The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq

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I purchased this book with some apprehension, because I was somewhat disappointed with the author's earlier book, "No True Glory." It rather annoyed me to read a whole slew of gunfights between the Marines and insurgents in Anbar Province but have no maps to give me some sense of how the engagements were unfolding.

Fortunately, Bing West's account of the war up to the present time in Iraq doesn't get down into the weeds like "No True Glory" so the handful of maps he provides are basically adequate for the narrative.

Reading "the Strongest Tribe," I find myself thinking two different things. One is "Finally! we're getting it right in Iraq!" The other is "Why did it take this long to get it right?"

I think West's book is invaluable for anyone who wants (as I so badly did) a good idea of the ebb and flow of the conflict and the various strategies that we employed before finally hitting (or should I say rediscovering) the methods that appear to be working so well over there now: using American soldiers to provide security for the Iraqi population and winning their trust and using that trust to get intelligence on the insurgents and terrorists.

I don't really have any major criticisms of the book. West might give the Marines more attention in his account than their actual share of the fight would justify. But if that is a bias, it's understandable since the Marines were at the forefront of the bloody fights in Fallujah and played the lead role in pacifying Anbar. Moreover, West is a former Marine himself and it is logical he would gravitate toward them and have his best contacts with there as well. In any case, if there's a bit of bias, it's only very slight.

Another thing I really wish would have been a more in-depth discussion of the so-called "Haditha Massacre." West spends about a chapter on the episode, but it's just a quick tour of that event. Those seeking to have better insight into it would do well to watch the Frontline documentary that was on PBS about incident. I do think that West is exactly on point in excoriating the press and politicians like Jack Murtha for rushing to judgment against the accused Marines. I look forward to the first serious book about what happened in that small Iraqi town, because something as complex as what took place there deserves a book.

A final nitpick is an error at the beginning of the book where West lauds General Eisenhower for making the hard call of resisting a British demand for a cross-channel invasion of Europe in 1943. West gets it totally wrong there. It was the United States that wanted this attack, not the British. But that's just a minor failing.

So I would strongly recommend "the Strongest Tribe" both to people in the military and the national security community as well as to Americans who want to have a good solid grasp of what's been going on in Iraq, the mistakes we've made, and the fact that we've turned the corner there.

One thing I can absolutely assure you of is that you won't get that sort of honest perspective reading "reviews" like the one star review someone gave to this book. That "review" has political agenda and close-mindedness written all over it.

Bing West's latest literary work, The Strongest Tide, follows in the footsteps of his other excellent books on the Iraq War, The March Up, and No True Glory. Besides allowing the reader to sense combat through the eyes of our brave warriors, the author's observations and comments unravel this complicated conflict from top to bottom across the entire military, political, and economic spectrum. The Strongest Tide serves as a educational masterpiece on America's involvement in Iraq. The author has impeccable military/political credentials. He writes from the front lines instead of the comfort and safety of the green zone. This book should be required reading at this nation's war colleges and every governmental component involved in the Iraq war I highly recommend it to anyone else interested in the truth of what's going on there.

With this third installment on the war in Iraq, Bing West does his best job yet of articulating the complex relationships between the local Iraqi tribes, the fledgling national government, the American political melee -- and how incredibly our fighting men and women have performed amid the chaos. He weaves together the many tales cogently and brings to life the situation on the ground in Iraq as well as in Washington -- pulling no punches and telling it as he sees it. A refreshingly honest and insightful read.

No one does combat journalism better than Bing West, who has made something like 15 trips to Iraq since the 2003 invasion. He learned about combat in Vietnam, where he served as an adviser to Vietnamese forces, writing the counterinsurgency classic "The Village" about his experiences there. He has matured into one of the most astute combat observers we have, with a talent for getting inside units to tell the real stories about the men and women serving in harm's way.

The Strongest Tribe does a terrific job of telling three main stories: Iraq's descent into chaos in 2005-06, which I witnessed firsthand as an Army officer; the decision in Washington DC to deploy additional troops to Iraq as part of the "surge;" and the combat operations of 2007-08 where those additional troops fought to pacify Iraq. These three stories have never been told together with such force, insight and color.

Still, there is more to tell. West writes mostly about American forces, less about the Iraqi intrigues which played a major role in the Anbar Awakening and subsequent stabilizing of Iraq. And there is the larger story of how the success in Iraq fits into the larger American war on terrorism, and how the Army and Marines will learn from this war to reshape themselves for the wars of the future.

The Strongest Tribe is likely the best military and political history so far available on the Iraq war, and Bing West is also likely the most qualified person to write this history. Mr. West is a former infantry officer with the Marine Corps in Vietnam, where he learned first hand the lessons of counterinsurgency serving in combined action platoons in the second half of that war, an assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, and as someone who has been to Iraq at least 14 times since the start of the war. Each trip has been weeks to months long and has taken him to all corners of the country, where he has been given unprecedented access to US and Iraqi forces. His connections range from corporals on the ground, fighting IEDs and snipers in arid desert, urban jungle and dense palm thickets, through battalion and brigade commanders in the provinces, to the generals in the Green Zone, and all the way to senior policy advisers in Washington D.C. As such he brings unmatched experience, breadth, and depth of access to write what I believe will be the watermark history of the Iraq war, and the first major history written after the success of the "surge." It is also written in an extremely straightforward, just the facts manner, which bequeaths it with an unbiased (although not uncritical) and honest tone. This history corrects so many of the faults of the rash of books rushed to the printing presses shortly after the invasion ended and the insurgency began.

