Armed Forces in the Middle East: Politics and Strategy

This volume examines the Middle East's leading armed forces and their role in both military and political affairs. It considers their missions, doctrine, training, equipment and effectiveness as fighting forces. At the same time, the various expert contributors discuss the relations between the armed forces and their respective governments, with the issues raised ranging from internal repression to budgetary matters. On some issues, high-ranking officers force Arab regimes to meet their demands. In other ways, regimes impose restrictions on the armies in order to maintian their own political control. These mechanisms also reduce the soldiers' military quality, and hence their ability to wage war. Among the armed forces specifically examined in this volume are those of Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Turkey. Other chapters provide an overview of the Middle Eastern militaries' political role and strategic value; of why Arab armies have performed poorly in warfare; andof the part played by the United States and Russia in training, arms supplies, shaping the doctrine of local militaries, and engaging in direct intervention.