Ramadi Declassified: A Roadmap to Peace in the Most Dangerous City in Iraq

by Anthony E. Deane

"Take Back Ramadi… but don't make it another Fallujah." This was the order Lt. Col. Tony Deane, commander of Task Force Conqueror, received in May of 2006. By then Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, had become the most dangerous city in Iraq, The sound of explosions and gunfire filled the air around the clock. The civilian government had collapsed, and the fledgling Iraqi security forces proved incapable of protecting the population from a brutal Al Qaeda murder and intimidation campaign. The city was in chaos and the rule of law non-existent. Pundits, politicians and military leaders, including the division headquarters were declaring the war lost. The men and women of Task Force Conqueror saw some of the heaviest urban combat in Iraq, against a shadowy enemy who preferred improvised explosive devices and sniper fire to standing toe to toe and fighting. It quickly became clear that street fighting with insurgents was not the path to victory. Something more was needed. What happened next was the turning point in the Iraq War and an epic story of combat, courage, leadership and diplomacy that broke the back of al Qaeda in Iraq and wrote a new chapter in the course of Middle East history. The Battle of Ramadi is widely considered the Gettysburg of the Iraq War, and Ramadi Declassified puts the reader into the middle of the fighting. Colonel Deane tells the powerful story of his troops' sacrifice and innovation in raw, gripping detail as he outlines both the path to success in defeating Al Qaeda, and the causes of the unraveling chaos now choking the life out of present day Iraq.

432 pages, Hardcover

Published May 31, 2016

Reviews

[Andrew Esselbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I arrived in Ramadi in October 2006 as Task Force Conqueror was getting ready to leave, and I believe it may have been the 54th Engineers mentioned in the book that my unit replaced. It has been awhile, and after conducting Route Clearance operations and experiencing more IED blasts than I can remember, my memory isn't what it used to be, so my memory of names, dates, and locations is a little fuzzy.

Although the book brought back some difficult memories, I found the book quite interesting. As is probably the case among many troops, being on the ground watching for bombs, bullets, and RPGs, trying to cope with 120 degree heat, and all the other horrible aspects of a combat deployment, it is easy to be entirely unaware of the broader picture and the strategic, geopolitical, and tactical controversies that occur behind the scenes.

For example, I remember having to fill sandbags along with everyone else before entering the mess hall to eat. I don't remember anyone ever explaining to us why we were filling them, and how they fit into the broader strategy of re-taking the city by establishing combat outposts. We just assumed it was more BS make work that the Army loves so much.

Although I am skeptical of some his views on the war, I very much appreciate this book for filling in some of my knowledge gaps concerning the campaign for Ramadi and providing me some context for my deployment to Ramadi.

[LaMar Stellfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just an absolutely fantastic memoir of the author's command in Ramadi. My unit departed Baghdad at the time his was moving into Anbar and although I read macro accounts later about the "Anbar Awakening", in hindsight many never gave credit where credit was due, to TF Conqueror and 1/172 AR before them. With a lot of shrewd engagement, excellent collaboration, sound planning, violent execution and much sacrifice, TF Conqueror defeated AQI and brought relative security, rule of law, and stability to "the most dangerous city in the world". What is even more amazing is that the unit accomplished this in a mere five months on the ground; truly remarkable. A must read for everyone with an interest in a more correct narrative of the Iraq War (OIF). Still an immense blunder overall, however, there was a lot of tough, hard work done to right the wrongs that brought us to that point. If you have an interest in counterinsurgency/counterterror campaigns, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and contemporary military history or want to gain an insight into the performance of our American forces and the sacrifice we made, you need to give this a read.

[Stuart Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those thinking about wars and peace, especially those who want to look at the Middle East or specifically at Iraq, this book is a must read.

The most obvious takeaway is that the media can’t be trusted, as Col Deane documents in the book.

The second takeaway is that the US easily and quickly wins wars but struggles to win the peace. Thomas PM describes this in great detail in his 20 year old book The Pentagon’s New Map. Col Deane exemplifies how to do this through his own trial and error. The bottom line is you don’t win the peace through killing more terrorists but through providing the local populace with the ability to protect themselves.


The book is an engaging and thrilling read as well.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Ramadi in the Iraq war it is written well almost too well. For anyone who enjoys in depth war this is the book for you

[Book Him Danno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colonel Deane writes a very candid account of his time as commander in Ramadi starting in 2006. This story is very engaging because it is straight forward account. It is not in anyway an action story but it Colonel Deane way of having the lame man understanding of what happen in Ramadi. it shows the slow and steady build up the military used to be able to help the people of Ramadi and him men stay safe.. I love this political world so nothing was new but for those who dive in they might be shocked with what they read.. The author thankful gave the readers enough information in the back ground of the Sunni-Shia conflict to understand.
I have always had respect for the armed forces but this will drive it home.
AC from Netgalley.

[E Vikander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colonel Deane writes a candid account of his service as a battalion commander in Ramadi beginning in 2006. Straight forward and engaging, the account also describes the slow, steady building of trust that was required to make Ramadi safe. Many things that are told in this book will be new to the average reader. It reinforced my profound respect for our forces. The author provides enough background on the Sunni-Shia conflict to understand the context and includes succinct discussion of Iraq/US relations during the Bush/Clinton/Bush administrations. The importance of this eye-witness account cannot be understated.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A close-up look at the men and women, American and Iraqi, who in 2006 brought success (the Awakening) to a desperate civil and military situation in Anbar province.