His account of the fighting in and around Fallujah was very informative. He description of the bravery and determination exhibited by the Marines was very memorable. Yet by ignoring the political ramifications of fighting a trumped up war created by the Bush administration and the large number of civilian casualties that have been subtained, he intentionally created a very distorted overall picture of the conflict. Also, his comparison of the fighting in Iraq with the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War was extremely inaccurate. By blindly accepting the offical version of events, Bing did an injustice to his readers. Amazingly, he pretty much ignored the total incompetence of President Bush, Rice, Rumsfeld, and the political leaders who served there. As a Vietnam Combat veteran myself, I was very disappointed that he didn't recognize the harsh fact that one man's terrorist in another man's freedom fighter. Or rather, the glaring fact that we can't militarily win a war of occupation, unless we literally accept the fact that we are corporate occupiers and not political liberators.

Bing West is an author to whom thinking US citizens owe a lot. West was the man who many years ago sat down and wrote "The Village", a particularly prescient and readable work which told the story of US Marine Corps Combine Action teams in Vietnam, whence he had recently returned after a tour of duty. Defense officials have dusted off the Combined Action concept in recent years, although it was never far from the heart of Marine Corps counterinsurgency operating doctrine.

Now, three decades later, the author has returned to the Iraq battlefields to tell the story of his Marines in the latest book, "No True Glory".

West writes from the heart, an old Marine who understands the Corps ethos, leadership - but most of all the grunts who do the hard, dirty work of war fighting in the incredibly difficult environment of Middle Eastern cities. He interviewed dozens of Marines and soldiers, creating a tactical collage of events that is both breathtaking in its candor and remarkable in descriptive power. For a reader who wants a genuine understanding about how the US Marine Corps fought in Fallujah, this is the book.

Bing West is one of those rare Americans who, with his son Major Owen West, have followed the sound of guns to where the Corps is actually fighting. He is to be commended for writing two comprehensive works about Marines in Iraq, each of which fills another chapter in the annals of this proud organization. I have no doubt that his later works will be held in the same high regard as "The Village" was - and is.

Douglass H. Hubbard, Jr.
Author of "Special Agent, Vietnam"

This was the first Iraq book that I read and it inspired me read more. However, I served with a few of the people interviewed to write the book and was told that Bing West is a mean old man! Ha!

Anyone who reads this book who has been trained, educated or experienced in leadership and management for successful results in their fields of endeavor will be able to recognize problems originating not out of military operations and personnel in Iraq but from structural defects in political leadership in the U.S. and failure of U.S. political leaders and high level government officials to fulfill basic leadership and management functions adequately. Leadership and management functions involves a sequential and developing process of planning and organizing for successful results and directing and controlling activities and people to execute the plan.

In some scenarios documented here by Bing West, we see only the consequences of failing to plan or plan defects and poor organization as he describes them because he is seeing only the consequences and has not connected them to their source.

Bing West documents Iraqi uprisings and revolts that spring up all over Iraq from around March and April of 2004. The battle for control of the town of Fallujah takes the center of attention out of many other battles and rebellions because it represents a defeat for the Marines due to international emotional reaction from al Jazeera's production and broadcast of one sided, false and greatly exaggerated propaganda designed to support the cause of rebels and terrorists in Fallujah. This emotional reaction to al Jazeera's propaganda even produced effects upon General John Abizaid and Tony Blair as they urged Bush not to invade Fallujah. Bush responded by postponing the in invasion indefinately as he said that he wanted other options. This was an extraordinary statement by Bush because all options are supposed to be considered at the beginning of a plan. Military force of action is always supposed to be the last option considered because it represents a point of no turning back. Other uprisings and rebellions include battles for the control of Ramadi, Iraq's hiways and roads and uprisings all over the southern part of Iraq and some other areas by Moqtada al Sadr's followers.

The sudden appearance of uprisings all over Iraq within a short period of time reveals 3 defects in top leadership planning:

1. As pointed out by Bing West, uncoordinated overlapping delegation of responsibilities and lines of authority between the Coalition Provisional Authority under direction of the Proconsul, Paul Bremer and the military under the command of General John Abizaid.

2. No contingency plan for the adverse or unexpected events. The Bush administration invested a lot of time and resources in seeking and manufacturing propaganda that justified and legitimized the invasion of Iraq. After the invasion, the propaganda sought and manufactured by the Bush administration attempted to portray a better, safer living environment as a result of the presence of American troops there. Bing West captures a little participation of the military in this production of false propaganda led by the Bush administration without identifying it as such. After the Marines turned Fallujah over to the Rebels, marines and Bush made statements to paint an image of a safer Iraq being in existence. Fox News was also broadcasting this propaganda despite reports from other journalists to the contrary. Bing West tells about wide spread escalating violence in Fallujah and the rest of Iraq. To my surprise, he asks in his book a question which I had asked myself a few times when this stuff was occurring that is, "Where is the president getting his information?" Around this time many people were kidnapped, murdered, sometimes beheaded. Some journalists told of how Iraqi police gave them false directions on how to get somewhere in order to try and trap them in a dead end. The point is that the Bush administration was painting false realities. The Bush administration was very optimistic about what they could accomplish with the invasion of Iraq. Chalabi and other discredited Iraqi exile intelligence sources fed that optimism by feeding the Bush administration with information they wanted to hear. The Bush administration persuaded themselves that what they wanted to hear was the truth. Therefore, they did not plan for adverse contingencies because they were projecting that all would go well.

