US Army History of Iraq war

[sburke 1,735]

Just came across this new release (Jan 20th).  Am only through Chapter 1 but it is an insightful look at the US military's road to war in Iraq as well as the Iraqi road, how very different those perspectives were and how that would play out for the invasion.  So far am finding it fascinating. $10 for both volumes on Kindle.

https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Army-Iraq-War-COMPLETE-ebook/dp/B07MX3JDBY/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=iraq+war+US+military+history&qid=1550012851&s=gateway&sr=8-2

 

[Michael Emrys 418]

2 hours ago, sburke said:

...the invasion.

Is this the '91 invasion or the '03 invasion?

Michael

[sburke 1,735]

41 minutes ago, Michael Emrys said:

Is this the '91 invasion or the '03 invasion?

Michael

don't be scared, go ahead and hit the link.  

[General Jack Ripper 410]

Thank you sir.

[sburke 1,735]

I am about halfway through the first volume, amazingly detailed and very frank assessment.  Best read about the war I have come across outside unit specific books. The information on the insurgency itself is far more detailed than anything else I have come across. 

[sburke 1,735]

For anyone who hasn’t considered yet, this is well worth it.  Just finished volume 2. Phenomenal work and for those interested in how AQI was able to come back from near extinction to forming the caliphate under ISIS it also covers that in pretty amazing detail.  Highly recommended reading. 

[Sequoia 123]

Do I assume correctly though it is a US Army history it also covers USMC  British Etc and Kurdistan ?

[sburke 1,735]

1 hour ago, Sequoia said:

Do I assume correctly though it is a US Army history it also covers USMC  British Etc and Kurdistan ?

Yes it does and in pretty good depth. There is a considerable amount on the British Force commitment and differing strategies driven by Whitehall versus the Multinational force command.  The debacle of the British withdrawal from Basra is covered in detail in volume 2.  Though it is a US army analysis it is not a “US Army” history. It is an analysis of the entire Iraq conflict and covers geopolitical analysis as well including some very brutal assessments in the failures of US planning at all levels. Fascinating coverage of what things were done right, what weren’t and very transparent criticisms for example of US commanders who were apparently punished for their actions in the long term even though they were very clearly right and ahead of their higher level commanders at the time. No good deed goes unpunished as they say.  The level of detail on the insurgency itself is really fascinating. Also the extent of Iranian involvement and the inability of the US to ever address that at a strategic level is covered in a lot of detail including analysis of the actual Iranian commanders involved and specific actions the Iranians were behind at different points.  It is a very long read  (the  combined volumes are some 1400 pages)  it is by far the best read I have comes across on the war to examine from strategic and operational perspectives.  

The most depressing part is the betrayal of the Anbar awakening by the Maliki government and it’s direct consequence - ISIS  

and it is free

https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=1373

Edited June 13 by sburke

[Sgt.Squarehead 808]

There's a lifetimes worth of CM:SF2 scenario/campaign ideas in there and that's a fact. 

[Sequoia 123]

Anyone aware of a similar work on Afghanistan?

[sburke 1,735]

6 hours ago, Sequoia said:

Anyone aware of a similar work on Afghanistan?

Not quite the same but at least specific to Afghanistan

The Strategic Lessons Unlearned from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan: Why the ANSF Will Not Hold, and the Implications for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan
Authored by Dr. M. Chris Mason.

https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=1269

[MSBoxer 1]

I have a treasured copy of The Shield and the Storm by Blake, Thomas G, which covers the 1991 gulf war.  This book has always been special as it is dedicated in part to my father who passed away Jan. 1 of that year.