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Blood Year: The Unraveling of Western Counterterrorism 1st Edition

by David Kilcullen (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 200 ratings
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In 2014, a resurgent and bellicose Russia took over Crimea and fueled a civil war in Eastern Ukraine; post-Saddam Iraq lost a third of its territory to an army of hyper-violent millennialists; and the peace process in Israel seemed to completely collapse. In short, the post-Cold War security order that the US had constructed after 1991 seemed to be coming apart at the seams.

David Kilcullen was one of the architects of America's strategy in the late phases of the second Gulf War, and he has also spent time in Afghanistan and other hotspots. In Blood Year, he provides a wide-angle view of the current situation in the Middle East and analyzes how America and the West ended up in such dire circumstances. Kilcullen lays much of the blame on Bush's initial decision to invade Iraq (which had negative secondary effects in Afghanistan), but also takes Obama to task for simply withdrawing and adopting a "leading from behind" strategy. As events have proven, Kilcullen contends, withdrawal was a fundamentally misguided plan. The U.S. had uncorked the genie, and it had a responsibility to at least attempt to keep it under control. Instead, the U.S. is at a point where administration officials state that the losses of Ramadi and Palmyra are manageable setbacks. Kilcullen argues that the U.S. needs to re-engage in the region, whether it wants to or not, because it is largely responsible for the situation that is now unfolding. Blood Year is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding not only why the region that the U.S. invaded a dozen years ago has collapsed into utter chaos, but also what the U.S. can do to alleviate the grim situation.
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  1. ISBN-10
    9780190600549
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0190600549
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    March 8, 2016
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    8.2 x 1.2 x 5.8 inches
  8. Print length
    312 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"There is much to commend in this important book." --CT Bookshelf

"Kilcullen's personal familiarity with the territory and many major players adds elements of vivid color to the well-informed discussions of history and policy, and the narrative is refreshingly nonpartisan. Direct, insightful, and frightening, this book will prepare readers to see through the misguided, simplistic solutions to the problems of Middle Eastern policy and Islamic terror so common in this election year." --Kirkus Reviews

Book Description

An essential read for anyone interested in understanding not only why the region that the U.S. invaded a dozen years ago has collapsed into utter chaos, but also what it can do to alleviate the grim situation

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0190600543
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (March 8, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780190600549
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0190600549
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.2 x 1.2 x 5.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 200 ratings

About the author

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David Kilcullen

David Kilcullen

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David Kilcullen is the award-winning author of Accidental Guerrilla (2009) and Counterinsurgency (2010) and now Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla (2013).

His newest book takes us away from the remote, rural guerrilla warfare of Afghanistan, and into the marginalized slums and complex security threats of the world's coastal cities. Scrutinizing major environmental trends -- population growth, coastal urbanization, and increasing digital connectivity-- he projects a future of feral cities, urban systems under stress, and increasing overlaps between crime and war, internal and external threats, and the real and virtual worlds.

Dave is the Chief Executive Officer of Caerus Associates a strategic research and design firm that specializes in innovative, often counter-intuitive solutions to the world's hardest problems: economic development, violent conflict, humanitarian assistance, energy shortages and climate change. He is an advisor to NATO, and a consultant to the US and allied governments, international institutions, private sector companies and non-profit organizations seeking to make a difference in conflict and post-conflict environments and the developing world.

Before founding Caerus, Dave served 24 years as a soldier, diplomat and policy advisor for the Australian and United States governments. He was Special Advisor to the Secretary of State from 2007-2009 and Senior Advisor to General David Petraeus in Iraq in 2007. He has provided advice at the highest levels of the Bush and Obama administrations, and has worked in peace and stability operations, humanitarian relief and counterinsurgency environments in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, South Asia and Africa. He is a well-known author, teacher and consultant, advising the U.S. and allied governments, international organizations, NGOs and the private sector.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
200 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Daniel de Wit
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Analysis Yet Written on the Islamic State and the Crisis in Iraq
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
Blood Year stands out amongst the burgeoning literature on both the Iraq War (2003-2011) and the ISIS threat (2014-onward) for its insightfulness on the road that led to the current juncture and its ability to provide relevant guidance without bogging down in heavy academic writing.

First and foremost, Blood Year is a 'mea culpa' from a policy insider who, as much as any other single figure, helped craft US counterterrorism policy from 2005 onward. Kilcullen's "Disaggregation Theory" served as a critical corrective to US policy which had up until its formulation sought to tie the world's jihadists together under the single umbrella of terrorist, magnifying the threat rather than diminishing or defeating it. Yet as Kilcullen is the first to admit, this strategic framework also served to focus the US too closely on Al-Qaeda Central in Pakistan (especially after the start of the Obama Administration in 2009), and ignored the rise of al-Qaeda's erstwhile junior affiliate in Iraq. This, combined with the US invasion of Iraq (which Kilcullen describes as the worst strategic blunder since Hitler's 1940 invasion of the USSR) set the stage for disaster. Kilcullen goes on to chronicle how, with US forces out of Iraq and no longer applying pressure to Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki to maintain an inclusive government, Iraq began a swift descent into sectarian civil war, as well as the rise of ISIS from the remnants of Al-Qaeda in Iraq combined with former Ba'athist officers and Sunni tribes disenfranchised by Maliki's increasingly pro-Shi'a policies.

