MSgt Wes Bryant 4608064 <div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-327767"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Hunting+the+Caliphate+-+Sneak+Preview&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AHunting the Caliphate - Sneak Preview%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/hunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="6b499894b3696319e83f1bdad620e5da" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/327/767/for_gallery_v2/07cce533.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/327/767/large_v3/07cce533.jpg" alt="07cce533" /></a></div></div>Sample from co-author Dana Pittard<br />Excerpted from Hunting the Caliphate <br />Prologue: Good Hunting—The Iron Fist of Fallujah<br /><br />Early October 2014. <br /> Abu Ali, a local ISIS commander in Fallujah, was a proud leader and fighter, and with good reason—he’d helped ISIS take over the Sunni-dominated city of Fallujah earlier that year. It was a key victory that had positioned ISIS in Fallujah along the ancient Euphrates River just sixty-nine kilometers west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. <br /><br /> Abu Ali’s name was a nom de guerre, meaning “Father of Ali,” and he ruled eastern Fallujah with an iron fist. He levied harsh taxes, enforced Sharia law, and virtually enslaved Iraqi citizens. Unfortunately for him, such notoriety and status earned him a prime target position for our strike cell, which had the mission of coordinating all airstrikes in central and western Iraq. <br /><br /> ISIS leaders knew the United States took great care to avoid killing civilians and hitting religious structures, so they tried to use our respect for humanity to their advantage. Ali lived in a densely-populated neighborhood, with houses connected and literally on top of each other, hence he was nested amidst hundreds of innocents. <br /><br /> We knew where he lived; his home was one of four houses on a small compound surrounded by a five-foot mud brick wall with a large metal gate. Through the gate was a driveway that led to the side of a three-story house with a flat patio roof. All the houses on the small compound were connected and well protected by stationary and walking guards. We could not hit Abu Ali at his home with an airstrike due to our concern for civilian casualties as well as the potential for collateral damage to the homes of family members in the compound and scores of adjacent houses. Instead, we kept him under constant surveillance, and bided our time. <br /><br /> With a religious mosque on nearly every major street corner and intersection, Fallujah is known as the “City of Mosques.” ISIS often used the mosques as shelter for their illicit activities knowing that the religious centers were normally not targeted by airstrikes. Abu Ali felt safe traveling in the middle of Fallujah because of the large civilian population and its high number of mosques. Ali and his fellow ISIS leaders seemed to think the American military’s unwillingness to slaughter civilians and destroy their property was a weakness—yet another reason why ISIS would prevail over the West (they believed). The reality was much different…. <br /><br />Sample from co-author Wes Bryant<br />Excerpted from Hunting the Caliphate <br />Chapter Thirty-Three: Caged Dogs<br /><br />ISIS was a brutal enemy and inhumane to the core. They needed to be obliterated beyond all trace. But the terrorist army seemed fearless. Even as we hit them with airstrikes again and again, they quite literally fought to the last man. It was uncanny. <br /><br /> ISIS was certainly nothing if not zealous and aggressive. From the outside looking in, their spirit seemed nearly indomitable. Of course, we’d later learn a contributing factor was that they gave their fighters opiates and cocaine before battles and threatened punishment or torture for failure or cowardice. Religious extremism coupled with mind-altering drugs and fear of torture was certainly a way to create a seemingly indomitable force. <br /><br /> Still, we were often surprised at the level of capability ISIS showed even in comparison to some of the best-trained Iraqi ground forces. In fact, when we came across armed and maneuvering fighters we hadn’t yet identified as friendly or enemy, the going rule became “if they move tactically sound, they’re probably ISIS.” Nonetheless, if ISIS prided themselves in being bold and aggressive, they were surely humbled once they realized what it meant to be on the receiving end of the wrath of the U.S. military. <br /><br /> Those of us in the BIAP Strike Cell had all sacrificed and bled with our partner forces during the previous Iraq War and the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Most of us had lost friends and brothers- or sisters-in-arms over the years, and we’d watched our partner forces suffer the same. We’d helped both the Iraqis and the Afghans fight for their homes and their countries, and we witnessed their struggle to balance the well-beings of themselves and their families with the duties and sacrifices that came with being soldiers in perpetually war-torn nations. We knew what our Iraqi forces were enduring because we’d been there. In the strike cell, when we supported the Iraqis with airstrikes we put ourselves on the ground with them…. 2019-05-06T09:39:30-04:00 MSgt Wes Bryant 4608064

