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The Longest War: Iran-Iraq Military Conflict
In The Longest War , Dilip Hiro describes the causes and courses of the Iran-Iraq military conflict and its effect on the two antagonists, as well as the rest of the world. He reveals the intricate twists and turns of international diplomacy and the realpolitik behind the rhetoric, providing a comprehensive and admirably balanced account of the political and military aspects of the "longest war."
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 9, 2019
This was actually the First Gulf War, folks.
Sadly not as irrelevant a war as you might want it to be, considering the incessant Iran-baiting going on these days, the I-I War still stands as one of the longest conventional wars of the last century and one whose repercussions can still be felt in the region and even further.
Hiro, as always, nicely balances the actual military events with political shenanigans and gives some good briefs and background on the history of the conflict and its causes. More importantly, it sets the stage for ensuing events in the Middle East, especially the Second Gulf War.
Some takeaways, especially for American readers, and most especially those who might need a wake-up call when it comes to foreign policy shenanigans
1) Widespread use of chemical weapons by Iraq against Iran, including the slaughter of its own citizens in places like Halabja.
2) US backing for Iraq. Yes, the US sold him weapons (including chemical), satellite info, et cetera. Pictures speak a thousand words:
Yep, that's Donald Rumsfeld, who some of you might find familiar as the guy who wanted to attack Iraq some years ago. He brought Saddam Hussein some spurs from Ronald Reagan. Then the US attacked Iraq in '91. Confusing, right?
Not as confusing as what came next.
Get ready for #3:
3) The US sold weapons to Iran, too. Yes, that's right. Remember the Iran-Contra scandal? Who couldn't? The greatest moment of exposure for how fucked American foreign policy is! Even better, freaking Israel helped the US sell arms to Iran.
Anyway, those are just juicy tidbits. Overall, this is an excellent book, if a little heavy on military details.
Sadly not as irrelevant a war as you might want it to be, considering the incessant Iran-baiting going on these days, the I-I War still stands as one of the longest conventional wars of the last century and one whose repercussions can still be felt in the region and even further.
Hiro, as always, nicely balances the actual military events with political shenanigans and gives some good briefs and background on the history of the conflict and its causes. More importantly, it sets the stage for ensuing events in the Middle East, especially the Second Gulf War.
Some takeaways, especially for American readers, and most especially those who might need a wake-up call when it comes to foreign policy shenanigans
1) Widespread use of chemical weapons by Iraq against Iran, including the slaughter of its own citizens in places like Halabja.
2) US backing for Iraq. Yes, the US sold him weapons (including chemical), satellite info, et cetera. Pictures speak a thousand words:
Yep, that's Donald Rumsfeld, who some of you might find familiar as the guy who wanted to attack Iraq some years ago. He brought Saddam Hussein some spurs from Ronald Reagan. Then the US attacked Iraq in '91. Confusing, right?
Not as confusing as what came next.
Get ready for #3:
3) The US sold weapons to Iran, too. Yes, that's right. Remember the Iran-Contra scandal? Who couldn't? The greatest moment of exposure for how fucked American foreign policy is! Even better, freaking Israel helped the US sell arms to Iran.
Anyway, those are just juicy tidbits. Overall, this is an excellent book, if a little heavy on military details.
March 11, 2012
An easy to read journalistic rather than scholarly account of the longest conventional war of the 20th century that lasted 7 years and 11 months and ended in a statelemate.
Written in 1990, it is refreshingly unmolested by irrelevant references to future events like Iraq's invasion of Kuwait or September 11.
Anyone who believes in such a notion as one Arab World or Islamic World will be dissapointed to see in this book that the human drive for power, honour, and wealth is far too universal to be overcome by idealistic notions of nationalism or religion. Iran, even during the nascent fervour of an anti-American anti-atheist Islamic revolution was more than willing to purchase most of its military arsenal from the 'Great Satan' America, those atheist abominations the Soviet Union and North Korea, and its anti-Islamic laicic neighbour Turkey. Saddam suppressed Iraq's Kurdish rebels but encouraged Iran's Kurds to rebel whilst Iran supplied Iraq's Kurdish rebels whilst suppressing its own. Egypt became a pariah of the Arab world after signing a peace accord with Israel, but Saddamn- the great anti-Zionist torchbearer of the Arab world- had such a hunger for more weapons that he ushered Egypt's re-entry into the Arab League and they became strong allies as a result: a friend in need is a friend indeed. This dark comedy played itself in many other hypocritical ways, illustrated in this book.
Had the author explained some of the weapon and military jargon then the many tactical accounts would have been easier to follow. However the reader is not left lost because the author explains that one side's equipment was better than the other (Iraq always having an edge on materiel) and gives the outcome and signifance of each battle. Most of the book's content concerns domestic and international political relationships and circumstances but there are still many accounts of individual battles.
