Book Description
With unprecedented access and previously unreported detail, here is a first hand account of the 22-day march to Baghdad that takes you behind the scenes and to the front line...
No one reporting on the war in Iraq had the unique battlefield clearance afforded the authors of this dramatic eyewitness account. Unlike embedded journalists confined to a single unit, West and Smith acquired a captured yellow SUV and joined with whatever unit was leading the assault every day of the fight. The result is a report of what really happened from the heart of the action unlike anything you’ll read anywhere else.
“While we will move swiftly and aggressively against those who resist, we will treat all others with decency, demonstrating chivalry and soldierly compassion for people who have endured a lifetime under Saddam’s oppression.”—Major General J.N. Mattis, 1st Marine Division, Commanding
Here is the story that can be told only by those who actually witnessed the action of the famed 1st Marine Division’s march on Baghdad, from the shaky beginning of U.S. operations in southern Iraq to the capture of U.S. prisoners, the misreported “fierce Iraqi resistance,” and the aggressive assaults that led to a quick and decisive victory.
With over a half century of military and combat experience between them, bestselling author F. J. “Bing” West and Major General Ray L. Smith, USMC (Ret.), combine expert military analysis with dramatic battlefield reporting. They bring the reader on a march that ended in victory—but was shadowed by second-guessing, unexpected reversals, and the threat of catastrophe.
With access to three-star generals in the command centers and to privates in the field, the authors reveal how the strategic plan played out in battle, showing what went well and what failed, and detailing power struggles for military and political control never reported. The result is destined to become the definitive account of ground warfare in Iraq.
Customer Reviews:
Bearably Lopsided.......2007-01-25
Certainly interesting, if a bit hard to follow at times between the military jargon, trying to visualize the streets and the compass directions, and trying to visualize just how many soldiers and vehicles make up "RCT-1" or "battalion 3/1." Still, most descriptions paint a vivid scene, and you can't deny that the story moves right along as inexorably as the Marines. This book has a bit of a pro-American bent; easy enough to adjust for as you're reading, but at times it seems like an action movie (was the battle really that lopsided? was the Iraqis' aim really that poor?). I spent a good deal of the book trying to figure out why West & Smith were there -- they seemed a bit of a cross between embedded press, not-quite-civilians, military consultants, and two ex-marines who just had to see what the fuss was about in Baghdad. It was odd -- they seemed to have free rein to drive where they wanted (unlike embedded journalists), yet didn't appear to be exactly active military either. It was hard to tell whether they, themselves, were armed or not. Ultimately, that distracted me from the real story. So read it. It's lopsided, but bearably so, and it's engaging.
A little "truth".......2006-08-03
I served with Suicide Charley, 1/7, and knew many of the people in this book. I just want to say that "Answitz", as he's referred to in this book, was full of B/S. He was never in Spetz Natz. We think his Russian accent was a lie too. He was a compulsive liar, and we realized this has he gradually topped each lie he told with an even more out rageous lie. But this is no discredit to the writers of the book. We believed him at first too.
........2006-07-01
I have been spending the past few years intently ignoring news stories covering the events in the Middle East, not that I was not interested, but because I grew tired of body counts non-stop stories of suicide bombers and monday morning quarterbacks criticizing every action of our troops. Not saying that I believe our troops are infallible, but wishing that there was some good reported too. This book makes up for weeks of missed news stories, shows the good and the bad from the stand point of two people who understand how the military works from prior first hand experience. The result was an eye-opening book, that while a bit of a technical read, held my attention through the whole book.
Well, I'm just not sure .......2006-06-02
My brother served with the 1st Marine Div, so I couldn't wait to read their story. But I was surprised at how uncritical this still fascinating book actually was. It reads like propaganda, like a USMC recruiting magazine. ... USMC great and perfect, Iraqis bad and useless! ... Welllll?????
The March Up.......2006-05-16
I've studied military history now for nearly 40 years. Hundreds of books and publications. Among the very, very good books I've read in the last several years are Bing West's The March Up and No True Glory. I happen to strongly oppose the war in Iraq - unlike what we are doing in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq was unnecessary, unjust and unprovoked. The US is too good a nation to act this way. We've wasted blood and treasure in Iraq that should have been spent elsewhere. All of which does not detract at all in my mind from what our soldiers and marines have done there - all out of patriotism and a sense of duty. Right or wrong, our military in Iraq has performed very well in an extrememly difficult situation. And West's books illustrate this wonderfully. This book should be a "must read" for all those who think that the current generation lacks "the right stuff." West describes modern marines - aware of the world in ways my generation never was - fighting brilliantly. Well trained, well led and, yes, even well equipped, what the First Marine Division has acompilshed in Iraq is every bit as proud as what it did at other battles from the South Pacific to Korea and Vietnam. Wrong war, wrong enemy (my opinion, not necessarily West's), but as excellent a set of soldiers as this country has ever produced. Excellent reads.
