The Wrong War by Bing West

America cannot afford to lose the war in Afghanistan, and yet Americans cannot win it. In this definitive account of the conflict, acclaimed war correspondent and bestselling author Bing West provides a practical way out. Drawing on his expertise as both a combat-hardened Marine and a former assistant secretary of defense, West has written a tour de force narrative that shows the consequences when strategic theory meets tactical reality.

Having embedded with dozens of frontline units over the past two years, he takes the reader on a battlefield journey from the mountains in the north to the opium fields in the south. West—dubbed "the grunt's Homer"—shows why the Taliban fear the ferocity of our soldiers. Each chapter, rich with vivid characters and gritty combat, illustrates a key component of dogged campaigns that go on for years.

These never-ending battles show why idealistic theories about counterinsurgency have bogged us down for a decade. The official rhetoric denies reality. Instead of turning the population against the Taliban, our lavish aid has created a culture of entitlement and selfishness. Our senior commanders are risk-averse, while our troops know the enemy respects only the brave.

A fighter who understands strategy, West builds the case for changing course. As long as we do most of the fighting, the Afghans will hold back. Yet the Afghan military will crumble without our combat troops. His conclusion is sure to provoke debate: remove most of the troops from Afghanistan, stop spending billions on the dream of a modern democracy, transition to a tough adviser corps, and insist the Afghans fight their own battles. Amid debate about this maddening war, Bing West's book is a page-turner about brave men and cunning enemies that examines our realistic choices as a nation.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• bing west
• Afghanistan
• war
• the wrong war
• military

[iceveiled]

@AtownAngeLz I'm glad you agree. Political correctness has consumed America so much so that we're worried about offending people when we go to war. War is ugly...bad shit happens and people die, but it's also about SACRIFICE. In world war 2, in the Pacific theater, the marines fought in brutal nightmarish wars that were unfathomable. Then once we reached mainland japan our leaders were like "fuck it", let's just drop an atom bomb and prevent a million more allied casualities. Hearts and minds?

[iceveiled]

Bing West is a genius and he really nails the point here. America's warfighting has become soft. Hearts and Minds? Fuck that. Bullets and bombs. We're so fucking PC we fight our wars PC now. It's time to shit or get of the pot.

[oeyesea]

So the radio traffic between taliban types arguing among themselves about attacking or not attacking ISAF projects because they wanted the hospitals, roads, bridges, mosques means nothing?

[thehotshirtguy2008]

My last tour in Iraq me and my PL were saying the exact same thing. Bing West should be the next SecDef.

[MrJjc5418]

Bing West is a brilliant individual who's life has been devoted to fighting Americas adversaries and how to appropriately deal with them. Our most senior leaders should yield to his wisdom and apply it accordingly to the Afghanistan problem!!! He actually understands this thing!!!

[HIGADODEGANZO]

"Wasted money from our nation", "wrong naive mindset by trying to brive people and win hart and minds"...., leaves you thinking coming from one of the actual authors of the COIN doctrine. a hundred million dollars a year.

[weehawker1]

I am half way through Mr. Bing West's book. He mentions in his book, and in this video clip here, how the "higher ups" are making it impossible for our servicemen to truly win; they believe more in being appeasers  = appeasers to the political and intelligentsia classes. As military "leaders", they don't believe in being the true soldiers/sailors of our nation. Mullen , Gates , et al, are to be blamed for our nations demise. How would our lives be now, if they were in charge of WW II ??

[weehawker1]

I am half way through Mr. Bing West's book. He mentions in his book, and in this video clip here, how the "higher ups" are making it impossible for our servicemen to truly win; they believe more in being appeaser = appeasers to the political and intelligentsia classes. As military "leaders", they don't believe in being true soldiers/saliors of our nation. Mullen , Gates , et al, are to be blamed for our nations demise. How would our lives be now, if they were in charge of WW II ??

[m249a1]

best war writer ever.

[AtownAngeLz]

@iceveiled Exactly. I remember watching Restrepo and Spc. Steiner said that this "hearts and minds" bullshit isn't working. Steiner talked about how the same people they were trying to help in the Korengal Valley by giving them, money, school supplies, food etc. were the same people who get up each morning and shoot an RPG at the soldiers. Like you said, bullets and bombs. Fuck hearts and minds.