Status Updates From The Iran-Iraq War: A Milita...

By January 1981, Saddam's forces had occupied Iranian territory along approx half the 735 mile border, coming to rest in random positions, without tactical benefits for either defense or attack or even the approaching winter weather.

While advanced battlefield technology helped to stiffen the spine [of a doubled army equipped with the best of Soviet armour and aircraft between 1973-1980] the traditional interpersonal methods of ruthless discipline carried the day, atuned to the fear which held most of Iraqi society together.

Iraq's defanged military in the 1980s was as effective as Saddam wanted it to be, but not as effective as he needed it to be.

Point it into the general direction. By toughness (or ruthlessness) it will destroy both the external as well as the internal enemies of his regime. Cultural myths and political oratory don't work well against an opponent 3 times your size who has a deeper faith in martyrdom.

I approach reading lots of books at once the same way Saddam approached warfare i.e. no planning or rationalization just heroic warrior courage

my neighbor unironically looks like Saddam