Mr. West's account of the war is long and detailed, without being bogged down in unnecessary tangents, and flows seamlessly from the terror, heat, and gore of room to room fighting in Fallujah to the oak paneled offices of the Capital. Like the war itself it is broken into roughly two parts, the first half being the struggles America dealt with in failing to protect the population and fight the insurgency before late 2006, and the second half chronicling the turnaround brought on by Petraesus' strategy shift, coincident with and augmented by a "surge" of five brigades whose largest impact was to signal to Al Qaeda, the Iraqis, and indeed the World, that America wasn't quiting the fight. Many figures come in for deserved and thoroughly explained criticism. Bremer and General Sanchez completely mismanaged the early days of the occupation, turning chaos into disaster and squandering opportunity at every turn. General Casey comes off as a decent general but one pursuing a disjoint and unworkable strategy of trying to get America out as quickly as possible, protecting the force by keeping it isolated from the population vice risking the force to protect the population, and defeating the insurgency with raids that didn't stem the source of the takfiris swarming over the country. Bush is a man of principle and faith trying to do the right thing, and who has generally made the right calls, eventually, but whose intellectual lack of curiosity, slowness in enacting policy changes, and ineffectual leadership style have cost the strategy pursued, and the men and women charged with carrying out on the ground, dearly. The constant themes throughout the book are the bravery and honor of our fighting forces, and the extreme complexity of the situation on the ground.

Mr. West explains the tortured tribal, ethnic and religious makeup of Iraq, and the festering cauldron of sectarian hate and violence that was unleashed when the oppressive lid of Saddam's regime was removed and then stoked by the incompetent early rule of the American occupation. He also drives home the complex lessons and sometimes uncomfortable necessities of fighting insurgencies throughout the text, and summarizes his expertise with a useful appendix outlining his rules for counterinsurgency.

America has turned the corner in Iraq with a new counterinsurgency strategy, and because our men and women on the ground are the "Strongest Tribe." But Mr. West also sees a disturbing disconnect in American society, with one half of the political spectrum placing opposition to the war for political gain above the national interest, and an uninformed and uninvolved society (which Bush tragically and shamefully made no effective attempt to explain the war to and call to action / share the burden of the war amongst, in other words, lead) losing the martial virtues which have allowed us to win our wars in the past. He rejects completely and convincingly the notion that the country can support the soldiers but not the mission, and delivers a poignant cautionary warning about how American society has reacted to and inexorably influenced the war in Iraq.

Highly recommended. Not quick or comfortable reading, but necessary if you want to know what has actually happened in Iraq, why, and what to do carrying forward from here.

Having read Bing West's books, No True Glory and The march to Baghdad I find this book to give the most detailed account of the war. It tells how at a time when the situation appeared to spin out of control, our soldiers and marines paved the way to victory and did not wait for the braintrust of generals and political leaders to formulate a plan.Field commanders making critical decisions to meet the needs of their men and their area of responsibilty.

The war is covered with no area uncovered.. Mistakes made both on a military and political level are exposed. Mr. West favors no General or political leader and sticks to the crust of the matter, winning and how we achevied it.

I both enjoyed the book and at times was frustrated by the lack of many leaders who did not and will not get the outstanding effort made by our armed forces. The reader will swell with pride and also feel like he/she was punched in the gut reading about the loss of life.
I highly recommend this book to everyone and wish this book would be used as a study guide in schools to teach and understand the complex world that Iraq is.
Every one has a opinion on Iraq but few know anything about life there. This book explains the inner world of Iraqi politics, corruption, and basic survival for it's people.

The book is a great tribute to the can do sprit of the our troops and men like Major Doug Zembiec and so many more.

All previous reviewers have rated the book 5 stars. There is little I can add to improve on their praise. "Ditto" to all the reviews! This is the "Best Book" of an overview of the war's best and worst from start to current. Our soldiers once again prove we have the "Best Tribe" on the planet. I am glad they are on our side!!

"Strongest Tribe" is hands down the most definitive chronicle our of engagement in Iraq over the past five years. West's extensive network of military and political contacts gives him a unique perspective which other writers could only hope to achieve.
West's unique ability to blend and bond with the grunts as well as the four stars is unmatched by anybody today.
West clearly outlines the events that led to the "Sunni awakening" in Anbar province which led to the realization of the Sunnis that their lot would be far better aligned with us vs the murderous Al Queda.
West shines sunlight on the ineptness of President Bush as Commander and Chief, and the bungling management of affairs under L. Paul Bremmer (our first Viceroy of Iraq).
West illustrates through these dark days, and absence of a sense of direction from the top, our soldiers and Marines perform admirably despite the ambivalence of a good number of citizens of this country who cannot get their head around the fact that this country is at war.
West takes us through the "surge" from it's inception in the NSA to it's execution by our best and brightest military commanders.
West points out that the future of Iraq is less than certain, but what clearly is a given is that our men and women in uniform are without a doubt the "strongest tribe"
If you are looking for a candid and comprehensive chronicle of where we have been and where we are going in Iraq from a writer who has done his "due diligence", "Strongest Tribe" is a must read.

Gary Wilson, Esq.

Bing West is a recognized authority on counter insurgency, and he learned it the hard way, beginning in the rice paddies of Vietnam, with a rifle in his hands. Every word he writes was earned the hard way. It never seems to fail in this country over the last 45 years or so. No matter what the circumstance, two broader groups end up disgracing themselves time and again. Those two groups are the elected politicians and the elite media. It should be no surprise in comparison that the US Military is held in such a high regard. They've earned their praise, adapting faster and learning more quickly than the elected leaders can adjust.
In an election year, I can think of no better book to inform oneself. As we transition from one administration to another, it is important to note the historical records of the candidates. Now that the surge has taken effect and the end game in Iraq is on the horizon many politicians will crawl out from under the rock they've been hiding under and try to spin the situation to their advantage. As we go forward, only John McCain can look the American People in the eye and stand by his record. But he will be the first to tell us that it was on the backs on the american soldiers and marines that victory was made possible. After all, he knows what it is to sacrifice for your country.

The author, a counterinsurgency expert, documents the "hundred things" that had to be done by the Marines and the Army to turn around a war that was declared lost by Senator Harry Reid. The fiendish complexity is explained province by province battle by battle. And how this complexity had to be dealt with from the bottom-up with bribes, Iraqi partners, barriers and many more tactics like that that made the turn around possible. But the turn around is reversible. On page 375 Bing West suggests a pullout of all combat units in sixteen months (the Democrats position) could lead to catastrophe in Iraq. Defeat ordered from the top down, in spite of all that has been sacrificed, is still possible. We will see how great that possibility is after November 4, 2008.

