi bi. c ib mi

w i w pi i i 198 1984?

Hamdani: W I mi wp spi Wp

[in the final published version of the memoirs, not the draft available to the Proj-

ect 1946 team]. On April 17, 1988, Iraqi artillery units launched more than 1,000

ii ( p i i) i i I bi bmbm mi wp. I w mix i k k i ii

I bi mi wp.5 Mwi wi i ii

i i i wi mk. e rpbi g

Headquarters was slightly affected [by the Iraqi chemicals]. And this is in the more

p pbi i m mmi.

Woods: a m pi i 198 bm mm m

i; ib w i w ik w i

Iq w i mi wp? W pp mi wpi mi pi i i?

Hamdani: W mi wp

b wi. t pbm w w w i w i

pi mk i w imi i mb i mk

w mb. I wi i ii i w

ik w i ii wi wi pi mk.

W p k w p j i. W

w mi k Ii i p w

i m . W q q mi wp

pp i ii I.

I i w i I k sm hi w w pi

mi wp I w kw w p.51 h w

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56 SADDAM'S WAR

n i . s I p m p m xib wi -

i w b pib mi wp. M bi w w

mi wp w i b w w i i i

pp ik i i. M m m ppi

imp mi i m pi mi.

a xmp w i b hbj i 1987 84 Ii

I diii 55 Ii P Bi w b p. t

i hbj w K b w i.

Woods: Can you describe the [military] decision process when the chemi-

wp w i w?

Hamdani: t w pi i q bi

wp i b i pi

p mi k. t Iqi m i mm w

b i q i mi mm w

w b mmb i q. t i i w b Iqi

m pi i.

Murray: W ii mi wp m p-

i w i mp w m p Ii

p w?

Hamdani: B. I w . t mk p pw k w qi i pbii. f xmp w mi-

wp i w f i mpi i m

wi i i-i wp p

i mpm m. f Ii pi -

w i k m pp w

imp. t w i b mi wp. W

used the chemicals in Al-Huwayzah area, in Majnun, and in Shalamjah [Cha-

lamjeh], the orchard area.ti i i . t Ii p i a-

f I i wi xm i i p

B. a Ii iz w Iqi B w

mi k i Bb

xmp. t i pm . t k

Mm ( f Pi) p a-f. I

Ii pi w i 6 diii. t Ii

p k pi w k 7 diii. t

mm k k ip f

wki i w si r. ti i p um-

Q. B p w b i k i i i

b k.5

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Woods: I i w mi wp

w i i p ii i ?

Hamdani: n i i w w w p Ii

i i . t Ii p i i -

i ip m i. t i bkp pp

m i i m ii pp

i pi . ti i w k wi mi k p.

t pi k p i 1986 w mi k i 1988

ibi w w i p m i . I 1988

rpbi g w i i i ibi. t mb i

we lost [killed in action] from 19861988 was 53,000, and we had 220,000 injured.

s w w mi w b pp b

w bb.

I hbj i 1987 Ii w iii 84 Ii dii-

i 55 P (aib) diii. t Ii hbj

dbik lk m wi i i.

t pi i m k si Mi wi

bm w simi. s i i i

p si Mi w b b ii m m

simi. o i i w p i pi pi .

t K i hbj . t b b

b i m b mi. J tbi

Iqi m im i

become an operational area, fearing for the safety of the Kurdish residents [and

warned them] not to stay in the area. Talabani notified [the Iraqi] command that

K . t m kw i m -

imi i k p m i.t w i mi i . t k

m i xmi Ii iii. ti w i m

mi w i xmi 84 diii. I w imi