3. An inadequate number of troops in Iraq to control uprisings and rebellions. Bing West writes about an awkward position when the Marines were committed and prepared to deal with the rebellion in Fallujah when Paul Bremer sent some Marines after an aid of Moqtada al Sadr. Then, rebellions started popping up everywhere. Some coalition forces were overwhelmed and forced to retreat. There were not enough U.S. forces to control the uprisings.

This was the result of an error in judgement on the part of Don Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz in 2002 when congress asked Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki how many troops would be required to maintain control in the post invasion phase of U.S. military intervention in Iraq. General Shinseki replied "several hundred thousand troops would be needed after which Don Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz publicly chastized General Shinseki for his statements because Don Rumsfeld wanted to limit the U.S. force to a far smaller number. In another book by New York Times reporter, James Risen this is identified as the reason that the U.S. troops and coalition forces were not reinforced when they needed to be for nearly two years from 2004 until November 2006 things became worse in Iraq. Bush and Don Rumsfeld responded to criticism by former and retired military and intelligence officers that if Commanders on the ground in Iraq needed more troops, they were ready to send more. But the public chastising of General Eric Shinseki by Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld and his assistant Paul Wolfowitz had taught them not to ask for anything more than what was already given.

Operation Vigilant Resolve is the failed siege on Fallujah. The operation to take the town was ordered by the Bush administration out of emotional reaction to the ambush, murder and desecration of corpses of 4 U.S. mercenary contractors as they attempted to drive through Fallujah.

The Marines surrounded the town and were prepared to take it on April 9th 2004 when Paul Bremer persuaded General John Abizaid to postpone the invasion because of international emotional reaction to video propaganda broadcasted by al Jazeera which falsely claimed extremely high numbers of innocent civilian casualties due to assaults by Marines. Rebels and terrorists would not allow Journalists other than al Jazeera who they invited into Fallujah. Journalists embedded with the Marines contradicted some of claims made by al Jazeera. However, since no other journalist account of what was happening inside of Fallujah was available, the Arabs and Europeans accepted al Jazeera propaganda as truth and reacted with emotional sympathy to it and to the Fallujian rebels. Even Tony Blair urged Bush to stop the assault on Fallujah. The kicker was that it had not really even started. General John Abizaid imposed a unilateral cease fire order on the the Marines as they were within range to begin an assault but were waiting orders to proceed to take the town. This was done without any agreement from the enemy that they would also cease fire. So, the Marines took hits on the town's perimeter as rebels would sneek out to shoot at them under cover of darkness and then retreat quickly back into the town. This went on for nearly a month. Don Rumsfeld urged John Abizaid to get on with taking the town. John Abizaid went over Rumsfeld's head and persuaded Bush that if the Marines took Fallujah by force the Iraqis would revolt. Bush responded by ordering that the assault be postponed. Bush said that he wanted other options instead of taking the town by force. As I have already said, this was an extraordinary statement by Bush because all options are supposed to be considered at the beginning of a plan. Military force of action is always supposed to be the last option considered because it represents a point of no turning back. This is a very emotional triggering event for readers who understand the significance of what it meant for the Marines on the perimeter of Fallujah. The Marines were now under presidential orders that contradicted each other. The first order to take Fallujah by force was posteponed indefinately by Bush and the Marines were under unilateral ceasefire order. But the order was not cancelled and there was no order for them to withdraw from Fallujah. So, they could not withdraw. To make the rest of the story short, defeat was handed to the Marines by Paul Bremer, General John Abizaid and President Bush out of emotional international reaction to the terrorist network al Jazeera's broadcasts of propaganda that could not be checked.

They reacted out of fear of a perceived potential revolt by Iraqis. This is even more extraordinary because the Iraqis had already been revolting but the Bush administration refused to recognize it and was producing propaganda of its own to the contrary that everything was going great in Iraq. They had persuaded themselves by their own propaganda and could not recognize what was already happening. The marines were already engaged and suppressing revolts in Ramadi, along the hiway know as ambush alley and against al Sadr's rebels all over Shiite territories of Iraq. Bush's first order to take the town of Fallujah was given because of initial rebellion activities against American occupation by Sunnis of Fallujah.