...of the Iraq War and how things turned around for the better.

Mr. West and Max Boot visited our AO last winter, so I know that a lot of what he is written is not bravado, but his honest assessments and conclusions based on what he saw and heard, taking into account those who briefed him or took him out on patrol to get a real feel for the situation on the ground.

Having served under Lt. Col. Ken Adgie, I must say that West absolutely gets it right in terms of being an accurate judge of character of one of the finest officers I have had the privelige of serving under. To me, that tells me that West's judgment and insights are likely on the mark, and having lived the Iraq War experience with multiple combat tours myself, I don't disagree with a lot of his conclusions.

If you want an accurate and revealing accounting of the war and the mistakes we made, then how we went about correcting them at the strategic, operational and tactical levels, then you must read this book! Bing West has something for everyone in here: whether your interests run more to the big picture strategic and operational focus of our military waging the war or those on the "pointy end of the spear" kicking in doors, whether you want to know more about the politics in the Oval Office and Pentagon behind the decisions in Iraq, or the reconciliation meetings happening in the dusty neighborhoods of Anbar Province. You won't be disappointed.

Should be required reading for all Americans.

Mr West once again captures the history of this often incorrectly reported and generally misunderstood war. After reading the March Up, I gained an insight of the big picture I missed as a Battery Commander in the 1st Marine Division at the time of OIF 1. This book similarly captures the zeitgeist of those of who were on the ground in Iraq during the time covered, even going for far as stating what many of us felt when we heard the words of numerous American politicians playing into the enemies' hands. He is very accurate and expressed better than I every could some of the problems and frustrations of being an adviser to the Iraqi Army.

This is in my opinion the best book on Iraq out there. It explains why Iraq became such a mess and how the tide turned. The author gives the opinions of the military on the ground from 2003-2008. Everyone from Marine privates to 4 star generals give their assessments on the situation. Bing West was a Marine in Vietnam and knows counterinsurgency warfare in and out. If you want an easy to read history of the Iraq War this is it.

I am a fan of Michael Yon and have written a review of his book Moment of Truth in Iraq: How a New 'Greatest Generation' of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. This book is quite similar in that Bing West is an old Marine in far better shape than I could be and has spent months with the troops beginning early in the war. His book goes beyond Yon's book in that he has a background of strategic thought going back to Vietnam and a book he wrote about that war. It is not better, just more complete and I recommend both. He is harsh in his criticism of the army in the early days of the war, as is Yon. Both believe Fallujah to have been a mistake. West is also very critical of President Bush and his failure to take control of overall strategy when it became apparent that the army was drifting and had lost the initiative. Both Yon and West are very critical of General Sanchez. West doesn't say so but hints at something I have been aware of; the Marines were far better prepared for this war than the army was. They have been training for COIN tactics for a decade. The book goes into almost mind numbing detail on units but will be very useful to families and veterans who will want that detail about their own service or that of loved ones. His last few chapters detail exactly how we won and why. He has harsh criticism for John Murtha and some of the other sunshine patriots in Congress. This will be the definitive book on Iraq for some time and is a classic. I have already passed it on to some Marine friends for their reading. I recommend it.

If you want the truth about what happened in Iraq this is a start. Mr. West doesn't pull any punches and tells it like it was and is. He gives credit where it is due and spares no animus for those that deserve it. what I took away from this book was that we as a nation need to let our military take care of these situations. They know what is happening on the ground and they also know the way to solve the problems. Our politicians need to listen to those officers and enlisted men that want to succeed and not the ticket punchers that seem to talk the loudest and have all the right ears. We can win the wars and the peace if we stand united. Divided we will surely fall.

"The Strongest Tribe" summarizes Bing West's observations and interviews in and about Iraq since the Iraq War began in 2003. Sources are drawn from top generals down to front-line privates, as well as civilian leaders in Iraq. My only suggestion for Bing's book is that it include a brief summary of abbreviations etc. as there are so many it became difficult to recall exactly what they all meant.

Bing's first chapter, aptly titled "How to Create a Mess - Summer 2003" covers Bremer's dismissing the Iraqi Army, blocking the CIAs efforts to work with (pay) Sunni sheiks, de-Baathification (program reached into middle-management levels because Saddam's Iraq had too many "upper-managers"), delaying local elections that military leaders were trying to conduct, failing to fund projects - especially those hiring locals, and even trying to direct military operations.

An attempt was made to put 85,000 trained police on the streets within a year (3/1,000 citizens, vs. 5 in N.Y.C.), trained by 1,500 retired police from the U.S. and Europe - however, only 24 showed up.

Simultaneously, the White House and Rumsfeld envisioned troop withdrawals preceded by Americans pulling back to reduce vulnerability. The result was Iraq's streets and markets were left in the control of insurgent gangs.

2004 brought White House vascillation on invading Fallujah, Abu Ghraib, and empowering Iraqi leaders. A negative result of the latter was that for the next three years those leaders prohibited U.S. incursions into Sadr City (a strong insurgent holdout) and largely ignored U.S. input on Iraqi Army appointments and promotions. Part of the problem was Bremer's having put Allawi in as a lame duck P.M. with visions of becoming elected, and without input in choosing his 26 ministers. Another problem was that Iraqi monies were disbanded without systems to detect, let alone deter, massive fraud; worse yet, large portions of the Iraqi budget never were spent, hobbling army and police support.

2005 saw Iran spending $11 million/week to elect its Shiite candidates, while the U.S. provided no support for Allawi - further crippling his power. Voting was along sectarian lines and simply represented a census - except in Sunni areas. More importantly, Sunnis continually found themselves constantly discriminated against by the Shiite dominated government, while Shiites arrested by U.S. forces were repeatedly released almost immediately by Iraqi authorities. Worst of all, Iraqi police forces were often part of sectarian killing squads and widespread thefts, and rarely did anything useful.

