004 - Preface

The Iraq War stands as the most costly U.S. conflict since Vietnam, yet comprehensive official analyses examining its events, motivations, and lessons remain scarce. In The U.S. Army in the Iraq War, we delve into the Army’s pioneering operational-level analysis of this complex conflict, presented in an engaging narrative format that weaves in assessments and lessons throughout. This study offers insights from a Landpower perspective, highlighting the roles of coalition allies, the U.S. Marine Corps, and special operations forces. Centered around the experiences of commanders in Baghdad, the narrative explores the interplay between operational and strategic levels, including the development of theater-level strategy and its tactical execution. Volume 1 sets the stage from the truce tent at Safwan Airfield post-Operation DESERT STORM, covering the journey to war, the initial invasion, and the emergence of insurgent groups that led to civil strife. This volume culminates with the pivotal decision by the George W. Bush administration to implement a surge of additional forces, examining its execution and subsequent impact. Crafted over four years and drawing from nearly 30,000 pages of carefully selected declassified documents, alongside hundreds of hours of interviews—including those with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and key military leaders—this groundbreaking publication represents the U.S. Government’s most extensive and detailed study of the Iraq conflict to date.