A great introduction and an eaasy refresher.
Written in 1990, it is refreshingly unmolested by irrelevant references to future events like Iraq's invasion of Kuwait or September 11.
Anyone who believes in such a notion as one Arab World or Islamic World will be dissapointed to see in this book that the human drive for power, honour, and wealth is far too universal to be overcome by idealistic notions of nationalism or religion. Iran, even during the nascent fervour of an anti-American anti-atheist Islamic revolution was more than willing to purchase most of its military arsenal from the 'Great Satan' America, those atheist abominations the Soviet Union and North Korea, and its anti-Islamic laicic neighbour Turkey. Saddam suppressed Iraq's Kurdish rebels but encouraged Iran's Kurds to rebel whilst Iran supplied Iraq's Kurdish rebels whilst suppressing its own. Egypt became a pariah of the Arab world after signing a peace accord with Israel, but Saddamn- the great anti-Zionist torchbearer of the Arab world- had such a hunger for more weapons that he ushered Egypt's re-entry into the Arab League and they became strong allies as a result: a friend in need is a friend indeed. This dark comedy played itself in many other hypocritical ways, illustrated in this book.
Had the author explained some of the weapon and military jargon then the many tactical accounts would have been easier to follow. However the reader is not left lost because the author explains that one side's equipment was better than the other (Iraq always having an edge on materiel) and gives the outcome and signifance of each battle. Most of the book's content concerns domestic and international political relationships and circumstances but there are still many accounts of individual battles.
A great introduction and an eaasy refresher.
February 7, 2014
AN AUDIT OF WAR
Dilip Hiros book on the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980's is up to his usual standard; the facts are presented in an impartial and systematic way giving the reader a thorough if somewhat prosaic account of the lengthy and bloody Iran-Iraq War.
The Longest War is divided into four phases, each having a chapter that accounts for the action (political and military) in Iran and Iraq and with an accompanying chapter on the role played by outsiders. The book also puts the war into context with regard to Saddams rise, the Shahs fall and the founding of the Islamic Republic in Iran.
Saddam, with support from Saudia Arabia and Kuwait, and a nod and a wink from Washington initiated a war he expected to last weeks against an Iran in turmoil after its 1979 revolution. Instead it dragged on for nearly a decade resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands on each side.
Hiro dispassionately reports the developments on each side- the Iraqi attempts to extracate themselves once it became clear that it wouldnt be a walkover, the Iranian Islamic Republic, consolidating itself in the face of the attack from Iraq and sticking out for what in world war 2 terms would be called "total surrender". The outside powers roles are also documentated, the then USSR seems to be constantly reacting to events, half the American government supports Iraq at first tentively and then more overtly including supplying Iraq with intelligence, financial credits and the deeply dubious Donald Rumsfield aswell as militarily intervening in the Gulf. The other half of the American government is meanwhile selling Arms to the Iranians to fund their murderous war in Central America. The British, Germans, French, Swedes, Israelis are selling arms willy nilly in pursuit of profit to one side or the other.
There are interesting comparisons on how the two countries made war, the Iraqis got into debt with the West and the Gulf States for tens of billions of dollars, in stark contrast the Iranians had a national debt of only $500million at the end of the war. They saw, correctly, that getting into debt would compromise their independence and their Islamic Revolution. To the Iranians credit they never reduced themselves to Saddams level by resorting to Chemical Weapons (the Ayatollah was against it).
If a criticism of Hiro writing can be made it is that it will not have you sitting on the edge of your seat. It is calm, matter of fact, thorough and a valuable account of the Iran Iraq war which has tended to be overlooked given the recent turmoil in the region.
Dilip Hiros book on the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980's is up to his usual standard; the facts are presented in an impartial and systematic way giving the reader a thorough if somewhat prosaic account of the lengthy and bloody Iran-Iraq War.
The Longest War is divided into four phases, each having a chapter that accounts for the action (political and military) in Iran and Iraq and with an accompanying chapter on the role played by outsiders. The book also puts the war into context with regard to Saddams rise, the Shahs fall and the founding of the Islamic Republic in Iran.
Saddam, with support from Saudia Arabia and Kuwait, and a nod and a wink from Washington initiated a war he expected to last weeks against an Iran in turmoil after its 1979 revolution. Instead it dragged on for nearly a decade resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands on each side.
Hiro dispassionately reports the developments on each side- the Iraqi attempts to extracate themselves once it became clear that it wouldnt be a walkover, the Iranian Islamic Republic, consolidating itself in the face of the attack from Iraq and sticking out for what in world war 2 terms would be called "total surrender". The outside powers roles are also documentated, the then USSR seems to be constantly reacting to events, half the American government supports Iraq at first tentively and then more overtly including supplying Iraq with intelligence, financial credits and the deeply dubious Donald Rumsfield aswell as militarily intervening in the Gulf. The other half of the American government is meanwhile selling Arms to the Iranians to fund their murderous war in Central America. The British, Germans, French, Swedes, Israelis are selling arms willy nilly in pursuit of profit to one side or the other.