The result is a swift, incisive read that stands out as the best yet written on the rise of ISIS.
26 people found this helpful
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Thomas M. Magee
5.0 out of 5 stars It Connects the Dots
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book is excellent. It will answer the questions swirling around in your mind from the news of the Middle East. This book connects the dots to explain the headlines you see today.. He explains why things are such a mess there. If you look closely he explains what is going to happen in the near future.

David Kilcullen authority on the Middle East is known all over. He has been an adviser to both General Petraeus during the surge, Secretary Rice, to name just a few. He explains in the book the surge. Then he goes to explain how we got from the surge to the present trouble with ISIS. Through that you can see ISIS was a product of a political situation. So even if the west kills all of ISIS, which they are doing quite well right now there is an underlying problem. That problem will create new messes after ISIS is gone if it isn't dealt with. He gives you great detail not listed anywhere else to prove his points. He analysis covers both Iraq and Syria. Anymore you can't discuss one without the other.

A must for sure for any government official.
One person found this helpful
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Brian Arps
4.0 out of 5 stars I recommend this book
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2016
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I recommend this book. It is a reasonably fair and quite interesting account of the conduct of middle eastern wars and the rise of ever more extreme terrorist groups. It is written for western eyes so there is not too much that would upset the garden furniture. He dislikes Putin and has doubts about the French so no problems there. As for the Iranians, Syrians, Iraqis, Turks, etc; Less said soonest mended.If any impressed him he didn't say.

His view of war is that of a military man, yet he is smart enough to know that that doesn't work too well when the wars in question are being lost. He faults both Bush and Obama for their policies and why not? Both have been on the low side of average as US presidents go. Should we expect more from Trump or Clinton?

The book shines when he writes about the details of war. He has an organised mind and converts the fog of war into clear positions and actions that are easy to understand and that one relate to. One can see why those in power would consult him.

He recognises that there are a few short-comings in the way that these wars have been conducted, mostly by the USA. He does not however mention the complete absence of any political strategy that would enable them to be fought and won in a vaguely coherent manner. His answer to the question, "Where to now?" is disappointing but I suspect he is holding back. Why tell ISIS the winning move?

He advocates more and better warfare, but I have my doubts and I suspect he does to. When you are pruning your bush into the shape of an aircraft and it all goes wrong, it is often better to tryagain next spring.

I have reviewed this book with a querulous tone. It is worth reading, but I never got over the feeling that Kilcullen was writing to please a particular audience, but that the facts didn't serve.
3 people found this helpful
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Curtis Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars So much more than just an acoounting of the rise of ISIS
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
Should be required reading for all diplomats and military officials. Written by one of the key architects of our counterinsurgency approach in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Kilcullen provides a comprehensive and riveting overview of the evolving threat from Al Qaeda to ISIS, and our attempts to address it through a dis-aggregation strategy. His analysis is balanced and he spares no one from justified criticism - including himself. His wealth of first hand experience and deep contacts in restricted areas such as Syria provide unparalleled insight and perspective. He moves beyond just documenting the rise of ISIS to questioning our overall approach to countering it; and offering sage advice for the difficult path ahead. While known primarily as a counterinsurgency expert, "Blood Year" and "Out of the Mountains" clearly demonstrate Dr. Kilcullen's continuing relevance as one of the great military thinkers of our age.
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PE
5.0 out of 5 stars Top notch
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is the 2nd book I have read of this author after hearing him interviewed on Radio New Zealand. Excellent writer and really seems to understand the state of play like nothing I have read. My one caveat for both books is that he never really looks into why the 'bad guys' are bad. Why does IS believe what it does or why does Russia act in the way it does. Other then that great book.
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Top reviews from other countries

DAVID
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book.
Reviewed in Italy on June 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
I suggest to read this book to understand better the evolving situation in M. E. Clear and complete in its developement.
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Dan Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book.
Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
Kilcullen has a depth of knowledge and understanding of the issues that is superb. The book is a must-read for anyone trying to understand ISIS and the many layered issues facing not only the Middle East and surrounding regions, but also the entire Western approach to the region and how it affects Europe and North America (and Africa). Excellent book.
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AB
5.0 out of 5 stars Clarity of Military Victory vs Political Reconciliation
Reviewed in India on August 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
Kilcullen again proves that military solutions do not bring lasting peace, as military incompetence too cannot assure stable nation building
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emed0s
3.0 out of 5 stars Kilcullen at his worst
Reviewed in Spain on May 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
To give you a reference I think "Out of the mountains" is his best by far. And to clarify Kilcullen at his worst is still a good read, but the well developed main idea constructed step by step by a multitude of interesting, and entertaining, examples is missing here. In all the books feels like a collection of independent articles that for the most part include already well known information.
One person found this helpful
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Cunningham James
5.0 out of 5 stars Lucid, concise and correct
Reviewed in Germany on May 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
A well-argued and experiwnce-based analysis of what went wrong, and is still wrong, with US engagement in the Middle East... And, unusuall in the current context, what to do about it.
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