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Review
'a passionate and at times profoundly shocking account of dysfunction at the heart of Britain's armed forces... razor sharp.' --James Fergusson, author of 'A Million Bullets' and 'Taliban'
'carefully researched and full of telling anecdotes, Ledwidge's book may make uncomfortable reading for politicians and some senior military figures.'
--David Loyn, BBC foreign correspondent and author of 'Butcher and Bolt: Two Hundred Years of Foreign Engagement in Afghanistan'
'The author deserves applause for bluntly expressing the truths about our recent military failures' --Max Hastings, The Sunday Times
'...savage indictment of the military leadership that got British soldiers into one impossible situation after another in Iraq and Afghanistan.' --Rodric Braithwaite, Financial Times
'...one of the most upsetting books I have read about Britain's part in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.' --Sherard Cowper-Coles, New Statesman
'A devastating, highly readable critique of why Britain's armed forces have fared so badly in [Iraq and Afghanistan]' --Sean Rayment, Daily Telegraph
'Controversial, iconoclastic even, written by an insider, it casts a knowledgeable and critical eye over recent British military operations...'
--Stuart Crawford, The Scotsman
'If you are interested in the future of the British Army, as well as its past, then buy this book'
--arrse.co.uk (British Army Rumour Service)
'carefully researched and full of telling anecdotes, Ledwidge's book may make uncomfortable reading for politicians and some senior military figures.'
--David Loyn, BBC foreign correspondent and author of 'Butcher and Bolt: Two Hundred Years of Foreign Engagement in Afghanistan'
'The author deserves applause for bluntly expressing the truths about our recent military failures' --Max Hastings, The Sunday Times
'...savage indictment of the military leadership that got British soldiers into one impossible situation after another in Iraq and Afghanistan.' --Rodric Braithwaite, Financial Times
'...one of the most upsetting books I have read about Britain's part in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.' --Sherard Cowper-Coles, New Statesman
'A devastating, highly readable critique of why Britain's armed forces have fared so badly in [Iraq and Afghanistan]' --Sean Rayment, Daily Telegraph
'Controversial, iconoclastic even, written by an insider, it casts a knowledgeable and critical eye over recent British military operations...'
--Stuart Crawford, The Scotsman
'If you are interested in the future of the British Army, as well as its past, then buy this book'
--arrse.co.uk (British Army Rumour Service)
Review
".... a devastating, highly readable critique of why Britain's armed forces have fared so badly in two of the country's most recent and controversial conflicts: Iraq and Afghanistan." (Sean Rayment, The Daily Telegraph) ".... the author deserves applause for bluntly expressing the truths about our recent military failures that too many of those involved find it convenient to obscure." (Max Hastings, The Sunday Times) "... Losing Small Wars is a savage indictment of the military leadership that got British soldiers into one impossible situation after another in Iraq and Afghanistan." (Rodric Braithwaite, Financial Times) "Lieutenant Commander Frank Ledwidge, RNR (retired), has written one of the most upsetting books I have read about Britain's part in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anyone who wants to understand what happened should read it." (Sherard Cowper-Coles, New Statesman)"
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
71 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Frank Ledwidge's timely new book excavates the intellectual hinterland of Britain's campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan to devastating effect. Ledwidge writes from a unique perspective; as a military intelligence officer he deployed operationally to Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq and served in Afghanistan in a civilian capacity. He has seen both the military and civil reconstruction efforts in these conflicts first-hand, and is well-placed to offer a critical judgement on the failures of counterinsurgency as implemented by the British in theatre. It is a book about the perils of self-delusion; about the intellectual culture of the British Armed Forces, and about the place of military intervention in the British national psyche. Most damning is Ledwidge's criticism of senior officers and the 'crack on' attitude within senior levels of the military - few senior officers were prepared to speak truth to power in the planning stages of these conflicts, despite whatever reservations they may have held about the potential success of new military ventures with unceratin objectives. Ledwidge's book is, to some degree, a plea for the common soldier whose bravery is never in doubt. Losing Small Wars is a book about a failure of leadership, on the part of both senior officers and politicians, which was pregnant with consequences both for military personnel and civilians in theatre. It is powerful, tightly-argued, and is essential reading for policymakers and public alike.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It might be appear, at first glance, that this is a book for military historians, academics and armchair generals. It is, however, essential reading for anyone with even a passing interest in current and recent world affairs. It is an incisive and compelling account of the arrogance and complacency at the heart of the military establishment, resulting in ramshackle decision-making and ill-conceived orders, at enormous and unnecessary cost in blood and revenue.
