The Iraqi Threat and Saddam Hussein's Weapons of Mass Destruction

by Stephen Hughes, Trafford Publishing, Victoria, Canada, 2002, 436 pp., $29.95 (soft cover).

"It is barter to act quickly and error than to hesitate until the time of action is past."--Karl von Clausewitz (1832). Clausewitz could be describing both the benefits and drawbacks of this book and its "on-demand publishing" method. The Iraqi Threat is hopefully just the beginning of a new surge of specialized publishing for the military audience.

The author, a former Black Horse cavalry scout with an extensive military research background, used his expertise and experience to write a reference book specifically aimed at a military audience, and then had it published nontraditionally. By gathering public information, along with recently unclassified military and government intelligence, the author compiled a single source document. Due to the technical nature of the book and its narrow target audience, it is doubtful that a traditional publishing company would have taken the financial risk of this publication.

The book is an intelligence officer's primer into the Iraqi military at all levels. Covered in depth are the regular Iraqi army, the republican guard, air force, special operations forces, and other specialty units. In light of current world events, the book covers in great detail the Iraqi al-Qaeda connection and other terrorist links, as well as provides in-depth investigations into the Iraqi nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare programs.

Rather than providing a list of numbers and equipment types, the author explores the expected tactics, techniques, and procedures that are used by the Iraqi military. The type and use of chemical weapons is fully documented, which includes past use and any potential use of these weapons by Saddam Hussein. More importantly, the effects of each type of munition are detailed. Nuclear weapons are also reviewed, including their expected effects, delivery systems, potential targets, and limitations.

The author analyzes conventional weapons systems and equipment in great detail. By doing so, this should allow both officers and noncommissioned officers to appreciate the content and its applicability. The book describes unit distribution, effective ranges, and techniques of use for all weapons ranging from rocket-propelled grenades to antitank guided missiles. These are broken down into different categories, including missile systems, armored vehicles, artillery systems, and antitank weapons.

On-demand publishing allowed the author to quickly compile essential military information and publish it with very few delays. The rapidity of publishing, along with the ability to print a book to a targeted audience, is critical to transmit time-sensitive Information in today's uncertain world environment. However, it is important to note that the ease of publishing can also be a downfall due to the lack of editorial support that comes with a larger, more traditional publishing house.

The book lacks professional editorial review, graphics, in-depth footnotes, and organization. This inhibits ease of reading making the text difficult to follow at times. In addition, the information within the text is occasionally contradictory without proper explanation or discussion. Therefore, the reader is left to wonder which source of data is truly accurate.

Overall, the book is an outstanding tool for training and educating various U.S. military forces. It should be required reading for all intelligence and combat officers in the current threat environment as it is an incredible source of information on the Iraqi threat. I look forward to a second edition that would eliminate the distractions listed above. In conclusion, I recommend that combat leaders purchase this book and, more importantly, use the new medium, on-demand publishing, to write their own books to further educate and develop the military community.

MAJ DEREK C. SCHNEIDER

Owensboro, KY

COPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. Army Armor Center
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group