Book Description
With unprecedented access and previously unreported detail, here is a first hand account of the 22-day march to Baghdad that takes you behind the scenes and to the front line...
No one reporting on the war in Iraq had the unique battlefield clearance afforded the authors of this dramatic eyewitness account. Unlike embedded journalists confined to a single unit, West and Smith acquired a captured yellow SUV and joined with whatever unit was leading the assault every day of the fight. The result is a report of what really happened from the heart of the action unlike anything you’ll read anywhere else.
“While we will move swiftly and aggressively against those who resist, we will treat all others with decency, demonstrating chivalry and soldierly compassion for people who have endured a lifetime under Saddam’s oppression.”—Major General J.N. Mattis, 1st Marine Division, Commanding
Here is the story that can be told only by those who actually witnessed the action of the famed 1st Marine Division’s march on Baghdad, from the shaky beginning of U.S. operations in southern Iraq to the capture of U.S. prisoners, the misreported “fierce Iraqi resistance,” and the aggressive assaults that led to a quick and decisive victory.
With over a half century of military and combat experience between them, bestselling author F. J. “Bing” West and Major General Ray L. Smith, USMC (Ret.), combine expert military analysis with dramatic battlefield reporting. They bring the reader on a march that ended in victory—but was shadowed by second-guessing, unexpected reversals, and the threat of catastrophe.
With access to three-star generals in the command centers and to privates in the field, the authors reveal how the strategic plan played out in battle, showing what went well and what failed, and detailing power struggles for military and political control never reported. The result is destined to become the definitive account of ground warfare in Iraq.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
The Marines go to Baghdad.......2007-03-22
We in Australia don't hear very much about the US Marines in action in Iraq or Afghanistan. But this book (and Bing West's other book No True Glory) changes all of that. We are taken onto the front line and given a first hand account of the action. A fast-moving, authoritative and sometimes humorous story.
Factual accounting.......2007-01-04
It's good to read something by those involved, instead of those with a political agenda.
One of the best of the "You are there" Iraq books.......2006-10-20
This is another account of the Iraq war from the ground, written from the perspective of the front-line troops. F.J. "Bing" West and Ray Smith are both former Marines who served in Viet Nam. West went into the civilian side of government and was an Assistant Secretary of Defense; Smith wound up commanding the 2nd Marine Division after commanding troops in combat in Grenada and Beirut. West has, in his spare time, made something of a career as a writer: the book's told in the first person, and it's his voice speaking. As a result of their careers, have pretty much unparalleled access to the inner workings of the Marines as they moved North from Kuwait to Baghdad, and while they don't reveal anything they shouldn't, they do show you how the war was fought and how the campaign, anyway, was won.
I enjoyed this book a great deal. The authors apparently have some personal opinions about the war, what was to be done about suicide bombings and that sort of thing; they manage to keep such opinions out of the book. The result is an account of the campaign that ranks with Rick Atkinson's book "In the Company of Soldiers" which follows the army's 101st Airborne,, and does essentially the same thing. This is a very good book, and I expect it'll be required reading for anyone who wants to understand the war.
Good read about the Marines march to Baghdad.......2005-10-14
The is was a very good and informative book about the 1st Marine Division during the Iraq War. The authors, Bing West and Major General Ray L. Smith, traveled with the division during their campaign that began at the Kuwaiti border and ended with them in the heart of Baghdad itself.
The book starts out with the battle to take the Az Zubayr pumping station (dubbed the "Crown Jewel") near the Kuwait border to prevent a repeat of what Saddam did in Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War. After that it details the advance of the three RCTs and the critical battles they faced at places like An Nasiriyah. Finally, after crossing the Tigris and linking up just North of Al Kut, RCTs 1,5, and 7 struck towards Baghdad. And as you all know Baghdad fell on April 9th with Saddam's statue being torn down and the rest is history.
Now for the criticisms of the book. While this was very informative and had some good details of the action, there were parts of the book that were quite boring. I think this comes from the fact that the authors include themselves too much in the book and mostly only detail the fighting they actually saw. But overall it was worth the read and I would recommend it to anybody who wants to know more about the Iraq War.
straightforward but a bit boring.......2005-08-12
Good writing but a bit stale...reads too much like a travelogue bu it's accurate. should have spent more time with 1st recon battalion as it's cut out of the book. Good, first-person reporting but wish they had excised themselves.
