The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq

In Bing West's excellent book "The Strongest Tribe", first-hand accounts and in-depth research enriches a sophisticated perspective to the Iraq war, which the media has failed to adequately represent. The book reveals the war -- which has been presented by the media and government alike in vague, impersonal, and sometimes misleading terms -- through the heroic and virtuous battles, deeds, and courageous stands against al-Qaida in Iraq -- both American and Iraqi. It's clear that the war is being won not simply by an effective change in strategy, but by the integrity and courage of the soldiers, brave Iraqi citizens, and Sons of Iraq who have implemented the Surge strategy. Col. MacFarland, Gen. Petraeus, Gen. Odierno, and the little-known Iraqi hero Sheik Sattar are just a few of the leaders to emerge from the sectarian violence and military defeat and put us on the verge to victory -- if only we recognize the failures and successes illustrated in West's book and commit to this achievable and vital mission.

I have read The Village, No True Glory..., and am about to finish The Strongest Tribe. Thank you as each are excellent. I was a Corpsman with 2nd platoon Echo Company 2/1 (Vietnam) later Senior Corpsman then 2/1 BAS Corpsman from 11/66-11/67. I made contact with then Capt. Zembiec and his Senior Corpsman ( Doc Jason Duty) on the run to Baghdad and in Fallujah. I sent them about 10-13 xerox boxes of various gedunk, batteries, and cigars, chewing tobacco, and cigarettes. As a result they invited me to 2/1's Ball in 2004 after they came back to California from their 04 deployment. It was my first ever Marine Ball and to do it with my old unit was special. I maintain contact with Doc Duty who is with an EOD unit in Coronado and I'll see him in early November when I attend Vietnam 2/1's reunion in Oceanside. Doc Jason Duty was on a year tour in Afghanistan when Major Zembiec was killed and he has been devastated that he could not attend services. When I got out of the service in 1968 I became a Physician Assistant and ended up doing 28+ years at the Dallas VA Med Center all on the Mental Health service and the last 18+ years I worked as a Counselor on the PTSD clinic. Since retiring I have volunteered to the recruit commands in the Dallas area with any of their active duty folks who need help. I also still meet weekly at lunch with the CO of Suicide Charlie 1/7 who supplied several men to the CAP in your book the Village. Also with us is a Guadalcanal Corpsman and an Iwo Jima machine gunner med evac'd on day 26. Your books are terrific and tell it the correct way and none of them pull any punches! Very informative! Thank you!
John Weed
echodoc21@gmail.com

Bing West has done an excellent job explaining what has happened in Iraq since 2003. I served in Baghdad in 2006. After reading "The Strongest Tribe", I understand why many of the things we were trying to do would not and could not work. Every veteran of the Iraq War should read this book! It will bring clarity to all that we saw and experienced.

I can offer only the highest praise for The Strongest Tribe. Like No True Glory before it this historical work should sit on the bookshelf of every Marine. Author Bing West vividly details the events from fall, 2006 through the middle of 2007 that led to the collapse of al Qaeda in Anbar Province. His experienced writing style will give the reader a view of the tactical and operational levels of the Marine Corps in action. From IED blasts and firefights to operational planning on a battalion scale, West has deduced his own lessons on counter-insurgency. Most of the concepts are not new. However, The Strongest Tribe will show the reader their implementation. The subsequent success in Anbar is evidence of their worth.

I've read pretty much all of them (and written one myself), but this is the most informative and astute of the bunch. If you only read one book on the Iraq conflict, make it this one.