Whistle Stopper - Moment of Truth in Iraq: How a New 'Greatest Generation' of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope

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Manufacturer: Richard Vigilante Books

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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 956
EAN: 9780980076325
ISBN: 0980076323
Label: Richard Vigilante Books
Manufacturer: Richard Vigilante Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: 2008-04-01
Publisher: Richard Vigilante Books
Studio: Richard Vigilante Books

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Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: The Real Skinny
Comment: If you want the truth about OIF without BS or ideological bent, read Momment of Truth.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Thank You Michael Yon
Comment: I just finished reading Michael Yon's Moment of Truth in Iraq: How a New 'Greatest Generation' of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. If you are interested in the future and not the past, especially regarding the US policy in Middle East, then this is worth the 4 or so hours it takes to read.

Yon is a former Green Beret turned photo and print journalist. He has probably spent more time in Iraq than any other reporter. And, of this time, Yon spent his time with combat units and not in the relative safety of the "Green Zone" in Baghdad. He was an on the ground eye witness of events.

Yon is not an administration apologist. The book begins with stinging, and on the mark, criticisms of how the war was mishandled. He does not waste time on debating the merits or wisdom of the war, he goes straight to the conduct and execution. Among the first direct hits that Yon triggers is the fatal blunder of the appointment of Paul Bremmer and his decision to literally dissolve the old Iraqi bureaucracy. Yon also goes after the Administration and pundit friends who failed to see and admit to an insurgency (catalyzed by the Bremmer blunder) which turned into a civil war and then failed to admit to the civil war that nearly ended in catastrophe.

Moment of Truth in Iraq proceeds to explain how and why things have changed in the last 18 to 24 months. The factors include the depravity and evil of al Qaeda and its contribution to the Sunni Awakening, the brilliance of a new leader - General David Petraeus, and the great moral power and resourcefulness of the U.S. soldier. Yon repeatedly drives these three fundamental points home with concrete example after example. More than once this writer caught himself holding his breath.

American military leadership, with its tradition and emphasis on integrity, have ultimately played a larger role in the amazing change than firepower. Yon cites how Iraqi infantry seeing American officers in combat "leading from the front" soon insisted upon the same qualities in their officers. There is story after story of how Iraqis have come together because of their trust in the American military. The horrible calumny of Abu Grhaib is in the past - there is the very recent incident of an Iraqi father bringing his sons into US military custody rather than to the local police, he did not know if his sons were guilty of terrorism but he knew the American would treat them with justice. Indeed, one of General Petraeus's first acts on taking command was a letter of instruction demanding from his soldiers-- morality in war. Yon compares this letter with a similar instruction from General George Washington.

Yon does not argue that the war is over or won. He does strongly take the position that defeat was near and that now victory is possible. This is the underlying concern of the book. Victory is possible and by this he means the solidification of a reasonably decent and unified Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors. Victory is possible because of the great learning that the US military underwent and has now proved itself to be "world class" in counterinsurgency warfare. (If you read Learning to Eat Soup With a Knife, you'd see that the US military has been an A++ student.)

For Yon, the key to victory is political and moral courage on the home front. (Courage is not lacking in the US military, although there is the frequently heard remark about the military going to Iraq and America going to the mall.) Now that the right tactics and strategies are being conducted on the ground, it is time to continue them and reinforce them. Exiting prematurely from Iraq in Yon's view would be a disaster several magnitudes worse than the ignominy of surrender and defeat in Vietnam.

On this final point may hinge much of the future for the Middle East and for American influence and American interests. Regardless of one's position on this matter, Yon's book is a document that one should honestly confront. However, it is a report from a soldier turned journalist; there are a few descriptions and expressions that are disturbing. Sometimes truth is disturbing.

Finally, near the end of the book, Yon relates how he recently said to an Iraqi soldier, "You know, some day Americans and Iraqis will be the best of friends." The Iraqi officer responded in disbelief: "We already are good friends."

Customer Rating:

Summary: Turn off the TV
Comment: People need to turn off the TV and read this book before turning it back on.
Michael Yon has written the most objective assessment of our actions in Iraq. His "on the ground" observations skewer people of all political stripes.
Michael writes a narrative that is very descriptive and shows the conflict warts and all.
His analysis of Iraq is spot on.
He has shown that we have the second "greatest generation" now serving in the military.

Customer Rating:

Summary: MOMENT OF TRUTH IN IRAQ
Comment: A DISAPPOINTMENT MOST OF THE BOOK I READ ON THE AUTHORS BLOG I DO HOWEVER SUPPORT THE AUTHORS COURAGE AND EFFORTS

Customer Rating:

Summary: Continued Outstanding Reporting from Iraq
Comment: I have been a supporter and admirer of Michael Yon since he first came on to the public scene via his Blog reporting. This book is an amazing continuation of his valid, current, insughtful and dynamic reporting of the combat scene in Iraq as it is occurring. He does not write from the Green Zone, but from among the units and troops who are engaged. READ THIS BOOK! You need to be aware of what he reports.

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Editorial Reviews:

Never underestimate the American soldier. That's the moral of former Green Beret Michael Yon's brilliant battle-by-battle, block-by-block tale of how America's new `greatest generation' of soldiers is turning defeat and disaster into victory and hope in Iraq.

The American soldier is the reason General David Petraeus's brilliant strategy of moving our soldiers off isolated bases and out among the Iraqi people is working. Working to find and kill terrorists, reclaim neighborhoods, and help lead Iraq to democracy.

Yon is no cheerleader. According to the New York Times, he has logged more time in combat situations in Iraq than any other reporter. When failed American leadership was driving Iraq into chaos and civil war, nobody told the story earlier or better than Michael Yon. The top brass was so mad that twice the U.S. military denied him access to Iraq.

So Yon has supreme credibility when he says that we are finally winning, not primarily with our overwhelming technology, not with shock and awe destruction, but with the even more powerful force of American values--with the courage and leadership, strength and compassion of our soldiers.

Iraqis respect strength, says Yon. They know American soldiers are "great-hearted warriors" who vanquish the Al Qaeda terror gangs that "raped too many women and boys, cut off too many heads, brought drugs into too many neighborhoods."

But Iraqis also discovered that these great warriors are even happier helping rebuild a clinic or a school or a neighborhood. They learned the American soldier is not only the most dangerous man in the world, but the best man too. That's what turned defeat into victory.

Here is the true, untold story of the American soldier and the courage and values that are bringing victory for America--and Iraq.