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37th out of 130 books
—
288 voters
No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah
"This is the face of war as only those who have fought it can describe it."–Senator John McCain
Fallujah: Iraq’s most dangerous city unexpectedly emerged as the major battleground of the Iraqi insurgency. For twenty months, one American battalion after another tried to quell the violence, culminating in a bloody, full-scale assault. Victory came at a terrible price: 151 Ame...more
Fallujah: Iraq’s most dangerous city unexpectedly emerged as the major battleground of the Iraqi insurgency. For twenty months, one American battalion after another tried to quell the violence, culminating in a bloody, full-scale assault. Victory came at a terrible price: 151 Ame...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
September 26th 2006
by Bantam
(first published 2004)
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Good book for two reasons--
1) Explained bigger picture of Iraq war by using Fallujah as an example of how we managed both a military occupation and civil management (yes nation building but more details are included for such issues as infrastructure, politics, etc).
2) provided both tactical and strategical short story accounts. Large operations/missions were shorted into "page-turning" stories full of the who, what, when, where, why's... These stories were bloody and gory.
Overall, the book is a...more
1) Explained bigger picture of Iraq war by using Fallujah as an example of how we managed both a military occupation and civil management (yes nation building but more details are included for such issues as infrastructure, politics, etc).
2) provided both tactical and strategical short story accounts. Large operations/missions were shorted into "page-turning" stories full of the who, what, when, where, why's... These stories were bloody and gory.
Overall, the book is a...more
Dec 12, 2007
James
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Adolescents and adults
Bing West served as a Marine officer in Vietnam, then moved on to journalism. Here he accompanied some Marine units during the battle of Falujah and offered both his day-to-day account of their experiences and his observations on the higher level political maneuverings that shaped the events they lived through.
Great book. I was skeptical at first, thinking it may have been only an ode to the Marines that fought for Fallujah. I don't want to read propaganda or one-sided proclamations of American greatness.
This book told stories at ground level and infused chain of command information where relevant. The book detailed heroics and bravery of young men. What I questioned throughout the whole book ... to what end?
And, my read of the book was, it wasn't meant to say "we shouldn't have gone to Iraq." But r...more
This book told stories at ground level and infused chain of command information where relevant. The book detailed heroics and bravery of young men. What I questioned throughout the whole book ... to what end?
And, my read of the book was, it wasn't meant to say "we shouldn't have gone to Iraq." But r...more
Fallujah: Iraq’s most dangerous city unexpectedly emerged as the major battleground of the Iraqi insurgency. For twenty months, one American battalion after another tried to quell the violence, culminating in a bloody, full-scale assault. Victory came at a terrible price: 151 Americans and thousands of Iraqis were left dead.
The epic battle for Fallujah revealed the startling connections between policy and combat that are a part of the new reality of war.
The Marines had planned to slip into Fallu...more
The epic battle for Fallujah revealed the startling connections between policy and combat that are a part of the new reality of war.
The Marines had planned to slip into Fallu...more
No True Glory provides a concise account of both battles for the Iraqi city of Fallujah, in April 2004 and December of 2004 respectively. West is an excellent author for this subject matter, providing a description from both the personal and tactical Lance Corporal while relating the operational and strategic context between events on the ground and on the home front.
Unfortunately, aside from the heroic sacrifices and mastery of modern urban combat displayed by our Marine Corps, the lesson that...more
Unfortunately, aside from the heroic sacrifices and mastery of modern urban combat displayed by our Marine Corps, the lesson that...more
Another book I was inspired to read after FIASCO. This book outlines the consequences of policy screw ups on the average frontline grunt, and how a war changed because warriors were not allowed to fight as they were meant to because of other policy concerns. The takeaway of this book for me is that the heroism of many of the marines has been overshadowed by the american media which chose to focus on the family tragedies of the deaths of the marines, instead of their heroism in the field. As with...more
I was there for part of this battle (in 2004). This book details all the battles surrounding what was once the most dangerous city in Iraq.
This book was a good account of the battle for Fallujah. I enjoyed the fact that it mixed a look into the higher command and political aspects along with a look into the frontline men and events. In my opinion that is the ideal style because it gives you the context and reasons why everything is happening while also giving you an inside look into the "trenches" that humanizes the events. The maps and outline of people involved were useful references to go back to while reading. This was an easy...more
In “The Iliad” a warrior in the front ranks turned to his companions and said, “Let us win glory, for ourselves, or yield it to others.” For Greek warriors, there was no true glory if they were not remembered afterward in poem or song. There will be no true glory for our soldiers in Iraq until they are recognized not as victims, but as aggressive warriors. Stories of their bravery deserved to be recorded and read by the next generation. Unsung, the noblest deed will die.
Those stories are recorde...more
Those stories are recorde...more
This is fine military and political history around the battle for Fallujah, Iraq. The application of Halberstadt's journalistic, big picture/little picture style, covering makes this a relatively easy, fascinating read.
One of the book's main points is that the Arab, US, and other international media coverage of events in the city were very poorly covered, as the city became very dangerous for all but insurgency-approved arab reporters after the killing and mutilation of the US Blackwater milita...more
One of the book's main points is that the Arab, US, and other international media coverage of events in the city were very poorly covered, as the city became very dangerous for all but insurgency-approved arab reporters after the killing and mutilation of the US Blackwater milita...more
I picked this up at the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico, VA last weekend.
