The Fourth Star: Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army

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The Fourth Star: Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army

by David Cloud, Greg Jaffe

3.96 · rating details · 121 ratings · 30 reviews

They were four exceptional soldiers, a new generation asked to save an army that had been hollowed out after Vietnam. They survived the military's brutal winnowing to reach its top echelon. They became the Army's most influential generals in the crucible of Iraq.

Collectively, their lives tell the story of the Army over the last four decades and illuminate the path it must...moreThey were four exceptional soldiers, a new generation asked to save an army that had been hollowed out after Vietnam. They survived the military's brutal winnowing to reach its top echelon. They became the Army's most influential generals in the crucible of Iraq.

Collectively, their lives tell the story of the Army over the last four decades and illuminate the path it must travel to protect the nation over the next century. Theirs is a story of successes and failures, of ambitions achieved and thwarted, of the responsibilities and perils of command. The careers of this elite quartet show how the most powerful military force in the world entered a major war unprepared, and how the Army, drawing on a reservoir of talent that few thought it possessed, saved itself from crushing defeat against a ruthless, low-tech foe. In The Fourth Star, you'll follow:

•Gen. John Abizaid, one of the Army's most brilliant minds. Fluent in Arabic, he forged an unconventional path in the military to make himself an expert on the Middle East, but this unique background made him skeptical of the war he found himself leading.

•Gen. George Casey Jr., the son of the highest-ranking general to be killed in the Vietnam War. Casey had grown up in the Army and won praise for his common touch and skill as a soldier. He was determined not to repeat the mistakes of Vietnam but would take much of the blame as Iraq collapsed around him.

•Gen. Peter Chiarelli, an emotional, take-charge leader who, more than any other senior officer, felt the sting of the Army's failures in Iraq. He drove his soldiers, the chain of command, and the U.S. government to rethink the occupation plans–yet rarely achieved the results he sought.

•Gen. David Petraeus, a driven soldier-scholar. Determined to reach the Army's summit almost since the day he entered West Point, he sometimes alienated peers with his ambition and competitiveness. When he finally got his chance in Iraq, he–more than anyone–changed the Army's conception of what was possible.

Masterfully written and richly reported, The Fourth Star ranges far beyond today's battlefields, evoking the Army's tumultuous history since Vietnam through these four captivating lives and ultimately revealing a fascinating irony: In an institution that prizes obedience, the most effective warriors are often those who dare to question the prevailing orthodoxy and in doing so redefine the American way of war.

From the Hardcover edition.(less)

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published October 13th 2009 by Crown (first published 2009)

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Dec 20, 2009

Jack rated it

Shelves: history, nonfiction, war

Great book. Not too long. Perhaps a bit more could have been said on the pre-Iraq war lives of these great men. Still, a great overview of four important Army generals of the past decade: Petraeus, Casey, Abizaid, and Chiarelli. Most know about Petraeus as a hero, and Casey and Abizaid are not so highly regarded after the difficulties during their times in Iraq. However, Jaffe and Cloud make great cases for the decency, intelligence, and competence of the non-Petraeus generals. And Petraeu...more

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Nov 26, 2009

Eric S. rated it

WARNING: read Anton Myrer's Once an Eagle first. A good read of the conflict between professionalism and careerism.

The Fourth Star is an excellent book on the careers of Abizaid, Casey, Chiarelli, and Petraeus and their rise to prominence during the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.

A fair and accurate look at all four personalities. I was particularly stricken that it would seem that all four aspired to general rank and had a clear disconnect with the common soldier or any other...moreWARNING: read Anton Myrer's Once an Eagle first. A good read of the conflict between professionalism and careerism.

The Fourth Star is an excellent book on the careers of Abizaid, Casey, Chiarelli, and Petraeus and their rise to prominence during the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.

