--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In all these operations Iraq made…" description: "\"“In all these operations Iraq made extensive use of chemical weapons which, apart from Saddam’s determination to get the Iranians off Iraqi territory a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/efraim-karsh-35850_chemical-weapons_in-all-these-operations-iraq-made-extens_2593007.jpg" --- # In all these operations Iraq made extensive use of… ![“In all these operations Iraq made extensive use of chemical weapons which, apart from Saddam’s determination to get the Iranians off Iraqi territory at all costs, reflected the generals’ lax attitude towards this operational mode. For all his lack of moral inhibitions and respect for international…” quote by Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/efraim-karsh-35850_chemical-weapons_in-all-these-operations-iraq-made-extens_2593007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/efraim-karsh-35850_chemical-weapons_in-all-these-operations-iraq-made-extens_2593007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/efraim-karsh-35850_chemical-weapons_in-all-these-operations-iraq-made-extens_2593007.jpg) > ““In all these operations Iraq made extensive use of chemical weapons which, apart from Saddam’s determination to get the Iranians off Iraqi territory at all costs, reflected the generals’ lax attitude towards this operational mode. For all his lack of moral inhibitions and respect for international norms, Saddam’s overwhelming preoccupation with his political survival injected a strong element of restraint into his behaviour, which his generals lacked completely. For them chemical weapons were yet another category of armament whose use depended purely on their military value in the relevant circumstances. As Abd al-Rashid put it, ‘If you gave me a pesticide to throw at these swarms of insects to make them breathe and become exterminated, I would use it.”” [Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how Saddam’s political concerns limited chemical weapon use, while his generals used them solely for tactical advantage without moral restraint. **In simple terms:** Saddam restrained usage; generals used chemicals freely. Key Takeaway Recognize how political motives can curb or unleash destructive tactics. Themes military ethics political survival weapon of war conduct Mood cautious critical analytical Type historical military ethical When to use this quote - military leadership decisions - policy making - international law compliance - humanitarian impact Key Concepts realpolitik moral restraint weaponization of chemistry Questions to Reflect On - How do political goals shape the use of prohibited weapons? - Can leadership restraint be relied upon in war? A Different Perspective Political constraints may not always prevent atrocities; individual actors can still act ruthlessly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chemical weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) ## Related quotes > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-waxman/he-has-systematically-violated-over-the-course-of-the-past-11-years-2/) [Henry Waxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-waxman/) > [Don't let that weapon technology proliferate. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by Efraim Karsh > [“Khomeini espoused a militant religious doctrine rejecting not only the Middle Eastern political order, but also the contemporary international system since both perpetuated an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efraim-karsh/khomeini-espoused-a-militant-religious-doctrine-rejecting-not-only/) [Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) > [“Nor was Iraq’s combat experience in the October War any more impressive: the armoured division that arrived at the Golan front ten days after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efraim-karsh/nor-was-iraq-s-combat-experience-in-the-october-war-any-more/) [Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) > [“Yet, despite their overwhelming superiority in firepower and their resort to chemical weapons, the Iraqi forces failed to retake Fao, with some 10,000 Iraqis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efraim-karsh/yet-despite-their-overwhelming-superiority-in-firepower-and-their/) [Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) > [“The implications of this speech were not long in coming. 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After eight years of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efraim-karsh/thus-ended-the-iran-iraq-war-one-of-the-longest-bloodiest-and/) [Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) [Explore all 13 Efraim Karsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) ## More Chemical weapons quotes > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. 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