Product Description

Tactics of the Crescent Moon comes none too soon for deployed U.S. service personnel. Little, if any, of their battlefield intelligence has been tactically interpreted. U.S. analysts are generally more interested in the enemy’s strategic or technological capabilities. Even if those analysts did want to tactically assess the information, most lack the infantry and historical background to do so. This book fills that void. It reveals—for the first time in any detail—the most common small-unit maneuvers of the Iraqi and Afghan resistance fighters. Its author is a retired infantryman and recognized authority on guerrilla warfare. He has traveled the world extensively and still trains active-duty U.S. units.

Tactics of the Crescent Moon could save many lives (if not turn the tide of war) in the Middle East. It is a heavily researched, well-illustrated, and spell-binding account of how Muslim militants fight. While the book delves mainly into their tactical method, it also uncovers their cultural orientation. This nail-biting nonfiction covers events as recent as 15 September 2004.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9329 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

Review
"Have become addicted to ... Poole’s savvy books on how to beat the enemy, written for ... grunt at the bayonet level." -- Col. David H. Hackworth U.S. Army (Ret.), September 2004

"John Poole has ... captured the nature of the new threat and ... produced a required read for our troopers’ packs." -- Gen. Anthony C. Zinni USMC (Ret.), November 2004

"John Poole has ... hit a home run.... [I]f we ... adapt our training and operations ..., we can still prevail." -- Col. Robert V. Kane U.S. Army (Ret.), October 2004

"Poole’s well-titled Tactics of the Crescent Moon offers an absorbing ... analytic study of ... Islamic guerrilla tactics." -- B.Gen. Edwin H. Simmons USMC (Ret.), September 2004

"Tactics of the Crescent Moon helps us understand the threat of terrorism and what must be done to defeat it." -- Maj.Gen. John H. Admire USMC (Ret.), November 2004

"This book grasps Fourth Generation war against Islamic opponents far better than anything coming out of TRADOC or Quantico." -- William S. Lind, September 2004

"[Book] ... may help to turn the tide of this war.... [It] provides ... battlefield intelligence you can’t get any other way." -- Leatherneck, December 2004

"[T]he insurgency’s ... mid-level leaders ... [are] from al-Qaeda, the Lebanese Shiite ... Hezbollah, and ... Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said the author." -- Newhouse News Service, 12 November 2004

"[This book] ... is a comprehensive interpretation of Muslim extremists’ tactics, theory, and thinking." -- North County Times (Southern California), 28 November 2004

From the Publisher
Tactics of the Crescent Moon shows—in detail—how Muslim militants fight at short range. From all available intelligence, it has extracted small-unit tactical trends. While the enemy’s combat methods may seem amateurish, they are quite effective in a 4th-generation-warfare environment. They have already forced the Israeli Army out of Southern Lebanon and the Soviet Army out of Afghanistan. To make matters worse, they may be improving. In the book’s foreword, Maj.Gen. Ray L. Smith USMC (Ret.) warns that the current crop of "irregulars have flexible and adaptable training techniques and tactical methods." This book should help U.S. forces to counter those methods.

From the Author
This is more than one foreign faction at work in Iraq. There is al-Qaeda and its veterans of the Afghan or Chechen Wars. But there is also Lebanese Hezbollah (an Iranian Revolutionary Guard affiliate) and its suicide recruits (largely Palestinian). Both factions are recruiting and training locals to do the fighting. Normally at a disadvantage in firepower and technology, both rely on surprise. While not yet as tactically sophisticated as the Viet Cong were 35 years ago, both are unfettered by bureaucratic restriction and doctrinal inertia. Their training method is decentralized and dynamic. It allows each instructor to refine what he teaches. Unless, U.S. soldiers and Marines follow suit, they may be facing a protracted struggle with a Vietnam-like ending.

Customer Reviews

Should be required reading....
The only thing I would add is that while I do not always blindly agree with everything John Poole says, his books should be required reading by all military personnel at all ranks. No 21st century warrior should be unfamiliar with his works.

Very informative
This work is a very extensive examination of the tactics used by Arab small units. It goes into vivid detail about their ambush techniques as well as other aspects of how they fight. The only serious issue I have with it is it is difficult to read at times. Mr. Poole uses many quotes especially block quotes which are very useful and come from legitimate sources. However, these quotes hurt the flow of the book and make it very choppy to read. If you can work past this flaw though it is a great resource.

Tatics of the Cresent Moon
This book is excellent. It should be required reading for both military Officers and Non Commissioned Officers. This book gives an ever day insight into the tatics used by Mid-Eastern terrorist.