A fair and accurate look at all four personalities. I was particularly stricken that it would seem that all four aspired to general rank and had a clear disconnect with the common soldier or any other officer that didnt share their career drive and determination.
After spending years in the Army, I can easily identify these generals with officers that I have personally served with and under. Not concerned about the average soldier and less concerned with the common values that they shared with fellow commanders.
I am stricken by the overwhelming urge to be the opposite these men. It is possible to be successful and to be totally dedicated to your subordinates. A healthy concern for soldiers, families, and subordinates is what we, as officers, are obligated to attend to.
These profiled officers are only tragic figures when the Iraq and Afghanistan wars seemingly do not bend and sway at their will and pleasure and then they look at the Iraqi people and the American soldier as somehow failing them and their careers.
Carrying notecards in your pocket with the name of deceased soldiers falls incredibly short of actually caring for the soldiers before and after their deaths.
No sympathy for these officers. I want to serve and read about the battery grade officer that is breaking track with his men while accumulating a batch of center mass evaluation reports rather than the distinguished men that spent the apex of their careers writing treaties and dissertations about how wars and fought from the safety of a classroom.
This book serves as the antithesis for officer leadership. Well written and serves as a outstanding negative example on how to lead and grow as an American Army officer.(less)

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Jul 02, 2010

Meg rated it

Shelves: 2010-books

I picked this book up just prior to the recent fall out over Gen. McChrystal and the naming of Gen. Petraeus as his replacement. I thought it ended up being a pretty timely read.
More than anything, this book cemented my belief that we did not have a game plan going into Iraq. Based on the accounts provided here, no one was talking to anyone to figure out what to do - they were all trying their best, just with different ideas of what should happen. I suspect that if the leadership from t...moreI picked this book up just prior to the recent fall out over Gen. McChrystal and the naming of Gen. Petraeus as his replacement. I thought it ended up being a pretty timely read.
More than anything, this book cemented my belief that we did not have a game plan going into Iraq. Based on the accounts provided here, no one was talking to anyone to figure out what to do - they were all trying their best, just with different ideas of what should happen. I suspect that if the leadership from the civilian side had been stronger (from the President all the way to Congress), the Generals in charge might have had a better chance of succeeding in a quicker manner. At least that is my take from what is provided in the book.
This book also made it clear to me, probably for the first time, that there was not one person I could point to and blame for the continuation of the war in Iraq. There were so many chances for things to go differently had there been proper communication between civilian leadership and military leadership. Not to mention that if the folks in Washington could have put aside party politics and thought for just ONE MINUTE about the soldiers there, maybe it would have ended more quickly.
Anyway, this is supposed to be a review of the book, not a review of the war. I thought they made Gen. Petraeus out to be a little too God like. Instead of the weird quirks being weird quirks, they are signs of a brilliant mind. I'm sure he is brilliant, I'd just like for the descriptions and things of him to at least feel a little less adoring.
I really enjoyed learning about how the Army's ideology has changed since Vietnam - and been changed by that conflict. I hadn't ever really given thought to the fact that there is a ideology behind warfare. It is an interesting read for that fact alone.
I also found it funny (in a sad sort of way) to read the General's pronoucements of what would be happening in Iraq by 2008 and 2009. How sobering to realize that the government and military leaders have been telling us essentially the exact same thing since 2003!
The writers made sure that this material didn't become too tedious. I definitely reccommend reading this. Whether you support the war in Iraq or not, you'll learn something either way.(less)

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Dec 12, 2009

Louis rated it

Shelves: history, military, biography

This book follows four Generals who have had various levels of command responsibility during the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq from 2003 and on. John Abizaid, Commander CENTCOM from 2003 - 2007. George Casey, Commander MNF-Iraq in 2004-2007 and current Chief of Staff of the Army, Peter Chiarelli, Commander MNC-Iraq (under Casey), and David Patraeus, Commander MNF-Iraq 2007-2009 and current Commander CENTCOM. These were the commanders who took over the occupation of Iraq after Tommy Franks a...moreThis book follows four Generals who have had various levels of command responsibility during the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq from 2003 and on. John Abizaid, Commander CENTCOM from 2003 - 2007. George Casey, Commander MNF-Iraq in 2004-2007 and current Chief of Staff of the Army, Peter Chiarelli, Commander MNC-Iraq (under Casey), and David Patraeus, Commander MNF-Iraq 2007-2009 and current Commander CENTCOM. These were the commanders who took over the occupation of Iraq after Tommy Franks and Ricardo Sanchez. Of importance for this book, these were also officers that recognized that Iraq was not a conventional war and what the U.S. faced in Iraq was an insurgency, one that the military and its political leaders were ill-equipped to fight from an attitude, doctrinal and training standpoint.

