The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa: With E. D. Swinton's

The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa: With E. D. Swinton's "The Defence of Duffer's Drift"

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The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa: With E. D. Swinton's "The Defence of Duffer's Drift" Pub. Date: 3/15/2009 Publisher: University of Chicago Press
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The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa: With E. D. Swinton's "The Defence of Duffer's Drift" Pub. Date: 3/15/2009 Publisher: University of Chicago Press

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Overview

Following the invasion of Iraq in 2003 the U.S. military found itself in a battle with a lethal and adaptive insurgency, where the divisions between enemy and ally were ambiguous at best, and working with the local population was essential for day-to-day survival. From the lessons they learned during multiple tours of duty in Iraq, two American veterans have penned The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa, an instructional parable of counterinsurgency that addresses the myriad of difficulties associated with war in the postmodern era.

In this tactical primer based on the military classic The Defence of Duffer’s Drift, a young officer deployed for the first time in Iraq receives ground-level lessons about urban combat, communications technology, and high-powered weaponry in an environment where policy meets reality. Over the course of six dreams, the inexperienced soldier fights the same battle again and again, learning each time—the hard way—which false assumptions and misconceptions he needs to discard in order to help his men avoid being killed or captured. As the protagonist struggles with his missions and grapples with the consequences of his mistakes, he develops a keen understanding of counterinsurgency fundamentals and the potential pitfalls of working with the native population.

Accompanied here by the original novella that inspired it, The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa offers an invaluable resource for cadets and junior military leaders seeking to master counterinsurgency warfare—as well as general readers seeking a deeper understanding of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just as its predecessor has been a hallmark of military instruction, The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa will draw the road map for counterinsurgency in the postmodern world.

Visit a website for the book here: www.defenseofJAD.com

Editorial Reviews

Army Magazine

“A timely, necessary tactical guide for junior officers today. . . . Majors Michael L. Burgoyne and Albert J. Marckwardt have written, arguably, the most practical book to come out of Iraq yet.”—Army Magazine

More Reviews (1) Fewer Reviews

From The Critics

“The new ‘Defense’ is a respectful and relevant update to ‘Defence’. . . . Their contemporary tale could enlighten anyone who thinks the Boer is a bore. While Swinton seems quaint, the officers are current and quick.”—J. Ford Huffman, Army Times

— J. Ford Huffman

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780226080932
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication date: 3/15/2009
Pages: 178
Sales rank: 477,616
Product dimensions: 5.00 (w) x 7.90 (h) x 0.50 (d)

Meet the Author

Michael L. Burgoyne is a captain in the United States Army who was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2005. Currently, he is a student at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. Albert J. Marckwardt, also a captain in the United States Army, served in Iraq in 2005 and 2007. He now serves as aide de camp to the commanding general at Fort Stewart, GA. Lieutenant Colonel John A. Nagl is currently the President of the Center for a New American Security. He is the author of Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam, also published by the University of Chicago Press.

Foreword by John A. Nagl

The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa

Preface

Acknowledgments

List of Acronyms and Terms

Prologue

The First Dream

The Second Dream

The Third Dream

The Fourth Dream

The Fifth Dream

The Sixth Dream

The Defence of Duffer’s Drift

Background Information

Glossary

Preface

Prologue

First Dream

Second Dream

Third Dream

Fourth Dream

Fifth Dream

Sixth Dream

Appendix: Web Site Information

Bibliography

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5

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Steve29

Posted April 15, 2009

Great read...even for a civilian

I am probably not the authors' ideal reader; however, I have a general interest in the topic and this book was very captivating and informative, especially from an insider's perspective. The historical contexts were great and the modern-day and future implications were compelling. The glossary of terms was helpful and I had a lot "a-ha" moments when coming across familiar acronyms that I had never bothered looking up before. Great reed, highly recommended. Thank you to the authors for their service.
The website has some really good things, too - http://www.defenseofJAD.com

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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njnookman

Posted September 10, 2011

Suitable only for serious tactical students

This book is a primer for use in a classroom on combat. Its message is clear: we learn from experience, and here's how experience evolves. The primer is set up as a mythical tactics situation, in a mythical Iraqi town, and exemplifies how the combat mistakes of an unschooled "shavetail" result in horrific combat losses. Unfortunately, the book's extensive use of acronyms made it infeasible for all but the most experienced combatant of the last 10 years.
Jisr al-Doreaa is based on the format of a rediscovered classic from the Boer War a century earlier: The Defense of Duffer's Drift. The same lesson is taught: the inexperiences of combat lead to disaster, while the wily veteran can achieve success. That book comprises the second part of the current publication.
The two are suitable to (a) teach tactical principles in today's counter-insurgency (COIN) dominated theatres, and (b) teach the need for realistic and thorough training other than "point and shoot" when dealing with a guerilla population. As literature, however -- it has no heart, no deep character, and lacks heart.
Instead, the more casual reader seeking the "smell of gunpowder" should read a combat classic such as Kyle Marlantes' Matterhorn, which examines combat, tactics, AND character growth, in the framework of the Vietnam Jungles.
e-Reader version of this book could only render the maps adequately on the NookColor, which has the pixel density necessary to achieve the sharpness of the maps -- essential to the book's understanding.
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MMP22

Posted September 12, 2009

more from this reviewer

Excellent Novella

With a forward from John Nagl, the US' counterinsurgency expert, and endorsements from the award winning journalist/author, Tom Ricks this book comes with great expectations. The good news is that the book delivers. The best part of this piece of fiction is the deep insight presented into the reality facing America's young military leaders. Well crafted characters, vivid environments and excellent story telling.
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gml

Posted August 1, 2009

The Defense of jisr al-Doreaa

It was a wasste of my money. The authors should have read Graham Greene's The Quiet American. Actually, every American should read it and then they will know that we should not be going to war with pitiful countries. We refer to the last five.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted January 24, 2011

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Posted September 12, 2009

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The Defense of Jisr al-Doreaa: With E. D. Swinton's "The Defence of Duffer's Drift"

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All Available Formats + Editions

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More About This Book

Overview

Related Subjects

Editorial Reviews

Army Magazine

From The Critics

Product Details

Meet the Author

Table of Contents

Rating Distribution

Great read...even for a civilian

Suitable only for serious tactical students

Excellent Novella

The Defense of jisr al-Doreaa