By June, 2006, Bush realized the situation was not acceptable and began looking for a new strategy. Getting one ("The Surge") and new leaders took nine months.

Turning around Iraq involved cleaning out sectors, then securing them with concrete walls and check points. Another strategy was inserting U.S. soldiers along sectarian boundaries, further stymieing Shiite death squads. Still another was deciding to retain custody of Iraqis arrested by U.S. forces - preventing their immediate release by civilian leaders. Fortuitously, at this same point in time Sunni leaders had tired of Al Qaeda atrocities and were receptive (sometimes volunteering) to go after Al Qaeda - an action U.S. generals heartily supported despite Maliki's objections.

Bing continues, telling us that the Special Operations Command, not the 20 brigades commanded by Odierno, was responsible for most the senior Al Qaeda and Shiite militia leaders killed. However, he did not elaborate on how this took place - a key point!

Now, the big question is "What happens if the American military is withdrawn?"

One final note: Bing's book also reminds readers of the incredible valor and sacrifice of our American military in Iraq - not only the constant threat of death and serious injury, especially from IEDs, but functioning within Iraq's blast furnace heat - weighted down with 80 lbs. of gear and lacking any semblence of the comforts of home.

I've read pretty much all of them (and written one myself), but this is the most informative and astute of the bunch. If you only read one book on the Iraq conflict, make it this one.

For the most part, I found this book to be a good look at inner workings of the war in Iraq that have escaped the attention of the media. My greatest concern is that Mr. West's accounts of the various units that he visited often display a lack of consistency. In particular he refers to units by incomplete names that may cause the casual reader to gain an inaccurate understanding of the size and amount of troops involved with a particular tactic or operation. I feel that Mr. West's comments on counterinsurgency strategy are dead on, it's just that for me, as someone who served in Al Anbar, more clarity and accuracy would help flesh out his analysis.

A marvelous book with facts the Main Street Media ignores. A must read for anyone interested in how the Iraq war was conducted and how the Surge Worked.

This is an excellent account of the best and worst of the folks involved with the Iraq war. I highly recommend this as it is both educational and entertaining.

Bing West has been there and done that. If the whole Iraq war seems a fog of IEDs,with names like Fallujah and Anbar floating in and out, and you don't know where we've been and how we got there, this is the book for you. If you want to understand why our military is superior to all others, you'll know after reading this book. Here you'll see the mistakes being made, the efforts to learn from them and finally find a strategy that works. From being embedded with the troops on the ground to meetings with generals, sheiks, Iraqis and even American politicians (twisting the war news to fit their own needs) Mr West has written a fast paced and readable book. All of those vague names and engagements come to life here and are put in perspective. His reporting is complete and his analysis is spot on.

As someone previously mentioned, "The Lion" Maj. Doug Zembiec said "I believe we can win this." And he died proving it as did so many other fine warriors. I have had, due to an injury, many weeks to read. I have completed "No True Glory", "The March Up", "Ambush Alley", "One Bullet Away", "Moment of Truth In Iraq", "Dawn Over Bagdad" and "Shadow Warriors" to name a few.

A common thread thru all, and one that West ties up nicely, is the conflict between politicians and warriors. But it is not one of "let's go kill `em all" because many of our military minds had the answer (or good parts of it) early on and were ignored. This book will, to any reasonable reader, put to rest the arguments about "what happened" and "why" in a professionally critical way. There can be no doubt, and this conclusion is supported in nearly all the books I have read about Iraq, that the CPA and Paul Bremer did more to hinder than help. But observations made within about faulty military supervision are certainly accurate and should be given credence. West does a wonderful job of clarifying this complex interaction and breaking it down to the basics.

While there is enough blame to go around, The Strongest Tribe leans towards the successes and those dedicated to winning in a way that leaves Iraq intact and on the road towards independence. It is specific, articulate, and I believe very accurate. And, as West was there on the ground in the heat and fog of war, he saw first hand the remarkable dedication to their buddies and the mission that our troops possess. These present day Spartans fight `in the shade' for each other and America benefits although so few seem to recognize that fact. You cannot read the book and not absorb that truth. We should carry our warriors about towns on our shoulders!

No war is good but if the outcome of this one is as suggested by Bing West than the valiant sacrifices made by Maj. Doug Zembiec and those warriors like him will not be in vain. A larger question raised is one of American unity and our own future as a nation.

Lately people from McCain to Obama as well as television commentators and talk show hosts have talk about "the Surged" and how it help improved the military situation in Iraq, yet listening to all these people I realized these people don't have a clue of what they are talking about, these people assumed that just increasing troops level in Iraq automatically causes the situation in that country to improved. Bing West is the only author who have the experience in dealing with insurgency and the intelligent to correctly analyze and report on the what went wrong in Iraq and why the troops surge is working.

One of the reason why the war against insurgency did not work under Westmoreland in Viet Nam and during the first few years during the Iraq war was due to the stupidity and ignorant of those in command from Lyndon Baines Johnson to the current Idiot-in-Chief George W. Bush. Both Westmoreland and those generals before General Petraeus failed to understand that you cannot defeat the guerrillas by hiding in the "Green Zone" or in your outposts. You have to be among the people, you have to show the indigenous people that you actually willing to live among them and is willing to protect them. Forget about the "Hearts and Mind" stuff, forget about bribing people with contracts and refrigerators. Protect people, give people the means to protect themselves, earn their trust and respect and they will co-operate with you and only then will you be able to defeat the insurgents.

This is an excellent book for those who want to understand what actually goes on in Iraq and why the surge is working. Of course Iraq is not the only was this country is currently fighting, the U.S and Nato is losing badly in Afghanistan because we are still using the "search and destroy" crap and prefer to hided in outposts instead of clearing and holding territories. I wish that Bing West would go to Afghanistan and teach the people over there how to fight a guerrilla war.

