Author Description

From a universally respected combat journalist, a gripping history based on five years of front-line reporting about how the war was turned around-and the choice now facing America During the fierce battle for Fallujah, Bing West asked an Iraqi colonel why the archterrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had fled in women's clothes. The colonel pointed to a Marine patrol walking by and said, "Americans are the strongest tribe." In Iraq, America made mistake after mistake. Many gave up on the war. Then the war took a sharp U-turn. Two generals-David Petraeus and Raymond Odierno-displayed the leadership America expected. Bringing the reader from the White House to the fighting in the streets, this remarkable narrative explains the turnaround by U.S. forces. In the course of fourteen extended trips over five years, West embedded with more than sixty front-line units, discussing strategy with generals and tactics with corporals. He provides an expert's account of counterinsurgency, disposing of myths. By describing the characters and combat in city after city, West gives the reader an in-depth understanding that will inform the debate about the war. This is the definitive study of how American soldiers actually fought -a gripping and visceral book that changes the way we think about the war, and essential reading for understanding the next critical steps to be taken. Praise for "The Strongest Tribe: ""Balanced, panoramic assessment of the Iraq War by former Marine and Reagan administration veteran West ("No True Glory," 2005, etc.), who heralds American soldiers as its unsung heroes amid the "fog of Washington."..A timely, eye-opening historical analysis that provides clarity around the difficult choices the next president faces." "--Kirkus" (starred review) "In this important new chronicle of the war in Iraq, Bing West reveals how America reached the brink of defeat in 2006 and then managed in 2007 to stage a stunning turnaround. With its vivid, on-