<div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-327767"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Hunting+the+Caliphate+-+Sneak+Preview&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AHunting the Caliphate - Sneak Preview%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/hunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="ae82d3f3d21532649b64651663518543" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/327/767/for_gallery_v2/07cce533.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/327/767/large_v3/07cce533.jpg" alt="07cce533" /></a></div></div>Sample from co-author Dana Pittard<br />Excerpted from Hunting the Caliphate <br />Prologue: Good Hunting—The Iron Fist of Fallujah<br /><br />Early October 2014. <br /> Abu Ali, a local ISIS commander in Fallujah, was a proud leader and fighter, and with good reason—he’d helped ISIS take over the Sunni-dominated city of Fallujah earlier that year. It was a key victory that had positioned ISIS in Fallujah along the ancient Euphrates River just sixty-nine kilometers west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. <br /><br /> Abu Ali’s name was a nom de guerre, meaning “Father of Ali,” and he ruled eastern Fallujah with an iron fist. He levied harsh taxes, enforced Sharia law, and virtually enslaved Iraqi citizens. Unfortunately for him, such notoriety and status earned him a prime target position for our strike cell, which had the mission of coordinating all airstrikes in central and western Iraq. <br /><br /> ISIS leaders knew the United States took great care to avoid killing civilians and hitting religious structures, so they tried to use our respect for humanity to their advantage. Ali lived in a densely-populated neighborhood, with houses connected and literally on top of each other, hence he was nested amidst hundreds of innocents. <br /><br /> We knew where he lived; his home was one of four houses on a small compound surrounded by a five-foot mud brick wall with a large metal gate. Through the gate was a driveway that led to the side of a three-story house with a flat patio roof. All the houses on the small compound were connected and well protected by stationary and walking guards. We could not hit Abu Ali at his home with an airstrike due to our concern for civilian casualties as well as the potential for collateral damage to the homes of family members in the compound and scores of adjacent houses. Instead, we kept him under constant surveillance, and bided our time. <br /><br /> With a religious mosque on nearly every major street corner and intersection, Fallujah is known as the “City of Mosques.” ISIS often used the mosques as shelter for their illicit activities knowing that the religious centers were normally not targeted by airstrikes. Abu Ali felt safe traveling in the middle of Fallujah because of the large civilian population and its high number of mosques. Ali and his fellow ISIS leaders seemed to think the American military’s unwillingness to slaughter civilians and destroy their property was a weakness—yet another reason why ISIS would prevail over the West (they believed). The reality was much different…. <br /><br />Sample from co-author Wes Bryant<br />Excerpted from Hunting the Caliphate <br />Chapter Thirty-Three: Caged Dogs<br /><br />ISIS was a brutal enemy and inhumane to the core. They needed to be obliterated beyond all trace. But the terrorist army seemed fearless. Even as we hit them with airstrikes again and again, they quite literally fought to the last man. It was uncanny. <br /><br /> ISIS was certainly nothing if not zealous and aggressive. From the outside looking in, their spirit seemed nearly indomitable. Of course, we’d later learn a contributing factor was that they gave their fighters opiates and cocaine before battles and threatened punishment or torture for failure or cowardice. Religious extremism coupled with mind-altering drugs and fear of torture was certainly a way to create a seemingly indomitable force. <br /><br /> Still, we were often surprised at the level of capability ISIS showed even in comparison to some of the best-trained Iraqi ground forces. In fact, when we came across armed and maneuvering fighters we hadn’t yet identified as friendly or enemy, the going rule became “if they move tactically sound, they’re probably ISIS.” Nonetheless, if ISIS prided themselves in being bold and aggressive, they were surely humbled once they realized what it meant to be on the receiving end of the wrath of the U.S. military. <br /><br /> Those of us in the BIAP Strike Cell had all sacrificed and bled with our partner forces during the previous Iraq War and the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Most of us had lost friends and brothers- or sisters-in-arms over the years, and we’d watched our partner forces suffer the same. We’d helped both the Iraqis and the Afghans fight for their homes and their countries, and we witnessed their struggle to balance the well-beings of themselves and their families with the duties and sacrifices that came with being soldiers in perpetually war-torn nations. We knew what our Iraqi forces were enduring because we’d been there. In the strike cell, when we supported the Iraqis with airstrikes we put ourselves on the ground with them….