Bing West has done it again! If you have not read No Tru Glory, or visited [...], then you are not gainfully informed on the real history that has been taking place with our awesome Marines, and Armed Forces!!
Bing West's reporting,commentary, and recounting of events directly from the source is absolutely awesome.
I think this book , as well as NTG, should be required reading in our high schools and/or/ colleges. It is that important.
Robert Schultz- Houston Texas

Bing West is able to do what few journalists can do, obtain a first person view of the war in Iraq and nest that in the broader strategy of foreign policy. West's third book on Iraq takes us through the frustrations and challenges after the fall of the Baath regime in Iraq. He covers the period of operations culminating in the summer of 2008. It is an extremely current work with rare first hand discussions with leaders on the ground - both American and Iraqi.

The work's only limitation is its episodic style. Each section could be read independently, I suspect that's how West maintains the remarkable "you are there" style. For a student of the conflict, it can be a bit frustrating. The included photographs give some faces to the key players, although more maps and timelines would help add continuity to the story.

The unintiatied non-military reader should be warned that West's comfort for military jargon is not tempered for his reader! He frequently devolves into militarese to speedily identify units and operations. A well composed index will help the novice.

Bing West is clearly a fan of the United States military. His history and experience would be hard presssed to result in any other bias. Nonetheless, he is crticial where he needs to be and finds much to improve in regards to our tactics and strategy in this conflict. If you are seeking a nuts and bolts guide detailing the challenges, successes and failures in Iraq, look no further than this work.

There have been several excellent magazine article on the Anbar Awakening and Surge (Military Review, Proceedings, Marine Corps Gazette). However, this is the first full scale book that addresses this vital subject. As a book, of course, it can go into much more specific detail. This is the first aspect of the book that deserves praise. The author supplies mountains of specific detail (not just generalizations that are necessary in short magazine articles). The reader can form their own judgment just based on the data presented. However, the author also presents key insights (tactical, strategic, technical) that are missing in the above magazine articles. Let me just mention one technical insight -- Identification. On page 240, the author writes about, "A Police War without Detective Tools". He says, "If the insurgents wore uniforms, the war would have been over in a week." This is of critical importance. One important step towards identification is a census with a photo, fingerprint, name, address. Let me just say that the Dept of Homeland Security has been doing this for 5+ years (for a video see[..], US VISIT, What to Expect). DHS has over a biometric database of over 100 million visitors to the US. In 2008, the military slowly began to do biometrics with a unit that is about the size of an old Polaroid camera. This device takes a photo, fingerprints, an Iris scan and can store data on 10,000 people. The identification discussion is just one example of a useful insight. For anyone interested in what went wrong and what went right in Iraq, this book is an absolute must.

The Strongest Tribe
War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq
By
Bing West

The Strongest Tribe by Bing West is his third book covering the Iraq war. This volume is a lively history of the Iraq War from the initial assault into Iraq through the beginning of 2008. West has provided a masterful tale of the turnaround in Iraq from the point of view of the everyday soldiers, marines and senior military leaders who made it happen. This book is a must read for military professionals and for anyone who wants a clear concise description of the events in Iraq and how they have unfolded over the past 5 years.
West is recognized as an expert in counterinsurgency operations and with his background as a Marine Corp combat veteran, his numerous writings on counterinsurgency, and his work in the Reagan administration as an Assistant Secretary if Defense West brings credibility and context to the complex realities of Iraq and the insurgency war that has raged there over the past 5 years. West's extensive network of military and political contacts provides him a unique opportunity to tell the story of Iraq through the perspective of key players in Washington, within Iraq as well as the perspective of the basic infantry grunts, the stars of Iraq whom West showers with praise and glory. West provides numerous notes and a detailed Bibliography and the end of the book but the one criticism I have is he does not footnote the facts he states in the book. The reader has to search through the notes section to determine the source of the fact or information West is providing.
The book is divided into two parts, the first part concerns the initial invasion period through the mid 2006 time period when the insurgency was at its worst and the politicians at home were wrestling with the future course of the Iraq War. This part of the book provides little new information to anyone who has read the various accounts of war during this time period, but these chapters do provide the reader with the foundation for the remainder of the book. The second part of the book, and clearly the best part, centers on the war against Al Qaida in Iraq and the fighting of a counterinsurgency. West clearly details the frustrations of establishing the Iraqi Army and Police forces, how the Sunni Sheiks came to the realization that their interest were more aligned with those of the U.S. than with Al Qaida, which led to the Sunni awakening, and how the Surge ordered by President Bush and a counter insurgency strategy employed by General Petraeus put the U.S. over the hump and provided the necessary skills and manpower to bring security to Al Anbar and the rest of Iraq.
West is highly critical of the senior military and civilian leadership and raises some very good points about civil military relations. One example West illustrates is how in 2006 Rumsfeld, Casey, and Abizaid's strategy did not comport with the presidents stated objective of victory instead their vision was of getting out of Iraq. (Page 218) West does not give President Bush a pass though as his biggest criticism of the President is that he allowed the Generals to pursue a strategy he knew was wrong yet never intervened to push his own goals and strategy. (Page 222)
West pulls no punches when discussing the Haditha Massacre. West excoriates the press and politicians, especially Jack Murtha for comments against the accused Marines. (Page 153) Although the events of Haditha are not covered in great detail by West, he does put into context the world of the infantryman and how events like Haditha occur. West points out the corporate accountability of the Marines as they investigated the incident, but is highly critical that the press, who got the story wrong and the politicians, Murtha, who have still not been held accountable. Page 157. West ends chapter 10 with a commentary that asks the question if "we lose heart, who will fight for us? When valor has no champion, America loses. Page 158.
I highly recommend this book to military readers, historians, and those citizens who desire a broader understanding of this war. West details the courage and skills of our talented military warriors and treats them with the reverence and respect they deserve while at the same time providing the scholarship and insights into the War in Iraq.