I could go on. But I have given you more than enough information to understand what may appear to be overwhelming chaotic activity in Iraq. The chaos did not end with the publishing of this book. The revolts descended into civil war which the Bush administration refused to recognize as civil war until November 2006. In November 2006, Former General and Secretary of State Colin Powell, former president Bill Clinton and even Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld finally acknowledged what the public already knew from following the news, that Iraq had been in a state of civil war that was getting worse. I was amazed to see that George W Bush still was denying the state of civil war occurring in Iraq until the new Secretary of Defense , Gates had a talk with him. It was only after that when Bush finally acknowledged publicly that Iraq was in civil war and things were not good in Iraq.

I hope that everyone with an interest in what has been going on in Iraq and the so called war on terror will read this book. If you have read this book, you might also be interested in reading other books on related subjects which I listed below. James Risen's book, "The State of War" gives those who have read this book by Bing West a political view of the war in Iraq and the war on terror that helps give a more complete picture to readers of Bing West's book. I also recommend "Imperial Hubris" by Anonymous to readers who have difficulty in interpreting events of war and historical significance of it due to lack of experience and study on it.

State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration by James Risen

Uncovered - The Whole Truth About the Iraq War by Robert Greenwald

Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror by Anonymous

Al Qaeda's Great Escape: The Military and the Media on Terror's Trail by Philip Smucker

Sleeping with the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude by Robert Baer

House of Bush, House of Saud: The Secret Relationship Between the World's Two Most Powerful Dynasties by Craig Unger

Illegals: The Imminent Threat Posed by Our Unsecured U.S.-Mexico Border by Jon E. Dougherty

Speaking from my own involvment this book is not accurate at all. The times and places and bravery is real but the story is very jumbled. I was actualy intervewed by Bing West and have to question if he actualy was listning. This book was written for officers by an officer.

Semper Fi

My cousin is a Marine Corp officer that has served in Al Anbar Province. I found myself continually enraged while reading the book. The only thing that matches the bravery of the Marines on the ground should be the shame of the White House. The political juggling in handling the insurgency within the city of Fallujah and the dancing the administration did for the international "community" is a disgrace. Discovering the political maneuvering behind the battle and its cost in Marine lives is what I can't get over. One doesn't call off the Marines, just goes to show how the white house was still trying to win the favor of the international "community" with this on again/off again war strategy almost two years after they took the country. Our leaders placed the Marines in a tough spot. The Marines made short order of those thugs in dirty nightshirts; our leaders empowered them both morally and materially by delaying the fight. Their delay strengthened the enemy and that strength was paid in Marine lives. I'm angry.

It was another great read from the author. He also wrote a book, "The March Up" when the 2nd Marine Division made the initial push to Baghdad. I reccomend that to all aswell.

This book gives access to what happened in Fallujah to bring on the Marines during Operation Phantom Fury in November 2004.
The only set back the book has is that it was rushed to print to soon, and stops right after the major battles have been won. I would have like to read after action dialog, and how Fallujah changed since the battle.
Also, he describes action in which one Marine was awarded the Navy Cross, the nations second highest award for bravery in battle.
A good read for those who are interested in military accounts.

My is son is now in Iraq with his Marine battalion and the account of the story is true to the fact that my son talks about when he calls home. I have alot of people borrow this book taht I don't know where it is right know.

This is an outstanding book that captures the strategic and micro-level of America's greatest battle since Hue. Besides being an excellent writer, Mr. West is true patriot and a great person.

PKO

I gained a lot of respect for the guys that took this town. The book is full of heroic stories of young men going head to head with the enemy muj and decisively beating them. The only problem were the politicians who prevented them from doing it early on. This book is primarily about Marines fighting under horrible conditions and destroying the enemy.

This book knocks down the theory that thousands of civilians were killed in the fighting. The Arab news networks made up figures as a result of their estimation, and televised it as truth. Marines were not willing to shoot children carrying guns. What happened is a bunch of criminals took over a city, killed four American bodyguards and tried to pass themselves off as innocent to the world. When the Marines came a calling, all they could think of is to blame the U.S. military. This book also rightly pictures the rebels for who they were: criminals, corrupt businessmen and imans, and foreign jihadists.

This is a great read. Marines are tough and resourceful soldiers and I gained new respect for their abilities. The book shows their noble purpose.

For anyone who wants to get a real appreciation for what our soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen are facing in Iraq I would definitely recommend this book. Mr. West writes with an immediacy that brings the action to life. It's obvious he experienced at least some of this himself and relied on primary sources thru interviews for most of the rest. It is a testament to the fickle nature of Iraqi politics that Sunnis in the same area he treats in his book as being vehemently opposed to all things American are now trying to engage the central government and the US in attempts to invigorate business there. My major criticism of this book is the author's bias with regard to US policy in Iraq at the time. It's obvious he strongly supports the administration and I feel it's compromises his objectivity. Still as a battle narrative he has crafted a compelling tale.

