What do you think?
Rate this book
No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah
"This is the face of war as only those who have fought it can describe it."–Senator John McCain
Fallujah: Iraq’s most dangerous city unexpectedly emerged as the major battleground of the Iraqi insurgency. For twenty months, one American battalion after another tried to quell the violence, culminating in a bloody, full-scale assault. Victory came at a terrible price: 151 Americans and thousands of Iraqis were left dead.
The epic battle for Fallujah revealed the startling connections between policy and combat that are a part of the new reality of war.
The Marines had planned to slip into Fallujah “as soft as fog.” But after four American contractors were brutally murdered, President Bush ordered an attack on the city–against the advice of the Marines. The assault sparked a political firestorm, and the Marines were forced to withdraw amid controversy and confusion–only to be ordered a second time to take a city that had become an inferno of hate and the lair of the archterrorist al-Zarqawi.
Based on months spent with the battalions in Fallujah and hundreds of interviews at every level–senior policymakers, negotiators, generals, and soldiers and Marines on the front lines– No True Glory is a testament to the bravery of the American soldier and a cautionary tale about the complex–and often costly–interconnected roles of policy, politics, and battle in the twenty-first century.
From the Hardcover edition.
Fallujah: Iraq’s most dangerous city unexpectedly emerged as the major battleground of the Iraqi insurgency. For twenty months, one American battalion after another tried to quell the violence, culminating in a bloody, full-scale assault. Victory came at a terrible price: 151 Americans and thousands of Iraqis were left dead.
The epic battle for Fallujah revealed the startling connections between policy and combat that are a part of the new reality of war.
The Marines had planned to slip into Fallujah “as soft as fog.” But after four American contractors were brutally murdered, President Bush ordered an attack on the city–against the advice of the Marines. The assault sparked a political firestorm, and the Marines were forced to withdraw amid controversy and confusion–only to be ordered a second time to take a city that had become an inferno of hate and the lair of the archterrorist al-Zarqawi.
Based on months spent with the battalions in Fallujah and hundreds of interviews at every level–senior policymakers, negotiators, generals, and soldiers and Marines on the front lines– No True Glory is a testament to the bravery of the American soldier and a cautionary tale about the complex–and often costly–interconnected roles of policy, politics, and battle in the twenty-first century.
From the Hardcover edition.
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Bing West
30 books91 followersFrancis J. "Bing" West Jr. (born May 2, 1940) is an American author, Marine combat veteran and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the Reagan Administration.
West writes about the military, warfighting, and counterinsurgency. In the Vietnam War, he fought in major operations and conducted over a hundred combat patrols in 1966–1968.
(wikipedia)
West writes about the military, warfighting, and counterinsurgency. In the Vietnam War, he fought in major operations and conducted over a hundred combat patrols in 1966–1968.
(wikipedia)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
March 4, 2012
In “The Iliad” a warrior in the front ranks turned to his companions and said, “Let us win glory, for ourselves, or yield it to others.” For Greek warriors, there was no true glory if they were not remembered afterward in poem or song. There will be no true glory for our soldiers in Iraq until they are recognized not as victims, but as aggressive warriors. Stories of their bravery deserved to be recorded and read by the next generation. Unsung, the noblest deed will die.
Those stories are recorded in No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah. A Star for every brave warrior here. Read and pass these deeds on to the next generation. A must read for any student of war and for any who want a better picture of what happened in Iraq.
Bing West gives you a lot of action at the squad, company, regiment level but mixes in timely pieces of the higher level machinations and confusion. You can’t understand how Fallujah happened the way it did without seeing how it fit in a bigger picture. I admire how he explains all the military and political forces in play. He is very fair in his assessment and mostly just gives you the facts and lets you make your own judgment.
Several things stand out but especially the Marines, from the generals down to the corporals and privates. They demonstrated how they can be your best friend or worst enemy. I also like that West portrayed the opposition clearly.
Those stories are recorded in No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah. A Star for every brave warrior here. Read and pass these deeds on to the next generation. A must read for any student of war and for any who want a better picture of what happened in Iraq.
Bing West gives you a lot of action at the squad, company, regiment level but mixes in timely pieces of the higher level machinations and confusion. You can’t understand how Fallujah happened the way it did without seeing how it fit in a bigger picture. I admire how he explains all the military and political forces in play. He is very fair in his assessment and mostly just gives you the facts and lets you make your own judgment.
Several things stand out but especially the Marines, from the generals down to the corporals and privates. They demonstrated how they can be your best friend or worst enemy. I also like that West portrayed the opposition clearly.
July 27, 2024
Bing West was a Marine who served in Vietnam, and was an assistant secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan. He is a prolific writer, went to Iraq as an embed sixteen times, and also took numerous trips to Afghanistan. This book is exactly as advertised and more. Beyond the frontline accounts of the daily battles from front line marines and soldiers, Bing chronicles the strategies from White House and senior policy makers and negotiators. The reader also gets a since of who was leading the insurgent groups inside Fallujah. A nice conclusion summarizes the missteps made by our officials trying to reestablish a country while conducting a war in it at the same time. This hardback edition has great satellite photo maps inside the covers. the front inside cover highlights the battle plan for the cancelled April 2004 offensive, while the back inside cover shows the November 2004 offensive. A photo section and bibliography are included. Extensive notes accompany each chapter. I have one of West's other books 'The March Up' about taking Baghdad with the First Marine Division. If reading about the Iraq War is your interest this is a must read.
May 9, 2012
This book was a good account of the battle for Fallujah. I enjoyed the fact that it mixed a look into the higher command and political aspects along with a look into the frontline men and events. In my opinion that is the ideal style because it gives you the context and reasons why everything is happening while also giving you an inside look into the "trenches" that humanizes the events. The maps and outline of people involved were useful references to go back to while reading. This was an easy to read account that conveyed the events and their significance well, but it did lack a certain pop in my opinion that would have merited 5 stars. Nonetheless it is a strong 4 star read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the battle.
June 11, 2024
The Battle of Fallujah was the most intense fighting American forces have faced in the 21st century, a Marine battle to stand with Okinawa and Hue for a tenacious enemy and destruction unleashed. Bing West has admirably recorded the heroism of the Marines who went into Fallujah, and the context of the battle in Iraq in 2004. The book's image of a Marine Division astride a shattered city, ruefully shaking its head and saying "Look at what you made me do", is not the most objective take. That image, like so much else about the Iraq War, left a sour taste in my mouth. But the story of Fallujah is one that must be told.
