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No True Glory: Fallujah and the Struggle in Iraq: A Frontline Account Audiobook
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(4.01) - 610 listener ratings
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“This is the face of war as only those who have fought it can describe it.”—Senator John McCain Fallujah: Iraq’s most dangerous city unexpectedly emerged as the major battleground of the Iraqi insurgency. For twenty months, one American battalion after another tried to quell the violence, culminating in a bloody, full-scale assault. Victory came at a terrible price: 151 Americans and thousands of Iraqis were left dead. The epic battle for Fallujah reveals the startling connections between policy and combat that are a part of the new reality of war. The Marines had planned to slip into Fallujah “as soft as fog.” But after four American contractors were brutally murdered, President Bush ordered an attack on the city—against the advice of the Marines. The assault sparked a political firestorm, and the Marines were forced to withdraw amid controversy and confusion—only to be ordered a second time to take a city that had become an inferno of hate and the lair of the archterrorist al-Zarqawi. Based on months spent with the battalions in Fallujah and hundreds of interviews at every level—senior policy makers, negotiators, generals, and soldiers and Marines on the front lines—No True Glory is a testament to the bravery of the American soldier and a cautionary tale about the complex—and often costly—interconnected roles of policy, politics, and battle in the twenty-first century.
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"Another book I was inspired to read after FIASCO. This book outlines the consequences of policy screw ups on the average frontline grunt, and how a war changed because warriors were not allowed to fight as they were meant to because of other policy concerns. The takeaway of this book for me is that the heroism of many of the marines has been overshadowed by the american media which chose to focus on the family tragedies of the deaths of the marines, instead of their heroism in the field. As with the vietnam war, once again, the overall war, which should be characterised by the heroism and guts of the average american trooper is lost, because the americans may have won the battles, but they lost the media war. This, I feel, is the greatest tragedy."
— Tin (4 out of 5 stars)
No True Glory: Fallujah and the Struggle in Iraq Listener Reviews
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" A gritty story of what the Marines who cleared Fallujah went through. It shows what courage and tenacity can accomplish in the face of extreme danger. I read this book while in North Carolina and in Kuwait mobilizing for a deployment to Iraq, and the book helped me keep my experiences in perspective. "
— kislam, 2/17/2014 -
" I was there for part of this battle (in 2004). This book details all the battles surrounding what was once the most dangerous city in Iraq. "
— Pat, 1/23/2014 -
" A treat for history/military buffs but thriller lovers will be disappointed. It's a straight-forward and detailed account of a modern close quarters battle. The strategic and political aspects of the battle are only mentioned shortly. But for those that want to learn about chaos and bravery in a modern battle it's a gem. "
— Moominboy, 1/17/2014 -
" This book was a good account of the battle for Fallujah. I enjoyed the fact that it mixed a look into the higher command and political aspects along with a look into the frontline men and events. In my opinion that is the ideal style because it gives you the context and reasons why everything is happening while also giving you an inside look into the "trenches" that humanizes the events. The maps and outline of people involved were useful references to go back to while reading. This was an easy to read account that conveyed the events and their significance well, but it did lack a certain pop in my opinion that would have merited 5 stars. Nonetheless it is a strong 4 star read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the battle. "
— Chrissy, 1/16/2014 -
" Compelling read. Chris my son was in this battle. "
— George, 1/15/2014 -
" I served in Vietnam with Bing. He is a Marine's Marine! "
— Pat, 1/14/2014 -
" I learned a little more than I wanted to by reading this book. My son is written about. Now, I know why he received the medals he has. "
— Marty, 1/3/2014 -
" The account of the Batttle for Falljah through the eyes of the 1st Marine Division. It is a great book but not for the faint of heart. "
— Medic, 12/29/2013 -
" Powerful and passionate narrative of tragic mayhem in Iraq in 2004 "
— Jan, 12/27/2013 -
" An interesting account of the fighting and political choices that surrounded the battle for Fallujah. Not the most compelling book but, interesting. "
— Chris, 12/9/2013 -
" Superb account of the battles for Fallujah. Tough read as marines start to die. Probably would have been better with an account from the Iraqi side, though given the circumstances that was clearly impossible. "
— Dean, 11/28/2013 -
" "...let slip the dogs of war." Bing West has his finger on the pulse of the Corps with this one. Some of my buddies were in the battle for Fallujah in '04 and have given this book their seal of approval. Doesn't get more authentic than that. "
— Christina, 11/5/2013 -
" West's book combines gripping narrative history and insightful analysis to paint a remarkable picture of not only this chaotic battle but also the entire war in Iraq. "
— Rich, 9/9/2013 -
" This book had special resonance for me since my son was directly involved in the first battle for Fallujah. West describes the battles very well, including all the personal heroics and drama of the participants. "
— Esqcheryl, 6/2/2010 -
" Outstanding account of military action in Fallujah, Iraq. Definitely not a rah-rah cheerleader account -- portions are highly critical of the Bush administration and certain military leaders. "
— Chris, 2/4/2010 -
" An interesting insight into the politics of Iraq and America and their consequences for the men on the ground. The author takes us house by house through the fighting. Good book. "
— Jared, 12/1/2009 -
" I remember enjoying this book very much. "
— Parker, 6/8/2009 -
" Outstanding book about Fallujah. Well written. I enjoyed how Mr. West pointed out what a screw up Paul Bremer was. "
— Andre, 9/1/2008 -
" A remarkable account of the battle for Fallujah. "
— Leagle, 8/21/2006 -
" Good story of the battle of Fallujah. Having participated as part of the Shock Trauma Platoon (STP) in Taqaddum, we treated many of the injured from both Fallujah and Ramadi. "
— David, 7/24/2006 -
" Much better writing than most and an excellent combination of the high-level strategic and political maneuvering in the Iraq war down to the grunt on the street. "
— Matt, 6/22/2006
About Bing West
Bing West, a Marine combat infantryman, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a former assistant secretary of defense. His bestselling books have won many awards.
About Robertson Dean
Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.