Exceptional detailed account of the insanity that surrounded the seige(s) of Fallujah.
The author deserves a Pulitzer for the coverage, and hopefully one can appreciate what our soldiers and Marines are going through in Iraq.
The guide the author includes in the beginning is a helpful addition, in light of the number of people involved.

As a retired Marine, I found No True Glory to be the best true war novel I have ever read. It is written in such a way that one can feel the heat of battle minute by minute, street by street. You cringe at the bad political decisions from the top down. It is the only book I have read that details battles and describes who fought in them on a name and rank
basis. It should be required reading for anyone in politics and the military.

Wonderfully written. I rate Bing West with ten stars.

I can't say enough good things about this account of the Marines & the battle for Fallujah. Author Bing West does a magnificent job of putting the reader right there, amid horror and incredible heroism. I cried at times, real tears as I tried to make my way though some passages.

While politicians, pundits, and wannabe "experts" throw ideas and opinions around, this is the real war on the ground, the end product of the Bush administration's policy. For better or for worse. "No True Glory" is a rare window into a world most of America hasn't a clue about, whether they're right or left.

Mr. West's book is not only immpossible to put down, it is exciting,gut wrenching, and at times heart breaking to read. You will run a full circle of emotions. The confusing and complex world that is Iraq is painted by Mr. West on a full canvas and easy to understand and follow. The famous expression "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" is so evident in the overall decisions that are made at the highest of levels. The brightest light shines on the commanders who lead in the field of battle and the Marines who follow that leadership and prove that their generation takes second to none. Their comradeship to each other is inspiring. This book should be mandatory reading in every history class. I salute Mr.West,and the most compelling thing about reading it is; I finished the book tuesday night and can't stop thinking about. A Must read!!!!! Don Pritzlaff- Nanuet NY

Great info and amazing stories. Our military men are true heroes! We should learn from their bravery, conviction and valor. A good read for any of our so-called leaders in Washington DC. Especially those who have not been over to Iraq. You will get a knowledgeable account of the political and military dealings with the young democracy plus get an understanding of the middle ages menatlity of the middle east. Great book.

Having been in that battle with my fellow Marines, this was a very interesting book.

8 of us got hurt on the morning of April 5th and were pulled out and sent to various hospitals across Iraq. This book gave us the opportunity to look back and see what our platoons were doing in our absence, and to get a better understanding of exactly where we were in the city.

Bittersweet book, but good for explaining things to my loved ones.


Jennifer

The book No True Glory is a captivating account of the battle for Fallujah. It covers the murder and mutilation of the 4 Blackwater Security personnel who were ambushed, murdered, mutilated and then hung from the trestle bridge. It also discloses that Abu Musab Al Zarqawi was doing the majority of the beheadings there. Fallujah certainly was, and may still be, the most dangerous place for the military or civilians to be in or travel through. The sacrifices described by the author that our Marines and Soldiers had to make to flush out that "snake pit" are awe-inspiring. This book is as comliplimentary to our military as it is not to the political wranglings, both American and Iraqi, going on behind the scenes. I guarantee that, after reading No True Glory, you will have an incredible amount of respect for our fighting men there.

A gripping account of what a real dog fight our soldiers were in and I was amazed at their devotion to duty and each other. It was probably the best account I've read of what an up close and personal urban battle is like.

Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

This was a very confusing time for us at home trying to read the news. Bing West explains the interaction between the politicians and military commanders. My brother was in Fallujah at this time and enjoyed finding new information.

It's truly amazing what our military men an women go through in Iraq (and elsewhere). Unselfissly risking their lives to help total strangers. Very intense. The book puts you right there in the action. The author comes across as very objective about the war.

My Marine son gave me this book for Christmas 2005 after his deployment to Fallujah. I could not put it down from page one. Bing West is the "real deal" and sets forth the compelling story of the Battle of Fallujah as only a Marine can do. This work is a true and fitting tribute to the brave men who exemplify the best of the Marine Corps core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. "No True Glory" is a must read for any parent with a son in the Corps.

Gary Wilson, Esq.

I am so glad this book was written and wish more people would read it!
It is an incredible account of what really happened in and around Fallujah. And the things that happened are hard to believe but they must be known and understood. We can no longer walk blindly hoping it will all be over before it directly affects us individually. It is affecting us, quietly.
If this book doesn't make you a little more angry, frustrated or sad, you're not paying attention. If it doesn't make you feel a little more proud of our heroes in the armed forces, you just don't understand!

Gritty, solid journalism paints the backdrop of the battle from an international scale with the biased mendacious Arab press, the hand wringing dithering Europeans and the U.S.'s own collection of burrocratic bumblers and idiots all contributing to insuring that the problem of Falluja was dealt with in the least optimal manner.

The author then brings into crisp focus the lives of the military personnel that were on the ground. Those individuals that had to deal with the treacherous local politicians and undependable Iraqi forces and who finally had to clear Falluja house by house of jihadies that thanks to the indecisiveness of the powers that be had six months to dig in, supply and prepare.

