Customer Reviews

Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army

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The clash between political ideology in Washington and thousands of years of history in Iraq meet head-on in this Marine Corp Lieutenant's account of the Iraq War. The fuzzy gray areas that permeate war, marginalized by media and politicians, and funded by American tax payers become strikingly clear as insurgents wreck havoc and Arabic culture pulls downward on Iraq's attempts to lift itself up as a nation.

Landing in Iraq as an embedded advisor to an Iraqi army unit, Gray falls into a rabbit-hole and ends up in a modern-day Wonderland where down is up, up is down, and the Iraqi army is supposed to find it's way out. Assigned with the outwardly simple task of military adviser, Gray quickly learns how difficult his task (and the United States Military's) would be. Aside from the daily threats from insurgent attacks and IEDS, the moral struggles and pursuit to maintain professionalism in helping a society where it is okay and expected to beat your wife, resolve most issues with violence, be corrupt and always show up late are played-out in Gray's first-hand accounts. Nevertheless, Gray carries on in the face of adversity and the Iraqi solidiers (jundis) befriend him; teaching him their ways of life and the reasons for doing some of the strange things that they do. The tragedies and sadness that the Iraqis have had to endure make the drive for their success more than just a job, and Gray fights whole-heartedly for the cause. Just as things are looking hopeful for this Iraqi unit, tragedy strikes, and overcoming the obstacles for installing a democracy in a third-world country seems like a pipe-dream.

This book really reflects the differences between what you think you know about the Iraq war, it's people, the military and what is really going on in Iraq. There are many great quotes from the book to exemplify this, I laughed out loud at many of them. If you want to learn about Iraqi culture, military culture, enjoy war stories or adventure, then this book is for you.

1st Lt. Gray provides an insider's view of his experience training the Iraqi army. His stories range from hilarious to tear inducing. But one thing in his message is clear: the insurgency is going to be a difficult issue as America (Team Obama) looks forward to winding down our military presence in Iraq.

Marine Veteran Gray outlines Iraqi history, attitudes about leadership, and outlook for the future of a unified State in the absence of American troops. Most of his prognosis is fairly grim, but if the government heeds his warnings they stand a chance to make the best of a pretty cruddy situation.

This book was the most fun of ALL the books on Iraq I've read (a lot) and was written from the viewpoint of someone who is obviously very highly educated but without an ego or a chip on his shoulder. Highly recommended.

Wesley Gray provides brutally honest insights into coalition building in the book "Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army". This book is a compilation of his experiences during his 210-day deployment with the Iraqi 7th Division. While limited in scope, his observations and insights are indicative of the cultural divide between American and Iraqi philosophy.

Gray differed from most advisors in that he could actually speak Arabic. This linguistic connection provided him a rather unique perspective on Iraqi life. Unlike most Americans who rely heavily on interpreters (with varying degrees of effectiveness), Gray was able to capture many of the seemingly mundane aspects of life. In Middle Eastern societies, everything revolves around interpersonal relationships. It was Gray's abilty to communicate that gave him unprecendented glimpses into Iraqi life.

The anecdotes in the book cover expected topics such as convoy and combat operations. Not surprisingly, it even covers Iraqi staff functions like personnel reporting (aka "how to lie and ensure your friends get an extra 10 days of leave"). The real treasures are the insights into how American failures in 2003 are directly related to the issues in 2009 -- (disbanding the Iraqi army & police forces; leaving the Iraqi military bases unguarded; etc). It was fascinating to read how the average Iraqi citizen perceives the motives of current American policy in Iraq.

Gray's brutally honest insights also show the Marine mentality of life -- "there is the Marine way and the wrong way." I'm certain that Iraqis will not appreciate being called a society of lazy thieves who beat women. Gray's honesty could have been tempered with a touch of maturity.

All criticisms aside, "Embedded" is an excellent book. The critical perspectives offered far exceed any training one would receive as part of 'cultural awareness' training offered by the military. This book is a must read for any Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman who will be serving as an advisor, trainer, or attache to our newest allies in the middle east. This was one of the more fascinating books I have read on Iraq -- I highly recommend it.

