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WAR ON TWO FRONTS: An Infantry Commander's War in Iraq and the Pentagon

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How do you meet an Ayatollah? Chris Hughes had to find an answer and fast.

Anyone who knows Chris appreciates the extraordinary nature of this sterling man: a natural and gifted leader of great poise, keen insight, swift reactions and a profound sense of humanity, the last of which pours out of his account of his campaign in Iraq and service at the Pentagon and at the National War College.

As the commander of "No Slack" (2nd Battalion 327th Airborne Infantry) in the 101st "Screaming Eagles" Chris relates about how the families girded for the deployment by sewing patches on the new camouflage uniforms in an ad hoc organization that came to be known as the "Stitch and Bitch." He then recounts the fragging of his brigade commander and staff, how he led the liberation of an-Najaf, securing the Mosque of Ali and ensuring the safety of Grand Ayatollah Sistani, who invited Chris to a private meeting which got spoiled by a near riot in the marketplace. "Take a knee, and smile," Chris calmly ordered his men, as the world's media looked on. He defused a tense situation, and though he never got to meet the seniormost Shiite cleric, did get a fatwa from the clergyman instructing the Shiites to stand aside and let the Americans continue their mission. One of Chris' most powerful assets was his translator/advisor, Kadhim al-Waeli, who now serves as senior cultural advisor to Lt Gen Ray Odierno, in Baghdad.

Chris then writes about starting the first post-Saddam municipal government, while avoiding the trap of appointing "bad guys" to that governing body. Up country with the rest of the division, Chris and his colleagues organized the national wheat and barley harvest and he set up a regional council of municipal mayors, known as "The Tigris River Valley Council," giving those delegates all the honors the president receives on "Marine-1." He also recounts an effort to put a stop to Kurdish looting from the refinery in Beiji.

In Part II -"A Footstool at the Seat of Power," Chris recounts efforts to set up the Army IED Task Force and the Iraq Cultural Advisory Task Force with help from Kadhim and "Major Bob" Bevelacqua. He also writes of the cancellation of the Comanche helicopter program and some of the pitfalls in the Pentagon system.

Chris then narrates his experiences at the National War College, where he and his classmates forced change on the faculty, in order to refocus on the problems of insurgency and counter-insurgency and away from the Cold War. That coup produced an anthology,Fresh from the Fight: The Invasion and Occupation of Iraq: An Anthology of National War College Studies by American Combat Commanders.

The book concludes with serious thoughts on how to counter Iraqi IED bombing teams and how to plan and execute an orderly withdrawal from our current war-time footing in Iraq.

War on Two Fronts includes dispatches from reporters, some e-mails and an interesting monograph on field sanitation from one of his NCOs that flesh out the narrative. In all, this is an incredibly insightful book (and with a lot of good photos), produced by an ordinary guy from Red Oak, Iowa.

I met Chris Hughes in June of 2002 at Ft. Campbell when he and No Slack (2/327th INF) were preparing for the deployment that would become "OIF" the following March.

As a Vietnam Veteran of No Slack having served with its Alpha Company in 1969 & 70 I was impressed with the soldiers who were filling the boots of my old unit and its sister battalions (1&3/327Th) that comprised the 1st Brigade (The Bastogne Bulldogs) of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

I left LTC Hughes that day knowing that he and his troops were ready to write their own pages of No Slack's history. This book is an eyewitness to that history. It speaks well of the resourcefulness of the finest Army America and the world has ever seen. From the confusion of having an imbedded terrorist strike just days before the war begins to the resourcefulness of the men and their leaders as they adapt to the ever changing situations that comprise combat. Reading the first half of the book made me proud of my old unit and to be an American. But there is so much more here.

Chris's analysis after he returns to the states, what we are doing right, what needs to be changed and what he and others who are serving have proposed to ensure that we win is insightful. Much of what Col Hughes lays out in this piece is already operational and current events have proved him to be right in his assessment and planning.

You will not be able to put War on Two Fronts down once you start reading it. It's a historical record and a look at the future as we continue the fight against America's deadliest enemy, fanatical Islam.

To "The Hammer", I thank you for your continued service and for this outstanding book.

