Moment of Truth in Iraq

[dennisw]

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.

[NoRoadtrippin]

Do you read Yon's blog? If not, I would encourage you and others on PS.com to start checking it out. I would argue that he has probably spent more time with front line soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan than any other journalist. I'm talking actually on the lines here getting shot at, not sitting in the Green Zone for a couple months in a press briefing room. He's a great writer who is getting out a completely different story from Iraq than what the MSM pumps out to us every day.

He's also a QP. If you read his first book, Danger Close, you'll get that whole story.

Check it out: michaelyon-online.com

[Gypsy]

Read this several weeks ago, received a copy before it was released for sale. GREAT book!

[3SoldierDad]

Went to Mchael Yon's site the other day. Saw the book, read some excerpts, went to Amazon, and purchased it. Should arrive tomorrow - Can't wait.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...+Truth&x=0&y=0

Good news for me...My third son, the 20 year-old medic, gets back from Iraq next week. His flight left Kuwait today. He spent ten months living in Ramadi, six months at an Iraqi police station - He was with several soldiers inside a unit of Marines, serving with 70 Iraqi policemen and about 80 prisoners.

The day he left Iraq this news report was published.

Iraq violence falls to four-year low

By Alexandra Zavis, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 26, 2008

BAGHDAD -- The military says crackdowns by the Iraqi government are working, and that the number of attacks has dropped to about 300 a week from 1,600 in June. The U.S. military said Sunday that the number of attacks by militants in the last week dropped to a level not seen in Iraq since March 2004.
About 300 violent incidents were recorded in the seven-day period that ended Friday, down from a weekly high of nearly 1,600 in mid-June last year, according to a chart provided by the military.

The surge worked! When will the media give our men their due?

Michael Yon's writing has allowed me to understand that we always had a chance of winning this war - and now we are winning and the terrorists are on the run. And, why? Because of the quality of our men in arms. Our men are great soldiers and fantastic people. Yon was way ahead of the media.

He is one man speaking the truth in a sea of propaganda.


Three Soldier Dad...Chuck

The book is excellent.

Critical, thought provoking and brutally honest. It really gave me a lot to think on. I recommended it to my entire family.

His blog is also excellent.

j

[Defender968]

Finished it last night on a flight home from a little traveling, read it in one day, just couldn't put it down. I'm going to be sending my copy to my liberal sister and brother in law, and I'm going to send out an email recommending all my non military friends read it. It never ceases to amaze me how we are not hearing about this success back home, and that some news sources and politicians are still proclaiming defeat. I'm also seriously considering sending a copy to BHO, I think he needs to read the truth with his own eyes, and explain to the American public and to me how it is he still thinks the surge failed and why we should turn our backs on the progress we have paid for with American blood and sweat.

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Defender968

Finished it last night on a flight home from a little traveling, read it in one day, just couldn't put it down. I'm going to be sending my copy to my liberal sister and brother in law, and I'm going to send out an email recommending all my non military friends read it. It never ceases to amaze me how we are not hearing about this success back home, and that some news sources and politicians are still proclaiming defeat. I'm also seriously considering sending a copy to BHO, I think he needs to read the truth with his own eyes, and explain to the American public and to me how it is he still thinks the surge failed and why we should turn our backs on the progress we have paid for with American blood and sweat.

Defender968,

Look,you mean well,but don't waste your time sending it to BHO. He wouldn't read it,he has his own concept of what's going on and I seriously don't think he'd take the time to read it......

GB TFS

[Defender968]

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

Defender968,

Look,you mean well,but don't waste your time sending it to BHO. He wouldn't read it,he has his own concept of what's going on and I seriously don't think he'd take the time to read it......

GB TFS

I know, but wouldn't it be amazing if he did, it could be an epiphany for old BHO, maybe he'd wake from his "I am the savior" mindset and realize he doesn't know the square root of F@#$all about what he's talking about on many things, especially Iraq.

I know the odds are long, but hell I buy a couple of Powerball lottery tickets every so often, just to dream about what it would be like, same principle applies here, plus I love shattering idiots warped views on reality

Besides, he spends lots of time on planes, maybe if I word the accompanying letter to fluff his ego while working in that a veteran voter thinks this book would be important for a future president to read, maybe just maybe he'll pick it up and read a few pages when the press aren't around. Who knows stranger things have happened.