The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies

To begin with, I will say that the book is not exactly what one might expect from a recently retired General. For starters, there were numerous spelling errors, an assortment of colloquialisms and some instances in which the prose took on a decidedly partisan tone. The means of documenting sources was something akin to a blog-posting, in that he simply copied and pasted links to pages, right into the body of the work. I would have liked to have seen a more thoroughly researched and properly cited work. All of this was likely due to the fact that General Flynn released his book in the days leading up to Donald J. Trump’s announcement of his Vice Presidential pick. As Flynn is apparently a close national security advisor to Trump, I can understand why his work appears to be somewhat harried. Nonetheless, I think that the book’s timeliness is useful, as the information it contains might be helpful in guiding Americans’ election choices. I also think that despite the absence of academic rigor, it makes his work more accessible. No doubt, this is probably one of Mr. Trump’s qualities and one that has catapulted him to national fame and serious consideration for the office he seeks. General Flynn makes a number of important points, which, despite my foregoing adverse commentary, gives me the opportunity to endorse it as an essential read.In the introductory chapter, General Flynn lays out his credentials, defines the problem, and proceeds to inform the reader of the politically guided element that clouds policy prescriptions. Indeed, he is correct to call attention to the fact that the Obama administration has deliberately exercised its commanding authority in forbidding the attachment of the term “Islam” when speaking of the threat posed by extremists who advocate and carry out violence in the religion’s name. As one who suffered at the hands of the administration for speaking truth to power, he knows all too well what others in the Intelligence Community (IC) must suffer in order to hold onto their careers.In chapter one, he discusses where he came from and how he learned valuable lessons at home and in service to his country. He also gives the reader a sense of the geopolitical context in which Radical Islamists have been able to form alliances with our worst enemies. This chapter also introduces the reader to some of his personal military heroes, as he delineates how their mentorship shaped his thinking on military and intelligence matters. A key lesson to pay attention to in this chapter is what some, including General Flynn, call ‘politicization of intelligence.’ Although he maintains that both the present and previous administration have been guilty of this, he credits the Bush administration with its strategic reconsideration of the material facts and a search for better answers. (He mentions this again in the next chapter on p.42, signifying this capability as a “leadership characteristic” and later recalls the president’s “insight and courage” on p. 154.)Chapter two of The Field of Fight features an excellent summary of what transpires in a civil war and the manner in which Iraqis began to defect from al-Qa’ida and cooperate with U.S. forces. In this task, he explains for the layperson what many scholars do, but in far fewer pages. Again, this makes his work more accessible. He also works through the process of intelligence failures that are, in his opinion, produced by a superordinate policy failure housed in the upper echelons of the military structure. In essence, it was a misperception (willful or not) that guided thinking about the cause of the insurgency, that forbade an ability to properly address it with a population-centric Counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy. He pays homage to the adaptability and ingenuity of General Stanley McChrystal’s Task Force 714, but again mentions the primary barrier to its success was bureaucratic in nature.The main thrust of chapter 3, aptly named “The Enemy Alliance,” is geared toward tying together the earlier assertion in chapter regarding the synergy between state actors like Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the like. It has been documented elsewhere, but the Iranian (non-Arab Shi’a) connection to the al-Qa’ida (Arab Sunni) terrorist organization can’t be denied. Flynn correctly points out how the relationship between strange bedfellows is not new in the Middle East. He briefly discusses how this has been the case since the 1970s, with specific reference to the PLO, Iran, Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah, Bosnia and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s. He also references President Obama’s “curious sympathy” (p. 92) for enemies in places such as Venezuela and Cuba.General Flynn then reminds readers of some facts that have either been forgotten, or virtually unknown, by most Americans. Namely, the role that Saddam Hussein actually played with regard to the recruitment of foreign terrorists, the internal policies of appeasement for Islamists in his army and the support he lent to Islamists in other countries (e.g., Egypt, Sudan and Afghanistan). He also reminds the readers of the totalitarian mindset that consumes Islamist groups, such as al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State. All the while, and in contrast to what his detractors might opine, General Flynn is speaking of Radical Islam as a “tribal cult,” and not taking aim at the religion itself. This chapter is perhaps the most robust in the book and it is the sort of reading that every American should do before they engage in conversations about the nature of political Islam.Chapter four is a blueprint for winning what used to be called the ‘global war on terror.’ Although such a phraseology is generally laughed at in many policy circles, it is clear, as General Flynn demonstrates, that some groups and countries are locked in combat with us and our partners in the West. Yet, as he correctly points out, the Obama administration isn’t willing to use global American leadership in order to defeat those who see us, and treat us, as their collective enemy. General Flynn’s prescription includes four strategic objectives, which I won’t recite here, as I’m not looking to violate any copyright laws. The essence of his suggestions, however, starts with an admission of who the enemy is, a commitment to their destruction, the abandonment of any unholy alliances we have made over the years, and a counter-ideological program for combating what is largely an ideologically-based enemy strong suit. He points to some of the facts that describe the dismal state of affairs in the Arab world, the most damning of which appear on pages 127-128, and then says what many are afraid to say on page 133: “Radical Islam is a totalitarian political ideology wrapped in the Islamic religion.” Nonetheless, Flynn discusses some of the more mundane and pecuniary sources of their strength and the means that might be tried in an effort to undermine them.The concluding chapter of General Flynn’s work draws the reader’s attention to some of the works of others that have been overlooked. He then speaks candidly of the misguided assumptions that, coupled with political and bureaucratic reasons, slows adaptation to the changing threat environment. Indeed, one of the reasons that I found this book so refreshing is because that sort of bold introspection is perhaps the requisite starting point for re-thinking bad strategies. In fact, that is the essence of both the academic and practical work that I have been doing for years. I highly recommend this book, especially chapter 3, for any student of the IC and the military sciences.