Make no mistake, West is biased. He's Marine to the bone, and the world is divided into Marines and those who stand in their way. Marines are always righteous: heroes who brave insurmountable odds to cover their brothers; precise killers who use sniper rifles against enemy fighters and guided bombs only on identified strong points; extraordinary men who keep on going no matter how hard it gets.
Others do not come off as well. The Bush White House and CPA are gently rebuked (by comparison with other histories) for mismanaging the big picture and holding the Marines back. Bing has some sympathy for Iraqi soldiers and policemen intimidated into uselessness by threats against their families, but none at all for Iraqi 'leaders' who promise to keep the peace but fail to deliver repeatedly. The news network Al Jazeera is portrayed as an Al Qaeda propaganda wing; pouring gasoline on the embers of Iraq for ratings, in the same way that local clerics preached jihad for political and criminal power. West disgust at how those he deems responsible for sending thousands of Iraqis in front of American guns while avoiding real danger themselves is a blow to his objectivity.
This book succeeds in it's goal of commemorating the Battle of Fallujah and the men who fought it. West understands the nature of combat like few other writers--100 patrols as a Marine Vietnam will do that for you. This isn't as good as the The Village, but few books are. If there's a lesson to be learned, it's that you should *not* fuck with the United States Marines Corps. Hopefully, that will be obvious to others without having to blow up their cities first.
Make no mistake, West is biased. He's Marine to the bone, and the world is divided into Marines and those who stand in their way. Marines are always righteous: heroes who brave insurmountable odds to cover their brothers; precise killers who use sniper rifles against enemy fighters and guided bombs only on identified strong points; extraordinary men who keep on going no matter how hard it gets.
Others do not come off as well. The Bush White House and CPA are gently rebuked (by comparison with other histories) for mismanaging the big picture and holding the Marines back. Bing has some sympathy for Iraqi soldiers and policemen intimidated into uselessness by threats against their families, but none at all for Iraqi 'leaders' who promise to keep the peace but fail to deliver repeatedly. The news network Al Jazeera is portrayed as an Al Qaeda propaganda wing; pouring gasoline on the embers of Iraq for ratings, in the same way that local clerics preached jihad for political and criminal power. West disgust at how those he deems responsible for sending thousands of Iraqis in front of American guns while avoiding real danger themselves is a blow to his objectivity.
This book succeeds in it's goal of commemorating the Battle of Fallujah and the men who fought it. West understands the nature of combat like few other writers--100 patrols as a Marine Vietnam will do that for you. This isn't as good as the The Village, but few books are. If there's a lesson to be learned, it's that you should *not* fuck with the United States Marines Corps. Hopefully, that will be obvious to others without having to blow up their cities first.
December 12, 2007
Bing West served as a Marine officer in Vietnam, then moved on to journalism. Here he accompanied some Marine units during the battle of Falujah and offered both his day-to-day account of their experiences and his observations on the higher level political maneuverings that shaped the events they lived through.
February 6, 2015
One of the best books ever written about Marines in combat. Captures the culture of the Corps in peace as well as in war. Provides background on Fallujah, the terrain, the culture, the history. A must read for serious students of modern history, the Iraq War, and the United States Marine Corps.
May 24, 2010
I picked this up at the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico, VA last weekend.
A detailed and in-depth account of the Marine's experiences in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. I loved the matter of fact style and the Marine's eye view that West uses to tell his story. Part personal narrative from the combatants point of view and part historical narrative of the military and civilian leaders, their decision making, and the operations as they unfolded. West is quite confident that his opinions are correct - maybe even strident at some points but, his story is a good one and he tells it in a way that is compelling. Once again we learn about war from the perspective of the Marine on the ground who is merely there to do a job - to serve, and how that job - as much as these Marines would wish otherwise - always ends up terribly politicized. Read about how the politicians initially called for the Marines to "take" Fallujah overwhelmingly and immediately after the American contractors were killed and hung from the bridge in town, despite the Marine's initial misgivings (they were practicing established counter-insurgency techniques and wanted time for these techniques to pan out). When orders came to attack, the Marines did what Marines do best only to be called off mid operation because of the political fall out from the unsavory images beamed around the world. This is another reminder of the terrible costs of unleashing our combat power and how these decisions should be made carefully and then once made, should be carried through to completion.
If our leaders are going to choose to use our military tool, they need to use it as a last resort and then they need to practice a certain amount of "nose holding" because it's going to get messy and ugly. If they are unwilling to offend anyone - including the Arab media which has huge built-in sympathies to anyone we may be fighting in the middle east - then they'd better not turn lose the dogs of war.
The author does a nice job of telling a compelling story about a truly amazing group of Americans (the USMC) in a very sticky situation. No True Glory is a compelling read for anyone interested in digging into the details of the war in Iraq.
A detailed and in-depth account of the Marine's experiences in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. I loved the matter of fact style and the Marine's eye view that West uses to tell his story. Part personal narrative from the combatants point of view and part historical narrative of the military and civilian leaders, their decision making, and the operations as they unfolded. West is quite confident that his opinions are correct - maybe even strident at some points but, his story is a good one and he tells it in a way that is compelling. Once again we learn about war from the perspective of the Marine on the ground who is merely there to do a job - to serve, and how that job - as much as these Marines would wish otherwise - always ends up terribly politicized. Read about how the politicians initially called for the Marines to "take" Fallujah overwhelmingly and immediately after the American contractors were killed and hung from the bridge in town, despite the Marine's initial misgivings (they were practicing established counter-insurgency techniques and wanted time for these techniques to pan out). When orders came to attack, the Marines did what Marines do best only to be called off mid operation because of the political fall out from the unsavory images beamed around the world. This is another reminder of the terrible costs of unleashing our combat power and how these decisions should be made carefully and then once made, should be carried through to completion.
If our leaders are going to choose to use our military tool, they need to use it as a last resort and then they need to practice a certain amount of "nose holding" because it's going to get messy and ugly. If they are unwilling to offend anyone - including the Arab media which has huge built-in sympathies to anyone we may be fighting in the middle east - then they'd better not turn lose the dogs of war.
The author does a nice job of telling a compelling story about a truly amazing group of Americans (the USMC) in a very sticky situation. No True Glory is a compelling read for anyone interested in digging into the details of the war in Iraq.
