The Surge: A Military History
Encyclopedia
The Surge: A Military History is a military history
by Kimberly Kagan
about the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
. The book describes events in Iraq starting from late 2006, before the surge, to early 2008, focusing on the details of military operations on a week by week basis. It was described as "indispensable guide" to the understanding of American military successes in Iraq by Senator John McCain
.
The book focuses on "operational art" rather than grand strategy
or the personal emotional experiences of combat. The book devotes separate chapters to operations in different areas, proceeding in an approximately chronological fashion, giving attention to operations conducted at the brigade
and battalion
level, as well as decisions undertaken at higher levels such as those by General Odierno
in Operation Phantom Thunder
.
Although the book was marred by stylistic and grammatical errors, it was considered by reviewers to be "essential reading" and a "valuable resource" for military professionals, although one reviewer warned that it was not for the casual reader. It was criticized for not giving attention to the role of new technologies in tracking operations as they unfolded.
Military history
Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships....
by Kimberly Kagan
Kimberly Kagan
Kimberly Ellen Kagan is a Jewish-American military historian. She heads the Institute for the Study of War and has taught at West Point, Yale, Georgetown University, and American University. Kagan has published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Weekly Standard and elsewhere...
about the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
. The book describes events in Iraq starting from late 2006, before the surge, to early 2008, focusing on the details of military operations on a week by week basis. It was described as "indispensable guide" to the understanding of American military successes in Iraq by Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
The book focuses on "operational art" rather than grand strategy
Grand strategy
Grand strategy comprises the "purposeful employment of all instruments of power available to a security community". Military historian B. H. Liddell Hart says about grand strategy:...
or the personal emotional experiences of combat. The book devotes separate chapters to operations in different areas, proceeding in an approximately chronological fashion, giving attention to operations conducted at the brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
and battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
level, as well as decisions undertaken at higher levels such as those by General Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno is a United States Army general and the 38th and current Chief of Staff of the Army. Odierno most recently commanded United States Joint Forces Command from October 2010 until its disestablishment in August 2011. He served as Commanding General, United States Forces – Iraq and...
in Operation Phantom Thunder
Operation Phantom Thunder
Operation Phantom Thunder began on June 16, 2007, when Multi-National Force-Iraq launched major offensive operations against al-Qaeda and other extremist terrorists operating throughout Iraq...
.
Although the book was marred by stylistic and grammatical errors, it was considered by reviewers to be "essential reading" and a "valuable resource" for military professionals, although one reviewer warned that it was not for the casual reader. It was criticized for not giving attention to the role of new technologies in tracking operations as they unfolded.