I spent nearly eight months in the Al Anbar province in Iraq commanding a Marine tank platoon during the summer of 2007. Upon returning home, I found it difficult to explain to people how the real situation on the ground there differed from what people at home were fed on the news. Many people doubted what I was telling them and some even asked if I had been coached as to what to say. Mr West does an excellent job describing the Sunni Awakening, how the Iraqis living in the western part of the country decided we were the ones who really had their best interests in mind and were not the enemy. I spent the majority of my tour supporting infantry units working with the local Iraqis to build checkpoints so they could protect their own neighborhoods. The tribes really did want to work with us to defeat AQI. I was told over and over again from the tribesman and Iraqi soldiers how they only wanted safe neighborhoods for their children and a strong, unified country prepared to defend itself from foreign aggressors. Mr West's book does an excellent job of explaining all the myriad of issues we all dealt with there. He even helped to put many of my own experiences into a new context I was not aware of when I lived them. I highly recommend this book for all Americans, but especially all of my fellow Iraq veterans.

Respectfully,

Capt Daniel Grazier, USMC

Bing West's writing style seems to just get better and better. His latest book "The Strongest Tribe" will be used at the US Army war college for years to come, I predict. Mr. West pulls no punches when he analyzes both the mistakes and the eventual turn around following the "surge" in Iraq. He has years of experience first as a young officer in Vietnam taking part in the Marine pacification program, which he discribes in his first book "The Village". He later went on to become a Vice Secretary of Defense under Reagan before retirement. Not content to sit on his laurels, Mr. West traveled with the troops during the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His book on the heart breaking sage of the battle of Fallujah "No True Glory" is already a classic, in my opinion, but his latest work is combines years of experience, as well as much time on the ground with the troops. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to those who are both students of military history and most importantly strategy and tactics.

Having just finished "The Strongest Tribe", I'd suggest that every member of Congress be required to read it, as should most of the media. I don't expect that will happen but it should.

Thanks for a concise but readable summary and evaluation of how we got to where we are. Your last page, in particular, strikes me as a truth that no one speaks of in today's world.

I've recommended it when ever the subject of Iraq has come up in conversation.

Sincerely,


F Sullivan

I learned more about the Iraq war from this book than the last 6 years news broadcasts. Read it, and go thank a Vet.

I most heartily recommend this book for anyone who wants a balanced and critical analyis of why the immediate aftermath of the defeat of Iraq went so badly. The book relates how the Bush administration and its thoroughly incompetent administrators turned what could possibly have been a benign peace into a ruthless and violent insurgency. The book also relates how abominably the Iraqi people themselves can pull together with any measure of decency or competence. The author does not reserve all of his political criticisms to the Bush people. The democrats also come in for their fair share, some of it scathing. However the truly scorching political criticism is given to the totally ineffectual, corrupt, and venal Iraqi politicians. General Petraeus has co-authored a book on the surge. I recommend Mr. West's book instead since West pulls no punches and does not have a military career to protect. He thus portrays all of the fools and miscreants in a harsh light. Our own fighting troops come in for deserved and unrestrained praise. As an interesting aside. Our oversight of Iraq can be compared to the Army of occupation of Japan after World War II. In the latter instance, General MacArthur was literally the head of state and ruled absolutely. He was the total and complete sovereign and would simply over rule any of the perfidies of the Japanese politicians, and would blythly ignore or accept Washington directives as he saw fit. He also brooked no interference or dissent from the Pentagon or the press. Perhaps if we had had a wise and omnipotent ruler like General MacArthur who would have simply turned a deaf ear to the stupidities of the Bush people, or sent them packing, things would be much different.

Bing West provides an outstanding look at why Iraq was heading off of cliff and what it took to stabilize the country. His in depth writing covers a wide range of challenges facing the Unites States and Iraqi's. For me the book really hit home as to how much of an undertaking must occur to secure a few city blocks let alone an entire region. The honor and ferocity of how hard our armed forces have worked is a tremendous achievement. Take into conisderation the multiple times Mr. West has visited Iraq and you will gain an even deeper sense of appreciation and respect for his writing. Mr. West pulls no punches discussing our failures as well as our victories. It is tragic that the book ranks so low on Amazon's list.

Bing West's The Strongest Tribe is a balanced and insightful examination of the US involvement in Iraq. It is a must read for any student of recent political and military history. I would recommend this book to anyone concerned about our global role and the role of the valiant US military.

Bing West's latest, THE STRONGEST TRIBE:WAR, POLITICS, AND THE END GAME IN IRAQ, gives a year by year "Boots on the Ground" view of the war in Iraq. Normally, I am reluctant to read history in real time but I took a chance with West's latest. This was a good decision. Rather than the view from Washington or the Green Zone, West clearly brings the war to the reading public from the ground up. Vietnam is compared to the present conflict with regard to lessons learned. West's background from his Marine Corps infantry experience in Vietnam and his relationships with the war fighters from the ground up makes for very informative reading. This book is highly recommended.

This is a book all Americans need to read. Our popular media has so oversimplified and sensationalized the Iraq war that most Americans do not understand what "victory" could look like. If you read this book you will be able to understand the real daily basis of the conflict(s). You will also be able to visualize a productive outcome after all of our national sacrifice.

Bing West describes in powerful detail the heart, soul and intellect of the U.S. soldier. You will be proud to know that many of those front line warriors knew the right way to win this war long before Washington figured it out. The positioning of the U.S. as the Iraqi people's "best friend or worst enemy" depending on their cooperation with us is an approach we, as Americans, can be proud of. This book made me proud.

As an earlier reviewer noted, West looks at the Iraq war through the prism of Vietnam. Nothing necessarily wrong with that. As a Vietnam vet myself, I can't help but look at Iraq through the same prism. However, as a student of military history, fortunately I have other prisms to look through as well.

I give the book five stars. West has given a good review of the history of the Iraq war. The recitation is by now almost standard. We sent in too few troops. We failed to protect the average Iraqi from criminals, from diehards, and from foreign terrorists. We didn't kill Sadr when we had the chance. We punted on Fallujah when we should have cleared and held it. Finally we got it right when we sent in more troops and General Petraeus. For those who want to go deeper than this thumbnail sketch, the book is excellent. It names names, identifies mistakes, and tells who got it right. There's a wealth of valuable information in this book.

