The Continuing Storm: Iraq, Poisonous Weapons, and Deterrence

by Avigdor Haselkorn

In this "compelling analysis"(Military Review) of the 1991 Gulf War, a strategic analyst reveals that the war was not the high-tech victory that many Americans perceive but a nearly catastrophic... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300075820
• ISBN13: 9780300075823
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

"A Highly readable and extremely valuable book"ÿ

"[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

An impressive and well written book of relevance beyond Iraq

"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

"The mother of all books on the Gulf War"

"[The Continuing Storm] is the mother of all books on the gulf war written by one of today's most brilliant political-military analysts, Avigdor Haselkorn...The author's extraordinary documentation--the encyclopedic footnotes alone are a sort of volume two--and reasoning must be attended two.""'As long as we accept the arguments of Bush and his colleagues as they struggle to explain their stated reasons for ending the war,' writes Mr. Haselkorn,'it will be impossible not to conclude that the president was either dangerously out of touch with the events at the close of the war or was simply acting irrationally. It is far better to believe that he and his cohorts are simply less than truthful.'"Arnold Beichman in WASHINGTON TIMES, April 18, 1999

Excellent. Gripping and thought-provoking.

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.

Brilliant Analysis of Geostrategic Threats

In this remarkable book, Avigdor Haselkorn shows readers how to think about future wars. More precisely, Haselkorn uses the Gulf War to illustrate his point that the very nature of war has shifted, not merely because of weapons of mass destruction, but because these weapons now are in the hands of "undeterrable" governments. Simply put, while the Soviets were vicious they weren't vicious and crazy. Today, however, we have vicious and crazy leaders in countries such as Iraq, Libya and North Korea. Dealing with threats from governments like these will require a wholly new approach to strategy. It must be a combination of strategic defense AND -- here comes the tricky part -- pre-emption. Because we may not be able to deter governments like these, we may need to physically separate them from their mass destruction weapons before they can use them.Haselkorn's detailed analysis of the Gulf War, and of the various strategic analyses undertaken by the US, by Iraq -- and by Israel, which had the option to launch its nuclear weapons at Baghdad but did not -- is analysis of the highest geostrategic order. Just reading through "The Continuing Storm" will change the way you think about warfare.This is truly the first post-Gulf War strategic essays on war in the next century to be published. It should be widely read by military officers, war planners and defense professionals throughout the world.