A detailed and in-depth account of the Marine's experiences in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. I loved the matter of fact style and the Marine's eye view that West uses to tell his story. Part personal narrative from the combatants point of view and part historical narrative of the military and civilian leaders, their decision making, and the operations as they unfolded. West is quite confident that his opinions a...more
A detailed and in-depth account of the Marine's experiences in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. I loved the matter of fact style and the Marine's eye view that West uses to tell his story. Part personal narrative from the combatants point of view and part historical narrative of the military and civilian leaders, their decision making, and the operations as they unfolded. West is quite confident that his opinions a...more
From the book jacket:
"After four American contractors were brutally murdered, President Bush ordered an attack on the city–against the advice of the Marines. The assault sparked a political firestorm, and the Marines were forced to withdraw amid controversy and confusion–only to be ordered a second time to take a city that had become an inferno of hate and the lair of the archterrorist al-Zarqawi".
The book is based on interviews at every level, from senior policymakers to generals and soldiers a...more
"After four American contractors were brutally murdered, President Bush ordered an attack on the city–against the advice of the Marines. The assault sparked a political firestorm, and the Marines were forced to withdraw amid controversy and confusion–only to be ordered a second time to take a city that had become an inferno of hate and the lair of the archterrorist al-Zarqawi".
The book is based on interviews at every level, from senior policymakers to generals and soldiers a...more
Bing West gives a glimpse into Anbar province, Iraq as it was in 2003-2005, during 20 months of attempts to stop, or even slow, the violence in that region. The author served as a Marine in Vietnam and was Assistant Secretary if Defense in the Reagan years. He interviewed numerous soldiers and Marines to put together sometimes street by street accounts.
I was struck by the way that many smart folks tried plans to work the problem only to be held up, pulled back, and then forced forward by politi...more
I was struck by the way that many smart folks tried plans to work the problem only to be held up, pulled back, and then forced forward by politi...more
Extremely well told story of the Battle for Fallujah. The first and second battle for Fallujah, which took place in April 04 and November 04 respectively. Bing West puts you into battle with the Marines and tells numerous harrowing tales of frontline bravery and valor. Bing West also tells of the events that occurred behind the scenes and the causes and propellants of the battle and of the political alliances, betrayals and compromises that shaped the battle and caused it to be split up into two...more
West needs no accolades to prove his value or experience. The first chapter felt like a bibliography for West. I learned much more about West as an author and his accomplishments, than I finally learned about the men and women in uniform and their incredible journey in blood, fear, and wrath. In contrast, West explains the intricacies of politics and the process of war in a fresh light. If nothing else, the author knows how to explain to the rest of us how pride and ignorance of our government m...more
A gritty story of what the Marines who cleared Fallujah went through. It shows what courage and tenacity can accomplish in the face of extreme danger. I read this book while in North Carolina and in Kuwait mobilizing for a deployment to Iraq, and the book helped me keep my experiences in perspective.
"...let slip the dogs of war." Bing West has his finger on the pulse of the Corps with this one. Some of my buddies were in the battle for Fallujah in '04 and have given this book their seal of approval. Doesn't get more authentic than that.
Superb account of the battles for Fallujah. Tough read as marines start to die. Probably would have been better with an account from the Iraqi side, though given the circumstances that was clearly impossible.
This book had special resonance for me since my son was directly involved in the first battle for Fallujah. West describes the battles very well, including all the personal heroics and drama of the participants.
Very good book! Very descriptive, especially the combat situations, and a very good overview and analysis of the politics behind both sieges of Fallujah and the Iraq War as a whole.
An interesting insight into the politics of Iraq and America and their consequences for the men on the ground. The author takes us house by house through the fighting. Good book.
Excellent account of the battle for Fallujah, house by house, block by block, street by street. It's the story of the courageous Marines that fought to control the city and the bureucrats and politians that screwed things up by holding the Marines back for a several month cease fire.
Good book for lessons to learned for the future including: (1) learning that the only way to win a war is to kill until the opposition accepts the terms of surrender rather than suffer more destruction (2) when send...more
Good book for lessons to learned for the future including: (1) learning that the only way to win a war is to kill until the opposition accepts the terms of surrender rather than suffer more destruction (2) when send...more
West's book combines gripping narrative history and insightful analysis to paint a remarkable picture of not only this chaotic battle but also the entire war in Iraq.
Great book telling about our current conflict in Iraq from the perspective of someone there. Details the events that lead up to the assault on Fallujah. Describes the failed attempts at diplomacy, failed attempts at letting the Iraqi's police themselves, the increase in terrorist activities when Fallujah was left unchecked. Am reading this book along with listening to State of Denial on CD. State of Denial covers roughly the same period, however it treats the political scene in Washington, where...more
view all 5 comments
Outstanding book about Fallujah. Well written. I enjoyed how Mr. West pointed out what a screw up Paul Bremer was.
Bing West delivers a great read that had me hanging out to read more. A perfect balance of first hand accounts and the wider tactical and political picture. This book leaves you with a great understanding of the Battle for Fallujah from the Americans side.
Apr 04, 2011
Chris
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Military buffs.
Shelves:
non-fiction,
history
An interesting account of the fighting and political choices that surrounded the battle for Fallujah. Not the most compelling book but, interesting.
If "My War" is the ant eye view, "One bullet away," is the platoon leaders eye view, then this one is the over all view. It can give you the whole perspective of the war and what the higher ups are all thinking and the reasoning behind it. This book was compiled by a news reporter who got access to the whole marine movement on Fallujah. So you can see how it was all supposed to work out and then how it did.
Very interesting to see their interaction with the Iraqi people.
However...I would rather...more
Very interesting to see their interaction with the Iraqi people.
However...I would rather...more
Much better writing than most and an excellent combination of the high-level strategic and political maneuvering in the Iraq war down to the grunt on the street.
A true testement to the Men and Woman that fought in Fallujah
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Francis J. "Bing" West is an author and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the Reagan Administration. His 2004 book The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the First Marine Division, written with United States Marine Corps General Ray L. Smith,was awarded the Marine Corps Heritage Prize for non-fiction, as well as the Colby Award.
More about Francis J. West Jr....
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