Summary: Reading Time: 2 minutesIn the 1980s a conflict took place that is not covered very effectively in our history books or popular recollection of the Middle East. It did not fit into the narratives of the Cold War or even the Israeli-Arab conflict. Never the less the Iran-Iraq War was the bloodiest conventional war of the 20th century since the end of World War II. And although it did not fit the narratives of history as we knew it at the time, the Iran-Iraq War did fit the narrative of a history that was about to unfold. This podcast episode is an Iran-Iraq War summary that is necessary for understanding the history of the Middle East today.<br> <br> <br> Iran-Iraq War Summary<br> The Iran-Iraq War was not caused by the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Iran and Iraq nearly went to war several times before the 1980s due to border disputes.<br> The Islamic Revolution set the stage however that allowed this to be the perfect timing for the war. The leaders of the revolution in Iran needed a distraction from the chaos unfolding under their new reign. The leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, saw a rare opportunity. He thought that by attacking Iran while they were in the turmoil of revolution he could quickly gain the upper hand.<br> The results of the Iran-Iraq War set the stage for the event more Americans are familiar with – the Persian Gulf War that would follow in the 1990s.<br> This Iran-Iraq War summary and podcast offer a glimpse and overview into this major event of the history of the Middle East. If you would like to go deeper into this topic I suggest <a href="http://www.theendofhistory.net/global-issues/middle-east-history-politics/essential-guide-understanding-modern-iran%C2%AD%C2%AD%C2%AD%C2%AD%C2%AD%C2%AD%C2%AD%C2%AD-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-the-iran-iraq-war-chapter-8/">chapter 8 of my Essential Guide to Understanding Modern Iran</a>.<br> <br> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/theendofhistory/PHVq/~6/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><br> <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=nb64uri41haerm5fvtnnavfgjo&w=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a><br> If you have enjoyed this podcast episode on the history of the Middle East, you might enjoy the entire series. You can download/stream it <a style="color: #800000;" href="https://soundcloud.com/the-end-of-history-podcast/sets/history-of-the-modern-middle-east">here at my SoundCloud page</a> or <a style="color: #800000;" href="https://wp.me/p2iDfo-1tA">click here to see the entire series and posts here at the web site</a>. You might also enjoy my <a style="color: #800000;" href="https://wp.me/p2iDfo-1ty">Guide to Understanding the Middle East</a>.<br>