Lt. Michael Flynn has worked at the highest levels of the military-intelligence field. He served as the eighteenth director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for President Obama from July 2012 to August 2014.He was fired as DIA Director in 2014 over what US officials cited as clashes over his leadership style; however, he claims it was because he took a stand about "radical Islam." “The Field of Flight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies” is his response. It outlines his not so “politically-correct” stand on “radical Islam.”Controversy continued to shadow Flynn. He was named by President Trump in late 2016 as the twenty-fifth National Security Advisor. He was forced to resign after information surfaced he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the nature and content of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, during the presidential transition. These communications and his role as a foreign agent have engulfed him and the Trump administration in on-going investigations of Russian collusion and tampering in US elections.In “The Field of Fight”, Flynn, acknowledged as a brilliant tactician and a top intelligence officer, provides deep insights into our fight against “radical Islam” and how we should deal with this global threat. He believes that very few people and understand that a global war is being waged against us by “a messianic mass movement of evil people,” most of them inspired by a totalitarian ideology: radical Islam.This book stands on its own and is an excellent resource for those interested in an expert’s view of the global fight facing us.Flynn knows the enemy better than most. He felt we were losing the battle when he wrote this book (2015). He wrote “The Field of Fight” to raise awareness of the global war being waged against us and to outline a winning strategy for the United States. Simply put, our enemies, ISIS and its allies - North Korea, Russia, China, Cuba, and Venezuela – hate the West and want to see our society destroyed.Information in this book came from those who trained, worked and fought alongside Flynn and from American military and defense agencies. Dozens of interviews were conducted with the promise of anonymity. Sources were top officials, junior officers, noncommissioned officers and intelligence analysts.He has much to say about Iran, information suppressed by two consecutive administrations, ISIS and Al Qaeda. “ISIS and Al Qaeda are driven by a systematic vision of how to conquer the world and impose their religious ideology on all of us. Did you know that ISIS has a detailed written timetable global victory?”Flynn argues against ‘political correctness’ and for the need of an Islamic Reformation. He does not pull any punches nor does he suggest that we rely on military power to win. To destroy them, we need: A clarity of purpose by facing reality and defining the enemy clearly; a new strategy driven by “true,” not falsified, intelligence; and a resolve to win. A holistic approach, integrating our economic, political and military strengths. A new set of 21st Century Alliances. Ample, not token, resources. Rules of engagement which do not restrict our soldiers from doing what they are supposed to be doing. To attack the radicals everywhere in every way and to deny the enemy safe havens in countries that shelter them (reinvigorate the Bush Doctrine). To discredit their ideology.Flynn notes that we have defeated the radical Islamists every time we have fought them seriously. We lost our resolve over the past eight years (the Obama years) allowing them grow into a global threat. Our leaders took them for granted and told us we were doing fine. Flynn says we need our leaders to tell the truth.He goes on to remind us that “Radical Islamists” represent a failed civilization. The Muslim world today is a spectacular failure. They are an illiterate society with 20% unable to read. They are afraid that if the Islamic people were free to choose a winner, they would choose us.

Well written with a clear understanding of the subject. I enjoyed the early background on Michael Flynn and how he got to where he is. He presents the challenges of the battle, war and the uncomfortable truths about governments followed by a way forward. It's a good read and digestible.

Words of wisdom written by a man who had the courage to say things that certain powerful people didn't want to hear. He's a hero and a prophet of his times. He has been hounded and harangued and a victim of a corrupt court system. I hope he's found innocent soon and has all his court costs repaid.

General Flynn is articulate and lays out a compelling treatise on the war on terror. It’s too bad that more leaders don’t head his advice.Right think and political correctness are the enemies of truth and candour. You can’t fight what you can’t acknowledge exists.

Erreur d'achat liée à mon souhait de connaître la pensée du conseiller militaire de TRUMP choisi, comme BANNON, sans validation du Congrès.Ce livre met en valeur avant tout la vanité de FLYNN (un ego susceptible d'entrer en conflit avec celui de TRUMP) et, de façon bizarre, assure un service minimum de critique de POUTINE, contredit par la réalité des liens de FLYNN avec les Russes qui lui ont coûté sa place en 3 semaines.Son CV et son éviction de l'armée plus instructif que son livre qui confirme cependant que FLYNN est un chien fou que personne ne peut maîtriser y compris lui-même.Il est rarissime que je ne donne pas 5 étoiles à mes achats sue Amazon. J'aurais mieux fait de tenir compte des avis critiques en anglais, mais la personnage était un élément essentiel pour notre avenir à tous à l'époque.

Amazing book by an amazing American Hero