The first part of the book was about their training. Abizaid, Chiarelli and Patraeus were all given assignments and training experiences that encouraged them to be thinkers as well as soldiers. Abizaid having spent a few years on a college fellowship in Jordan, Chiarelli and Patraeus both spent time on academic assignments, with graduate school followed by teaching stints at West Point in the Department of Social Sciences, which the book depicts as a wellspring of unconventional ideas, which trained those who spent a tour as instructors in the willingness to question what who the Army prepared for and fought its wars. The book returns to this theme of Sosh as the place where officers were taught to think, which served them well in learning a new kind of war.

The book makes it clear that those that came before them, Franks and Sanchez were completely out of their element. And while Abizaid, Casey and Chiarelli began to understand that things were wrong and had ideas of what needed to be done, they were hampered by and Army that did not want to change, and a political leadership that was more interested in managing U.S. involvement then they were interested in winning in Iraq. And this interest in merely managing gave a growing insurgency (which was being willfully ignored by the U.S. political leadership) room to blossom, and cause the large scale casualties over 2004-2006.

The star of the book is David Petraeus (with Odierno as his understudy). With the exception of his assignment into the hinterland of the Combined Arms Center, which would have been better then the career ending assignment that was another option. But still a disappointment after the lauded 101st Airborne which was one of the brightest spots in the immediate post-invasion occupation of Iraq. The book paints Petraeus as a hard driving genius who was a stickler for detail and drove his people hard. It was evident in his field level commands detailed in the book, and his first combat command as Commander 101st Airborne in the invasion of Iraq and the occupation of Mosul. And his return to the combat zone as Commander MNF-Iraq after rewriting the new Army Counterinsurgency doctrine had the feel of the rescuing hero, taking over from the exhausted Casey and Chiarelli who had to fight off their political supervisors in Washington as much as the insurgency.

How does it fare? Many of the current conventional wisdom does not credit Abizaid, Casey and Chiarelli since they presided over the worst period of the Iraq occupation, even if the seeds were planted before their arrival and they were hamstrung by a civilian leadership that was in denial of the reality of the situation and was more interested in perception then fact. The book notes what they recognized and tried to create, an Army that recognized that it's goal was to win the population, not necessarily just build up a body count. But they were not able, and that failure hung over them. And the lauding of Petraeus may not be misplaced. I remember a Command Sergeant Major preparing me and some other civilian analysts for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan describing Petraeus as a 'warrior-poet', and this was before Petraeus took his position as Commander MNF-I.

The driving point of the book is the requirement for a military to be flexible in thought and adaptable in the face of an enemy. It is a lesson that is learned with every new war. A peacetime military rewards conformity to standard. An actual war against an adaptable enemy requires leaders who can themselves adapt. The book identifies Charielli and Petraeus as officers of this type. And it also identifies them as generals who are actively raising and promoting the careers of other officers of this mode, in many cases against the desires of some of the institutional army. It means creating room for inventiveness and dissent, which is not always the easiest thing in an institution that is necessarily conservative like the Army. But, even if the heady responsibilty of the life of its soldiers requires some level of conservativism, it also requires innovation in the face of an innovative opponent. The book makes the argument that the Army needs these officers and leaders. And more importantly, it needs institutions that will provide these officers and leaders room to grow, and the ability to question and provide dissent in safety, so that the Army can benefit from them.(less)

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May 15, 2011

Chip rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: current-affairs, non-fiction

3.5 stars. Good, and interesting, but lacks the depth of works such as The Looming Tower and Ghost Wars. Would have been better (although admittedly also then not quite the same book) with more on the changes and development of the armed forces rather than being so focused on the four main subjects.

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Mar 17, 2011

Larry Zieminski rated it

Recommends it for: Soldiers

Recommended to Larry by: CPT Gregoire (Co Commander)

This book provided some great insight into some of the most powerful Generals in the US Army. It starts off with fairly short bios for each man, covering their early life and decisions to join the Army. Then the authors follow their careers until all 4 Generals are tested in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I enjoyed getting a closer look on how the Generals were viewing the war (which varied, sometimes significantly, from what they said publicly at the time).

