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Kevin M. Woods

The Mother of All Battles: Saddam Hussein's Strategic Plan for the Persian Gulf War Paperback – Illustrated, August 1, 2008

by Kevin M. Woods (Author)

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Events in this story of the "Mother of All Battles," as Saddam designated the 1991 war, are drawn from primary Iraqi sources, including government documents, video and audiotapes, maps, and photographs captured by U.S. forces in 2003 from the regime's archives and never intended for outsiders' eyes. The book is part of an official U.S. Joint Forces Command research project to examine contemporary warfare from the point of view of the adversary's archives and senior leader interviews. Its purpose is to stimulate thoughtful analyses of currently accepted lessons of the first Gulf War. While not a comprehensive history, the author's balanced Iraqi perspective of events between 1990 and 1991 takes full advantage of his unique access to material. The result is a completely unknown but fully documented view from the other side.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Naval Institute Press
Publication date

August 1, 2008
Dimensions

5.9 x 1 x 8.9 inches
ISBN-10

1591149428
ISBN-13

978-1591149422
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Rick Atkinson
202
Paperback
106 offers from $1.80

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kevin M. Woods is an analyst with the Institute for Defense Analyses. A resident of Northern Virginia, he is also the coauthor of a companion volume on the 2003 Gulf War.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press; Illustrated edition (August 1, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1591149428
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1591149422
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 1 x 8.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,874,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #288 in Operation Desert Storm Military History
- #1,867 in Iraq War History (Books)
- #4,393 in Military Strategy History (Books)

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12 ratings

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Kevin M. Woods

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Dr. Kevin M. Woods is a defense analyst and historian at a Washington DC based think-tank. Since 2003, he has led a research project designed to better understand the former regime of Saddam Hussein through primary records. A graduate of Auburn University, Kevin also holds a masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and a PhD in History from the University of Leeds.

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James D. Crabtree

Excellent overview

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2010

Verified Purchase

This book, based upon many sources (including interviews with Iraqi officers and quotes from Ba'athist officials involved in the 1990 invasion of Kuwait), outlines Saddam's original plan for taking over Kuwait, as well as planning that took place after the United States and Coalition allies stepped forward to confront him over his occupation of that country. It portrays Saddam's strategic mindset and his "doublethink" of how brutally invading Kuwait would unify the rest of the Arab world behind him.

As a Desert Storm veteran I recall how many of the decisions made by the Iraqis seemed to make little or no sense. However, The Mother of All Battles puts the war in context. The documents and other information we now have available to us makes the overall strategy clear, as well as the limitations presented by Iraq's intelligence services (they didn't even have good maps of Kuwait!). Saddam's Air Force, recognizing that it could contribute little against the numerically- and qualitatively-superior Coalition air forces concentrated on preparing for a strike against Israel (!) while Iraqi scientists tried to find a way to defeat cruise missiles.

The only disappointment I had with the book was the way it would throw out suppositions and "facts" found in Iraqi records ("we shot down 50 American planes today!") but would not refer back or refute the claims with known losses or events from Coalition records.

This book includes great information regarding the Battle of Khafji (a large-scale raid into Saudi territory), a systematic look at the planned Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and its actual execution (which highlighted weaknesses which would later prove to be Saddam's undoing), and contingency plans for defeating various possible Coalition plans of action. Khafji was later used as an example of a "victory" in the Iraqi Army's staff training and the overall war as a "draw". Absolutely fascinating and a great book to have if you're interested in the First Gulf War. Well-illustrated with captured graphics and contemporary photos.

2 people found this helpful

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GK

Very extensive research

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2014

Verified Purchase

Although a long read, it will provide you a lot more information on Hussein and his regime than you've ever received via the media.
Interesting disclosures on inside details of the Desert Storm battles.

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

The book arrived in good condition

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

An excellent insight into the Iraqi regime. Essential to getting a real understanding of the 1990-91 Kuwait war and its aftermath.

One person found this helpful

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ramiz nadhmi

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2014

Verified Purchase

Very good product, thanx

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Ned Middleton

The official report into "Gulf 1."

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2009

Whilst there have been many amazing developments in terms of recent measures and counter-measures as far as the prosecution of warfare is concerned, it was during the first Gulf War (now euphemistically called "Gulf 1" by US troops) that ordinary citizens were treated to visual examples of precision bombing during their TV news programmes. Of course, those forces - led by General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, had a strategic battle plan. What some may find unbelievable - perhaps even to the point of derision, was that Saddam Hussein also had a similarly complex defence strategy.

When Iraq invaded, the much smaller and almost defenceless Kuwait stood no chance against her much bigger and well armed oppressor. As tensions mounted and UN resolutions were passed, so Saddam Hussein promised anyone who dared to intervene "The Mother of all Battles." In the event, it became more a case of the professionals against the rank amateurs. Nevertheless, there are lasting mental images from that conflict which will never be confused with "Gulf 2." That precision bombing and the many oil wells set on fire by retreating Iraqi forces are but two examples.

In this book, author Kevin M. Woods has accessed just about every relevant official document and source (including audio tapes, videos, photographs, maps and charts) relating to this war. Much of the material was previously unpublished and, in some cases, previously unknown! His detailed research is, therefore, most thorough and is to be commended.

From that information, we are treated to a complete exposé of exactly what happened - step by step, along the way. As Colonel G. Fontenot (US Forces (retired)) correctly points out in his own comments about this book; "Military history can only be written by taking the enemy into account." In this instance, Woods has done exactly that. This is a perceptive and accurate work describing the invasion and the resultant Operation Desert Storm which freed Kuwait from it's tyrannical neighbour. Beginning with an overview of the war from the US perspective, we are taken through the various stages of the conflict until we finally arrive at the Iraqi conclusions of what had just happened.

It is an intuitive work which also includes all the minutiae of detail which historians will both enjoy and welcome. Though not quite the excellent read one might expect from, say, a good novel, it is, nevertheless easy to read and not as solemn as one would expect from what is an officially sanctioned report into an important late-20th century conflict.

Altogether, a job well done.

NM
British Army Major (Retired).

6 people found this helpful

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