Download - Saddam War
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
1/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
2/163
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)
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
3/163
Kevin M. Woods, Williamson Murray,and Thomas Holaday
with Mounir Elkhamri
InstItute for natIonal strategIc studIes
natIonal defense unIversIty
WashIngton d.c.
9
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
4/163
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:.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
5/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
6/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
7/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
8/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
9/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
10/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
11/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
12/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
13/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
14/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
15/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
16/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
17/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
18/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
19/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 5
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
20/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
21/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 7
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
22/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
23/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 9
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
24/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
25/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 11
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
26/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
27/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 13
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
28/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
29/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 15
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
30/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
31/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 17
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
32/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
33/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 19
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
34/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
35/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 21
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
36/163
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?
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
37/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 23
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
38/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
39/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 25
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
40/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
41/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 27
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 .
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
42/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
43/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 29
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 .
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
44/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
45/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 31
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 .
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
46/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
47/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 33
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
48/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
49/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 35
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
50/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
51/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 37
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
52/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
53/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 39
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
54/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
55/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 41
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
56/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
57/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 43
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
58/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
59/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 45
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
60/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
61/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 47
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
62/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
63/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 49
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
64/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
65/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 51
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].
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
66/163
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
67/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 53
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.
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
68/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
69/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 55
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
70/163
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
-
8/8/2019 Saddam War
71/163
AN IRAQI MILITARY PERSPECTIVE 57
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