dennisw
05-27-2008, 09:23
The plan was to attend the local memorial service and then come home and get ready for the work week. The plan was initially thwarted by a large contingent of motorcycles that turned the trip to the cemetery into a giant traffic jam. Living in Southern California makes one highly sensitive to traffic. I believe I would rather go to the dentist then wait in traffic. Unfortunately it seems that Memorial Day had morphed into Harley event.
After abandoning the initial plan, I ended up at the local bookstore, coffee in hand looking for another book to read. In the “new military book section” I noticed a one by Michael Yon. At first, my omnipresent Costco mentality told me Moment of Truth in Iraq wasn’t a very large book for the money. After perusing it, and against my bargain sided nature, I bought it anyway. It was the best decision I have made in a while.
Moment of Truth in Iraq is an incredible book. It’s special for many reasons. Foremost and without being maudlin, it’s a genuine tribute to our combat troops. Michael Yon exposes the secret weapon of the American combat soldier which is his courage, his ability to move towards the sound of battle despite horrific conditions, to continue the fight in the face of so many obstacles, but mostly his ability to communicate his essence which is the most effective weapon in fight Al Qaeda: the American soldier is basically a courageous, honest, caring and compassionate creature. It’s a testament to the benefits of the proper execution of counterinsurgency. Most importantly, it’s a beacon of hope in a milieu of pessimism. The author provides a first hand prospect of positive changes in the landscape of Iraq. After some incredible missteps, we are winning the war. We are on the verge of winning a war that many thought could not be won, but as he points out, the war can still be lost.
Moment of Truth in Iraq is a revealing condemnation of Al Qaeda. Yon exposes Al Qaeda for what they really are: cult thugs in religious clothing. It’s a revelation of their inherent hypocrisy, documenting their corrupt nature and their ongoing legacy of atrocities committed in Iraq.
Moment of Truth in Iraq is a warning to the next president. Stay the course. If we stay committed, we can win and validate the sacrifices of so many brave American soldiers.
Probably the most insightful aspect of the book is the documentation of the renovation of the attitude of the ordinary Iraqi towards the American soldier. He talks about the Iraqi soldiers who attempt to model themselves after our soldiers. He talks about the winning the war through claiming the moral high ground. In essence, winning through effectively interacting with the Iraqis and exposes them to our secret weapon: American goodness.
It’s probably no secret, but Michael Yon is a huge fan of General Petraeus. More importantly, he is a huge fan of the American soldier. I’ve taken the following quote from the chapter entitled De Oppresso Liber:
Part of counterinsurgency is soldiers letting themselves be Americans in the most romantic sense of the word. The American soldier is the most dangerous man in the world, and the Iraqis had to learn that before they would trust or respect us. But it was when they understood that these great-hearted warriors, who so enjoyed killing the enemy, are even happier helping to build a school or to make a neighborhood safe that we really got their attention.
Powerful stuff.
After abandoning the initial plan, I ended up at the local bookstore, coffee in hand looking for another book to read. In the “new military book section” I noticed a one by Michael Yon. At first, my omnipresent Costco mentality told me Moment of Truth in Iraq wasn’t a very large book for the money. After perusing it, and against my bargain sided nature, I bought it anyway. It was the best decision I have made in a while.
Moment of Truth in Iraq is an incredible book. It’s special for many reasons. Foremost and without being maudlin, it’s a genuine tribute to our combat troops. Michael Yon exposes the secret weapon of the American combat soldier which is his courage, his ability to move towards the sound of battle despite horrific conditions, to continue the fight in the face of so many obstacles, but mostly his ability to communicate his essence which is the most effective weapon in fight Al Qaeda: the American soldier is basically a courageous, honest, caring and compassionate creature. It’s a testament to the benefits of the proper execution of counterinsurgency. Most importantly, it’s a beacon of hope in a milieu of pessimism. The author provides a first hand prospect of positive changes in the landscape of Iraq. After some incredible missteps, we are winning the war. We are on the verge of winning a war that many thought could not be won, but as he points out, the war can still be lost.
Moment of Truth in Iraq is a revealing condemnation of Al Qaeda. Yon exposes Al Qaeda for what they really are: cult thugs in religious clothing. It’s a revelation of their inherent hypocrisy, documenting their corrupt nature and their ongoing legacy of atrocities committed in Iraq.
Moment of Truth in Iraq is a warning to the next president. Stay the course. If we stay committed, we can win and validate the sacrifices of so many brave American soldiers.
Probably the most insightful aspect of the book is the documentation of the renovation of the attitude of the ordinary Iraqi towards the American soldier. He talks about the Iraqi soldiers who attempt to model themselves after our soldiers. He talks about the winning the war through claiming the moral high ground. In essence, winning through effectively interacting with the Iraqis and exposes them to our secret weapon: American goodness.
It’s probably no secret, but Michael Yon is a huge fan of General Petraeus. More importantly, he is a huge fan of the American soldier. I’ve taken the following quote from the chapter entitled De Oppresso Liber:
Part of counterinsurgency is soldiers letting themselves be Americans in the most romantic sense of the word. The American soldier is the most dangerous man in the world, and the Iraqis had to learn that before they would trust or respect us. But it was when they understood that these great-hearted warriors, who so enjoyed killing the enemy, are even happier helping to build a school or to make a neighborhood safe that we really got their attention.
Powerful stuff.