by Michael Napier.
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 96 pages. 2026.
Subtitle: Precision Warfare Comes of Age
It’s been over 20 years since the winning of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the losing of the peace to ISIS and the winning of the war against ISIS and the withdrawal of most combat units from Iraq. Quite the rollercoaster.
In any case, winning the conventional war versus Iraq was never quite in dispute. Saddam often taunted the US using SAMs against aircraft patrolling the No Fly Zone before being smacked and then complying with US and UN requirements.
Not being a modern wargamer per se, the text contained a number of new to me and interesting info: the taunting being the main one. You can only poke a bear (ummmm, eagle?) so many times.
Air mobile ops have been around since the Vietnam War, but I had no idea the 173rd Airborne Brigade did a par-drop on Bashur airbase (p59). I also didn’t know modern weapons had a shelf life and if not used by the expiry date, had to be removed and disposed of (p56).
Friendly fire incidents are not new — Patriot missile batteries shot at and occasionally scored a shoot down of a US aircraft. Likewise, aircraft sometimes misidentified ground units. Fog of war exists even in the ultra-modern period.
The booklet contains 65 color photos, one black and white photo, six color maps, one color diagram, and three color two-page action illustrations. A glossary of acronyms (p94) will be especially helpful in understanding the text.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
