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The Gods Of Diyala: Transfer of Command in Iraq (Texas a & M University Military History) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Caleb S. Cage, Gregory M. Tomlin
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $14.99
You Save: $14.96 (50%)
New (27) Used (8) from $14.69
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 96305
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 1603440380
Dewey Decimal Number: 956.70443092273
EAN: 9781603440387
ASIN: 1603440380
Publication Date: September 30, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In March 2004, Caleb S. Cage and Gregory M. Tomlin deployed to Baquba, Iraq, on a mission that would redefine how conventional U.S. military forces fight an urban war. Having led artillery units through a transition into anti-insurgent rifle companies and carrying out daily combat patrols in one of the region's most notorious hotspots, Cage and Tomlin chronicle Task Force 1-6 Field Artillery's year on the ground in Iraq and its response to the insurgency that threatened to engulf their corner of the Sunni Triangle.Rather than presenting a snapshot dominated by battle scenes, "The Gods of Diyala" presents a wide-angled view of the experiences of Cage and Tomlin and their comrades-in-arms. They assess the implications of their experiences, starting with their pre-deployment training in Germany and ending with the handing over of duties to their replacement brigade at the close of their tour of duty. They discuss frankly their impressions of the benefits and liabilities of working with embedded journalists and relate both their frustrations with and their admiration for the fledgling Iraqi security forces. From chaotic security planning to personal debates on the principles of democracy, both authors discuss how Iraqis perceived the value of their first post-Saddam elections and the political future of their country as it tries to reinvent itself in the wake of a dictator's fall."The Gods of Diyala" gives a new and personal perspective on the second stage of the ongoing war in Iraq. Students and scholars of military history will find its insights meaningful and informative, and general readers will enjoy its thoughtful, well-measured narratives of a year spent trying to protect a fragile nation as it struggled toward democracy.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Thoughtfully conceived and crisply written... November 15, 2008
In their book, The Gods of Diyala: Transfer of Command in Iraq, Cage and Tomlin present an unvarnished account of the problems and perils faced by two U.S. Army lieutenants in the early days of the Iraq war.
Arriving in the dangerous Sunni Triangle during the months following the fall of Saddam Hussein, and commanding infantry platoons comprised of recently retooled artillery personnel, these officers faced daunting challenges. Language and cultural problems, ruined infrastructure, extreme weather conditions, mutually antagonistic religious sects within the local population and a murderous insurgency of imported Al Qaeda fighters, all presented seemingly insurmountable obstacles to accomplishing their mission of helping bring about the nation's first democratic election.
Thoughtfully conceived and crisply written, The Gods of Diyala, takes the reader along with American ground forces down the alleys and on to the rooftops of Baquba, as they battle well-armed and unrelenting insurrectionary fighters. Moreover, the book provides a unique glimpse into the sometimes-ambiguous attitude of U.S. infantry troops toward "imbedded" news teams; especially during that early, chaotic period when American forces were developing (largely through trial-and-error) effective tactics for combating this unexpected and aggressive insurgency.
The Gods of Diyala is an account of war refreshingly bereft of bravado and ego. Yet, this unembellished and unpretentious narrative of sacrifice and achievement could not more highly honor the officers and soldiers of 1st and 3rd platoons, C Company, Task Force 1-6.
The Gods of Diyala: Transfer of Command In Iraq September 29, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Being someone who doesn't really enjoy reading or have the time to read outside of work, I am really enjoying this book and every second I get, I try and read at least a chapter.
The book is interesting and is written in a way that allows the reader to actually feel what the authors were seeing and going through during their tour of duty.
I really am enjoying the book.
 Waste of Money!!! September 23, 2008
0 out of 16 found this review helpful
A pathetic fictional comedy. To hear U.S. Army Lieutenants whine about their missions in Iraq and their leaders is disgusting. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING THIS BOOK!!! If you would like to buy a book to teach the next generation how to fail as leaders... buy this book now! If you are looking for a book to professionally develop your soldiers...LOOK ELSEWHERE. A chest thumping portrayal of everything combat leadership should NOT be. You cannot turn a page in this book without the authors complaining about fighting in combat. Newsflash gents...I'll refresh your memory on the mission of the Infantry...it is "The mission of the Infantry is to close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver to defeat or capture him, or to repel his assault by fire, close combat, and counterattack". So my question is, if that's what you did...why do you feel the need to tell the whole world about it? To vent your frustrations? To make yourself feel better? A true warrior accepts his plight in life (see above..."mission of the infantry")and doesn't feel the need to solicit the rest of the world to help him feel sorry for himself. Hopefully these sorry excuses for leaders are not serving our country anymore. If they are, I feel sorry for the soldiers they are leading. These boys persecute the media, their leaders, the U.S. government and this country, while they put themselves on a never-ending pedestal. Shame, shame, shame. I would expect more from men trained to lead this country's sons and daughter's into combat with distinction...as for me Amazon.com is getting a very quick return!!!
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the war September 11, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
As a former Captain and West Point officer, who served with both Caleb Cage and Greg Tomlin, this is a first rate book. I have read many books and articles about Iraq and this is this is the most accurate depiction from soldiers who served on the front lines. Caleb and Greg were two of the best officers I have served with and its no surprise they wrote such an incredible piece of work. Anyone who has served in Iraq should be proud that these two officers took the time to share their experiences. Great job!!!
A compelling story, intelligently told August 29, 2008
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
When training up for their Iraq mission, an overconfident, neocon Harvard scholar told them they'd be like the "gods of Diyala." As it turned out, the soldiers commanded by Caleb Cage and Gregory Tomlin often found themselves, in that restive Iraqi province, at wit's end to keep matters under control.
Yet the Gods of Diyala is no anti-Bush smear. As Cage and Tomlin point out, they and the men with whom they fought accomplished a great deal. More than a year before the successful "surge," some smart decisions made the most dangerous part of Iraq just a little bit safer.
There's irony aplenty -- and more than a little nuance -- but also the reader feels pride at seeing the purple thumbs of voters and the smiles of children given a brighter future. This is a war in which good men are lost, but the writers seem to find some peace by helping to improve the lives of noncombatants.
This is neither a celebration nor a condemnation of the current administration's war in Iraq. Nor is it a chest-pounding ode to America's Army. Instead, it's a very real and sometimes really visceral account of a year in the lives of soldiers who devoted themselves to making Iraq -- and, they hoped, America -- safer and more secure.
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