One War Gives Birth to Another The Secret History of the Gulf War

Author Saad Al-Bazzaz believes that writing in and about Iraq is more difficult and complex than writing about any other place or topic. There is not much gray area between black and white for interpretation and refutation. Therefore, it was not possible to write this book without access to a trove of secret files and documents, destined to remain undisclosed for at least another quarter century. However, a degree of understanding and responsiveness enabled him to read the records of a war that appeared more like a grinding political conflict than a conventional military conflict pitting two opposing forces. Hence, the prize was not for the author of this book to be satisfied with what he read in the records, files, and telegrams that ended up in locked vaults here and there. Rather, he turned to the makers of the events to compare the information with their witnesses, extracting from their mouths and emotions those details that were not recorded on paper, and reaping answers to the questions for which the papers failed to quench the reader’s thirst. Yet, all of that was not enough. Without listening to a number of Arab leaders who were involved in the preludes to the conflict and its consequences, who gave what amounted to historical testimonies about events that had already taken place, and who kept many of their secrets, compiling the material for this book took two full years, starting from the first days of the outbreak of the conflict over the Gulf. The information provided by junior witnesses was extremely useful and important, as they were connected to the final details of the situations whose birth was decided by senior leaders. Their testimonies reveal subtleties and details that bridge the gap and fill the void. The book resorts to presenting the facts throughout all its chapters as they occurred, leaving the conclusion to the author’s conclusions and interpretations… about what happened… and could happen… but will the book tell the whole truth…?