Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods [Paperback]

H. John Poole (Author), Mike Leahy (Illustrator), Ray L. Smith (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2004

During the Iraq War, this book was required reading aboard Fort Benning, Fort Leavenworth, and some Marine bases. That's because it fully describes the Islamists' 4GW method and how to counter it with truly "light" infantry tactics. Since the latter stages of WWII, America has had only "line" infantry. Its "modern" sequel travels mostly by truck and fights mostly with supporting arms. That's because the Pentagon is still practicing a "high-tech" version of 2GW (killing as many enemy as possible). Learning how to operate the latest equipment takes up most of the infantrman's training day. That leaves no time for learning how to surprise someone. One does not become any less visible by donning advanced electronics. His small-unit maneuvers are still lacking. Instead of historical artifacts, Posterity Press books should be viewed as vehicles of long overdue change.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[This Book] ... may help to turn the tide of this war.... [It] provides ... battlefield intelligence you can't get any other way." -- Leatherneck, December 2004

"[T]he insurgency's ... mid-level leaders ... [are] from al-Qaeda, the Lebanese Shiite ... Hezbollah, and ... Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said the author." -- Newhouse News Service, 12 November 2004

"[This book] ... is a comprehensive interpretation of Muslim extremists' tactics, theory, and thinking." -- North County Times (San Diego), 28 November 2004

"Have become addicted to ... Poole's savvy books on how to beat the enemy, written for ... grunt at the bayonet level (author of 'About Face')." -- Col. David H. Hackworth U.S. Army (Ret.), September 2004

"John Poole has ... captured the nature of the new threat and ... produced a required read for our troopers' packs (former head of CENTCOM)." -- Gen. Anthony C. Zinni USMC (Ret.), November 2004

"This book grasps Fourth Generation war against Islamic opponents far better than anything coming out of TRADOC or Quantico (father of 4th-Generation Warfare theory)." -- William S. Lind, September 2004

"Poole ... [says] bombarding cities ... almost always backfires, because embittered civilians provide more cover to guerrillas and terrorists." -- Atlantic Monthly, April 2005

"[F]ull of valuable pointers of how our high-tech military could outwit a low-tech enemy.... [S]hould be required reading for every serviceman or woman headed to Iraq or the Mideast." -- El Paso Times, 14 August 2005

"Whether you are a security officer in Washington, D.C., a first responder in London, or a soldier in Kabul, 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' provides valuable knowledge." -- The Counter Terrorist, January 2009

"Poole's well-titled 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' offers an absorbing ... analytic study of ... Islamic guerrilla tactics (former Head of History & Museums Division, HQMC)." -- B.Gen. Edwin H. Simmons USMC (Ret.), September 2004

"'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' comes none too soon for deployed U.S. military personnel.... It shows ... how Muslim militants fight at short range." -- Camp Lejeune Globe, 9 December 2004

"[D]etailed ... look at the combat techniques of Muslim fighters in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran, and Chechnya.... [S]olid treatise on [the] enemy." -- Mil. Officers Assn. of America (MOAA) Magazine, Professional Reading List entry, 2008

"One of the most innovative and practical modern writers on military tactics.... For those who want to learn, 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' is an invaluable resource." -- Washington Dispatch, November 2004

"Once again, John Poole proves himself to be on the leading edge of military writers and researchers with this book." -- Maj.Gen. Ray L. Smith USMC (Ret.), 2004

"Posterity Press has published books on counterinsurgent tactics." -- Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2005

"'U.S. forces have depended more on firepower than surprise,' Poole writes. 'They can no longer move unnoted along the ground.'" -- Savannah Morning News, 6 February 2005

"Book has 12 chapters,... 'How Islamic Guerrillas Are Trained' [is one of them]." --Newport News Daily Press, 12 December 2004

"John Poole has ... hit a home run.... [I]f we ... adapt our training and operations ..., we can still prevail (publisher emeritus of Presidio Press)." --Col. Robert V. Kane U.S. Army (Ret.), October 2004

"'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' helps us understand the threat of terrorism and what must be done to defeat it (former commander of 1st Marine Division)." --Maj.Gen. John H. Admire USMC (Ret.), November 2004

"To handle fourth-generation warfare at the tactical level,... recommend Poole and Ray Smith's October 2004 book, 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon'." --Inside the Pentagon, December 2004

"The depth of research is absolutely amazing which makes this dissertation a MUST READ.... This book is a revealing insight into the Muslim mind (frigate commander at the Battle of Leyte Gulf)." --Vice Adm. Thomas R. Sargent USCG (Ret.), 2004

From the Publisher

Tactics of the Crescent Moon shows—in detail—how Muslim militants fight at short range. From all available intelligence, it has extracted small-unit tactical trends. While the enemy’s combat methods may seem amateurish, they are quite effective in a 4th-generation-warfare environment. They have already forced the Israeli Army out of Southern Lebanon and the Soviet Army out of Afghanistan. To make matters worse, they may be improving. In the book’s foreword, Maj.Gen. Ray L. Smith USMC (Ret.) warns that the current crop of "irregulars have flexible and adaptable training techniques and tactical methods." This book should help U.S. forces to counter those methods.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Posterity Press; Illustrated edition (November 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963869574
• ISBN-13: 978-0963869579
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Through an inverted military career, H. John Poole has discovered a few things that more promotable people miss. After spending his first two years as a combat commander, he did his last seven as an enlisted tactics instructor. That allowed him to see why U.S. troops have always had so much trouble with counterinsurgency. Their tactical techniques are quite simply outmoded. Those techniques are so unlikely to surprise anyone as to be 'premachinegun' in format. This oversight on their commanders' part and how it can be corrected forms much of the framework of Poole's work.

