Iraq War 2003: Rise of the ‘Unilateralism’

Publishers: IDSA and Ane Books
ISBN: 81-86019-47-2
Rs 350

DESCRIPTION

A group of 9 scholars and professionals in the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi – an interim IDSA Iraq Insight Team – has been tracking the crescendo of events in the current Iraq crisis from the political, economic and military perspectives. The team has attempted to analyse and synthesise the ebb and flow of events since early 2002 to generate a multi-disciplinary view of the crisis. Its members bring together professional expertise, experience and knowledge of about 200 person-years in fields ranging from the military to economics, politics, international relations and technology.

This topical book of high international interest offers an incisive analysis from an Indian perspective of the nature of the crisis, the pol-mil objectives of USA, military build-up, the role of oil as a key factor and the sense of helplessness of the UN and the international community. Out of these complex set of inter-linked elements, it attempts to place the single-minded agenda of US neo-conservative, right wing groups for “full spectrum political dominance” – in addition to “full military dominance” which exists – as the primary driver behind the Administration’s new “unilateralism” and the present war on Iraq.

The book has 10 maps/graphics to supplement the text material.
The manuscript was finalised on March 17 2002 when the US ultimatum to Saddam Hussein to quit Iraq expired, leading to the launch of military operations. But the analysis of prior events does not get not altered by this expected development. On the contrary, it gets strengthened.

A Postscript chapter covers developments upto March 27 2003 and release of the manuscript for publication.

CONTENTS

On US Political-Military Objectives in Iraq and its
“Grand Strategy” for the 21st Century
K. Santhanam
The Iraq War and UN’s Struggle for Relevance
Tasneem Meenai

A Political Overview of the Iraq Crisis
Sudhir Saxena

The Oil Factor
Sudha Mahalingam

A Profile of Saddam Hussein
Uttam Kumar Sinha

The Iraq War: Military-Meteorological Aspects
Ajey Lele

Ground Forces in the Iraq War
Brig Devinder Singh

Naval Roles in the Iraq War
P. K. Ghosh

An Unequal Air War
Rajiv Matta

The Iraq War and Military Utilisation of Space by USA
Ajey Lele

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
IDSA is an autonomous society engaged in scholarly studies affecting national and international security since 1967.

K. Santhanam is a physicist who retired as Chief Adviser (Technology) in the Defence R&D Organisation. He is currently the Director of IDSA.

Dr Tasneem Meenai is a Reader in Political Science from Aligarh Muslim University on deputation to IDSA as a Research Fellow. She works on the role of multilateral institutions in security matters.

Sudhir Saxena is a Research Fellow in IDSA working on security and technology issues. He is a former Air Force officer.

Sudha Mahalingam, an economist, is presently a Senior Fellow in IDSA. She has specialised in energy economics.

Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha is an Associate Fellow in IDSA studying environmental security issues.

Ajey Lele is a serving Air Force officer from the Meteorology branch. He is presently working in IDSA on biological terrorism.

Devinder Singh is an Artillery Officer with a distinguished service record. He is presently the Army Member on IDSA’s faculty.

PK Ghosh is a serving Navy officer who is working in IDSA on issues connected with Ballistic Missile Defence.

Rajiv Matta is a serving fighter pilot in the IAF who is working in IDSA on issues connected with a Joint Doctrine for the Services