I'd have liked to see the book ...more

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Jan 15, 2010

James Murphy rated it

This book follows the careers of 4 Army officers who served as contemporaries and who achieved the rank of General, 4-star rank, and served in Iraq together, all of them having an impact on events there. It traces the details of their careers and the forces that shaped the way they conducted themselves at the level of high command. Once the thrust of the book moved away from the biographies of these men, it became the story of how the U. S. conducted itself in postwar Iraq in solving the probl...moreThis book follows the careers of 4 Army officers who served as contemporaries and who achieved the rank of General, 4-star rank, and served in Iraq together, all of them having an impact on events there. It traces the details of their careers and the forces that shaped the way they conducted themselves at the level of high command. Once the thrust of the book moved away from the biographies of these men, it became the story of how the U. S. conducted itself in postwar Iraq in solving the problems there, in helping to create a stable government, and in combating the snowballing insurgency. The book became an account of how the military let the country slide into civil war before they were able to successfully put the puzzle pieces together and turn the situation around. These generals are George Casey, John Abizaid, Peter Chiarelli, and David Petraeus. I got a more positive impression of military competence from this book than I get from periodicals and the evening news. Though the book may be a bit partisan, it does present an image of a military recognizing what needed to be done before their civilian bosses and beginning to move in that direction. The title and PR on the book hinted at a mild expose, at a failure by 2 of these generals and a deliverance by the other two. I found this not exactly true. They were all working effectively toward the same vision and end result. Washington policy deeply affected the day-to-day efforts of these officers and those serving with them. General Abizaid directed operations for the Mideast region. Casey and his executive, Chiarelli, were responsible for Iraq. They were blamed when the sectarian violence threatened to spiral beyond the points where the Army and the 2 governments could contain it. Petraeus, perhaps rightly so, gets the credit for driving the counterinsurgency doctrine that returned the country to the most stable condition we've seen since 2003. What happens in the book, the "future" of the Army, is a shift from conventional warfare to counterinsurgency tactics, a shift now also underway in Afghanistan as well. The debate about counterinsurgency has been going on for years in the wake of Vietnam. Because our larger enemy in that war was the North Vietmanese Army and because they conducted conventional tactical operations the U. S. military fought a conventiional war as well, though the perception of history is often different. And after the war the Army, eager to forget Vietnam, refocused on what they considered their primary mission, responding to major land conflicts in Europe and elsewhere. Cloud and Jaffe don't approach the issue in that way and for that reason lessen the impact of counterinsurgency doctrine and strategy in Iraq after Petraeus had taken command following Casey's elevation to Army Chief. I personally think the change of gears in Iraq to that of counterinsurgency is quite distinct from previous approaches, and decidedly effective. The Fourth Star, despite its claim to describe the events affecting the future of the Army, seems to avoid giving credit to that policy.(less)

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May 13, 2010

Phil rated it

Shelves: 2010

Mildly interesting book written by a journalist about four generals as they progressed through their careers and, ultimately, through the Iraq war. It gave me a greater appreciation for the complexities of the Iraq war and the Army generals who ran it, as well as a better understanding of the dynamics at work. It wasn't overtly critical of the war or the president who involved us in it. But it did leave me wondering why we undertook the invasion.
The writing style was very newspaper-esqu...more

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Jun 04, 2010

James rated it

In so many ways, an amazing book. Jaffe tells a truly remarkable story in fantastic detail without sacrificing the narrative elements common to any page-turning novel. The Fourth Star is an absolute must for anyone concerned with the inner-workings, recent operational history, or leadership of the US Army.

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Jul 25, 2011

Rowdy rated it

Excellent writing from the perspective of the Generals who actually fought our War against Terrorism. The authors give a surprisingly un-biased perspective. I recommend this to any military officer considering a military career, and to anyone looking for an un-biased view of the Iraq War from the leaders who executed it.

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Feb 22, 2010

Casey rated it

That I am giving this book four stars is no joke. It really was educational about U.S. military culture -- and written in an engaging, snappy style. Strongly recommended for people interested in how Vietnam, the Reagan era, and the Bush wars have affected our armed services.