I am in awe if the young men that fought this fanatical pestilential scum, sometimes room by room and sometimes to the death.

This tells the story of the American battles in Falluja - all 3 of them. And it gives the full background around them, why the first was stopped, why the second was rushed and then stopped, and why the third one was finally approved.

This is probably the best example of the problem with trying to bring peace and sanity to Iraq. All of the major problems are here in this microcosm.

You see what happens to those Iraqis who try to step forward to make Iraq a better place and why those that want death and anarchy win. You see how politics, both U.S. and Iraqi have a gigantic impact on what can be done and when.

And you see how the Marines have to then take the fight to the insurgents and how horrible and bloddy that is.

What is really interesting about this is the book is written by an ex-Marine and Regean assistant secretary of defense. And he clearly has great respect for the Marines and for what the U.S. is trying to accomplish in Iraq.

But at the same time, he writes in a very even-handed manner and it leaves you with a feeling of hopelessness. Yes with significant Marine casualties the U.S. can take any city. But what is left is a ruin and the cost for accomplishing it is so very high.

It will definitely leave you trying to figure out if the battle (the last one) was worth it. And wondering how out of all this, any success is possible.

This is a gripping account of the battles for Fallujah. What is most striking is the lengths to which the Marines went to insure that only bad guys were killed. To stand outside a house, knowing that there are enemies inside, and knowing that you could simply call up a tank to level the place, yet then going room to room to make sure there are no innocents inside is true bravery. Gen. West does an outstanding job of putting the reader in the battles, and even provides an insight into the strategic decisions.

No True Glory is an absolutely fascinating true-life story about our brave Marines who fought the tough fight in Iraq. A tremendous amount has been said about the WWII generation. The current generation of young men and women fighting for America in Iraq, as depicted in this book, demonstrate the valor, bravery and courage that denote this generation as one of the country's best! All Americans must read this book. Not only is it a great read, but it will make you proud that America's young people are equal to the task at hand! Thank God for the United States Marine Corps, and thank you Bing West for writing the book!

A superb book covering the ground action in Fallujah, including individual and unit level maneuvers, as well as the political orders and counter orders that added to the casualties and impacted morale. West's writing is fair and evenhanded.

And while the book focuses on Fallujah, it also discusses the broader context in Iraq at the time: the prison scandal, the Shiite uprising in the south, the media and foreign government pressures.

I came away with a better understanding of the complexity of the problems facing our military in Iraq and an even greater appreciation of the duty they are performing.

For any one whom has ever been combat, this is must read especially for the polictics that drive American Conflicts. Marine Corps as always took the battle to the enemy and truly unleashed the dogs of war. Also read Bing West's "March To The Front", another good read.

Mr. West, thank you. You clearly and succintly capture the background, and sometimes byzantine & convoluted political and senior-level military machinations, that put Marine grunts into the fight to defeat the insurgents of Fallujah. The background on the formation of the failed experiment, otherwise known as the "Fallujah Brigade" is captured in detail, as is the sometimes incoherent and oftentimes confusing chain of command and decision making authority/relationship between Marine leadership, Multinational Forces Iraq, and L. Paul Bremer's Coalition Provisional Authority. "Unity of Command" seems to have taken a massive leave of absence during many portions of this part of the Iraq campaign.
It goes without saying that Mr. West captures the fighting spirit and espirit de corps of Marines involved in the fight for Fallujah. Their heroics are well documented, and the book highlights the fact that, whatever dubious decisions our generals and elected officals might make, Marines in the trenches and in the streets will ALWAYS respond with valor, tenacity, and unmatched bravery. Buy this book, and learn about an important chapter in the Iraq campaign, as well as a hallowed piece of Marine Corps history.

In the interest of full disclosure, my son is a Marine currently in Iraq. That said, this book is a must read for anyone who has a loved one that served in Iraq.

I learned so much. First, Mr West provides interesting insight into Iraq as a country, the Arabs as a culture and Islam as a faith and a pathology.

next, Mr West lays bare the politics that swirled around Iraq as the insurgency exploded. His factual accounts and unwavering statements dispell any intimations that he's just a shill for the Bush administration. When Bush was wrong, Bing West said so.

I learned a lot about a world few of us understand, the US military. It's all there, the jargon, the history, the bravery and the honor. Thanks to this book I have a much better understanding of my son!

finally, I learned about some very brave, very tough men and women. the marines that took fallujah are extraordinary people. Some of our best and brightest fought and won in that city and it is troubling that their story will go unremarked.

I've listened to this book almost continually for about three weeks now. I learn something new each time I go through it.

Again, if you have a connection to someone who's been to Iraq, this book will provide you with an opportunity to gain new understanding.