There are interesting comparisons on how the two countries made war, the Iraqis got into debt with the West and the Gulf States for tens of billions of dollars, in stark contrast the Iranians had a national debt of only $500million at the end of the war. They saw, correctly, that getting into debt would compromise their independence and their Islamic Revolution. To the Iranians credit they never reduced themselves to Saddams level by resorting to Chemical Weapons (the Ayatollah was against it).
If a criticism of Hiro writing can be made it is that it will not have you sitting on the edge of your seat. It is calm, matter of fact, thorough and a valuable account of the Iran Iraq war which has tended to be overlooked given the recent turmoil in the region.
June 3, 2019
I can't find a better one volume text on this conflict. The book can be quickly read in one sitting, yet Hiro covers every aspect of the war: the policies and intentions of outside powers; the approximate causes of the war; the conduct of the war itself; the effects of the war on the two states involved - in particular how the war consolidated Iran socially and undermined Iraq financially. Hiro points out the mistakes of both sides, and comes across neither as a self-righteous critic nor as an apologist/PR-man for either state. Nor does he suffer from the kind of 'both-sides-ism' that is just as dishonest. He speaks, as far as I can tell, the truth as he saw it, as he was as close to an eye witness of the conflict as he could be. The events of the book might seem surprising when you consider events as they are currently, in particular the fact that Israel tilted towards a much more ideological Islamic Republic of Iran (compared to currently) during this period of time. I recommend it to anyone interested in the recent military/diplomatic history of the region or its political development.
August 16, 2025
I can`t say I particularly enjoyed this book. It was first published in 1989, a year after the end of the war. In does cover the conflict in broad terms covering the causes , main events and outcome in broad terms but eight years of war in 200 odd pages it is perhaps inevitable that this is broad brush stokes only.
While it is not the fault of this book as it was published before later events of the Gulf War it is dated as in was only a couple of years later that what had been a relatively close relationship between the US and Iraq changed into the invasion of Iraq and the Gulf War (and then the second gulf war, etc etc)
The Iraqi willingess to deploy chemical weapons is apparent.
As a brief overview of the war this fine but overall it is dated, lacks in depth analysis and is not particularly recommended
While it is not the fault of this book as it was published before later events of the Gulf War it is dated as in was only a couple of years later that what had been a relatively close relationship between the US and Iraq changed into the invasion of Iraq and the Gulf War (and then the second gulf war, etc etc)
The Iraqi willingess to deploy chemical weapons is apparent.
As a brief overview of the war this fine but overall it is dated, lacks in depth analysis and is not particularly recommended
November 21, 2024
I decided to read this book because I knew little of the Iran Iraq war I walk away from it knowing most of the parts of it despite it not being the most modern thing actual return right before the American gulf war makes the ending speculating about what’s next kinda weird
May 25, 2019
Right. This is the longest war. Or whatever. A simple writer with a shallow documentation base.
September 19, 2025
This is a fair book and not an easy read. This has not been well documented, so this is one of the best books on the subject.
May 9, 2013
Was an decent read, but I'd recommend 'Covert Relationship' as the book to read on the Iran-Iraq war as it was more detailed, went deeper into the thinking of all sides, and provided excellent sources. I was disappoint in "The Longest War" went sources I were interested in turned out to be deadend. Descriptions of some of the strategies used in the Invasion of the Fao (al-Faw) Peninsula were citations of interviews that had not been made public. Perhaps that age of wikileaks and open source journalism has spoiled me.
February 6, 2017
A very useful journalist account of anyone untested in Middle East
November 7, 2007
This book covers the 8-year Iran-Iraq war. It appears to be a thorough history.
The reason I read this book was to prove or disprove some of the statements I had heard about Iran's dealings with their own troops and population during the war. For the most part, I believe that I found what I was looking for.
The reason I read this book was to prove or disprove some of the statements I had heard about Iran's dealings with their own troops and population during the war. For the most part, I believe that I found what I was looking for.
September 11, 2007
I picked it up to learn more about this meme that "America created Saddam".
Seems like a good general treatment of the conflict, and it was written at a time when today's politics were not an issue.
Seems like a good general treatment of the conflict, and it was written at a time when today's politics were not an issue.
December 6, 2007
thoroughgoing. I gave a presentation on it once. . . .
March 26, 2014
A lot of information about a seldom-mentioned war, this describes a lot of the relationships between many Middle-Eastern countries in the 1980s in its coverage of the conflict.
March 25, 2015
like this book. i hope can download it
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews