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BOOK REVIEWS
L-R: Author Michael Baumann, Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty and Forest Lake State Representative, Bob Dettmer
“Great Book!”
By Eric Bunkers
Retired Lt. Col. Baumann tells about his story and experience in Iraq with raw descriptions and emotions. This book was an eye opener for me since my only source of the events in Iraq have been through the media, who are not involved as intimately as Lt. Col. Baumann. Retired Lt. Col. Baumann was there, he tells it like it is.
The solutions to problems in Iraq are in this book. The book is not politically charged, and there is not a disdain for our President that many media outlets carry, it's an open and refreshing way to look at the war in Iraq . Critical suggestions in this book of how the Army operates in Iraq to combat the insurgents are healthy and good if new problems want to be solved.
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"A Book Every Officer Should Read"
by Major Kent Porter, USA
Adjust Fire is a book every field grade and company grade officer should read before going to Iraq. As a field grade officer going to Iraq for the first time, LTC Baumann's insights painted a vivid picture of what one expects to encounter while there. Though the battlefield has changed, it is imperative that officers understand the events leading up to their time "in the sandbox" to make the best decisions they can. LTC Baumann's linear protrayal from his roots to the his retirement, allows the reader to understand his values leading up to his experiences in his non-linear battles in Iraq. Lastly, LTC Baumann's reflections on key points during his tour were thought-provoking, candid, and deserve consideration from elected officials who make policy in our country about the effects of these policies have on the servicemembers of the armed forces.
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“The Heart of the Matter”
By T. Hammer
Curious about the nitty-gritty of the fight in Iraq? Adjust Fire is your book. Read it, and you huddle with a bona fide military leader, a careful war scholar, and a “mind-blowingly” committed, hard-working, innovative human being. LTC (R) Baumann's devotion to defeating Iraqi insurgents and launching elections both inspires and does you in. But his retelling of commanding in Baghdad is a roller coaster you want to ride because you get to be there. Watching him polish his victory plan: to respectfully deal with local society and attempt to change mindsets while simultaneously re-tooling his unit, struggling against military inadequacies, and squaring off with all things sinister is exactly what people need to know about.
I swore Baumann would lose me through the technical segments (I'm a military dimwit), but he systematically tutors you on the contest, the players and the background (weaving in his personal story) and you're engaged and on your way. You're sobered by the fact that winning requires radical change and profound sacrifice, but buoyed by the prospect that democracy can take hold.
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“To understand the challenges of Iraq, you must read this book”
By L. Cardona
This is an extremely insightful book by an author who, while serving in Iraq, recognized the indicators for the insurgency occurring around him. This book also provides a glimpse into the composition of the United States Army and how ill-prepared and configured they were to fight an insurgency.
What I found particularly remarkable about this book was the author's ability to recognize the different phases of the insurgency and a strategy for each while dealing with the day to day security operations and traumatic events of commanding a unit in Iraq.
This book was well written and clearly presented the challenges faced by a Rocket Artillery Battalion Commander charged with establishing a safe and secure environment for the Shia and Sunni Muslims in Baghdad, Iraq. This book describes the different challenges of today's war, as compared to the Gulf War of the 90's, and it does it well. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to understand the complexities of performing combat operations, diplomacy, and counter-insurgency operations simultaneously.
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Adjust Fire: Not Just Transforming to Win in Iraq, but for the Future
By Charles C. Flint
LTC (R) Mike Baumann tells an incredibly compelling story of the challenges of preparing his Field Artillery battalion and ancillary supporting units for true Cavalry/Infantry operations in Iraq. His ideas for the transformation of the Army and its Leadership Development programs is about 10 years ahead of the Department of the Army, and should be considered for implementation by the highest military leaders. He "gets" what it will take to make the progress we desperately need to achieve in order to give the Iraqis even a chance to succeed at governing themselves.
Baumann provides very detailed insight into his units experience with women in direct combat roles, and frankly has changed many of the preconceived notions that I held on this subject. The females under his command did themselves proud in their service, and this is a largely untold success story in the American press.
The pride in his soldiers is evident, and while he undoubtedly had some superb junior Officers and Non Commissioned Officers in his command, they were truly fortunate to have a leader like LTC Baumann who developed and enforced standards that I'm convinced did much to ensure that the vast majority returned safely. He led from the front, and that has always been my idea of how a leader should operate.
Finally, I recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn the behind the scenes details of what preparing for, and fighting the insurgency in Iraq was like.
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