Steven R. Ward to MESH:

Iran remains a potential military opponent for the United States as it seeks to elevate its influence and change the regional status quo at America’s expense. Should events take us back toward more hostile relations, my book can help show how Iran has been shaped by its history and, in turn, improve our understanding of Tehran’s security outlook and strategies. And, not to be too negative, I think that knowing Iran’s military history, which covers a lot of the grievances the Iranian regime has asked the U.S. government to address, can be useful in any efforts to improve relations between our countries.

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Product Description

"Immortal" is the only single-volume English-language survey of Iran's military history. CIA analyst Steven R. Ward shows that Iran's soldiers, from the famed Immortals of ancient Persia to today's Revolutionary Guard, have demonstrated through the centuries that they should not be underestimated. This history also provides background on the nationalist, tribal, and religious heritages of the country to help readers better understand Iran and its security outlook."Immortal" begins with the founding of ancient Persia's empire under Cyrus the Great and continues through the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) and up to the present. Drawing on a wide range of sources including declassified documents, the author gives primary focus to the modern era to relate the build-up of the military under the last Shah, its collapse during the Islamic revolution, its fortunes in the Iran-Iraq War, and its rise from the ashes to help Iran become once again a major regional military power. He shows that, despite command and supply problems, Iranian soldiers demonstrate high levels of bravery and perseverance and have enjoyed surprising tactical successes even when victory has been elusive. These qualities and the Iranians' ability to impose high costs on their enemies by exploiting Iran's imposing geography bear careful consideration today by potential opponents.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #203783 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 380 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781589012585
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
Immortal is a superbly written and researched work. Steven Ward has delivered a critically important contribution to understanding the Persian military. This is a must read for those who want to understand Iranian military thinking, heritage, and capability. --General Anthony C. Zinni, United States Marine Corps (Retired), and former commander, U.S. Central Command

Far too often, Americans ignore history and leave military history to a narrow range of experts. The choice of peace or war in dealing with Iran, however, is far too important to make without an understanding of Iran's military history and how its forces have evolved. Steven R. Ward's Immortal provides essential background to making that choice. --Anthony H. Cordesman, Burke Chair in Strategy, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Steven Ward's Immortal is a narrative of Iran's wars from the time of Cyrus the Great to the present. It is an exceptionally well-informed military history that conveys a sense of the sweat and sacrifice, and of the grandeur and the blunders (not to mention the essentials about major campaigns and battles). --Paul R. Pillar, The National Interest

Review
Far too often, Americans ignore history and leave military history to a narrow range of experts. The choice of peace or war in dealing with Iran, however, is far too important to make without an understanding of Iran's military history and how its forces have evolved. Steven R. Ward's Immortal provides essential background to making that choice=.

Before we rush headlong into another Middle Eastern quagmire, it is critical for Americans to develop a greater appreciation for Iran's military history and capability. Steven Ward's Immortal comes at a critical moment, when its subject--the military development of Iran--is one of the most important issues confronting our nation. There are few Westerners who possess Ward's experience and understanding of the Iranian armed forces, and he has done us all a great service by placing his wealth of knowledge at our disposal. Immortal is a thoughtful, fascinating and extremely informative study of Iran's military from the past to the very present that will finally allow us to fill a large gap in our understanding of one of the most pressing foreign policy problems of the twenty-first century.

This is not only a timely book, and one that fills a gap of information and analysis on the Iranian military, but it also cogently argues that policy makers involved with the Middle East take a cautious approach to Iran ... What sets this historical study apart is the depth of the research, the synthesis of political-military factors relevant to each era, and the quality of the writing, making it possible for non-academics or those without special Middle East backgrounds to profit from reading it.

Review
Before we rush headlong into another Middle Eastern quagmire, it is critical for Americans to develop a greater appreciation for Iran's military history and capability. Steven Ward's Immortal comes at a critical moment, when its subject--the military development of Iran--is one of the most important issues confronting our nation. There are few Westerners who possess Ward's experience and understanding of the Iranian armed forces, and he has done us all a great service by placing his wealth of knowledge at our disposal. Immortal is a thoughtful, fascinating and extremely informative study of Iran's military from the past to the very present that will finally allow us to fill a large gap in our understanding of one of the most pressing foreign policy problems of the twenty-first century.

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Customer Reviews

Iran's Military History
Comprehensive story of Iran's 2500+ colorful military history. Many Great Captains - Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes - as well as classical battles - Thymbra, Marathon, Thermopylae - are carefully woven into a tapestry that helps one understand the rich heritage of the Iranian military - both its ups and its downs. With a nation suffering invasion after invasion over the centuries, the latest being Iraq in the 1980's, the author peels back the curtain on this rich story so that the reader can understand the quality of the individual Iranian soldiers, who only need adequate support and skilled leadership to move to the center stage of today's battlefields.

Even handed account with several errors
The author has done a good job of providing an even handed and fair account of the Iranian military history as best as any one historian could. Though the book focuses more on modern and contemporary Iranian military history. I think this book by far is the most even handed account of Iran's military history I have ever read. I liked it as someone who comes from a military background myself. Especially the sections that discussed the Iranian operations in Dhofar. I have met with several veterans of that campaign and the accounts provided by the author are genuinely true.

Though there were a few typos and historical errors. For instance, the author says that the Iranian air force was established in 1955. That's incorrect and not historically accurate. The independent Iranian air force was established by Reza Shah in mid 1920s when he purchased French, German & Russian aircraft. One can view this piece of info by checking [...] website. The other factual error is that the author has placed surface to air missile capabilities within the Iranian army/land forces jurisdiction/control. That's also incorrect. Air force always maintained and operated these networks and army did not/do not operate any SAM systems except shoulder fired ones. The other incorrect data is author's claims the Iranians were going to buy short range/low level British made SAMS (known as Rapier) by late 1970s. This is also not correct as the Iranians had bought such systems in early 1970s and the British Rapier was being phased out of service with the introduction of more advanced I-Hawk SAM systems and possible purchase of German/French SAM systems in early 80s (p197). On page 198, where the author is talking about the navy, there are mentions of French fast attack boats (La Combatant) that author claims to have been equipped with famous Exocet missiles. This is another factual error. The Iranian navy or armed forces never acquired Exocet missiles. Only in late 980s, Iranians were provided with shore to ship Chinese version/copy of Exocet missile called Silk Worm by China that were used against allied war ships and arab oil tankers during the much debated tanker war in Persian gulf in 1986-88 period.

All in all, this book is a good one. I'd recommend it to those who lack basic knowledge about the Iranian military history.

Very informative
Not only did this book provide the long view of Irannin history but it also provides an excellent 20th century background for the present situation. My understanding is much better now.