2019-05-06T09:39:30-04:00 2019-05-06T09:39:30-04:00 Sgt Private RallyPoint Member 4608086

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just from what you wrote, this must be an absolutely awesome book!!! Thank you for sharing <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1613037" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1613037-msgt-wes-bryant">MSgt Wes Bryant</a>!!!

2019-05-06T09:44:40-04:00 2019-05-06T09:44:40-04:00 Sgt Private RallyPoint Member 4608118

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>In my view my RP Friends, this is a must read intro to what I see as a great read, by one of our own!!! Thus, I am mentioning to all of you!<br />

2019-05-06T09:50:21-04:00 2019-05-06T09:50:21-04:00 Sgt John Steinmeier 4608197

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Any hope of this being on Audible when the book finally releases?

2019-05-06T10:07:05-04:00 2019-05-06T10:07:05-04:00 Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen 4608432

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sounds interesting to say the least.

2019-05-06T11:46:08-04:00 2019-05-06T11:46:08-04:00 SSG Jeffrey Leake 4609073

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Looks like I will be buying another book.

2019-05-06T16:35:01-04:00 2019-05-06T16:35:01-04:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 4609201

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Mao said to win a revolution the insurgency must become a full fledge army through violence or sugar. ISIS was so brutal it was good Sunni tribes started to fight back. Mao also said before he can build up an army, his followers will conduct asymmetrical attacks.

2019-05-06T17:35:23-04:00 2019-05-06T17:35:23-04:00 Capt Brandon Charters 4609233

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Keeping a guy like Abu Ali under constant surveillance couldn&#39;t have been an easy task. I can only imagine the level of coordination from air, space, &amp; ground assets.

2019-05-06T17:48:12-04:00 2019-05-06T17:48:12-04:00 PVT Mark Zehner 4609696

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Interesting!

2019-05-06T20:38:50-04:00 2019-05-06T20:38:50-04:00 LTC Stephen F. 4610084

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thank you <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1613037" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1613037-msgt-wes-bryant">MSgt Wes Bryant</a> for posting this introduction to the preview to &quot;Hunting the Caliphate&quot;<br /><br />&quot;Early October 2014. <br />Abu Ali, a local ISIS commander in Fallujah, was a proud leader and fighter, and with good reason—he’d helped ISIS take over the Sunni-dominated city of Fallujah earlier that year. It was a key victory that had positioned ISIS in Fallujah along the ancient Euphrates River just sixty-nine kilometers west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. <br /><br />Abu Ali’s name was a nom de guerre, meaning “Father of Ali,” and he ruled eastern Fallujah with an iron fist. He levied harsh taxes, enforced Sharia law, and virtually enslaved Iraqi citizens. Unfortunately for him, such notoriety and status earned him a prime target position for our strike cell, which had the mission of coordinating all airstrikes in central and western Iraq. <br /><br />ISIS leaders knew the United States took great care to avoid killing civilians and hitting religious structures, so they tried to use our respect for humanity to their advantage. Ali lived in a densely-populated neighborhood, with houses connected and literally on top of each other, hence he was nested amidst hundreds of innocents. <br /><br />We knew where he lived; his home was one of four houses on a small compound surrounded by a five-foot mud brick wall with a large metal gate. Through the gate was a driveway that led to the side of a three-story house with a flat patio roof. All the houses on the small compound were connected and well protected by stationary and walking guards. We could not hit Abu Ali at his home with an airstrike due to our concern for civilian casualties as well as the potential for collateral damage to the homes of family members in the compound and scores of adjacent houses. Instead, we kept him under constant surveillance, and bided our time. <br /><br />With a religious mosque on nearly every major street corner and intersection, Fallujah is known as the “City of Mosques.” ISIS often used the mosques as shelter for their illicit activities knowing that the religious centers were normally not targeted by airstrikes. Abu Ali felt safe traveling in the middle of Fallujah because of the large civilian population and its high number of mosques. Ali and his fellow ISIS leaders seemed to think the American military’s unwillingness to slaughter civilians and destroy their property was a weakness—yet another reason why ISIS would prevail over the West (they believed). The reality was much different…. &quot;<br />Thank you my friend <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1607400" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1607400-30154-aircraft-inertial-and-radar-navigation-systems-repairman">Sgt Private RallyPoint Member</a> for mentioning me.<br />FYI <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="138758" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/138758-col-mikel-j-burroughs">COL Mikel J. Burroughs</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="802057" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/802057-lt-col-john-jack-christensen">Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1346405" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1346405-lt-col-charlie-brown">Lt Col Charlie Brown</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="801428" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/801428-ltc-greg-henning">LTC Greg Henning</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1153746" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1153746-ltc-jeff-shearer">LTC Jeff Shearer</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="611939" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/611939-maj-bill-smith-ph-d">Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="419721" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/419721-maj-william-w-bill-price">Maj William W. &#39;Bill&#39; Price</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="385188" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/385188-maj-marty-hogan">Maj Marty Hogan</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="794899" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/794899-cpt-scott-sharon">CPT Scott Sharon</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1242055" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1242055-718x-electronics-technician-surface">CWO3 Dennis M.</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="106303" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/106303-88m-motor-transport-operator">SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="810011" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/810011-ssg-william-jones">SSG William Jones</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="390226" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/390226-11b-infantryman">SGT Private RallyPoint Member</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="786700" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/786700-sgt-john-mac-mcconnell">SGT John &quot; Mac &quot; McConnell</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="768589" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/768589-sp5-mark-kuzinski">SP5 Mark Kuzinski</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1286819" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1286819-po1-h-gene-lawrence">PO1 H Gene Lawrence</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="77871" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/77871-po2-kevin-parker">PO2 Kevin Parker</a> PO3 Bob McCord

