Did Iraq expect a nuclear Desert Storm? Deterrence, paradigms, and operational culture in a weapons of mass destruction environment

• Autores: Norman Cigar
• Localización: War in history, ISSN-e 1477-0385, ISSN 0968-3445, Vol. 21, Nº. 3, 2014, págs. 274-301
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Most of the Iraqi political leadership, military, and public were convinced that there was a strong likelihood the United States would employ nuclear weapons during Desert Storm. This study examines how a combination of existing paradigms, propaganda, military doctrine, and a misunderstanding of US military and political strategy combined to predispose Iraq to expect nuclear escalation, and the impact the perceived threat had on nuclear deterrence and on Iraq�s conduct of the Gulf War. The research is based on captured Iraqi political and military documents, as well as on the Iraqi media and interviews.