Hunting the Caliphate - Sneak Preview

MSgt Wes Bryant — Mon, 06 May 2019 09:39:30 -0400

Sample from co-author Dana Pittard
Excerpted from Hunting the Caliphate
Prologue: Good Hunting—The Iron Fist of Fallujah

Early October 2014.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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….

Sample from co-author Wes Bryant
Excerpted from Hunting the Caliphate
Chapter Thirty-Three: Caged Dogs

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.

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.

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.

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….

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2019 9:44 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 May 2019 09:44:40 -0400

Just from what you wrote, this must be an absolutely awesome book!!! Thank you for sharing MSgt Wes Bryant!!!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2019 9:50 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 May 2019 09:50:21 -0400

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!

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made May 6 at 2019 10:07 AM

Sgt John Steinmeier — Mon, 06 May 2019 10:07:05 -0400

Any hope of this being on Audible when the book finally releases?

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 6 at 2019 11:46 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Mon, 06 May 2019 11:46:08 -0400

Sounds interesting to say the least.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Leake made May 6 at 2019 4:35 PM

SSG Jeffrey Leake — Mon, 06 May 2019 16:35:01 -0400

Looks like I will be buying another book.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 6 at 2019 5:35 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 06 May 2019 17:35:23 -0400

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.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made May 6 at 2019 5:48 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:12 -0400

Keeping a guy like Abu Ali under constant surveillance couldn't have been an easy task. I can only imagine the level of coordination from air, space, & ground assets.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made May 6 at 2019 8:38 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Mon, 06 May 2019 20:38:50 -0400

Interesting!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 7 at 2019 1:27 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 07 May 2019 01:27:25 -0400

Thank you MSgt Wes Bryant for posting this introduction to the preview to "Hunting the Caliphate"

"Early October 2014.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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…. "
Thank you my friend Sgt Private RallyPoint Member for mentioning me.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT Private RallyPoint Member SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made May 7 at 2019 1:43 PM

SPC Douglas Bolton — Tue, 07 May 2019 13:43:02 -0400

MSgt Wes Bryant Outstanding read Wes.

Response by MAJ James Woods made May 8 at 2019 10:40 AM

MAJ James Woods — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:40:55 -0400

You co-authored with MG (ret) Pittard? That’s pretty damn awesome. Can’t wait to read the book.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2019 1:38 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 May 2019 01:38:19 -0400

looks cool maybe I should read the account

Response by PO3 Rod Arnold made May 25 at 2019 10:18 PM

PO3 Rod Arnold — Sat, 25 May 2019 22:18:25 -0400

This is definitely a must read for me!!

Response by PVT Kenneth Krause made May 29 at 2019 7:11 PM

PVT Kenneth Krause — Wed, 29 May 2019 19:11:29 -0400

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

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2019 11:46 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 23:46:26 -0400

Excellent book. I recommended. I know we won that battle, I know one person survive there.

Response by SGT Mary G. made Jun 9 at 2019 11:50 PM

SGT Mary G. — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 23:50:30 -0400

Thank you for the "Sneak preview". Clearly, excellent writing. When and where available? Is advance ordering possible?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2019 9:44 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 09:44:29 -0400

Thank you for sharing, MSG Bryant!

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jul 6 at 2019 8:27 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 20:27:26 -0400

Next on my list

Response by COL Rich McKinney made Jul 22 at 2019 10:28 AM

COL Rich McKinney — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 10:28:18 -0400

So that is what Dana is doing now. I have not seen him since Iraq. We were LT's together at 3/37 Armor.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Aug 31 at 2019 11:16 AM

Capt Brandon Charters — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 11:16:38 -0400

Just got my copy! Can’t wait to get started.

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Sep 16 at 2019 10:26 AM

Sgt John Steinmeier — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 10:26:02 -0400

Got my copy from Audible. It's on deck for my next "read."