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Apr 25, 2010

Joy marked it as to-read

Shelves: historical

I have an uncle who is a retired 4 star general. Also, Gen. Chiarelli is an advocate for the soldiers welfare and mental health. This is not the kind of book I normally go for but we'll see...

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Mar 28, 2010

Nostromo rated it

Excellent book with great insight into the inner-workings and dynamics of the US Army's elite. As a Naval Officer, I learned a lot about the Army and its very distinct and different culture. The authors superbly alternates the story of four fast-tracking Army Officers culminating with their experiences in Iraq. I highly recommend it.

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Jul 23, 2010

Jb rated it

Army brass spots potential four star generals and nurtures them through higher university degrees and a teaching stint at West Point. Then on to Iraq. Four generals endeavor to deal with unconventional military struggles there, each with his own "take."

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Mar 21, 2010

Gordon rated it

Shelves: leadership, iraq

This is a great book for anyone interested in today's military. Well written, compelling and personal stories, accurate context. The four generals chosen have had and are having a tremendous impact on how the Army and our fights in Iraq and Afghanistan. I've worked for all four of the generals in Iraq and Europe and the descriptions and anecdotes rang true. I knew GEN Chiarelli the least well and his stock went up high in my eyes after reading this book. I hope we'll see someone write on th...more

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Dec 15, 2009

Roy added it

really interesting book

gives encouraging prospects for smart people brining about change in the Army. Maybe things are actually changing to allow for an intellectual component to fit in. That would be nice.

made me want to read more biographical stuff...

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Jan 11, 2010

Kbrew rated it

A look at four Generals and their part in developing an effective counter insurgency strategy. Topical.

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May 30, 2011

Steve Lavoie rated it

· review of another edition

A provocative account of the careers of four of the most influential leaders in the post-Vietnam Army. Detailing the Army's progress in developing intellectual officers who can think beyond the 'shut up and color' mentality historically demanded of our soldiers, the book provides a telling story and foreshadows the direction of US military action in the coming decades. A paralleling combination of multiple biographies and event-driven accounts, this is easily one of the greatest tomes in my lead...more

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May 23, 2011

Amar Pai rated it

A lot of "hooah," but there's nothing especially revealing in here. Petraeus comes off as a tool. I guess "Absolutely American" made me think all these kinda books would be interesting, but really "Absolutely American" is way better than the usual. This book is the usual.

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Feb 02, 2010

Dan Ragsdale rated it

Shelves: military, history, biographies, west-point

An excellent and a relatively unbiased depiction of the our Army's leaders.

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Dec 07, 2011

Dave rated it

Remarkable men all.

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Jan 14, 2011

Devon Aguirre rated it

this was a good analysis of the army's reluctance to adapt a well thought out counterinsurgency strategy in the wake of vietnam.

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Dec 05, 2011

John Worthington rated it

· review of another edition

I was assigned to read this book and read it in chunks. There is a lot of good information in this book about what it takes to be a general. There is no "cookie cutter" approach since the four generals that were discussed are all different and took their own unique path to 4-stars. It really helps a person understand the politics to the senior ranks.

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Feb 09, 2010

Dan rated it

Shelves: kindle-books, biography

excellent book... highly recommend it...

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Mar 07, 2011

Keith rated it

· review of another edition

A well written review of the lives of four of America's top generals during the Iraq conflict. Goes into some discussion of the conflicts within the Army concerning the development of an insurgency fighting force versus an Army prepared for a massive military land battle.

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Nov 10, 2011

Kariejbh Hubnik rated it

Shelves: military

this book is fantastic giving one an inside view of some very amazing four star General's, an inside look at the Vietnam war, how these General's helped change the Army and interesting information on West Point. Well worth the read so far.

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Dec 28, 2009

Fanugee rated it

Currently listening to audio book version.

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Aug 19, 2010

Larry rated it

· review of another edition

these guys are all pretty accomplished academically. Very impressive. Lots of energy

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Aug 17, 2010

Rick Smudin rated it

· review of another edition

Interesting book, but it leaves huge gaps in the bios of the four officers.

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Dec 08, 2009

Jack rated it

· review of another edition

Interesting story of military politics

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