August 27, 2018
I was 17 when the siege of Fallujah was beginning in 2004. As I graduated High School I paid a little more attention to the news as I had friends going into the Marine Corps and being deployed. Admittedly I wanted to read this book because after the war I had no idea about our strategy with the city or the politics involving it. I just knew that even today in 2018 "Fallujah" is a synonym often used for a hard fight or quest. "It's not exactly Fallujah" has been used to describe an easy situation, for example.
I think the book needs to be updated to reflect present-day events. General Mattis is now the SECDEF. Col Dunford is now the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Zarqawi was killed in an airstrike a couple of years after the USMC swept Fallujah, and I was absolutely stunned to learn that Sadr is now a politician in Iraq.
I loved how the book would describe the political situations in one chapter and then seemingly in the next it would discuss a very detailed, squad-level minute by minute account of house clearings and clashes with the insurgents.
I also didn't realize how much politics interfered with the US strategy. From the mainland perspective, given only what was prescribed from the media, I had thought that it was just a slow process to weed out the insurgents and train the Iraqi army. I failed to realize at the time that most of the Iraqi army truly didn't pledge any loyalty to the cause and that we were in a country that was essentially in a power vacuum. It seemed that most of the citizens of Iraq just assumed that as soon as the US left it would return to the same old tribal and religious rule that it had for centuries (and they were right I guess), and that caused a general apathy towards making a stand to better their own country as they were afraid of the consequences. Mr. West was correct in that the greatest asset the insurgents had was intimidation of the general population. I found myself putting down the book and wondering how strategists today battle such situations.
I think the book needs to be updated to reflect present-day events. General Mattis is now the SECDEF. Col Dunford is now the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Zarqawi was killed in an airstrike a couple of years after the USMC swept Fallujah, and I was absolutely stunned to learn that Sadr is now a politician in Iraq.
I loved how the book would describe the political situations in one chapter and then seemingly in the next it would discuss a very detailed, squad-level minute by minute account of house clearings and clashes with the insurgents.
I also didn't realize how much politics interfered with the US strategy. From the mainland perspective, given only what was prescribed from the media, I had thought that it was just a slow process to weed out the insurgents and train the Iraqi army. I failed to realize at the time that most of the Iraqi army truly didn't pledge any loyalty to the cause and that we were in a country that was essentially in a power vacuum. It seemed that most of the citizens of Iraq just assumed that as soon as the US left it would return to the same old tribal and religious rule that it had for centuries (and they were right I guess), and that caused a general apathy towards making a stand to better their own country as they were afraid of the consequences. Mr. West was correct in that the greatest asset the insurgents had was intimidation of the general population. I found myself putting down the book and wondering how strategists today battle such situations.
December 18, 2009
"...let slip the dogs of war." Bing West has his finger on the pulse of the Corps with this one. Some of my buddies were in the battle for Fallujah in '04 and have given this book their seal of approval. Doesn't get more authentic than that.
March 10, 2008
I was there for part of this battle (in 2004). This book details all the battles surrounding what was once the most dangerous city in Iraq.
April 29, 2024
2.5 rounded down. I really wanted to like this one. Sadly it just felt disorganized and dull. It focuses on the politics of Fallujah much more than the actual on-the-ground events. The combat portions, especially the last part, were really well done. I wish it had focused more on the Marines and their stories, rather than the background political landscape leading up to the first and second invasion.
February 24, 2019
"In war, Authority and responsibility should reside in the same organization."
CHAOS - This is a riveting and detailed account of Fallujah, the political brawl down to the horrors of battle.
The author provides a wide scope of the Battles for Fallujah from the perspective of the top brass including CENTCOM, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), the fledgling new post-Saddam Iraqi government, and the individual generals, commanders, and soldiers on the ground. This book covers the period of time soon after the overthrow of Saddam's regime, beginning when three former military Blackwater Contractors were murdered, burned, mutilated and hung from a bridge in Fallujah. Fallujah was also a major hub for extremists, the recruitment center for local and foreign insurgents, and bomb making capital that produced the deadly IED's that led to the deaths of so many of our troops. To make matters worse, the city is filled with hundred's of mosques. Due to established Rules Of Engagement (ROE's) that prohibited the targeting of mosques or even entry by non-Islamic allies, they were ideal locations for terrorists to safely and quietly recruit and deploy death upon our troops.
The author specifically follows the Marines and writes extensively of General James Mattis (Mad Dog), his heroic actions and the manner in which he would insert himself into battle.
Discusses the diplomat challenges in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein. Another major subject were the decisions made by Paul Bremer, administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). He was responsible for disbanding Iraqi police force, members of the former military and professionals who were previously members of the Baath party during Saddam's reign. These decisions made by Bremer we're very unpopular and counterproductive. This led to the rise of the insurgency following Saddam's disposal. Iraq's most skilled and experienced military and civilians and operators were immediately out of work, regardless of what solidarity they may ore may not have had with their former leaders. The chaos that ensued was a major contributing factor behind the violence and unrest that led to the first and following invasions of Fallujah.
How the Press Poorly Portrayed Iraq
"The Western Press covered incidents of misconduct more full than the multiple instances of bravery such as that of Sgt Norwood. The stupid corrupt acts of Abu Ghraib prison cast a shadow over the decency of hundreds of thousands of other soldiers."
Al Jazeera engaged in information warfare and false and misleading propaganda for the benefit of the insurgents. "Al Jazeera's repeated assertion of horrendous civilian casualties, buttressed by selected pictures evoked sympathy and anger in Iraq and worldwide."
"The singular lesson from Fallujah is clear. When you send our soldiers into battle, let them finish the fight. Ordering the Marines to attack, then calling them off, then dithering, then sending them back in constituted a flawed set of strategic decisions. American soldiers are not political bargaining chips."
General James Mattis
"The General (James Mattis) traveled light, with three or four Humvees and a command LAV (light assault vehicle) outfitted with six radios... more than once Mattis was thrown out (during sharp turns). The men enjoyed moving with Mattis. They saw the countryside and they saw action. They were hit three times by IED's and fought off two ambushes, losing one Marine and having three injured. Some on the staff believed the insurgents were targeting Mattis, who shrugged off the warnings. In an LAV he could move around, stopping wherever he wanted, without covering anyone in dust with the backwash from a helicopter. Mattis never mentioned the attacks. "
The Gore of Battle
"At a few places, they had left the dead where they had fallen. When Corporal Villalobos of Batallion 3/4 had shot up cars careening toward his position, one of the drivers lay out in the field where he had been shot, unattended. The body, black with flies had swelled and split apart, the stink of rotting death wafting into the house where Villalobos and his squad lived. They doused the body with gasoline and tried to burn it which only increased the mess. A dog carried off a roasted thigh.