2019-05-07T01:27:25-04:00 2019-05-07T01:27:25-04:00 SPC Douglas Bolton 4611619

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="1613037" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/1613037-msgt-wes-bryant">MSgt Wes Bryant</a> Outstanding read Wes.

2019-05-07T13:43:02-04:00 2019-05-07T13:43:02-04:00 MAJ James Woods 4614532

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You co-authored with MG (ret) Pittard? That’s pretty damn awesome. Can’t wait to read the book.

2019-05-08T10:40:55-04:00 2019-05-08T10:40:55-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 4621635

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>looks cool maybe I should read the account

2019-05-10T01:38:19-04:00 2019-05-10T01:38:19-04:00 PO3 Rod Arnold 4668893

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is definitely a must read for me!!

2019-05-25T22:18:25-04:00 2019-05-25T22:18:25-04:00 PVT Kenneth Krause 4679853

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Could we start in the United States? I’ll support that. I hope people don’t take this statement wrong because after my research I believe it is time to get real. Watch agenda and agenda 2

2019-05-29T19:11:29-04:00 2019-05-29T19:11:29-04:00 PO3 Private RallyPoint Member 4689831

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Excellent book. I recommended. I know we won that battle, I know one person survive there.

2019-06-01T23:46:26-04:00 2019-06-01T23:46:26-04:00 SGT Mary G. 4709967

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thank you for the &quot;Sneak preview&quot;. Clearly, excellent writing. When and where available? Is advance ordering possible?

2019-06-09T23:50:30-04:00 2019-06-09T23:50:30-04:00 COL Private RallyPoint Member 4718791

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thank you for sharing, MSG Bryant!

2019-06-13T09:44:29-04:00 2019-06-13T09:44:29-04:00 SFC Melvin Brandenburg 4786709

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Next on my list

2019-07-06T20:27:26-04:00 2019-07-06T20:27:26-04:00 COL Rich McKinney 4836348

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So that is what Dana is doing now. I have not seen him since Iraq. We were LT&#39;s together at 3/37 Armor.

2019-07-22T10:28:18-04:00 2019-07-22T10:28:18-04:00 Capt Brandon Charters 4975663

<div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-364652"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Hunting+the+Caliphate+-+Sneak+Preview&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AHunting the Caliphate - Sneak Preview%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/hunting-the-caliphate-sneak-preview" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="b19b915fb8299624f7177c2c5c77cc79" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/364/652/for_gallery_v2/1971999.jpeg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/364/652/large_v3/1971999.jpeg" alt="1971999" /></a></div></div>Just got my copy! Can’t wait to get started.

2019-08-31T11:16:38-04:00 2019-08-31T11:16:38-04:00 Sgt John Steinmeier 5029240

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Got my copy from Audible. It&#39;s on deck for my next &quot;read.&quot;

2019-09-16T10:26:02-04:00 2019-09-16T10:26:02-04:00 2019-05-06T09:39:30-04:00