Will's Good Idea for the Week of 6-25-17

The Israeli-Iraq War

Let's say rather than invade Kuwait in 1990 Saddam starts a fight with Israel in an effort to set himself up as the slayer of the Zionist Entity and hero of the Arab World.

This would put Saddam's million man, battle hardened, well armed military, which included something like 700 combat aircraft, against the Israelis. The IDF is of course better armed and trained but smaller with something like 400 combat aircraft. In 1982, while the Iraqis were fighting the Iranians the Israels did battle with the Syrians, drove the Syrian army out of the Bekka Valley and shot down 86 Syrian aircraft.

Now interestingly Iraq did have the ability to project and sustain power outside its borders. For example during the '73 War they sent a division to the Golan.

We feel bad for Jordan. This is where the fight will happen, and King Hussein has no choice but to join Saddam.

We might take this up after Tiger's Tail.