I am truly grateful to Mr. West for telling the actual stories of our fallen heroes, not just adding their names to a memorial list. To see the different levels on which this war is fought is incredulous. So many Americans are quick to judge only from what they are presented with through the twisted media, but this book tells the tale of a much deeper front. As a proud active duty Marine Corps spouse, I urge everyone to read this book, an eye-opening experience of the world our troops live in every day, intricately weaved throughout the political and diplomatic pressures of our society.

This is a MUST READ - so to understand both the impact of a clash of cultures, and a modern day clash of arms from the perspective of a trained US soldier.

This book ably demonstrates the ability of the US forces to engage and destroy 'the enemy', but also highlights the sad fact that this conflict in Iraq is a clash of cultures with no solution in sight.

The personal vignettes related to a variety of 'squad' level actions are well written, provide a sense of the 'fog-of-war' and retain an element of pathos to them. Unfortunately with so many soldiers from a variety of units involved, Bing West had to highlight a sequence of actions in a timeline that focus on dealing with Fallujah, so he has had to choose certain stories that relate to units as they were affected by that timeline. Consequently we are not provided with the 'as it unfolds' for a specific unit ala Band of Brothers (Stepehn Ambrose/HBO).

I like the fact that Bing West does not stress his own (or other's politics) as regards the events that unfold; but does highlight the incredible (and sad) dissonances with what is unfolding on the ground and what is being reported by the press; readers naturally will come to a judgement on these and related stories based off their own bias.

My own conclusion is that the 'hoped-for-conclusion' in Iraq is doomed to failure. It appears that the primacy of the individual over that of the tribe is still only a 'Western' construct and that hoping to 'install' democracy in Iraq is a noble but naive intention. If you'll excuse the analogy 'installing democracy there is like trying to teach a pig to sing, this is obviously a waste of time and only irritates the pig'.

The book does highlight the professionalism, efficiency and preparedness of US forces in the extreme action of semi-urban conflict. I would have welcomed more commentary (or crticism) of the tactics employed - but do realize that Bing West is writing an an observer and 'reporter' rather than as an analyst.

I would recommend that this book be read after reading Bing West's 'The March Up'.

Could not put it down once I started to read it. My son was there and I was so glad to read about all aspects of the battle and it brought an even clearer understanding of what he and all the other marines went through in Fallujah. This book will help everyone get a better picture of what "WE" are up against in this terror war and the war in Iraq. All I can say is ... Please read this book !

I must say Bing West's account of the situation in Fallujah is one of the most interesting and well documented reads. First of all this book is well documented concerning the political struggles in Iraq. His account really helped me understand the situation in Iraq better. Some of the characters reminded me of folks in Egypt when I spent time there. West displays the Middle Eastern culture well.

The most amazing story of this book is the heroic efforts of the Marines in Fallujah. West tells the story very well. I am not a militaty man but my brother served as a Marine in Al-Anbar Province and I feel like I can understand better some of the combat frustrations as well as the intense warrior spirit of U.S. Marines.

I really admire West for telling the story so well and paying tribute to these Marines in his comparison with the "Greatest Generation." Thank you to West for also again noting the media often focuses on the tragic losses of soldiers in Iraq but never really tells the heroism and the intensity of the sacrifice.

I simply couldn't put this book down. Mr. West's narrative not only takes you right into the frontlines but also gives insights into the problems and ,sometimes, inane situations faced by the troops in Iraq.

Simply one of the best books on post war Iraq.

Many books will give you the feel of front line combat for our troops. This book does that, but also reveals how the interplay of politics, civilian and military, with miromanaging from the White House, the Pentagon & the Congress, plus the civilian command in Iraq, is hamstringing our troops. A must read.

Robert A. Hall is the author of "The Good Bits" a collection of anecdotes about the Marines, the Massachusetts Senate and Managing Associations.

Mr. West does an incredible job of describing the intense decisions and action faced by the chain of command from the highest levels of military/government to the soldiers in combat. It really makes you thankful for the bravery and courage of these soldiers who are dedicated to carrying out their missions.
More people should read this book because it is as important to US history as other defining events during the last 230 years.
In this day and age of sound bites and video clips that tend to blur history, Mr. West delivers a detailed and riveting account of the battle.

Being in Iraq during the same time period as this book was written about, I can attest, Bing says it how it is! Serving South of Baghdad, my unit had many trips to Fallujah, Kut and Najaf during this BS and it was just a mess. Having a chance to read up on some things I previously knew little detail about really showed me how much the politics affected not just our mission, but those giong in doing all the killing as well. My respect to all of them and those who were lost.

I can't recommend a better book about this engagement, and that goes for any vets out there or even your casual reader looking for a good war story.

Seems like all we hear from the press is "X soldiers died today". But, when you read this book, you'll see that most of these were in tough firefights where the US gave out a lot more pain than they took in.

Worth the read for ones searching for the real story of what is happening in Iraq.

If you are a Marine, a former-Marine, a student of history, military history, current world affairs or just like a good action story, then you need to get yourself in gear and buy this book, today.

