War

Jose Paulo Citolin Junior

“War does not determine who is right - only who is left.” Bertrand Russell

“We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know

about living.” Omar Bradley

1.5 million of innocents killed.

More then $200 billion invested.

Thousands of injured people.

Incalculable lives destroyed…

“Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud.  I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth.  I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace.” Charles Sumner

Iran’s former leader, lost his power during the Iranian revolution, that transformed Iran from an absolute monarchy to an Islamic republic.

“Let me tell you quite bluntly that this king business has given me personally nothing but headaches.” Mohammed Reza Pahlavi

Dictator of Iraq from 1979 until 2003, when his regime was overthrown by a United States-led invasion. He was hanged after the Trials of Saddam Hussein, when he answered for all of his crimes against humanity.

"The only thing that ever consoles man for the stupid things he does is the praise he always gives himself for doing them.” Oscar Wilde

Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Following the revolution and a national referendum, Khomeini became the country's Supreme Leader—a position created in the constitution as the highest ranking political and religious authority of the nation—until his death.

The war officially began in September 22 of 1980, when Iraq invaded Iran, trying to conquer the land of Shatt al-Arab.

Iraqi spokesperson said that Iran was already attacking some Iraqi towns since September 4.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore

all murderers are punished

unless they kill in large

numbers and to the sound of

trumpets.” Voltaire

In 1975, a militarily weaker Iraq had by treaty signed over to Iran partial control of the waterway (Shatt al-Arab).

Iran's military was called the Middle East's most powerful by General John Abizaid chief of United States Central Command (U.S. forces' commander in the region).

In 1979, after the fall of Mohammad-Reza Shah, when Iran’s military was weak because of the Iranian revolution, Iraq seized an opportunity to reclaim the land of Shatt al-Arab, and tried to conquer Khuzestan, an area known for its extensive oil fields.

“Everyone's a pacifist between wars.  It's like being a vegetarian between meals.” Colman McCarthy

Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini declared that Iran would not cease fighting until Saddam's regime was toppled.

The Iraqi offensive was initially successful, capturing the port city of Khorramshahr by the end of 1980.

“The direct use of force

is such a poor solution

to any problem, it is

generally employed

only by small children

and large nations.”

David Friedman

“I dream of giving birth to a child

who will ask, ‘Mother, what was

war?’” Eve Merriam

Iran’s attacks sullied it’s international reputation considerably, making it difficult for Khomeini to obtain arms.

“In peace, sons bury

their fathers. In war,

fathers bury their sons.”

Herodotus

Finally, in July, 1988, Iran was forced to accept a United Nations–mandated cease-fire, once the country was being pressed by the Iraqi attacks and the USA influence.

“If we don't end war, war will end us.” H. G. Wells

“The problem in defense is

how far you can go without

destroying from within what

you are trying to defend from

without.” Dwight D.

Eisenhower

Iraq’s fielding the world's fourth largest military.

Iraq’s ended up making the same treaty for Shatt al-Arab as the one of 1975.

Iraq's foreign exchange reserves, devastated its economy, and left the country saddled with foreign debt of more than $40 billion.

IRAQ

IRAN

“If you wish to be brothers, drop your weapons.” Pope John Paul II

In 1988, the United States launched Operation Praying Mantis against Iran, claiming that it was retaliation for the Iranian mining of areas of the Persian Gulf as part of the Iran-Iraq war. The attack neutralized Sassan oil platform and the Sirri oil platform of Iran.

AlliesThe Arabs, and the Western Europe. the Soviet Union was its largest supplier of arms.

“When the rich wage war, it's the

poor who die.”Jean-Paul Sartre

AlliesIn its war effort, Iran was supported by Syria and Libya, and received much of its weaponry from North Korea and China, as well as from covert arms transactions from the United States.

“I don't know whether war is an interlude

during peace, or peace an interlude during

war.” Georges Clemenceau

If you want to know more…

“Why do we kill people who are killing people to show that killing people is wrong?” Holly Near

Iran–Iraq War in the Air 1980–1988 is a book by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop. The book offers a history of the aerial warfare in the Iran–Iraq War of 1980–1988.