CHAOS - This is a riveting and detailed account of Fallujah, the political brawl down to the horrors of battle.
The author provides a wide scope of the Battles for Fallujah from the perspective of the top brass including CENTCOM, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), the fledgling new post-Saddam Iraqi government, and the individual generals, commanders, and soldiers on the ground. This book covers the period of time soon after the overthrow of Saddam's regime, beginning when three former military Blackwater Contractors were murdered, burned, mutilated and hung from a bridge in Fallujah. Fallujah was also a major hub for extremists, the recruitment center for local and foreign insurgents, and bomb making capital that produced the deadly IED's that led to the deaths of so many of our troops. To make matters worse, the city is filled with hundred's of mosques. Due to established Rules Of Engagement (ROE's) that prohibited the targeting of mosques or even entry by non-Islamic allies, they were ideal locations for terrorists to safely and quietly recruit and deploy death upon our troops.
The author specifically follows the Marines and writes extensively of General James Mattis (Mad Dog), his heroic actions and the manner in which he would insert himself into battle.
Discusses the diplomat challenges in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein. Another major subject were the decisions made by Paul Bremer, administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). He was responsible for disbanding Iraqi police force, members of the former military and professionals who were previously members of the Baath party during Saddam's reign. These decisions made by Bremer we're very unpopular and counterproductive. This led to the rise of the insurgency following Saddam's disposal. Iraq's most skilled and experienced military and civilians and operators were immediately out of work, regardless of what solidarity they may ore may not have had with their former leaders. The chaos that ensued was a major contributing factor behind the violence and unrest that led to the first and following invasions of Fallujah.
How the Press Poorly Portrayed Iraq
"The Western Press covered incidents of misconduct more full than the multiple instances of bravery such as that of Sgt Norwood. The stupid corrupt acts of Abu Ghraib prison cast a shadow over the decency of hundreds of thousands of other soldiers."
Al Jazeera engaged in information warfare and false and misleading propaganda for the benefit of the insurgents. "Al Jazeera's repeated assertion of horrendous civilian casualties, buttressed by selected pictures evoked sympathy and anger in Iraq and worldwide."
"The singular lesson from Fallujah is clear. When you send our soldiers into battle, let them finish the fight. Ordering the Marines to attack, then calling them off, then dithering, then sending them back in constituted a flawed set of strategic decisions. American soldiers are not political bargaining chips."
General James Mattis
"The General (James Mattis) traveled light, with three or four Humvees and a command LAV (light assault vehicle) outfitted with six radios... more than once Mattis was thrown out (during sharp turns). The men enjoyed moving with Mattis. They saw the countryside and they saw action. They were hit three times by IED's and fought off two ambushes, losing one Marine and having three injured. Some on the staff believed the insurgents were targeting Mattis, who shrugged off the warnings. In an LAV he could move around, stopping wherever he wanted, without covering anyone in dust with the backwash from a helicopter. Mattis never mentioned the attacks. "
The Gore of Battle
"At a few places, they had left the dead where they had fallen. When Corporal Villalobos of Batallion 3/4 had shot up cars careening toward his position, one of the drivers lay out in the field where he had been shot, unattended. The body, black with flies had swelled and split apart, the stink of rotting death wafting into the house where Villalobos and his squad lived. They doused the body with gasoline and tried to burn it which only increased the mess. A dog carried off a roasted thigh.
June 29, 2007
Bing West gives a glimpse into Anbar province, Iraq as it was in 2003-2005, during 20 months of attempts to stop, or even slow, the violence in that region. The author served as a Marine in Vietnam and was Assistant Secretary if Defense in the Reagan years. He interviewed numerous soldiers and Marines to put together sometimes street by street accounts.
I was struck by the way that many smart folks tried plans to work the problem only to be held up, pulled back, and then forced forward by political pressure that had nothing to do with the reality on the ground. West is interested in showing individual acts of bravery in the midst of sometimes chaotic events and he does this well. He routinely shows the pointlessness of how many Iraqis died in the fighting, sent forward poorly armed and seldom trained to shoot at soldiers who would have to then return fire, often easily cutting down life. At other times, better trained insurgents would coordinate ambushes with equally devastating effects against coalition forces.
Overall, his point is not so different from the conclusion of Michael Moore in Fahrenheit 911. Though I suspect there is much on which the two would disagree, both West and Moore view with great seriousness any decision to send men and women into harms way on behalf of others. Those sent to kill or die on our behalf ask only that the cause be worth the risk.
I found No True Glory to be a compelling account of the war in Iraq as it played itself out on the ground in Fallujah.
I was struck by the way that many smart folks tried plans to work the problem only to be held up, pulled back, and then forced forward by political pressure that had nothing to do with the reality on the ground. West is interested in showing individual acts of bravery in the midst of sometimes chaotic events and he does this well. He routinely shows the pointlessness of how many Iraqis died in the fighting, sent forward poorly armed and seldom trained to shoot at soldiers who would have to then return fire, often easily cutting down life. At other times, better trained insurgents would coordinate ambushes with equally devastating effects against coalition forces.
Overall, his point is not so different from the conclusion of Michael Moore in Fahrenheit 911. Though I suspect there is much on which the two would disagree, both West and Moore view with great seriousness any decision to send men and women into harms way on behalf of others. Those sent to kill or die on our behalf ask only that the cause be worth the risk.
I found No True Glory to be a compelling account of the war in Iraq as it played itself out on the ground in Fallujah.
February 22, 2016
Bing West explores the strategy and history that lead to Operation Phantom Fury, the Marines push to capture the city of Fallujah. It truly catches the many mistakes the U.S. Military and government made throughout the planning process. The first attempt was stalled by a long one-sided cease fire. To fix the violence the U.S. wanted to send in the Iraqi national guard, but no unit was ready for the fierce fighting in the city. Finally the military made a decision to send in the former Iraqi army, the Fallujah Brigade. This decision was made without consulting civilian leaders. Unfortunately, the Fallujah Brigade held loyalties towards the insurgency creating mor violence within the city walls. All this lead to the final push that destroyed they city and killed and wounded many Americans and Iraqis.
