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The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq | 
 enlarge | Author: Bing West
Publisher: Random House
Category: Book
List Price: $28.00
Buy New: $15.94
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Avg. Customer Rating:  51 reviews
Sales Rank: 6789
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.5
ISBN: 1400067014
Dewey Decimal Number: 956.70443
EAN: 9781400067015
ASIN: 1400067014
Publication Date: August 12, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20090107232017T
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Product Description
From a universally respected combat journalist, a gripping history based on five years of front-line reporting about how the war was turned around–and the choice now facing America
During the fierce battle for Fallujah, Bing West asked an Iraqi colonel why the archterrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had fled in women’s clothes. The colonel pointed to a Marine patrol walking by and said, “Americans are the strongest tribe.”
In Iraq, America made mistake after mistake. Many gave up on the war. Then the war took a sharp U-turn. Two generals–David Petraeus and Raymond Odierno–displayed the leadership America expected. Bringing the reader from the White House to the fighting in the streets, this remarkable narrative explains the turnaround by U.S. forces.
In the course of fourteen extended trips over five years, West embedded with more than sixty front-line units, discussing strategy with generals and tactics with corporals. He provides an expert’s account of counterinsurgency, disposing of myths. By describing the characters and combat in city after city, West gives the reader an in-depth understanding that will inform the debate about the war. This is the definitive study of how American soldiers actually fought –a gripping and visceral book that changes the way we think about the war, and essential reading for understanding the next critical steps to be taken.
Praise for The Strongest Tribe:
"Balanced, panoramic assessment of the Iraq War by former Marine and Reagan administration veteran West (No True Glory, 2005, etc.), who heralds American soldiers as its unsung heroes amid the “fog of Washington”. . .A timely, eye-opening historical analysis that provides clarity around the difficult choices the next president faces."
--Kirkus (starred review)
"In this important new chronicle of the war in Iraq, Bing West reveals how America reached the brink of defeat in 2006 and then managed in 2007 to stage a stunning turnaround. With its vivid, on-the-ground reporting, his book is a fitting tribute to the honor, valor, and toughness of our soldiers. Notwithstanding numerous mistakes by their leaders, West shows that their sacrifices have made success possible--as long we do not withdraw prematurely."
--Senator John S. McCain
“Sometimes the best way to support the troops is to criticize the generals. Bing West does both well in this book, showing a sympathy for our soldiers and Marines, but also a great ear for military truth and a determination to render events accurately. This is his third and most important book about the Iraq war. Read it.”
-- Thomas E. Ricks, author of FIASCO: The American Military Adventure in Iraq
“A brilliant exposition. Based on extensive experience in the war zone, Bing West recounts how Soldiers and Marines showed the President and the Pentagon the way to solve the Iraq insurgency problem. Echoing the admonition that "all politics are local", The Strongest Tribe convincingly argues that it was a grass roots strategy developed by on-scene officers who forged ties at the tribal level that brought stability to Iraq's turbulent Anbar Province and provided hope for all Iraq.”
-- Lt. Gen. Bernard E. Trainor USMC (Ret.) Co-author of The Generals' War
and COBRA II: The Inside Story of the Invation and Occupation of Iraq
“Some four decades ago I told Bing West that his book, the Village, would become a classic in counterinsurgency warfare. And so it did. "The Strongest Tribe" will surely be West's second classic - a moving and detailed account of almost six years of war in Iraq.”
- Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Director of Central Intelligence Agency, Nixon administration; Secretary of Defense, Ford administration; Chairman, The Mitre Corporation
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| Customer Reviews: Read 46 more reviews...
Changed my mindset on Iraq. January 8, 2009
I'm watching TV and here's this guy Bing West. He's talking about Iraq and damn if he isn't making sense of this colossal mess. So, I go to Amazon and buy three of his books which I read in sequence, from Vietnam (my war) to Iraq. From one who used to think the US needed to withdraw with honor (whatever that means) I now think we can win this one.
Thank you for service to our country,
Vince Staley
USN/USCGR (ret)
 First person view of the Iraq conflict... January 5, 2009
Bing West is able to do what few journalists can do, obtain a first person view of the war in Iraq and nest that in the broader strategy of foreign policy. West's third book on Iraq takes us through the frustrations and challenges after the fall of the Baath regime in Iraq. He covers the period of operations culminating in the summer of 2008. It is an extremely current work with rare first hand discussions with leaders on the ground - both American and Iraqi.
The work's only limitation is its episodic style. Each section could be read independently, I suspect that's how West maintains the remarkable "you are there" style. For a student of the conflict, it can be a bit frustrating. The included photographs give some faces to the key players, although more maps and timelines would help add continuity to the story.
The unintiatied non-military reader should be warned that West's comfort for military jargon is not tempered for his reader! He frequently devolves into militarese to speedily identify units and operations. A well composed index will help the novice.
Bing West is clearly a fan of the United States military. His history and experience would be hard presssed to result in any other bias. Nonetheless, he is crticial where he needs to be and finds much to improve in regards to our tactics and strategy in this conflict. If you are seeking a nuts and bolts guide detailing the challenges, successes and failures in Iraq, look no further than this work.
