The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in IraqIn Iraq, the United States made mistake after mistake. Many Americans gave up on the war. Then 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, combat journalist and bestselling author Bing West explains this astounding turnaround by U.S. forces. In the course of fifteen extended trips over five years, West embedded with more than sixty front-line units, discussing strategy with generals and tactics with corporals. Disposing of myths, he provides an expert's account of the counterinsurgency. This is the definitive study of how American soldiers actually fought. |
Contents
How to Create a Mess | 13 |
A Near Collapse | 26 |
War | 43 |
Inadequate Means | 64 |
Widescale Fighting | 84 |
Contradictory Goals | 106 |
The Islamic Caliphate | 130 |
Explosion on the Home Front | 148 |
The Sunnis Change Sides | 224 |
Momentum | 246 |
Overview | 273 |
The Surge Takes Hold | 293 |
Washington Assesses the Surge | 317 |
Progress and Uncertainty | 334 |
The Strongest Tribe | 361 |
How the War in Iraq Will End | 377 |
Murder and Intimidation | 167 |
The Civil War | 187 |
The War Turns | 208 |
Insurgency and Unity of Command in Vietnam | 393 |
| 419 | |
Other editions - View all
The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq Francis J. West No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
advisers al Qaeda American American soldiers Anbar Arab arms arrest asked attack Baghdad base battalion battle believed bombs brigade Bush called Capt Casey chief civilian Colonel combat commander death Division drove elections Fallujah fighting fire five forces four Green Zone hold Humvees inside insurgents Iraq Iraqi Iraqi Army jundis killed Kurds later leaders leave lived looked Maliki March marines Mattis meeting military militia months moved neighborhoods officers operations patrol percent Petraeus pointed police political population president prison province Qaeda Ramadi reported returned road Sadr Sadr City saying Senator sent sheiks Shiite shot showed side soldiers squads staff stopped strategy street Sunni told took tribes troops turned units walked wanted week York