What I liked about this book was that it not only critiqued the government but also the decisions the military made. However, it does make the Marines seem flawless and knights I shining armor. And is unapologetic for the violence the U.S. caused I. The city.
The conclusion of the book wanted us to remember the Marines and soldiers who fought as warriors and not victims of a war. But throughout the book he kept reiterating that the bad decisions made by the hire ups were killing Americans.
What I liked about this book was that it not only critiqued the government but also the decisions the military made. However, it does make the Marines seem flawless and knights I shining armor. And is unapologetic for the violence the U.S. caused I. The city.
The conclusion of the book wanted us to remember the Marines and soldiers who fought as warriors and not victims of a war. But throughout the book he kept reiterating that the bad decisions made by the hire ups were killing Americans.
November 13, 2019
Battlefield courage and political cowardice.
Bing West's book on the First and Second Battles of Fallujah (April-Dec 2004) tells several harrowing tales of Soldiers and Marines in intense house-to-house fighting but also illustrates the problems of leaders, at all levels, being unwilling to make hard choices that might run afoul of their political masters.
It's easy to see why West was chosen to work with Jim Mattis ("Callsign Chaos") on his recent biography as West never utters a negative work about Mattis throughout the entire book. While West rightly criticizes the lack of a single chain of command for decisions in Fallujah and Iraq more broadly, he is supremely reluctant to utter any criticism towards the decisionmakers that might be in a position to force the issue --either among US policymakers or military leaders. That omission runs through the entire work and is its biggest flaw. Any and all criticism is levied at unreliable Iraqi forces, insurgents, and the clerics that support them. While that criticism is certainly justified, any poor strategic decisions by the US are described in an almost passive voice--as if they just sprang forth fully formed. It's a supremely strange book in that regard.
Ultimately, wartime chronicles like this serve a purpose, but as we get further removed from the events themselves, that purpose becomes more and more limited.
Bing West's book on the First and Second Battles of Fallujah (April-Dec 2004) tells several harrowing tales of Soldiers and Marines in intense house-to-house fighting but also illustrates the problems of leaders, at all levels, being unwilling to make hard choices that might run afoul of their political masters.
It's easy to see why West was chosen to work with Jim Mattis ("Callsign Chaos") on his recent biography as West never utters a negative work about Mattis throughout the entire book. While West rightly criticizes the lack of a single chain of command for decisions in Fallujah and Iraq more broadly, he is supremely reluctant to utter any criticism towards the decisionmakers that might be in a position to force the issue --either among US policymakers or military leaders. That omission runs through the entire work and is its biggest flaw. Any and all criticism is levied at unreliable Iraqi forces, insurgents, and the clerics that support them. While that criticism is certainly justified, any poor strategic decisions by the US are described in an almost passive voice--as if they just sprang forth fully formed. It's a supremely strange book in that regard.
Ultimately, wartime chronicles like this serve a purpose, but as we get further removed from the events themselves, that purpose becomes more and more limited.
April 23, 2008
Extremely well told story of the Battle for Fallujah. The first and second battle for Fallujah, which took place in April 04 and November 04 respectively. Bing West puts you into battle with the Marines and tells numerous harrowing tales of frontline bravery and valor. Bing West also tells of the events that occurred behind the scenes and the causes and propellants of the battle and of the political alliances, betrayals and compromises that shaped the battle and caused it to be split up into two phases instead of one decisive blow that would have ended the insurgency in one swift stroke of US military might. Bing West also does a good job of setting the stage for the battle by explaining what led up to and the aftermath of the battle, as well as the peripheral effect the battle had on the overall war, public opinon of the war and Iraq as a whole.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, military or war or a good fast paced action filled read.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, military or war or a good fast paced action filled read.
November 24, 2011
Another book I was inspired to read after FIASCO. This book outlines the consequences of policy screw ups on the average frontline grunt, and how a war changed because warriors were not allowed to fight as they were meant to because of other policy concerns. The takeaway of this book for me is that the heroism of many of the marines has been overshadowed by the american media which chose to focus on the family tragedies of the deaths of the marines, instead of their heroism in the field. As with the vietnam war, once again, the overall war, which should be characterised by the heroism and guts of the average american trooper is lost, because the americans may have won the battles, but they lost the media war. This, I feel, is the greatest tragedy.
October 15, 2009
No True Glory provides a concise account of both battles for the Iraqi city of Fallujah, in April 2004 and December of 2004 respectively. West is an excellent author for this subject matter, providing a description from both the personal and tactical Lance Corporal while relating the operational and strategic context between events on the ground and on the home front.
Unfortunately, aside from the heroic sacrifices and mastery of modern urban combat displayed by our Marine Corps, the lesson that remains unlearned by national leadership is that without a proper strategic objective, tactical gains will be forfeit, and left to recapture at precious cost. Excellent read.
Unfortunately, aside from the heroic sacrifices and mastery of modern urban combat displayed by our Marine Corps, the lesson that remains unlearned by national leadership is that without a proper strategic objective, tactical gains will be forfeit, and left to recapture at precious cost. Excellent read.
October 18, 2014
Research reading for SHARP SHOOTER. Excellent book.
July 3, 2016
5 stars- what more can I say. A powerful book.
December 29, 2018
Pradžioje lėta, nuobodi ir sunki, bet po to ciki piki
December 7, 2018
As I write this review, the United States of America is still shell shocked by the brutal terrorist killings that occurred in San Bernardino, California in November 2015. Sadly, the country doesn’t appear to be united. President Obama and the far left think that stricter gun laws can prevent such atrocities whereas those on the far right, including presidential candidate Donald Trump, are essentially wanting to ban all Muslims from the United States. War is hell.
I only say this because the whole Iraq mess seemed to culminate from the terrorist attacks on 9/11. We went to war believing Saddam Hussein was hoarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. Since most agree that we had faulty intelligence and no weapons were found, what could we do now that we’ve committed ourselves? Well, the good news is that Hussein was toppled from power, and forced to flee (he was eventually found, and systematically executed). The Iraqi people rejoiced, and our 24 hour news coverage showed a jubilant population celebrating in the streets while ransacking his ubiquitous palaces and statues that wallpapered Baghdad.