Few people can write with any level of authority on the process of war, its nature, its consequence, its impact upon those who participate and its far-reaching political ramifications. "Bing" West, a former-Marine combat officer who saw action in Vietnam and a former Asst. Secty. of Defense is highly qualified in this regard. And this book rings true with the first hand perspective of one who understands war and warriors.

For anyone seeking a clear, well written and honest evaluation of the war in Iraq, and in particular the couragous and fierce fighting that has taken place in Fallujah by the United States Marines, "No True Glory" is THE book for you. And by the way, when you pick up a copy, if you don't have one, get yourself a copy of "The March Up...", as well. This is the real deal, as told by a real warrior and highly skilled writer.

I was in a coffee house in Milwaukee when I first saw the satellite photo of Fallujah (NY Times) with those six white arrows pushing into it, thinking "this is it, finally" and wondering why it took so long to come to this final confrontation after the massacre of the four Blackwater contractors. Bing West does an excellent job detailing the story of Fallujah after the fall of Saddam.

Bremer and co. had some solid reasons for putting off the last great battle: holding together the central Iraqi proto-government was Job One, and top voices in the military wanted Fallujah to be the first instance of Iraqis taking over security affairs. Of course, the Fallujah Brigade turned out to be a tremendous debacle, and the time between the April invasion and the November invasion allowed the insurgents to entrench themselves.

Recently I reviewed Bremer's account of post-Saddam Iraq, and I was probably a little too generous. Bing West has written a much better book, not really indicting anyone but making clear arguments about serious mistakes in the chain of command. Unlike Bremer's book (e.g. the crumbs), there are no dead spots in West's narrative. Ground-level details of combat and negotiation, richly provided here, are mixed in with descriptions of strategic decisions and political pressures.

West makes in clear that al Jazeera served as the media arm of the insurgent effort, and there was no mainstream media coverage of the combat in Fallujah to counteract this. The insurgents were definitely winning the media war, enabling them to survive their multiple defeats on the streets.

Maybe the most important passage in West's book is on pp. 256-257, where he concludes that the insurgents' plan was to use the houses as cover from American armor and infiltrate the Marines from the rear. This worked (to a large degree) for the Chechen rebels in Grozny. Unlike the Russians in Chechnya, the Marines were willing to take on the insurgents inside the houses and inside the rooms of houses, making for a lot of within-room combat and savage urban fighting.

Bing West has performed a service in describing many aspects of the Iraq War which might have otherwise gone unrecorded. The heroism of the infantry is an obvious example. An intense battle at Ramadi during the Fallujah confrontation turned into a decisive rout of the insurgents. The sheikhs survived on American money, pretending to have authority while the imams controlled the city. And finally, the bizzare battlefield scenes of insurgents in ninja costumes, taking the taxis to and from the battle, etc. A valuable book for anyone interested in what could be the definitive battle of the century.

No True Glory takes the reader into the heart of all the major details involved with Fallujah. Each push is accounted for, with the amount of military action impressive. At the end of the book there is a very detailed account of the close in gun fight in the "house from hell" where many casualties are taken from a brutal insurgent stand-off, as they fight to death. I have read many recent Iraq books, and this one definitely gave me the best "street" battle depiction on what the action is really like. Another good book that is a must read, is "Operation Anaconda." Enjoy

No True Glory takes the reader into the heart of all the major details involved with Fallujah. Each push is accounted for, with the amount of military action impressive. At the end of the book there is a very detailed account of the close in gun fight in the "house from hell" where many casualties are taken from a brutal insurgent stand-off, as they fight to death. I have read many recent Iraq books, and this one definitely gave me the best "street" battle depiction on what the action is really like. Another good book that is a must read, is "Operation Anaconda." Enjoy

The Heroism of our soldiers and their dedication to each other stands out in this book.

One example: after a mortar attack a young Pfc brings 2 of his wounded teamates downstair to be medevac'd and is going back to get another when his knees buckles and he sits down telling his 1st seargent "I'm just plain woreout". His 1st Seargent sees that the Pfc was wounded himself and is sitting in a pool of his own blood.

Stories like the above are when this book stands out. When it is telling accounts of smaller battles and the soldiers involved; within the overall Fallujah campaign.


I also could not agree more with Mr. West when he says "There will be no true glory for our soldiers in Iraq until they are recognized not as victims, but as aggressive warriors. Stories of their bravery deserved to be recorded and read by the next generation."

If you are an avid non-fiction war reader like me and you've heard a lot about Fallujah's two main battles in April and November of 2004 on the news, and you've read articles on the net and on Time magazine to try to put it all together on your head, this book is for you.

This book gives you a full account of what really happened there, and it gives you a sense of how much real heroism is missing if we listen only to what the media chooses to report.