Book Description
This third edition covers all the species of reptiles and amphibians found in western North America. More than 650 full-color paintings and photographs show key details for making accurate identifications. Up-to-date color range maps give species' distributions. Important information on conservation efforts and survival status rounds out the detailed species descriptions.
Customer Reviews:
I would like to see it to be able to review it........2007-07-13
I have never received these books. They were due on June 1-5, 07. It is now July 13th. I placed the order the first week in May. This is slo even for Mexico mail. However, I know the Peterson series and they are usually excellent.
I love this.......2006-11-25
I love this book because I have the National Audubon Society First Field Guide for reptiles and I would often run in to reptile that the I couldn't Identify. I knew that I needed a bigger better book. So I bought the western and eastern Peterson Field guide for reptiles and amphibians and it had a lot more reptiles and it had amphibians which I never had a book that had information about them before, it has a lot more reptiles and it's shows you were they are each located. It give you a detailed description of each animal and a detailed drawing of each animal. Because of this I have been able to identify reptiles and amphibian that I couldn't before. I don't like that they use drawing of the animals instead of pictures and the drawings just show the heads of the snakes.
must have.......2006-03-19
great detail & pictures are in color this edition! Maps are in color also! This is helpful when out in the field looking for your "herps". Thanks to Robert Stebbins & all involved in compling all the data needed for the updated guide
A very complete and well illustrated guide.......2005-08-03
This field guide is very well organized and illustrated. It is quite complete. With over 300 pages of information this is a must for westerners.
Great update to a great field guide.......2003-03-27
Stebbins does it again. As a biologist who works throughout southern California I find this book indispensable. It is a vast improvement to the last edition (which was very good to begin with) with lots of color photos, many more color plates and the range maps are great too, again with color. It has revised the taxonomy of many species and included a many of the lastest subspecies designations. This book is easy to use from the novice to the advanced and should be in any nature enthusiasts library.
Book Description
All the young men had gathered in the village courtyard to hear the Chiefs pronouncement: Whoever guesses his daughters name will have her hand in marriage, inherit half his riches, and become the next Chief. No one outside the palace had ever heard the royal daughters name.In a stroke of luck Ananse the spider discovers the secret.I, Ananse the most wise . . . the most clever . . . I alone know the name of the Chiefs daughter! . . .But clever Lizard has plans of his own. Pat Cummings lively retelling and vibrant illustrations capture all the mischief and humor of Ananse, one of the most popular characters of West African lore.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Text.......2003-01-14
Great book! Lots of good pictures, and much descriptive text....z
Customer Reviews:
Great book to reinforce science concepts!.......2007-08-08
Reading this book to my class will make the difference between birds' and mammals' hot-bloodedness and reptiles', amphibians', and fish's cold-bloodedness much easier for my third graders to understand. It also is on the school's Accelerated Reader list, so they can then reread the book on their own and can take a test on it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about animals and their characteristics.
Average customer rating:
- A first-rate reference and field guide
- Not as strong as its eastern/central counterpart
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Snakes of North America: Western Region (Field Guide Series)
R.D. Bartlett
Manufacturer: Gulf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Wildlife
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Reptiles
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
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General
| Reference
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| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0877193126 |
Book Description
A comprehensive guide to snakes in the western region of North America.
Customer Reviews:
A first-rate reference and field guide.......2003-03-04
The collaborative effort of veteran herpetologist and herpetoculturist R. D. Bartlett and writer, wildlife lecturer, wilderness guide, and herpetologist Alan Tennant, Snakes Of North America: Western Region is a comprehensive guide to the wide variety of snake species found in the western region of North America. Enhanced with 186 full-color photographs, maps of habitat and range, abundance, size, venom status, prey, and behavior of species, and much, much more, Snakes Of North America: Western Region is confidently recommended as being a first-rate reference and field guide filled from cover to cover with the collective wisdom of two experienced herpetological professionals.
Not as strong as its eastern/central counterpart.......2001-08-29
Together with its companion volume, Snakes of North America: Eastern and Central Regions, this book provides a complete reference to snakes north of the U.S.-Mexico border. It is the weaker of the two volumes, however. It is slimmer, less detailed and lacks the eastern/central volume's bibliography and glossary. It covers snakes on a species-by-species basis (rather than by subspecies, which is the case in the eastern/central volume), which leaves most subspecies with a paragraph of description at most. (Are western subspecies less well-defined than eastern subspecies?) The difference probably results from the fact that the eastern/central book drew upon Tennant's earlier books on Florida and Texas snakes; this book did not have the same advantage. As well, errors in the book suggest that more careful editing was needed. At least one set of range maps was reversed, and there have been reports that some of the garter snake photos were mixed up. Accuracy in a field guide is essential; errors here can compound themselves down the road. Still worth having.