The problem was, what happens next? Here’s where most people, excluding the political astute, simply were clueless. Many believed that we could “destroy” Iraq and then somehow rebuild the backwards country to resemble the state of Vermont. Those who know better knew better.
This book puts us right in the middle of the nastiest place in Iraq, the ugly grime-filled city of Fallujah. This is the last place where anyone would want to be during a war. A bit like the Siberian Front in World War II. What author Bing West manages to do is tell a very thorough account of the frontlines during this calamity that begin in April 2003. He spends equal time talking about the battles with several of the key players on the ground, as well as many involved in the military and political leadership. The author shows us that there’s a very big disconnect going on here.
Fortunately, this is not a “Pro War” nor an “Anti-War” book. The author manages to focus on war, and any war is extremely unpleasant. While reading, I couldn’t help draw many parallels to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. A big criticism of that war is that it seemed as though the U.S. wanted the South Vietnamese to win the war more than the South Vietnamese did. Such seems to be the case here. Even with Saddam Hussein gone, you can’t expect a nation that has been embroiled in a set way of living to suddenly throw all the shackles off and embrace democracy. Even after Saddam is gone, there are rife political sides, and most still hate America. A sad analogy: If you adopt a five-year-old dog that has been abused and tormented its whole life, that dog will never be “normal”, no matter how much love you shower upon it.
So America really wants to help. Money is spent. Money is given to Fallujah and Iraq. Lots of money. That will inspire them. Right? Nope. So we give more money. More decisions are made, more disagreements between leaders, more frustrated marines on the battlefield. etc. etc. You have to admire the marines for wanting to get the job done. They know they have the manpower to obliterate this hell-hole, and they’re highly motivated after seeing all of the injustice and nastiness firsthand. But we can’t fight wars that way anymore. Not with CNN reporting every move we make. Sadly, casualties in a war always expand beyond the enemy on the frontlines. Buildings get bombed containing innocent civilians, and the 24 news networks are quick to make these the lead stories, which then drives up animosity for any conflict. So President Bush knows he has to be careful. One needs to only remember the Abu Gharib prison story that made headlines during all of the Fallujah crap. Most Americans can probably tell you more about that incident than they can the whole Fallujah episode because, let’s face it, a story about prisoners being unjustly tortured makes sensational headlines.
Hindsight tells us that even though we were finally “successful” in Fallujah, nothing has really changed. Imagine turning on your kitchen lights at 2 a.m. and seeing 100 cockroaches. If you’re lucky, you can kill about 5 of them, but the rest will scurry under the surface, multiply, and be back the next night. And the cockroaches in Fallujah have guns and homemade bombs. Like Vietnam, we may have dropped a lot of bombs and killed far more of the enemy than what we lost, but until you break the psyche of the enemy (as we did with Germany and Japan), you can never really say that you’ve “won” the war. We were never able to accomplish that in Iraq, and Fallujah was where this was at its ugliest.
I only say this because the whole Iraq mess seemed to culminate from the terrorist attacks on 9/11. We went to war believing Saddam Hussein was hoarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. Since most agree that we had faulty intelligence and no weapons were found, what could we do now that we’ve committed ourselves? Well, the good news is that Hussein was toppled from power, and forced to flee (he was eventually found, and systematically executed). The Iraqi people rejoiced, and our 24 hour news coverage showed a jubilant population celebrating in the streets while ransacking his ubiquitous palaces and statues that wallpapered Baghdad.
The problem was, what happens next? Here’s where most people, excluding the political astute, simply were clueless. Many believed that we could “destroy” Iraq and then somehow rebuild the backwards country to resemble the state of Vermont. Those who know better knew better.
This book puts us right in the middle of the nastiest place in Iraq, the ugly grime-filled city of Fallujah. This is the last place where anyone would want to be during a war. A bit like the Siberian Front in World War II. What author Bing West manages to do is tell a very thorough account of the frontlines during this calamity that begin in April 2003. He spends equal time talking about the battles with several of the key players on the ground, as well as many involved in the military and political leadership. The author shows us that there’s a very big disconnect going on here.
Fortunately, this is not a “Pro War” nor an “Anti-War” book. The author manages to focus on war, and any war is extremely unpleasant. While reading, I couldn’t help draw many parallels to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. A big criticism of that war is that it seemed as though the U.S. wanted the South Vietnamese to win the war more than the South Vietnamese did. Such seems to be the case here. Even with Saddam Hussein gone, you can’t expect a nation that has been embroiled in a set way of living to suddenly throw all the shackles off and embrace democracy. Even after Saddam is gone, there are rife political sides, and most still hate America. A sad analogy: If you adopt a five-year-old dog that has been abused and tormented its whole life, that dog will never be “normal”, no matter how much love you shower upon it.
So America really wants to help. Money is spent. Money is given to Fallujah and Iraq. Lots of money. That will inspire them. Right? Nope. So we give more money. More decisions are made, more disagreements between leaders, more frustrated marines on the battlefield. etc. etc. You have to admire the marines for wanting to get the job done. They know they have the manpower to obliterate this hell-hole, and they’re highly motivated after seeing all of the injustice and nastiness firsthand. But we can’t fight wars that way anymore. Not with CNN reporting every move we make. Sadly, casualties in a war always expand beyond the enemy on the frontlines. Buildings get bombed containing innocent civilians, and the 24 news networks are quick to make these the lead stories, which then drives up animosity for any conflict. So President Bush knows he has to be careful. One needs to only remember the Abu Gharib prison story that made headlines during all of the Fallujah crap. Most Americans can probably tell you more about that incident than they can the whole Fallujah episode because, let’s face it, a story about prisoners being unjustly tortured makes sensational headlines.
Hindsight tells us that even though we were finally “successful” in Fallujah, nothing has really changed. Imagine turning on your kitchen lights at 2 a.m. and seeing 100 cockroaches. If you’re lucky, you can kill about 5 of them, but the rest will scurry under the surface, multiply, and be back the next night. And the cockroaches in Fallujah have guns and homemade bombs. Like Vietnam, we may have dropped a lot of bombs and killed far more of the enemy than what we lost, but until you break the psyche of the enemy (as we did with Germany and Japan), you can never really say that you’ve “won” the war. We were never able to accomplish that in Iraq, and Fallujah was where this was at its ugliest.
