Conflictsin Literature: Examination of the Iraq War
Retired Army Colonel Frank Sobchak offers a unique perspective on the Iraq War, emphasizing the importance of studying the conflict within the broader context of U.S. Special Forces advisory operations. His book, Training for Victory: U.S. Special Forces Advisory Operations from El Salvador to Afghanistan, serves as a crucial resource for understanding the effectiveness of U.S. efforts in Iraq from an advisory and irregular warfare perspective.
Sobchak's work critically examines Special Forces and military advising missions, focusing on five key case studies: El Salvador, Colombia, the Philippines, Iraq, and Afghanistan. However, a direct list of five recommended books by Sobchak specifically on the Iraq War is not explicitly provided in the available information. To find additional books that align with Sobchak's analytical approach, it would be best to consult his book and explore academic or professional military history texts on Iraq War advisory operations.
The Mahmudiya/Yusufiya war crime has been used as a case study in several professional military education settings, and it is essential for leaders at all levels to understand the events and pathway that led to this tragedy and learn what actions could have prevented it.
One such book that provides a detailed account of the Mahmudiya/Yusufiya war crime is Jim Frederick's Black Hearts. This book offers a tactical-level review of the incident, making it a critical read for understanding bad leadership, savage combat, and criminal brutality.
Another notable book is Plan of Attack, written by American journalist Bob Woodward. This book serves as the best single-volume testament to the mistakes made by the Bush administration during the period leading to the Iraq War.
In the two-volume set, The U.S. Army in the Iraq War, edited by Joel Rayburn, Frank Sobchak, Jeanne Godfroy, Matthew Morton, James Powell, and Matthew Zais, the team had unprecedented access and conducted hundreds of interviews and declassified more than thirty thousand pages of documents. The focus is on the operational level of the conflict, from the end of Operation Desert Storm to the return of U.S. forces to Iraq in 2014 to counter the Islamic State threat.
Michael Gordon, an author known for his in-depth research and understanding of the strategic level of the conflict in Iraq, has written The Endgame: The Inside Story for the Struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama. This book covers the period from the fall of Saddam to the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Emma Sky, a British civilian who worked extensively in nongovernmental organizations focused on conflict resolution, opposed the war, and served as part of the Coalition Provisional Authority and as a political advisor for General Ray Odierno during several tours to Iraq, has written The Unraveling: High Hopes and Missed Opportunities in Iraq. This book provides a firsthand account of the conflict's failures and missteps.
Retired Colonel Frank Sobchak is the chair of irregular warfare studies at West Point and co-edited The U.S. Army in the Iraq War. Retired Colonel Joel Rayburn also co-edited this book with Sobchak.
These books offer a comprehensive understanding of the Iraq War from various perspectives, providing valuable insights for those seeking to learn more about this significant conflict in U.S. history. It is essential to remember that the views expressed in this article do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense.
- Retired Army Colonel Frank Sobchak, the chair of irregular warfare studies at West Point, co-edited a book titled The U.S. Army in the Iraq War with retired Colonel Joel Rayburn.
- Jim Frederick's book Black Hearts offers a critical examination of the Mahmudiya/Yusufiya war crime, focusing on blue leadership, savage combat, and criminal brutality.
- Another essential book on the Iraq War, The Endgame: The Inside Story for the Struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama, is written by Michael Gordon, who is known for his in-depth research and understanding of the strategic level of the conflict in Iraq.
- Emily Sky's book, The Unraveling: High Hopes and Missed Opportunities in Iraq, provides a firsthand account of the conflict's failures and missteps, written by a British civilian who opposed the war and served as part of the Coalition Provisional Authority and as a political advisor for General Ray Odierno during several tours to Iraq.