Turning the corner in Iraq December 20, 2008
There have been several excellent magazine article on the Anbar Awakening and Surge (Military Review, Proceedings, Marine Corps Gazette). However, this is the first full scale book that addresses this vital subject. As a book, of course, it can go into much more specific detail. This is the first aspect of the book that deserves praise. The author supplies mountains of specific detail (not just generalizations that are necessary in short magazine articles). The reader can form their own judgment just based on the data presented. However, the author also presents key insights (tactical, strategic, technical) that are missing in the above magazine articles. Let me just mention one technical insight -- Identification. On page 240, the author writes about, "A Police War without Detective Tools". He says, "If the insurgents wore uniforms, the war would have been over in a week." This is of critical importance. One important step towards identification is a census with a photo, fingerprint, name, address. Let me just say that the Dept of Homeland Security has been doing this for 5+ years (for a video see[..], US VISIT, What to Expect). DHS has over a biometric database of over 100 million visitors to the US. In 2008, the military slowly began to do biometrics with a unit that is about the size of an old Polaroid camera. This device takes a photo, fingerprints, an Iris scan and can store data on 10,000 people. The identification discussion is just one example of a useful insight. For anyone interested in what went wrong and what went right in Iraq, this book is an absolute must.
Lively History of Iraq December 19, 2008
The Strongest Tribe
War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq
By
Bing West
The Strongest Tribe by Bing West is his third book covering the Iraq war. This volume is a lively history of the Iraq War from the initial assault into Iraq through the beginning of 2008. West has provided a masterful tale of the turnaround in Iraq from the point of view of the everyday soldiers, marines and senior military leaders who made it happen. This book is a must read for military professionals and for anyone who wants a clear concise description of the events in Iraq and how they have unfolded over the past 5 years.
West is recognized as an expert in counterinsurgency operations and with his background as a Marine Corp combat veteran, his numerous writings on counterinsurgency, and his work in the Reagan administration as an Assistant Secretary if Defense West brings credibility and context to the complex realities of Iraq and the insurgency war that has raged there over the past 5 years. West's extensive network of military and political contacts provides him a unique opportunity to tell the story of Iraq through the perspective of key players in Washington, within Iraq as well as the perspective of the basic infantry grunts, the stars of Iraq whom West showers with praise and glory. West provides numerous notes and a detailed Bibliography and the end of the book but the one criticism I have is he does not footnote the facts he states in the book. The reader has to search through the notes section to determine the source of the fact or information West is providing.
The book is divided into two parts, the first part concerns the initial invasion period through the mid 2006 time period when the insurgency was at its worst and the politicians at home were wrestling with the future course of the Iraq War. This part of the book provides little new information to anyone who has read the various accounts of war during this time period, but these chapters do provide the reader with the foundation for the remainder of the book. The second part of the book, and clearly the best part, centers on the war against Al Qaida in Iraq and the fighting of a counterinsurgency. West clearly details the frustrations of establishing the Iraqi Army and Police forces, how the Sunni Sheiks came to the realization that their interest were more aligned with those of the U.S. than with Al Qaida, which led to the Sunni awakening, and how the Surge ordered by President Bush and a counter insurgency strategy employed by General Petraeus put the U.S. over the hump and provided the necessary skills and manpower to bring security to Al Anbar and the rest of Iraq.
West is highly critical of the senior military and civilian leadership and raises some very good points about civil military relations. One example West illustrates is how in 2006 Rumsfeld, Casey, and Abizaid's strategy did not comport with the presidents stated objective of victory instead their vision was of getting out of Iraq. (Page 218) West does not give President Bush a pass though as his biggest criticism of the President is that he allowed the Generals to pursue a strategy he knew was wrong yet never intervened to push his own goals and strategy. (Page 222)
West pulls no punches when discussing the Haditha Massacre. West excoriates the press and politicians, especially Jack Murtha for comments against the accused Marines. (Page 153) Although the events of Haditha are not covered in great detail by West, he does put into context the world of the infantryman and how events like Haditha occur. West points out the corporate accountability of the Marines as they investigated the incident, but is highly critical that the press, who got the story wrong and the politicians, Murtha, who have still not been held accountable. Page 157. West ends chapter 10 with a commentary that asks the question if "we lose heart, who will fight for us? When valor has no champion, America loses. Page 158.
I highly recommend this book to military readers, historians, and those citizens who desire a broader understanding of this war. West details the courage and skills of our talented military warriors and treats them with the reverence and respect they deserve while at the same time providing the scholarship and insights into the War in Iraq.
This book tells our story. December 14, 2008
I spent nearly eight months in the Al Anbar province in Iraq commanding a Marine tank platoon during the summer of 2007. Upon returning home, I found it difficult to explain to people how the real situation on the ground there differed from what people at home were fed on the news. Many people doubted what I was telling them and some even asked if I had been coached as to what to say. Mr West does an excellent job describing the Sunni Awakening, how the Iraqis living in the western part of the country decided we were the ones who really had their best interests in mind and were not the enemy. I spent the majority of my tour supporting infantry units working with the local Iraqis to build checkpoints so they could protect their own neighborhoods. The tribes really did want to work with us to defeat AQI. I was told over and over again from the tribesman and Iraqi soldiers how they only wanted safe neighborhoods for their children and a strong, unified country prepared to defend itself from foreign aggressors. Mr West's book does an excellent job of explaining all the myriad of issues we all dealt with there. He even helped to put many of my own experiences into a new context I was not aware of when I lived them. I highly recommend this book for all Americans, but especially all of my fellow Iraq veterans.
Respectfully,
Capt Daniel Grazier, USMC
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