Ben Barry

I think this book should be an essential read for US and UK citizens, as it shows the awful consequences of having the wrong people in national leadership positions. The author is very ambitious in attempting to cover two conflict spanning nearly 20 years in one 500-page volume; however, it is important that he did so and in such a readable fashion.

Brigadier Barry provides his reader with 15 chapters of text, followed by a glossary, a recommended reading list, endnotes, a short ciriculum vitae for himself, and photographs (called plates in this book). The book is arranged chronologically, modified to make the stories of the two different conflict flow logically. Chapter 1 details US and UK national defense policy prior to 9/11--given the author' extensive British Army service this chapter has a decided European/NATO bias. Chapters 2 and 3 detail the events of 9/11, the immediate military responses to it, and the initial phases of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

Chapters 4-10 then shift the book's focus to Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and all subsequent military operations. Chapter 9 is totally dedicated to the British Army's near failure in confronting Shi'ite militias in Basra in 2005-2006. The author is very familiar with the events and problems caused by the actions of the British Army, the Ministry of Defense, and the Prime Minister as Barry led one of the official inquiries examining British setbacks in Iraq.

The book returns to Afghanistan in Chapter 11 and following the unraveling thread of that story until the early 2020 timeframe, long enough to cover the early impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic across both conflict zones and for the reader to see the underpinnings of current events in both countries. This section of the book places the key battles of Warnat and OB Keating in the context of the return of the Taliban threat and the difficulties in defeating an insurgency that is supported by open borders with Pakistan.

This was not an easy book to read. When one's country is shown to have failed at the cost of so much blood and treasure, it is always difficult to follow that story. However, it is so important to do so because the consequences are so dire. This book presents the kind of information that an informed citizenry in a democracy requires in order to apply the lessons learned at the ballot box in the next national election. Brigadier Barry pulls no punches in his analysis of where the train left the tracks for both the US and the UK. He puts his finger on the precise moment when everything started to go wrong-- when President George W. Bush decided in the hours and days after 9/11 to change the regime in Baghdad, he cast the die that doomed both enterprises. Prime Minister Tony Blair's choice to support Bush and the U.S. did the same for the UK.

What was done in Afghanistan after 9/11 was what needed to be done and had the support of many nations around the world. OEF was a impressive achievement that came close to achieving all of its objectives. It was only the difficulties in supporting conventional military operations in such a rugged, landlocked country that created the few difficulties faced. However, the initiation of OIF derailed OEF early on, and the diversion of resources and brain power to unseating Saddam Hussein allowed the Taliban the time and the space needed to recover from the initial phases of OEF. Those consequences we see this very day. The poor decision making in both Washington and London concerning Iraq is why the citizenry needs to be well-informed, so that the folks (and their supporting cast) who made those terrible decisions are not given another chance to do it again.

One is hopeful that the lessons Brigadier Barry highlights in this work will be properly absorbed and applied. After the things I have seen in my own country over the past six years, I can be forgiven if I have my doubts...… (más)