February 27, 2022
No True Glory: By Bing West
I finished No True Glory earlier this month and highly recommend it. As the subtitle states it’s, A Frontline Account of The Battle for Fallujah. Written in 2005 by Bing West a Marine and Vietnam Vet himself, the book is a very vivid account of the events that took place during that first battle. West is very good at setting the stage describing the events without getting bogged down in technical lingo and conjecture. It’s a fairly short but comprehensive read at 358 pgs. West writes to the informed and uninformed without coming off as condescending as some history authors sometimes do. For those not familiar with major key players in the conflict or certain acronyms and other military lingo, West includes an index with explanations and mini bios. There is also a handy map of the city in the book that helps when trying to figure out everyone’s locations. The first couple chapters are expertly written in such a way that the reader becomes engrossed in the events. Be warned though much of the accounts are extremely gruesome. While I do think it should be recommended reading on the junior high level, it is not a glamorous take on war. Bing West has done this before with The Village. Another book I personally believe should be mandatory for anyone trying to understand modern warfare from a civilian level. Even for me, having spent time in the Marines and Afghanistan (I never served in Iraq), there was much to glean from No True Glory. I joined the Marines in 09’ long after these events and have always wandered about how things spun so rapidly out of control. West explains how events got so out of hand and descended so quickly into chaos. He also explains the breakdown in communication from the Commander In Chief to the generals on the ground. There is also a handy map of the city in the book that helps when trying to figure out everyone’s locations. As a modern warfare author I cannot recommend Bing West enough. A great companion piece to this written not too long ago is Call Sign Chaos, co-written by Bing West and Gen. James Mattis. A review of that book will appear sometime this year.
A+
Addendum: Apparently this story has been purchased by Universal and is to be made into a film, however that was 15 years ago and nothing had been released yet.
I finished No True Glory earlier this month and highly recommend it. As the subtitle states it’s, A Frontline Account of The Battle for Fallujah. Written in 2005 by Bing West a Marine and Vietnam Vet himself, the book is a very vivid account of the events that took place during that first battle. West is very good at setting the stage describing the events without getting bogged down in technical lingo and conjecture. It’s a fairly short but comprehensive read at 358 pgs. West writes to the informed and uninformed without coming off as condescending as some history authors sometimes do. For those not familiar with major key players in the conflict or certain acronyms and other military lingo, West includes an index with explanations and mini bios. There is also a handy map of the city in the book that helps when trying to figure out everyone’s locations. The first couple chapters are expertly written in such a way that the reader becomes engrossed in the events. Be warned though much of the accounts are extremely gruesome. While I do think it should be recommended reading on the junior high level, it is not a glamorous take on war. Bing West has done this before with The Village. Another book I personally believe should be mandatory for anyone trying to understand modern warfare from a civilian level. Even for me, having spent time in the Marines and Afghanistan (I never served in Iraq), there was much to glean from No True Glory. I joined the Marines in 09’ long after these events and have always wandered about how things spun so rapidly out of control. West explains how events got so out of hand and descended so quickly into chaos. He also explains the breakdown in communication from the Commander In Chief to the generals on the ground. There is also a handy map of the city in the book that helps when trying to figure out everyone’s locations. As a modern warfare author I cannot recommend Bing West enough. A great companion piece to this written not too long ago is Call Sign Chaos, co-written by Bing West and Gen. James Mattis. A review of that book will appear sometime this year.
A+
Addendum: Apparently this story has been purchased by Universal and is to be made into a film, however that was 15 years ago and nothing had been released yet.
July 10, 2022
I served in the U.S. Marine Corps at this time and it brings the experience back. Mr. West provides a better understanding of the actions of the warriors. Men that I stood next to or found myself in the same room.
Let me put it in perspective. One morning I walk into a shower trailer at Camp Commando in Kuwait in 2003. Feeling emotional and physically beat by the beginning of a war that will define the country and my life. I began to brush my teeth and shave in a fog. Looking to my left is standing a young Lance Corporal (E-3) to my right Lieutenant General Conway and myself as a Warrant Officer 3. All Marines at that moment accepting that we are in the suck together.
Nevertheless, leaving the combat area I supported the battle from California during 2004. I had a feeling of guilt and shame that I didn’t do more as I recorded and tracked the casualties of the battlefield. Later in life carrying a burden not mine to carry.
Enough. Mr. West has brought understanding to the lives of Marines at that moment in history. The confusion of the decision making of the leadership is explained. Dedication of the Marines to the one to the left and to the right. Tenaciousness of the enemy. Most of all acceptance that War is fought in a violent and terrible vacuum that many will never understand.
I am proud to be called a United States Marine and always will be. Mr. West tells a story that further defines that for the rest of the world. 500 hundred years from now these warriors will be heralded as heroes and legends equal to Ajax, Hannibal, Tokugawa, and others. The villains will be there, also.
In time you are closer to the truth of the story. Read it before the truth is twisted.
Semper Fidelis
Let me put it in perspective. One morning I walk into a shower trailer at Camp Commando in Kuwait in 2003. Feeling emotional and physically beat by the beginning of a war that will define the country and my life. I began to brush my teeth and shave in a fog. Looking to my left is standing a young Lance Corporal (E-3) to my right Lieutenant General Conway and myself as a Warrant Officer 3. All Marines at that moment accepting that we are in the suck together.
Nevertheless, leaving the combat area I supported the battle from California during 2004. I had a feeling of guilt and shame that I didn’t do more as I recorded and tracked the casualties of the battlefield. Later in life carrying a burden not mine to carry.
Enough. Mr. West has brought understanding to the lives of Marines at that moment in history. The confusion of the decision making of the leadership is explained. Dedication of the Marines to the one to the left and to the right. Tenaciousness of the enemy. Most of all acceptance that War is fought in a violent and terrible vacuum that many will never understand.
I am proud to be called a United States Marine and always will be. Mr. West tells a story that further defines that for the rest of the world. 500 hundred years from now these warriors will be heralded as heroes and legends equal to Ajax, Hannibal, Tokugawa, and others. The villains will be there, also.
In time you are closer to the truth of the story. Read it before the truth is twisted.