Ledwidge clearly knows his subject - having served as a military intelligence officer in Iraq in the fruitless search for WMDs and as Justice Advisor in Helmand. This book is a brilliantly written, often shocking, exposé of British involvement in those countries, reflecting his own experiences in theatre and in the context of other British military interventions (and, as such, is extremely well-researched). Ledwidge's style is fluid and highly readable, opening up the arcane world of the military, even for someone without a knowledge of army acronyms and practices.
The narrative at often humorous - one is reminded, at times, of M*A*S*H or Catch 22 - as it details the absurdity of many decisions and events. It is also reflective of the sang froid of the troops on the ground - whose bravery Ledwidge salutes throughout. An important book - we can only hope that it is read and reflected upon by those in the position to act upon it.
Ledwidge clearly knows his subject - having served as a military intelligence officer in Iraq in the fruitless search for WMDs and as Justice Advisor in Helmand. This book is a brilliantly written, often shocking, exposé of British involvement in those countries, reflecting his own experiences in theatre and in the context of other British military interventions (and, as such, is extremely well-researched). Ledwidge's style is fluid and highly readable, opening up the arcane world of the military, even for someone without a knowledge of army acronyms and practices.
The narrative at often humorous - one is reminded, at times, of M*A*S*H or Catch 22 - as it details the absurdity of many decisions and events. It is also reflective of the sang froid of the troops on the ground - whose bravery Ledwidge salutes throughout. An important book - we can only hope that it is read and reflected upon by those in the position to act upon it.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read this book and think that this is a statement of Generals lack of concern for the modern soldier under their command. It suggests that in essence that the Generals are primarily only interested in their own careers and that each mission is their "ticket" to further promotion by way of enacting or conducting a signature event. This book will question where modern militaries are marching to in the next phase of military development.
It certainly begs many questions of politicians and on what were they thinking when they dispatched their military into the theatres mentioned, by not having any credible policy thus denying the Military the posibility of making a strategy to conduct the effort. Generals will have to question their masters more and simply can not rely on "crack on " as a strategy.
For any serious military commander, this is essential reading in order to ensure that the same dreadfull mistakes are not repeated and that there should be serious lessons learnt from the actions of the "crack on" brigade. As the finincial situation places ever more strains of the budgets of militaries, concepts etc will have to reflect this new reality, however in context Generals will also have to reconsider their methods and the new capacities/capabilities they command. Perhaps the "comprehensive approach" will in fact have to be just that, a comprehensive approach to the new threats that will present themselves as we head towards what might losely be termed 5th generation warfare.
It certainly begs many questions of politicians and on what were they thinking when they dispatched their military into the theatres mentioned, by not having any credible policy thus denying the Military the posibility of making a strategy to conduct the effort. Generals will have to question their masters more and simply can not rely on "crack on " as a strategy.
For any serious military commander, this is essential reading in order to ensure that the same dreadfull mistakes are not repeated and that there should be serious lessons learnt from the actions of the "crack on" brigade. As the finincial situation places ever more strains of the budgets of militaries, concepts etc will have to reflect this new reality, however in context Generals will also have to reconsider their methods and the new capacities/capabilities they command. Perhaps the "comprehensive approach" will in fact have to be just that, a comprehensive approach to the new threats that will present themselves as we head towards what might losely be termed 5th generation warfare.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Useful, but disappointing
This book should be mandatory reading for all junior army officers. It explodes many of the myths of the British involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Read more
Published 23 days ago by CALLUM A LANE
Should be obligatory at any military college
Frank Ledwidge has dissected the incompetence of British Generals in compelling detail. The complacency of British forces is exploded as are the myths of Malaya and Northern... Read more
Published 24 days ago by a little bit of a grumpy old so and so
Anatomy of a poorly run war
Constant conflict from the first Gulf War to the rise of Al Qaeda (culminating in 9/11) to the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, has in many ways been the story of my generation. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Matthew Hosier
everyone should read this
I read this as part of my interest in the forgotten wars fought by Britain, including Malaya. This books is a critical insight into the way our Army operates. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Simon
Very actual
It is an eye opener for those of us who still believe in official parlance. But it is also a pity that the war goes on and it seems very, very far away from our daily concerns.
Published 2 months ago by Jose G. Almeida
NOT THE WHOLE STORY - BY FAR
There is a lot that is good in this book, but I am afraid that the author did not take the time to interview all the people he should have done or cover all the ground. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sam Hood
Fine study of recent British strategic failures
Frank Ledwidge is a retired military intelligence officer with 15 years' experience in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Read more
Published 3 months ago by William Podmore
Circuitous
I have only rated this book a three star effort, not because it wasn't interesting but for me it wasn't particularly well written or structured. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Gary B
A Valuable Insight
An insight into how we are conducting our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and it doesn't make pretty reading! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Red Wine
A "must read" for civilians and military alike
This book is a "must read" for anyone who is interested in what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more importantly, for anyone who wants to learn more about military... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Cynthia Alkon
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