Where the book comes up a bit short is to focus too much on applying the lessons of Vietnam to Iraq. Yes, we should learn the lessons from past wars. But we've fought a lot more wars than Vietnam. For instance, why did it take so long to find General Petraeus? For much the same reasons as it took Abraham Lincoln so long to find General Grant. We need to know how to do better next time. The government that we're trying to support is weak and corrupt? If it weren't, of course, we wouldn't be in there. But we've faced this problem before: not only in Vietnam but Nicaragua in the 1920s, the Philippines after we took them from Spain, and South Korea. Can't we learn from those experiences, instead of starting from scratch each time?

I don't want to sound like I'm criticizing West for not writing the book I'd have written. I couldn't have written this book, and I really thank West for having written it. However, good as it is, we need to look to our entire national experience with war, to make sure we've really learned the lessons those wars teach, instead of forgetting them each generation.

I have been reading The Strongest Tribe so carefully, and while I am learning, really learning, about the war in Iraq, I am also very much enjoying the experience. Bing West has beautifully analyzed both his personal experience and the thousands of other facts he researched to produce a compelling story of the troops, their commanders, and Washington, as all of these players contributed to what now appears to be a successful endeavor. This book should be required reading! I have purchased and sent additional copies to my friends and family.

Lillian Decker

In Bing West's excellent book "The Strongest Tribe", first-hand accounts and in-depth research enriches a sophisticated perspective to the Iraq war, which the media has failed to adequately represent. The book reveals the war -- which has been presented by the media and government alike in vague, impersonal, and sometimes misleading terms -- through the heroic and virtuous battles, deeds, and courageous stands against al-Qaida in Iraq -- both American and Iraqi. It's clear that the war is being won not simply by an effective change in strategy, but by the integrity and courage of the soldiers, brave Iraqi citizens, and Sons of Iraq who have implemented the Surge strategy. Col. MacFarland, Gen. Petraeus, Gen. Odierno, and the little-known Iraqi hero Sheik Sattar are just a few of the leaders to emerge from the sectarian violence and military defeat and put us on the verge to victory -- if only we recognize the failures and successes illustrated in West's book and commit to this achievable and vital mission.

I have read The Village, No True Glory..., and am about to finish The Strongest Tribe. Thank you as each are excellent. I was a Corpsman with 2nd platoon Echo Company 2/1 (Vietnam) later Senior Corpsman then 2/1 BAS Corpsman from 11/66-11/67. I made contact with then Capt. Zembiec and his Senior Corpsman ( Doc Jason Duty) on the run to Baghdad and in Fallujah. I sent them about 10-13 xerox boxes of various gedunk, batteries, and cigars, chewing tobacco, and cigarettes. As a result they invited me to 2/1's Ball in 2004 after they came back to California from their 04 deployment. It was my first ever Marine Ball and to do it with my old unit was special. I maintain contact with Doc Duty who is with an EOD unit in Coronado and I'll see him in early November when I attend Vietnam 2/1's reunion in Oceanside. Doc Jason Duty was on a year tour in Afghanistan when Major Zembiec was killed and he has been devastated that he could not attend services. When I got out of the service in 1968 I became a Physician Assistant and ended up doing 28+ years at the Dallas VA Med Center all on the Mental Health service and the last 18+ years I worked as a Counselor on the PTSD clinic. Since retiring I have volunteered to the recruit commands in the Dallas area with any of their active duty folks who need help. I also still meet weekly at lunch with the CO of Suicide Charlie 1/7 who supplied several men to the CAP in your book the Village. Also with us is a Guadalcanal Corpsman and an Iwo Jima machine gunner med evac'd on day 26. Your books are terrific and tell it the correct way and none of them pull any punches! Very informative! Thank you!
John Weed
echodoc21@gmail.com

Bing West has done an excellent job explaining what has happened in Iraq since 2003. I served in Baghdad in 2006. After reading "The Strongest Tribe", I understand why many of the things we were trying to do would not and could not work. Every veteran of the Iraq War should read this book! It will bring clarity to all that we saw and experienced.

I can offer only the highest praise for The Strongest Tribe. Like No True Glory before it this historical work should sit on the bookshelf of every Marine. Author Bing West vividly details the events from fall, 2006 through the middle of 2007 that led to the collapse of al Qaeda in Anbar Province. His experienced writing style will give the reader a view of the tactical and operational levels of the Marine Corps in action. From IED blasts and firefights to operational planning on a battalion scale, West has deduced his own lessons on counter-insurgency. Most of the concepts are not new. However, The Strongest Tribe will show the reader their implementation. The subsequent success in Anbar is evidence of their worth.

Bing West's "The Strongest Tribe" is an excellent account of the Iraqi insurgency. The roots of the insurgency and the lack of effective counter-insurgency techniques, both at a political and military level, are fully explored. Readers will get a fresh view of how the turn-around took place, from the ground up, literally block by block in some areas. The United States has not faced an insurgency on this level since Vietnam. Its unfortunate that our leaders, both political and military, did not enact proven counter-insurgency tactics sooner. It's amazing both how close we came to losing it all and how our military pulled off an upset win.

I highly recommend this book. Great job Bing! And thank you for taking the tremendous risks you did to bring this account to us.

"The Strongest Tribe" is not deep and complex, but not for the novice, either. The author is an ex Marine combat veteran. It won't be much help to the Bush-haters and is not a detailed history. He portrays the insurgency in Iraq as the will of the people, - tribes, militias, and terrorists shaping the course of the war. Leaders at the top scrambled to respond to the events at the bottom. He carefully portrays Haditha as a vastly overexposed dark side of the war.

