Can you name this historic moment ?
Posted on 07/18/2004 8:24:30 AM PDT by OESY
Edited on 07/18/2004 9:12:32 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Books:
THE IRAQ WAR BY JOHN KEEGAN KNOPF, 272 PAGES, $24.95
GENERATION KILL: DEVIL DOGS, ICEMAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE NEW FACE OF AMERICAN WAR BY EVAN WRIGHT PUTNAM, 354 PAGES, $24.95
FOURTEEN months on from the fall of Baghdad allows for some per spective on the invasion. John Kee gan's "The Iraq War" and Evan Wright's "Generation Kill" make interesting bookends for seeing the assault in different lights — from the lofty heights of trenchant political-military analysis down to the raw emotion of force recon Marines in battle.
If these books were seeking to explain one's new car, then Keegan's would be the comprehensive Road and Track review — laying out the history, comparative pros and cons, design specs and performance analysis. Evan Wright's record, on the other hand, would be a breathless mechanic's Web blog detailing his experiences fixing (or not fixing) the noisiest, messiest and most critical part of that machine.
Keegan tells us how the car was made, why and how it worked. Wright shows us the good, bad and ugly under the hood.
Keegan, the dean of popular military historians and correspondent for Britain's Daily Telegraph, spends over half of his book usefully laying out the history behind Iraq itself, the American contretemps with Iraq and the political, diplomatic and military maneuvering that led up to the invasion in March 2003.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
bump
I'd post an Amazon link but ever since they merged with a bunch of looney leftists they've been pushing bush-bash-books, although the good stuff is there if you look.
A great book I'm currently reading is "Endgame" written by McInerney and Vallely.
These 2 gentlemen were the only ones who were right about the Iraq war as it unfolded. They reported exclusively for FOX!
I saw the 2 of them giving a book review on C-SPAN, and found out that Vallely son was in Special Ops and was just killed.
I remember Murray as one of my visiting professors at West Point (he's an airpower type of guy....). It is a good book .... and as they say in the book, much of what happened in the western desert remains classified, but I should would like to hear/read what really happened out there ... lots of rumors. I still like "Thunder Run" the best.
General Valelly's son was in the 18X program, a longshot program that takes kids right into the Army and through infantry training to Special Forces assessment & selection, qualification, and on to an A team.
A majority of these brave young men (it's quite a step to even try out) don't make it, but you have to applaud them for trying, and the ones that do complete training are coming through well-trained and terribly fit.
Young Vallely was in this program and doing well. He did not die while physically in training or as a result of training. That doesn't matter; he was still an American soldier serving his country to the best of his ability when he died and he deserves to be remembered with honor.
He was the general's and his wife's only son.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Scales was an SF officer before getting his star, so I suppose he provides some offset to Murray (whom I don't know). I spent some years under his command. He was (and is) a good man. He got picked up out of the National Guard as an O6 when it started dawning on various people (Schoomaker was one) that one of the group commanders was significantly smarter than the others.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
thanks oesy.
Tonk, heads-up.
Bob Scales was an artilleryman, not SF. If you're referring to him as being to Scales as being in the National Guard, you're wrong on that point. He's a USMA graduate, was always in the Regular Army. It's unclear who you refer to in your post, when you say you were under his command.
I'm not acquainted with Murray...is that who you refer to?
I only heard he died "while in training" .. but I never heard the reason for his death. But .. I agree .. he was in military service nonetheless.
It was heartbreaking to watch the General almost lose it. I felt so sad for him .. such a great General.
Somebody wants their daddy .... too bad he's hiding in a hole and can't help. Great picture!
Times have really changed I guess....
Sorry, I couldn't get back sooner. The book, "The Iraq War: A Military History" by Williamson Murray and Robert H. Scales Jr., was not mentioned. But thanks for the tip. Maj. Gen. Scales is one of the better military commentators. I'll have to get the book.
* * *
Meanwhile, I listed below four other related books (also not mentioned but link on Amazon) that look promising -- though I have not read them:
"Operation Iraqi Freedom : What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Why" by Walter J. Boyne
"Boots on the Ground: A Month with the 82nd Airborne in the Battle for Iraq" by Karl Zinsmeister
"Post War Iraq" by Seth Frantzman, current events commentator and military historian
"Understand the 2nd War with Iraq" by Seth Frantzman
* * *
You are right about Amazon. I was wondering what had happened to them.
* * *
Back to the Keegan book -- here's an important excerpt:
"Keegan, the dean of popular military historians and correspondent for Britain's Daily Telegraph, spends over half of his book usefully laying out the history behind Iraq itself, the American contretemps with Iraq and the political, diplomatic and military maneuvering that led up to the invasion in March 2003.
"True to form, he has little time for French posturing, U.N. dithering, European backsliding or Saddam in general.
"But it is in his examination of the military campaign itself that the insight really surfaces. He cuts directly to the heart of the mystery and questions surrounding this operation: "By the beginning of April the evidence of defeat strewed the Iraqi landscape . . . yet not only had Saddam's army disappeared from view. The signs lacked that it had ever been there.
"But the Iraqis did fight, in their fashion, and Keegan credits speed, firepower, command audacity at the highest levels and an American willingness to engage decisively with enemy forces as the ingredients that led to the fall of Baghdad in a few weeks when many observers were predicting a Stalingrad-like slaughterhouse on the banks of the Euphrates. His analysis, while sketchier in detail and less original than his magisterial military histories, is sound and enlightening — from the political to the tactical level."
Eh, I might be crossing up my General Scales's -- I didn't know my guy's first name (apart from "General") although I probably have it on citations or something.
Will have to check. Perhaps I was wrong!
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
The TV and book Scales is Bob Scales, and he was a Major General on active duty. He commanded the War College for a while. He's apparently no relation to John. I definitely don't know him.
I had heard when I was a pup, from an old War Two SGM, that McAulliffe's reply at Bastogne was actually, "Balls!" which at the time was too coarse for public consumption. The German officer had to have it explained: "I know the word, but not in this context, sir." To which McAuliffe said, "Tell your commander, it means F U, sir... did you understand that?"
Makes a great story... might even be true. They stopped those tank units, and that's definitely true.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
I *ass*umed there could only be one General Scales and ran mouth without brain in gear.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Bummer.
Bye - bye Uday and Kusay!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.