Semper Fidelis
June 18, 2017
What a complete fuckup! From go to woe one would be forgiven, given the money they made out of Iraq, even if indirectly, that the whole deal was contrived for the financial benefit of Rumsfeld and Cheney. As though invasion without a plan other than the naive belief that they would be welcomed as liberators as they were in Europe in 1945, was not enough the whole situation was muddled further by several different chains of command between whom little love was lost, troops poorly equipped for the tasks they were expected to perform, the most basic stupidity like the sacking of a million armed men and expecting no blowback and absolutely no understanding of the intricacies and duplicities of Iraq and Iraqis. The Marines displayed professionalism and bravery and they paid a heavy price, much of that blood on the heads if American bureaucrats, politicians and higher command. No doubt, the relentless numbers of returning service personnel suffering from ptsd has been fed by the sense of betrayal, counterfeit universe and wasteful futility. Nothing has changed since Vietnam but what can one expect given the standard of political leadership, now, worldwide. We can expect more of the same.
November 27, 2022
Thanks to Thanksgiving travels, I finished this book in only a few days, but I think it would have taken me longer if I had been at home, simply because at times it read more like a textbook than anything else - especially the first few chapters which mostly dealt with the political side of things.
I actually think that this is the type of book that requires multiple passes to fully understand everything that happened within the pages. There were so many moving parts, so many names, that it was hard to keep track of everything, and I frequently found myself re-reading passages to try to understand what was going on.
Aside from those issues, this book gave me a much more detailed understanding of what the military was facing when dealing with the unstable political structure of Iraq. I still don't fully understand it, but this helped a bit. It was repeated several times in the book, by more than one person - we (the Americans) can't fix your country, you (the Iraqis) need to step up, stand up to the terrorists, and do that.
Definitely an eye-opening book.
I actually think that this is the type of book that requires multiple passes to fully understand everything that happened within the pages. There were so many moving parts, so many names, that it was hard to keep track of everything, and I frequently found myself re-reading passages to try to understand what was going on.
Aside from those issues, this book gave me a much more detailed understanding of what the military was facing when dealing with the unstable political structure of Iraq. I still don't fully understand it, but this helped a bit. It was repeated several times in the book, by more than one person - we (the Americans) can't fix your country, you (the Iraqis) need to step up, stand up to the terrorists, and do that.
Definitely an eye-opening book.
November 1, 2017
This is a wonderful story about men who not only persevere against the enemy, but also their own government within whom the politicians are more interested in poll results and re-election than winning on the battlefield.
As a retired Naval Officer, what pissed me off the most about stories like this is that we could have taken Fallujah early in the war if we had allowed the people at the pointy edge of the sword to make decisions. And, while we would have taken casualties, it would have been nothing like the death and destruction needed to liberate the city the second time.
This book is a wonderful read. It gives you insight from the soldier on the battlefield right up the chain of command. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in what our soldiers in uniform went through in Iraq.
As a retired Naval Officer, what pissed me off the most about stories like this is that we could have taken Fallujah early in the war if we had allowed the people at the pointy edge of the sword to make decisions. And, while we would have taken casualties, it would have been nothing like the death and destruction needed to liberate the city the second time.
This book is a wonderful read. It gives you insight from the soldier on the battlefield right up the chain of command. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in what our soldiers in uniform went through in Iraq.
August 28, 2018
Boring, boring, boring, boring. "One bullet away" is overlong, but explains the same issues (namely popping into a country uninvited then defending indefensible positions against the entire population of the country which wants the occupiers out) succintly and with more involvement than "No true glory".
Maybe a good book for those who mistakely thought that the wars in Iraq and the North Africa had any purpose at all and benefits for the locals or the "simple Americans/Europeans". Hint: They don't .
Maybe a good book for those who mistakely thought that the wars in Iraq and the North Africa had any purpose at all and benefits for the locals or the "simple Americans/Europeans". Hint: They don't .
August 18, 2019
While this is a good overview of the Battle for Fallujah, it hastily summarized the November offensive. Bing West is a good author and is highly capable of painting pictures and explaining difficult politics, but this book is different from war memoirs and histories written by men like Malcolm McPherson, Mark Bowden, or Michael Golembesky. It isn’t a battle history. It’s a history of large events and sweeping movements.
Nevertheless, it’s a good book. I enjoyed it and learned a great deal. It would be even better if paired with SSgt David Bellavia’s “House to House.”
Nevertheless, it’s a good book. I enjoyed it and learned a great deal. It would be even better if paired with SSgt David Bellavia’s “House to House.”
March 6, 2024
Really well written, and an interesting but frustrating topic. I thought West found a good mix of tying in the higher up happenings while still delivering on the battlefield conflicts. Regarding the topic, there was a major disconnect between Washington, the Brass, with their political goals versus the military goals being tackled on the ground at the Division and Battalion level. The book published in 2005 almost felt like an incomplete ending but that was the reality of the story. Wests last page with Iliad quote brings home the point about the Marines. Regardless of the ethics of the situation they were in or whether they should have been there or not, they should not be viewed as victims of circumstance, but rather warriors who fought honorably and sacrificed for their country.
Passages: Pg 121 top of page napoleon quote on delayed attack in April 2004, Pg 154 bottom about Jamie and Will, Pg 157 Quote at the top of the bottom paragraph about the sec of defenses, Pg 159 how the fuck quote top of page, Pg 180 end of lalafallujah section on how the division planned for battle, “If avoiding casualties was the strategic objective, it was illogical to go to war,” Pg 227 middle paragraphs about imams, Pg 250 last full section of chapter all of this for nothing, Pg 258 whole page and next on laying battle plans, Pg 276 bottom about mef staff going to front line, Pg 314 homer quote and corporals, Pg 318 whole page, Pg 319 small middle paragraph, Pg 324 full page, Pg 326 suleiman excerpt, his tribe still took revenge seven months after his death, Pg 327 paragraph.
Passages: Pg 121 top of page napoleon quote on delayed attack in April 2004, Pg 154 bottom about Jamie and Will, Pg 157 Quote at the top of the bottom paragraph about the sec of defenses, Pg 159 how the fuck quote top of page, Pg 180 end of lalafallujah section on how the division planned for battle, “If avoiding casualties was the strategic objective, it was illogical to go to war,” Pg 227 middle paragraphs about imams, Pg 250 last full section of chapter all of this for nothing, Pg 258 whole page and next on laying battle plans, Pg 276 bottom about mef staff going to front line, Pg 314 homer quote and corporals, Pg 318 whole page, Pg 319 small middle paragraph, Pg 324 full page, Pg 326 suleiman excerpt, his tribe still took revenge seven months after his death, Pg 327 paragraph.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews