The Continuing Storm: Iraq, Poisonous Weapons, and Deterrence [Hardcover]

Avigdor Haselkorn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 1999

In this book strategic analyst Avigdor Haselkorn provides an important reassessment of the 1991 Gulf War. Haselkorn's step-by-step narrative - in which he reviews the events of the war with Iraq, examines intelligence and planning during the war, discusses why President Bush abruptly terminated it, and analyzes the strategic consequences - is absorbing and frightening. He reveals that the war was not the splendid high-tech victory that many Americans perceive, but a nearly catastrophic event. The threatened use of weapons of mass destruction during the Gulf War has redefined the meaning of deterrence, Haselkorn contends, and has set in motion trends that portend great danger to world peace. This book focuses on the role played by biological and chemical weapons in the Gulf War and scrutinizes the dynamics of deterrence. It supplies the grim facts about anthrax, botulinum toxin, and poison gases and traces the terror of their use. Haselkorn shows that President Bush had little choice about ending the war when he did, given the failure of U.S. intelligence and severe flaws in strategic planning. Indeed, leaders on both sides of the conflict either were dangerously uninformed or did not fully understand the information they had. This book provides a key to the continuing stalemate with Iraq, and it offers new insights into how the spread of weapons of mass destruction will affect world politics and future battlefields.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Why did the United States abruptly end the Gulf War? Haselkorn (Geopolitical Forum, Palo Alto, CA) contends that Saddam effectively blackmailed us by threatening to use his chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, leaving President Bush with no choice. Haselkorn supports his conclusions with an in-depth (and occasionally repetitive) analysis and extensive documentation (over 100 pages of footnotes), tables, and appendixes. He cites numerous U.S. intelligence failures and even questions the truthfulness of Bush and Scowcroft. This book is bound to have its critics, but it is hard to disagree with Haselkorn's conclusion that in the future small extremist countries?North Korea, Libya, Iraq, and Iran?can use the threat of chemical/biological terrorism against the superpowers. A provocative and disturbing book; recommended for academic libraries and Middle East and military/international affairs collections.?Ruth K. Baacke, Whatcom Community Coll. Lib., Bellingham, WA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1ST edition (February 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300075820
• ISBN-13: 978-0300075823
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,763,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Highly readable and extremely valuable book"ÿ, November 24, 1999

By 

Prof. William Van Cleave, Director, Center f... - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Continuing Storm: Iraq, Poisonous Weapons, and Deterrence (Hardcover)

"[This book] is an essential companion to whatever other reading one does on the Gulf War. The Continuing Storm is a highly readable and extremely valuable book for understanding not only the American decision to end the war and the continuation in power of Saddam's regime, but also the impact of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of ruthless regimes and the psychology of 'terrorist deterrence.' Its insights are keen and its scholarship is thorough, as evidenced by more than 900 footnotes, many of them containing multiple citations and informative content. This is not a book just for scholars and experts, however; it is written also for the interested layman."ÿ

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive and well written book of relevance beyond Iraq, August 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Continuing Storm: Iraq, Poisonous Weapons, and Deterrence (Hardcover)

"This is an impressive and well written book about the part played by biological and chemical weapons in the Gulf War, their impact on in-war deterrence and their continuing relevance as the war drew to a close and thereafter. There are lessons to be learned from the Iraq experience that must be applied in the future not only in Iraq itself but further afield. quiescent alongside the Kosovo turmoil, we should stay aware of savagely unfinished business of vital interest." part played by biological and chemical weapons in the Gulf War, their impact on in-war deterrence and their continuing relevance as the war drew to a close and thereafter. There are lessons to be learned from the Iraq experience that must be applied in the future not only in Iraq itself but further afield. quiescent alongside the Kosovo turmoil, we should stay aware of savagely unfinished business of vital interest." Rear Admiral Richard Cobbold, Director Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies (RUSI, RUSI Journal, London, August 1999

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent. Gripping and thought-provoking., March 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Continuing Storm: Iraq, Poisonous Weapons, and Deterrence (Hardcover)

The Continuing Storm is one of the most significant and intriguing books I have read. It sheds light on why the Gulf War really ended when it did, and comes to some startling conclusions on how biological and chemical weapons will impact global security in the future. The balance of power is changing before our eyes, as this books so clearly reveals. It changed my whole perspective on U.S. foreign policy in the Gulf, as well as helped me understand the "game" Saddam is playing. Very timely and interesting overall. I recommend this book to people who are concerned about international affairs, military strategy, and world stability.