As the writer puts it: "There will be not true glory for our soldiers in Iraq until they are recognized not as victims but as aggressive warriors"

The way these young heroes fought and some died on the two battles for Fallujah and other battles fought in Iraq should be told in documentaries, movies, media news and more books like this one, with the same admiration and respect given today to soldiers that fought in modern battles like the Americans that fought in Iwo Jima, Mogadishu, Hue City, the Russians on Leningrad, the allies in Korea and Normandy etc. Unfortunately the media and the anti war movement chooses to label every soldier that dies in Iraq as a victim even if they succomb as heroes in the middle of a battle.

The book doesn't have a dull moment and every fire fight is so detailed that you feel like you are one of those soldiers in the middle of it. This book is up there with other good books about the Iraq war like "Generation Kill" and "Thunder Run".

Like many Americans, I have been deeply skeptical of war in Iraq from the beginning. Nevertheless, this did not keep from being filled with respect and admiration for the brave soldiers whose unhappy duty it was to obey the orders of civilians far removed from the fighting to first invade Fallujah against their field commanders advice, then halt that invasion against their commanders advice again, only to resume when it was vastly more difficult and costly. No True Glory makes a persuasive case that the military has done the best it can to try to make incompetent politicians' idiotic Iraqi adventure work. And it does so by telling a story of astonishing and hair raising heroism that makes me almost as proud of the U.S. military as the many stories of innocents killed at checkpoints or blown up in wedding parties in the alternative media makes me ashamed. My only complaint about the book is that the author seems entirely unconcious of the irony of condemning the U.S. for halting the invasion of Fallujah at the insistence of the Iraqi Governming Council. The idea that Iraqis, even U.S. appointed collaborators, should have the final word on the use of deadly force in their own country, seems utterly foreign to him. If the author's view represents that of the U.S. forces he was apparently embedded with, as it seems to on every other issue concerning Fallujah, then the utter alienation of the Iraqi public from the occupation forces seems entirely understandable.

I really enjoyed reading this book - if enjoyment is the right word. The battle scenes were obviously written by someone who has experienced the real thing. This book confirmed my thinking about what is happening in Iraq. The most noteable revelation for me was the difference between our brave soldiers who always stay in the fight and the terrorists who run away when things get too hot. If you want to be able to understand what we are up against in Iraq read this book. I support the war and think it is the right thing to do but I have my doubts whether Iraq can ever sustain enough armed force to back down the seemingly endless terrorists. I hope so. What a great generation of young men we have in this country that are willing to fight so I can be free and not have to fight!!! I thank them.

heroic account of the battle of fallujah and the intrigue leading up to it. the prelude to the battle was as compelling as the main event itself. what bravery our troops displayed, and what tremendous ability mr. west showed in the way he told their story.

My objective in writing this review is to help subsequent readers with similar backgrounds and intent prevent wasting their money on "turkeys". The following five books are listed in order of my recommendation, best to worst. I'm not military, just an educated, middle-aged civilian interested in whether we should continue or intensify or diminish our current approach to "terrorism". It is our responsibility as VOTING citizens to KNOW the issues before we cast a ballot.

Sometimes the best judge of quality is to compare related things; this gives a less arbitrary scale from which to judge. I'll just copy/paste these brief reviews into all five listed book's review here at Amazon.com. All the books are fresh in my mind as I've just completed reading them all within the last two weeks:

***** 1. No True Glory. Awesome. Gripping. Reads like a suspense novel but is non-fiction and fact based. Makes me confident that "Generation X" can be every bit the warrior as "The Greatest Generation". Like "We Were Soldiers Once ..." and "Blackhawk Down", could easily make a great movie.

***** 2. Ambush Alley. Also very good. Gripping too. Same comments as #1.

**** 3. Not a Good Day to Die. Also very good. Gripping too. Suspenseful, but not just quite as good a read as #1 or #2, therefore four stars. Equal to book "Generation Kill". The book is nearly double the others in size and seems to move a bit slower, particularly early with too much detail on the pre-phases of the operation. Still recommend buy it.

*** 4. Imperial Grunts. I only read to page 167 out of 375. Moves slowly. I might even say "boring". Characters not stayed with long enough to "get to know them" making the book dry. This book is not about tactical combat operations, but instead about the strategic implications of what our forces are doing around the world, investigated by traveling and interviewing at the tactical level our forces. Probably useful from an intellectual historical perspective.

* 5. Among Warriors in Irag. This book is juvenile; the writing seems at that level. At least the above four writers, for the most part, kept themselves out of the storyline, even though many -- though not all -- were embedded real-time. I couldn't finish this book made me want to barf. It felt uncomfortable to read compared to the others above. It felt like reading a professional football/basketball player's autobiography. (Lest you misunderstand, I had a successfull athletic youth.) It seemed like every other sentence in the book began with "I" and described how tough/audacious/"one of the guys"/etc the author thought he was. Who cares? The author is NOT a current combatant, though he writes as if he is (for example, see bottom of page xii and on and on). Avoid it.