Since retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1993, Poole has has traveled extensively in the Communist and Islamist worlds and written eight other U.S. tactics manual supplements. He has also conducted multiday training sessions for 39 U.S. battalions, 9 schools, and 7 special operations units. As most U.S. intelligence personnel know too little about the Eastern thought process and evolution of squad tactics, these supplements also provide currently deployed GIs with a rare glimpse into their enemy's mind.

Since 2000, Poole has gone to Mainland China (twice), its hermit neighbor, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Sudan, and Tanzania. Over the course of his lifetime, he has been to the following Caribbean nations: Bahamas, Turks & Cacos, Caymans, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Martin, Antigua, Guadaloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, and Aruba. He has lived in Mexico and Panama and revisited both places on several occasions. He has also been through every other Central American country except Belize. As for South America, he has traveled within the last year to Venezuela, and previously throughout Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Between early tours in the Marine Corps (from 1969 to 1971), Poole worked as a criminal investigator for the Illinois Bureau of Investigation (IBI). After attending the State Police Academy for several months in Springfield, he was assigned to the IBI's Chicago office.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for those who leave the wire, November 20, 2006

By 

Chris Pascale (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods (Paperback)

During seven months in Falluja in 2005 I spent approximately 150 days in the city. The history alone in this book showed us just how much we may have been underestimating our enemies, and that if they followed their classical influences they could have done much more damage.

The history is priceless dating back to influences of the Samarai and how it came to bring the original Middle Eastern assassins, and how today's suicide bombers are like those in the past, only they have explosives instead of knives, and do not need as much skill.

John Poole had spent close to 30 years in the Marine Corps leading men as both a gunnery sergeant (when enlisted) and a Lt Colonel (when commissioned). He saw Vietnam first hand, and left feeling that he could have done more for the men he'd led. Although the officers that are in charge of teaching battle field skills are not fast to accept his methods the men on the ground who deal with the enemies in the streets of Iraqi cities know he is right.

67 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book could turn the tide in the war on terror, November 18, 2004

By 

Blacksheep (US Army) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods (Paperback)

This book is truly remarkable. In Tactics of the Crescent Moon, John Poole provides an incredibly insightful analysis of the Middle Eastern problem and our role in trying to resolve it. He explains extremely complicated issues with remarkable clarity, examining them from historical, political, cultural, military and moral perspectives. Despite the immense scope of the book, his key insights never get lost in the complexity of his subject matter. At the most fundamental level, John Poole provides detailed tactical descriptions of exactly how our Middle Eastern adversaries fight. To illuminate the big picture, he clearly shows how these tactical examples relate to the larger cultural and political issues. He goes on to propose solutions that can help American privates survive, help commanders make better decisions, help generals develop better strategies and even help politicians make better military policies. Most importantly, the book's profound morality offers insight on how to win what might be the most important battle of all, the battle for the moral high ground. We will not win this war on terrorism if we lose touch, even for a moment, with the great and noble values that make us who we are. John Poole reminds us that when Americans go to war we bring with us our honor, our compassion, our love of freedom, and our belief in the equality of all people. Our morality is our ultimate weapon.

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review: Tactics of the Crescent Moon, October 8, 2005

By 

Jenkki Soturi (US of A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods (Paperback)

To begin this look at H. John Poole's latest work, let's outline what it's not -

- Not a Middle East History tome;

- Not a guide to recent terror operations;

- Not a tactical discussion; and

- Not an approach to military reform.

No, it is not any one of the above - it combines all these into a coherent, concise guide to anyone interested in understanding our military problems in the Middle East.

Section one discusses Muslim military campaigns from Gallipoli during WWI to Israel's expulsion from Lebanon by the Hezbollah. Section two examines the different Muslim militant groups. Section three provides one of the first coherent looks at Muslim militant groups' training and tactical techniques - and tactical approaches to defeating them.

Certain themes, appearing in other works by Poole, as well as in "Tactics...", compare and contrast U.S. military traits and capabilities to our Muslim opponents', to include the following:

"Us" - doctrinally driven, top-down training environment; versus

"them" - bottom-up, experimentally driven.

"Us" - squads depend on artillery fire to advance; versus

"them" - primary groups that can move unnoticed.

"Us" - occuppies ground; versus

"them" - consolidates regions.

"Us" - training instructors stick to standardized procedures; versus "them' - training techniques developed through experience.

"Us" - enhance control by standardizing tactical procedures; versus "them" - disseminating battle-tested techniques for refinement through practice.

"Us" - handicapped by inane bureaucratic procedure; versus

"them" - copying tactical ideas from any source and experimenting under simulated battle conditions... A lot of America's adversaries, of late, seem to have these traits.

Poole also notes that to beat the Muslim terrorist in the military domain, our forces must, among other things -

- recognize the strategic significance of non-combatants and not treat them as so many expendable sacks of potatoes;

- provide the infantry squads with a much higher level of tactical training; and

- learn to evolve tactically on the primary group level.

Military reform has been bantered about in terms of "hi-tech" improvements to military infrastructure and precision "first-strike" weapons; Poole looks at the wars we fight now and notes that success will depend more on the "software" in the brain-housing groups of our infantrymen than that in our computers. Fourth Generation Warfare doesn't depend on hi-tech hardware and inexhaustible supplies of munitions - the guarantor of Western hegemony in the Twentieth Century - it depends on keen intelligence networks - humint as well as techint - agile tactical evolution of the mix of forces, their methodologies and training, and decentralized command. Most of our recent technology has facilitated ever more centralized direction of forces.

Will the U.S. war colleges and staff academies be looking carefully in Poole's recommended directions for military reform? Perhaps not - but Poole is addressing the conflict we'refighting. Anyone headed to Iraq or Afghanistan will find "Tactics of the Crescent Moon" a worthwhile read.