Reynolds, Finlay Armoured Vehicles of the Iraq War

More than a decade after the end of the Gulf War, the United States invaded Iraq with the support of Great Britain, justifying this decision with the false assumption that Saddam Hussein's government was hoarding weapons of mass destruction. By obstructing UN weapons inspectors, Saddam became a target of the US war on terror. In 2003, the invasion began with a huge number of US tanks advancing at high speed from Kuwait. The strategy of shock and awe was intended to surprise the Iraqi government and leave it little time to prepare and retaliate. Although Baghdad fell within three weeks, a protracted peace mission followed amid a counterinsurgency that kept US and coalition forces in the country until 2011. This volume provides an overview of the most important battle tanks and artillery used by all sides. Over time, more and more nations provided tanks for the peace mission and deployed them against insurgents. The specifications of each military vehicle are included, along with an analysis of its performance, speed and the most important battles in which it saw action. In addition, the political and military decisions that led to the invasion are examined, as well as the lasting consequences for the region and international relations.