Average customer rating:
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Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians
Robert C. Stebbins
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Field Guides
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0395194210 |
Customer Reviews:
Stupendous.......2000-07-11
wonderfull! I loved the maps that showed where the herps lived and explaned in wonderful detail there climate and charachteristics. I Have studied herps for many years and have never been able to explain such detail. If you are studing herps this is the book the have!
Book Description
* Features detailed species accounts; gives information on horned lizard biology, ecology, and evolution; and describes the role of these fascinating reptiles in mythology, culture, and art
* Covers the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and includes all species of horned lizards
Customer Reviews:
Well worth every penny.......2007-01-18
This book is a one of a kind resource on the Horned Lizards of North America. It covers every interesting aspect of these amazing creatures from almost every angle possible. I don't know why it took me so long to get a copy. It is well written and packaged in a nice size for taking to the field. Anyone interested in North American Horned Lizards cannot not afford to be without this handy resource.
Lots of information about my favorite herps.......2006-01-12
The areas where we live and where we vacation abound in horny toads, and this is a fun and useful book to have along. It's field-guide size, and packs alot of information. Highly recommended.
A Beautiful, Complete Guide To Phrynosoma.......2004-02-15
This book is one of the finest guides to nature I have ever seen. The distribution and life cycles of all the species of Horned Lizards in North America, Mexico and Australia are simply, but amply explained along with oustanding photos. Origins, distribution maps, habits, habitats, ecology, etc. are thoroughly discussed in an easy to understand language suitable for all ages and education backgrounds- from hobbiest to scientist.
A short history of American Indian relations to Phrynosoma is discussed along with photos of their art work depicting horned lizards.
The book format is a sturdy pocket sized field guide and makes for a good example of how all field guides should be constructed- my hats off to Mr. Sherbrooke for this eloquent, informing book!
On the back cover is praise for this edition from Coevolution which pretty much sums it up: "[This is] the horned lizard bible deluxe". I agree!
Customer Reviews:
A Good Book About Habitats.......2000-04-13
When Ralphie takes Liz home for the weekend, something's wrong! He forgot Liz's habitat! What place is best for Liz? A nest? A pond? A rock? Can you help Ralphie find a home for Liz?
Average customer rating:
- 2nd Graders Will LOVE this Liz Book!
|
Liz Makes a Rainbow (Magic School Bus)
Tracey West , and
Joanna Cole
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Colors
| Basic Concepts
| Baby-3
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Picture Books
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General
| Baby-3
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Fiction
| Reptiles & Amphibians
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Fiction
| Science, Nature & How It Works
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Magic School Bus
| Early Reader
| Series
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Cole, Joanna
| ( C )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Degen, Bruce
| ( D )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General & Reference
| Technology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Liz Finds a Friend (The Magic School Bus)
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The Magic School Bus: Liz Takes Flight (Magic School Bus)
-
Liz on the Move (Magic School Bus)
ASIN: 0590662325 |
Customer Reviews:
2nd Graders Will LOVE this Liz Book!.......1999-11-10
I am a fourth grader in Lockport, NY. My name is Tiffany. I helped my teacher, Ms. Fletcher, by reading this book and deciding if 2nd graders would like to read it. I think that 2nd graders would LOVE to read this Liz book. Let me tell you about this book: It was Keesha's turn to take Liz home for the weekend. Carlos came over to help paint a rainbow on the wall. They made a rainbow for Keesha's grandma on the wall with only three colors - red, blue, and yellow. My favorite part is when Liz fell into the paint.
Average customer rating:
- A Blackhead Snake Best Buy
|
Status and Conservation of Midwestern Amphibians
Manufacturer: University Of Iowa Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Conservation
| Environment
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Wildlife
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species
ASIN: 0877456321 |
Customer Reviews:
A Blackhead Snake Best Buy.......2000-07-04
The most authoritative text on the subject. Lannoo and his colleagues cover just about everything on midwestern amphibians, and do it in a concise and informative layout. Well organized and easily searched for topics. Of particular note is the use throughout the book of the standard common names established and in use nationwide since 1978. This makes the book so much easier to use and understand. A good buy and a must for every herpetologists bookshelf.
Books:
- The Mark : The Beast Rules the World (Left Behind #8) (Left Behind, 8)
- The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
- The New American Story
- The Politics of Anti-Semitism
- The Prince
- The Prince (Bantam Classics)
- The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
- The Road to Disunion: Volume I: Secessionists at Bay, 1776-1854 (Road to Disunion Vol. 1)
- The Savage Detectives: A Novel
- The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion
Books Index
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