1. Sees the origins of the Iraq War in mistakes of the earliest counterinsurgent years. 2. Illustrates U.S. military commanders struggling to meet political goals of the Bush Administration. 3. Examines how counterinsurgent warfare in Iraq has forced the Army to transform. 4. Gives background to tactical and political decisions occurring in Iraq right now. 5. Answers the burning political question about the war in What now? 6. Addresses leadership, culture, training, honor and emotional hardships of soldiers. 7. Helps lay readers understand what it's like to be in a military commander's boots. 8. Makes the military world comprehensible and the war in Iraq less convoluted. 9. Answers questions politicians and pundits are unable to provide the American electorate. 10. Helps reader see inside the Army to better understand the complexity and difficulty of this war. 11. Shows how bottom-up democratic process has the best chance for success in Iraq. 12. Shows how and why Gen. Petraeus has begun to turn the tide in favor of the U.S. 13. Provides clear cut examples of how the Army can change its methods to realize a more capable force. 14. Provides roadmap against terrorist-based conflicts that loom ahead in the future
Lieutenant Colonel Baumann provides a first-hand account of Task Force 1-21's mission in Iraq fighting to defeat insurgency. The mission labeled "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was/is a pivotal turning point in U.S. military history. This book provides great detail about the mission and what our troops go through defending our Nations Freedom. Must Read!