Lt. Gray gives us his outstanding narrative as an advisor on a Marine Corps MITT team deployed to Iraq in 2006.

Arriving in Iraq already fluent in Iraqi-Arabic, Lt. Gray got to know the soldiers of the new Iraqi army in a more thorough manner. Having deployed to Iraq in that same year, I will assert that the lieutenant's assessments are highly accurate. I was assigned to operate in the vicinity of Mosul, and my specific job required me to work closely with the various interpreters working for the U.S. government, be they Kurds, Chaldeans, Ashyrians, ...or Arabs. I too, learned much about the indigenous culture from these employees, and some basic Arabic. I am a Marine Corps veteran, ...but at the time, I was serving in the WRONG branch of service.

If you are deploying to Iraq, THIS is the book you need to read in advance. If you are a military-member or a civilian-contractor, Lt. Gray provides a working summary of what you will encounter as you interact with the Iraqi citizenry.

Working with the new Iraqi "army", one realizes why it was so easy to defeat the old Iraqi "army".

By Western standards, they have a LONG way to go, to say the least. However, they are the ONLY institution in Iraq that is really trying (to some extant) to create a "stable" nation of Iraq (Gray points out some blatant errors made by U.S. foriegn policy which may have eased this process). The Iraqi army, like all Iraqi government institutions, has its own particular internal problems, but thus far, is probably the best horse to bet on in the race.

Gray's book is even more valuable for its cultural insights. I found Arabs to be quite courteous conversationalists, who are always eager to brew the tea and play Chess. However, I did in fact observe a number of vulgar "behaviors" that muslim men shamelessly engage in, and this was unspeakably repugnant. As a Westterner, I do not like the way muslims treat their wives and children, ...but its their country, not mine.

I really enjoyed this book despite my limited knowledge of all things military. As a young business professional I found hearing about leadership experiences in the military to be fascinating.

This book offers a real perspective on the war in Iraq that you won't find with the politically correct media. The reader will receive insight on how US policies really work, or don't work as the case may be, due to the vast and unchangeable cultural divide. The author's humorous vernacular also makes it hard to put the book down!

Highly recommended even for those who are not military buffs!

Gray's book, though rough around the edges at times, is an invaluable look into the "clash" of cultures along the contact lines of the American and Iraqi military. Through anecdotes that, though true, are reminiscent of the best scenes from Catch 22, M*A*S*H, or Absurdistan, Gray gives us insights that can and will help form how we think about moving forward in what seem like increasingly untenable situations in Iraq and Afghanistan. For long we've complained that the US blundered into the Middle East with no real, possible, plans for the future. Gray's book further proves that problem, but (more importantly) begins the process of remedying it. A must read for those who claim to care.

This was a fantastic book. It's not politically correct which I noticed angered some. His descriptions are clear and many of his experiences are very humorous. Very easy reading.

Wes Gray's book about advising Iraqis and the culture clash between Marines and volunteer Iraqi units is unparalleled. Fresh from combat, Wes paints a realistic picture of what works and what doesn't and why the US is struggling to create a basic Iraqi military six years after the initial invasion. His wit, sarcasm, and straightforward analysis fuse together in an enjoyable read that is both educational, entertaining, and provacative. Highly recommended for readers wanting to learn what Iraqi/US training missions are like and a must-read for any Marine/Soldier bound for Iraq.

Patrick Cleary
Captain, USMC (EAS Sept, 2008)

Among a slew of books about the recent Iraq war, Gray's book stands out as more than just another military memoir. His unique experience being embedded with the Iraqi military - and his ability to speak Arabic - means that during his time in Iraq, Gray got a totally unique view of the real situation on the ground. His account of his encounters with both Iraqis and his fellow US Marines are gritty, eye-opening, and frequently hilarious (but definitely not always politically correct). I don't usually like military books, but this was a really interesting first hand account of cultural conflict and what Iraqi culture is really like. Fast paced and insightful, _Embedded_ is sure to entertain you.