No Slack, Sir!
Yankee Jim

In "War on Two Fronts," Col. Christopher Hughes provides a raw, honest account of not only what transpired during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 but also a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Pentagon. Written with clarity and closeness, he brings us along for a look into a very different world than what was many times presented in the mainstream. After all, few writers or commentators bear as much responsibility for their actions as a man in Hughes's position. Written with refreshing honesty, Hughes is neither cheerleader nor detractor; he merely tells it like he saw it.

It is a work that shares with us a view from high enough on the "Food Chain" to provide a broad perspective of operations, but at the same time close enough to the ground to smell the cordite. We at once see the larger strategies of his commanders that he is tasked to carry out, while at the same time feel the jarring discomfort of trucks designed for a dozen men carrying twice that number. We can walk the ground as actions with global impact play out in an area ground the size of a typical city block. We share the palpable relief when conventional ground fighting ceases, but feel the stress as the daunting task of being responsible for the civil welfare of a population across an area of 11,000 sq kilometers is suddenly thrust upon one man. And this has to be performed with less than 1,000 men. Then, from the dust and flies into the polished halls of the Pentagon...and it's oftentimes even more polished, Byzantine ways.

Such is the unique fate of infantry battalion commanders.

Throughout, Hughes presents his odyssey with a clarity and frankness that makes this one of the most educational books on the Iraq conflict to date. Whatever your position on Iraq, "War on Two Fronts" will give you fresh perspective on the realities of war on the ground amidst an ancient and complex civilization, and the mechanisms of one of the largest, and deadliest, organizations ever build by man.

You will find it hard to put down.

This is a "must read!" From all of the "Post-Iraq" Books filling my shelves, this one moves to the favorites section.

Whether you're a combat leader or a strategist, "War on Two Fronts" will sew the painful realities of combat and the often distant realm of policymaking together with a human thread of honest reflection.

If you're a leader of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, or Airmen, Colonel Hughes' book will be a sharp and lasting image of the difficult balancing act you perform.
As the Commander of "No Slack" (2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division), Hughes describes the challenges of conflict and his struggle to balance personal life against professional duties. Colonel Hughes takes you on a realistic and difficult personal journey beginning with leaving family behind in Ft. Campbell, KY to the dangerous march through Najaf and Baghdad to Northern Iraq in 2003.

Hughes provides the necessary detail to put the reader up against every life or death decision he made. Furthermore, he makes one of the best and most serious attempts yet to guide the military leader or strategist through the complex cultures and religions of Iraq. Still, through a refreshing retrospect, he makes light of all of those situations that were out of his control. You'll leave Iraq with a deep feeling of empathy, respect, and pride for the men of "No Slack", the Iraqis who supported them, and their Battalion Commander.

Colonel Hughes' Pentagon and, more broadly, D.C. experience is a great reminder to all Americans how our hard work over here honors their sacrifices over there. Hughes' experience and regret after leaving his battalion behind in Iraq provides a necessary and welcome wakeup call to all of us who have lost focus, a sense of urgency, and devotion to the Service Member in our "far from routine" staff work.

Colonel Hughes' Book was essential to my professional development in three ways. First, as a military leader with 13 years of service and three combat tours, I realize that my preparation to assume the great responsibility of leading Americans in combat is never complete. Second, as a Soldier, I gain a new appreciation for my duty to support and defend the Constitution. Lastly, as a citizen, I gain a new appreciation for the rights the Constitution affords us and our civic responsibility to exercise them.

This book is a long awaited departure from the impersonal and often distant accounts of combat and strategy from a leader, a follower, a father, and a friend with whom any American, Service Member or citizen, would be honored to serve.

NFS!!

As someone who will be attending Officer Candidate School, I recommend this book! Col. Hughes is an excellent officer and he details his experiences in great detail! Recommend to anyone interested in the Iraq War and the fight to win it on the battlefield and in the Pentagon.

I had the privilage to have COL Hughes my Battalion Commander during OIF1. This book does great justice to all of the soldiers of the battalion. Leadership emanates off of COL Hughes and you can not help but follow this American Patriot.

No F*@kin Slack!

I highly recommend this book to any Patriot, man or woman, who wants a vivid insight on the true account of one hero's experience on and off the battle field. You won't regret reading this.