First published 2013
The Iraq War enters its most critical phase as President George W. Bush commits to a controversial new strategy. General David Petraeus arrives in Baghdad to implement counterinsurgency tactics developed at Fort Leavenworth, while Ambassador Ryan Crocker navigates the treacherous political landscape with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. In Washington, the Joint Chiefs struggle to grasp the evolving conflict as soldiers on Baghdad's streets race against time to prevent the Iraqi state from collapse. The surge strategy faces fierce opposition in Congress, where Petraeus and Crocker must defend their approach in brutal hearings. As military and political leaders from both nations work to reshape the war effort, they confront the reality that this final gambit may determine Iraq's fate. The story captures the intense pressure faced by decision makers operating at the center of a failing war, where strategic miscalculations carry devastating human costs.
Genres: military-fiction, 21st-century, political-thriller, american-history
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: high-stakes, political-intrigue
Setting: Baghdad, Iraq, Washington, Fort Leavenworth
Period: 2000s
398 pages · Kindle Edition · Yale University Press
Content warnings: war