Anthony H. Cordesman

Iran's Military Forces in Transition (eBook, PDF)

Conventional Threats and Weapons of Mass Destruction

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Iran today is still struggling with the legacy of its own Islamic revolution, and is deeply divided between the moderates who enjoy broad public support and the conservatives who control the levers of power. The mixed policies that result are reflected in Iran's ambivalent military posture. In recent years, Iran has only conducted a limited build-up of its armed forces and has cut defense spending and arms imports. On the other hand, Iran has developed a carefully focused program that threatens shipping in the lower Gulf and the world's oil exports. It has strengthened its capability for unconventional warfare and continues to be a significant proliferator, setting up indigenous military industries and developing a greater ability to import weapons. In this authoritative analysis of interest to Middle Eastern specialists and military affairs experts alike, Anthony Cordesman concludes that the continuation of Iran's current defensive security posture depends as much on these economic factors as on the outcomes of domestic political rivalries. Iran may eventually limit any military expansion to a necessary defensive strength and set strategic goals for itself that are compatible with the legitimate interests of other nations, or it may choose a more aggressive course. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, argues Cordesman, it does no good to either demonize or excuse Iranian policies. Instead, the United States and other nations with interests in the Middle East and Central Asia need to deal realistically with Iran as a reemerging regional power.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc
• Seitenzahl: 448
• Altersempfehlung: ab 7 Jahre
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. März 1999
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781573568265
• Artikelnr.: 37961975

Autorenporträt

Anthony H. Cordesman holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, USA. He formerly served as national security assistant to Senator John McCain of the Senate Armed Services Committee, as director of intelligence assessment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as civilian assistant to the deputy secretary of defense.

ANTHONY H. CORDESMAN is Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a military analyst for ABC News. A frequent commentator on National Public Radio, he is the author of numerous books on security issues and has served in a number of senior positions in the US government.

ANTHONY H. CORDESMAN is Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a military analyst for ABC News. A frequent commentator on National Public Radio, he is the author of numerous books on security issues and has served in a number of senior positions in the US government.

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction Iran's Strategic Perspective The Control and Leadership of
Iran's Military Forces Iranian Conventional Arms Transfers and Military
Industry Iran's Military Manpower Iranian Land Forces The Iranian Air Force
Iranian Ground-Based Air Defenses Iran's Conventional Warfighting Options
Iran and Weapons of Mass Destruction Iranian Reasons for Pursuing Weapons
of Mass Destruction Plans, Doctrine, and Warfighting Options Dealing with
Uncertainty Iran's Delivery Systems and Long-Range Missile Programs Iranian
Terrorism, Unconventional Warfare, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Iranian
Delivery Systems and Warfighting Capabilities Using Weapons of Mass
Destruction Iranian Chemical Weapons Iranian Biological Weapons Iranian
Nuclear Weapons The Uncertain Implications of Iran's Weapons of Mass
Destruction Iran's Military Future and the Proper Response Bibliography