Published: 1 June 2008
Air & Space Power Journal - Summer 2008

Cradle of Conflict: Iraq and the Birth of Modern U.S. Military Power by Michael Andrew Knights. Naval Institute Press (http://www.usni.org/press/press.html), 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5034, 2005, 462 pages, $39.95 (hardcover).

Cradle of Conflict by Michael Knights is a comprehensive summary of US military operations in Iraq from 1990 to 2005. Offering a wealth of technical knowledge, it summarizes years of continuous military conflict between the United States and Iraq. Although the level of detail at times becomes overwhelming, anyone interested in acquiring an in-depth understanding of the forces driving this conflict has much to gain by reading this work.

Knights presents extensive information regarding the tactics, planning, doctrine, employment, and development of weapons systems as well as the strengths and weaknesses of both the US and Iraqi militaries. Moreover, he provides thorough descriptions of the operational decisions made by commanding officers during all of the major combat, beginning with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Knights also describes the implementation of no-fly zones during Operations Northern and Southern Watch, the “Tomahawk diplomacy” of Operations Desert Strike and Desert Fox, and removal of the Baathist regime and the ensuing insurgency emerging from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The author discusses the sequence of military conflict in Iraq in several ways, beginning with United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions and their enforcement during combat operations. He also touches on some amazing US military firsts, including the first-ever air-to-air combat between manned and unmanned aircraft and the first bombings by female pilots in combat. Knights then explains the changes experienced by the US military throughout its dealings with Saddam Hussein, such as shifting from its original strategy of containment to an all-out offensive geared towards dismantling Iraq’s military capability following years of enduring that country’s “cheat and retreat” tactics (e.g., interference in the UN weapons-inspections process, massing troops on the borders of neighboring states, and numerous violations of the no-fly zones).

The author also reminds us that warfare—even high-tech war—is still subject to the same age-old restrictions that not even advances in US war-fighting technology can overcome. These include the difficulty of performing air strikes through dense cloud cover, the inability of pilots to laser-designate ground targets through blowing sand, the role of stress and fatigue, and the crash of several Apache helicopters due to violent sandstorms.

Along with the highs and lows of combat operations, Knights intersperses some inspiring narratives of selfless bravery by US military personnel. One such account depicts Marine Corps helicopter pilots risking their lives while flying at treetop level in sandstorms to provide close air support to troops trapped by intense fighting.

Although very well written, Cradle of Conflict contains a surprising number of misspellings and grammatical errors. Despite its lack of adequate editing, it does an exceptional job of explaining how “the Baathist regime’s decades-spanning campaign to resist U.S. military pressure was the crucible on which the post–Cold War U.S. military was forged and given its keen edge” (p. xi). I highly recommend this book, which is a must-read for any serious student of modern Iraq.

Cadet Dayton J. Miller, USAF
Air Force ROTC, University of Houston

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.