Bing West is without question one of the best writers on military affairs living today! This book is certainly a MUST READ for anyone who wants to know the truth about the war in Iraq. And, with this being an election year, it's even more relevant. West pulls no punches. He visited Iraq on an extended basis at least 14 times, and talked to U. S. military personnel from Generals to Privates. He talked to Iraqis. He went with both American and Iraqi forces on missions to eliminate Al-Qaeda and insurgents in various provinces. He knows what he's talking about, understands the "cause and effect" of the insurgency, and he tells is like it is! He is truthful about the mistakes that were made by both the Bush Administration and military commanders and how those mistakes prolonged the war. He's also truthful about how many politicians and media have done their best to cause the USA to LOSE this war! And he praises those who had (and have) the foresight and intelligence to change direction to fight a counterinsurgency rather than conventional war against the terrorists and insurgents. Finally, he makes it clear that the "surge", coupled with outstanding leadership on the part of Generals Petraeus and Odierno and dedication and courage of the troops in conducting counterinsurgency operations turned things around and gave us the progress that we see today. Kudos to Bing West for this outstanding work! I certainly encourage anyone wanting to know about the TRUTH and REALITY of the war in Iraq to read this book. Politicians especially should read it, maybe it would (??) make some of them wake up and see how things really are for our fine military folks and for Iraq. Despite the best efforts of much of the media and many politicians, we are winning.
JKBelew in Texas, an Old Marine & lifelong military history student.

This is flat out the best book written for understanding what went wrong in Iraq, and how brave Iraqis and coalition partners turned it all around.

Bing West has written a lively history of the Iraq War. I read it over the Labor Day Weekend and could not put it down. He writes beautifully about the grunt and how leadership from the squad to the President is critical to prevail in a war. He lays out with little bias the decisions and their effects upon the direction of war. The central character is always the infantryman.

Along with this book, it is necessary to read Gen. Rupert Smith's THE UTILITY OF FORCE. Smith gives us the concept; West gives us the people. Two military professionals who write very well.

I have just read The Strongest Tribe by Bing West. It is a page turner for anyone who wants to know how Iraq was nearly lost by our government and our generals and later saved by the dedication of the heroic soldiers and marines at the unit level. These warriors became true "community organizers" and snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. West has done all of this reporting while accompanying these brave young Americans over several years. You can almost place yourself in the middle of the action on a virtual basis. You will only get this in-depth on-the-scene account in his book. Far too many Iraq books have been written by generals, politicians and bureaucrats who provide self serving, third hand accounts from the comfort of the Green Zone or from state side. West knows what its is all about because he did this in Vietnam - - he has done us all a great service by authoring this book. He tells it like it is. I have bought several copies and have passed them on to returning veterans and their families. A great investment of your time - read it and you will not be disappointed.

Books worth reading once are worth reading twice - John Morley.

My own 800 days of service in Al Anbar Iraq as the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Bn, 7th Marines and as the G-3 of the 1st Marine Division have undoubtedly shaped my perspective of The Strongest Tribe, but until now I have felt ill-equipped when asked by intelligent and well meaning friends to explain the broader war in Iraq. Mr. West latest book is a tour de force that provides a vibrant, honest and hard hitting look into the realities of close brutal combat as well as a sophisticated and nuanced exposé of the complex strategic, political and social narratives that must be understood if one is to fully understand the war in Iraq. The author's deep understanding of war born of his considerable personal combat experiences and service in the Defense Department's highest offices, uniquely position him to give a thorough yet accessible treatment to this most complex and misunderstood conflict. Mr. West's love and genuine respect for the young men and women who so selflessly serve our nation in harms way is felt in the stories of their courage and sacrifice as well as in his often biting criticisms of leaders and policy makers who he feels could and should have served them better. My own understanding of the war has been stretched beyond the boundaries of Al Anbar to places like Mosul, Basra, Sadr City and the Green Zone. I highly recommend this book to Marines like me who desire a fuller, broader understanding of their war. More importantly, this will be the book I will give friends to read because it treats our young warriors with the reverence and respect they deserve and delivers the scholarship and insights the War in Iraq requires. I will certainly read it more than once.

Joseph A. L'Etoile
LtCol, USMC (Ret.)

Bing West is one of the foremost military authors about the War in Iraq.

His new book, The Strongest Tribe, is about the history of the Iraq war. It begins and ends, very appropriately with Major Doug Zembiec, whom, if you don't know, you should.

The path of The Strongest Tribe takes us through the invasion to the point in 2006 where we essentially were losing the war, then figured out how to win and implemented the Surge strategy. Bing West was there dozens of times and he chronicles the good, the bad, and the ugly - straight up, neat, no ice.

The best part about this book is that it is the book that Cobra II wanted to be (and many others). Bing West is not afraid of offending and his sources speak for themselves (and he is highly critical of LTG Sanchez and L. Paul Bremmer). The only part that I disagreed with was West's assertion that we could have somehow kept the Iraqi Army together after the invasion. Certainly, some units would have remained but, for the most part, I didn't see many Shia conscripts returning to serve Sunni Officers in most situations. I had spoken with a lot of soldiers about this - COL (ret) Greg Gardner, in particular, who was the Army's representative at the CPA's Ministry of National Security.

From a tactician's point of view (and an expert in COIN), Bing West gives you the perspective to see what went wrong and what went right. [Edit Note: This is the first book that I've read that also correctly describes John McCain's fight against Secretary Rumsfeld, Congress and the administration to see a Surge strategy put into place.]

There is much talk of tribes in the book. You can't discuss Iraq and not talk about the tribal system. In the end, the strongest tribe wins. The strongest tribe is the one that is the most flexible and willing to do whatever it takes to win and gather the other tribes to it's fold.

It turns out that the American military is the strongest tribe.

Interspersed amongst the stories of the CPA, the State Department, the CIA and the Bush Administration, Bing West shows that our military men and women were making amazing sacrifices and valiant efforts that made success possible. That's the first half of the book.

And, the second half, from our lessons learned, our generals AND our corporals and sergeants developed an effective strategy and are winning the day - despite a uninformed and uninvolved public. West ends the book where we are now - on the edge of victory, and he includes a series of myths or OIF urban legends that are a must read.

If you read one book about the good and the bad of our five years in Iraq, you should pick up The Strongest Tribe - it has my highest recommendation.