Customer Reviews

Waging Peace: A Special Operations Team's Battle to Rebuild Iraq

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Okay, so i am in the book, but I can still remain objective. Most military books I have read deal with specific combat operations or tactics as that seems to be what people expect when they think of the military. Like going to go and blow up a bridge or something.

There are a lot of people in the military and most of those that serve have jobs other than combat operations. It is interesting to read about a military job that specifically does not use combat operations in a hostile military environment to acheive military goals. Like going to go and repair a bridge or something.

This story is a must read for all Americans, especially those vocal, confused protestors who believe that we can just "pull out." We are doing important and often frustrating work to rebuild a nation in the face of an armed insurgency. All of us: American, the Iraqis, and the rest of the world are frustrated at the pace of progress. This story takes you to the frontlines of this operation and exposes the reader to a slice of what is good and bad about our efforts to rebuild Iraq, and why progress is so frustratingly slow.

The President and our troops need all of our support to acomplish this mission. As Rob points out in his summary, we need more "boots on the ground," not less. We need to provide real security for ourselves, the Iraqi population, and the contractors who are rebuilding Iraq's infrstructure. We need more men and women working directly with Iraq's civil government to improve living conditions and the economy. Once security is achieved, many humanitarian organizations will come into Iraq and help. Until then, it all falls upon the shoulders of the Civil Affairs teams.

Every American should ask, "How can I help these brave men and women better achieve their mission?" Only through their success will we be able to bring our troops home.

This is a great book. It tells the story from a Civil Affairs Team perspective, which many civilians don't even know exist and how they interact amongst themselves and the manuever Battalions they support. Unfortunately Rob was only able to concentrate on one of the Battalion's teams. There were, at times, over 10+ teams spread throughout Iraq doing similar missions which he did not have a chance to visit (one person can only do so much). I have to admit I am biased since I was part of the 425th Civil Affairs Battalion in Iraq and got to see "Writer Rob" quite a bit in theater. He is an incredibly interesting person and I was fortunate to get to know him. Look for more Civil Affairs stories from him because I think he is headed back over to Iraq or Afghanistan in the near future.

UPDATE: SSG PAUL WAS KIA IN KABUL ON 8 SEP 06. HE WAS PART OF OF THE 425TH CA IN IRAQ AND VOLUNTEERED FOR A SECOND TOUR WITH ANOTHER UNIT IN AFGHANISTAN. GOD BLESS SSG PAUL.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers, who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 8, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV. Both soldiers were assigned to the Army Reserve's 405th Civil Affairs Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. Killed were: Sgt. 1st Class Merideth L. Howard, 52, of Alameda, California and Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul, 43, of The Dalles, Oregon.

As Oregonians, we take the death of each of our soldiers quite personally. As we bid farewell to another, it is important to remember the man he was and the family he left behind.

Staff Sgt Robert J Paul, an Army Reservist, was assigned to the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade, HHC, based in Portland, Oregon. These units serve as the main liaison between the military and the civilian populations of the country where the military is operating.

SSG Paul was originally from Hammond, Indiana. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya from 1987-1989. He earned a Master's Degree in Urban Planning and Economic Development in 1995 from the University of Maryland. He joined the Army Reserve in April 1997. In 1998, He began working for the City of The Dalles, Oregon as an associate planner and became the senior planner. In 2001, he joined the Wasco County Planning Department as the senior land-use planner.

SSG Paul was a great lover of the wilderness and an avid kayaker. "Bob loved this area so much. He moved out here because he loved the west, he loved Oregon, and he loved the gorge (the Columbia River Gorge). He was very much into hiking and trailrunning and whitewater kayaking, all the outdoor experience," said Todd Cornett, Planning director.

In early 2004, SSG Paul was called to active duty and sent to Iraq to help build infrastructure, focusing on urban planning. He was deployed to Afghanistan in Spring of 2006. While in Iraq, he wrote, "It was pretty obvious what was broken and rundown. Saddam did absolutely no maintenance to his cities. Everything was broken or about to break. I had expected to do a lot of repair from military actions. Not at all. Those buildings were, for the most part, destroyed. I was performing maintenance and repair on systems that were not maintained for decades. They were also poorly designed. Naturally, I worked with community groups and the like to get projects aimed at what civilians wanted most rather than what I thought they should want most."

In a statement released by the Army, his family said, "Bob was the kind of guy, who if called for duty, would serve. he never turned down an opportunity because he always wanted to make a difference in everything he did -- the Peace Corps, the Army, his civilian job and, most importantly, his family and friends."

SSG Robert Paul is survived by his daughter, Ilena; mother and father, Esther and Sheldon; and sisters, Monica and Debra.

As we say farewell and God Speed to SSG Robert Paul, we value what he sacrificed for us and what he gave to so many while he was here.

Waging Peace is a MUST READ. It's all too easy for Americans, sitting back in our comfortable homes, to read the news accounts of Iraq and at the same time, forget that human beings are involved - American and Iraqi. Schultheis brings us that humanity, from the men and women of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs Corps, to the men, women and children in the crowded marketplaces of Baghdad. Whether you're for or against the war - it's essential to see the situation today as a human tragedy of epic proportions. Waging Peace will make you laugh and cry - it will take you there - so jump in your unarmored Humvee, pull on your Kevlar vest, and prepare yourself for a wild ride.

The only disappointing thing about his book is that apparently there is so little interest in it. This isn't a blood and guts war story nor an antiwar diatribe; it is the story of a couple Civil Affairs units and their frustrations and successes.

As a Civil Affairs (CA) operator from the 1st rotation (2003-2005), I have been disheartened by the media's portrayal of the war in Iraq, the US soldiers and overall "fair and honest" reporting. I heard about this book at a drill weekend in late 2005 as it made quite a buzz around the drill hall of a CA unit (not the book's unit). I thought the author was fair and honest. I had a few "ouch that hurt for us" moments, but overall I thought he portrayed what CA does well and the actions of this CAT-A could represent many of our experiences as well. I purchased the book for my civilian boss, as a way to answer his question: "what is it that you do in the Army."

As I prepare for my 2nd deployment to Iraq, I'm often asked about my military job and I always respond with "you have to read Waging Peace. It will give you a great prespective about what CA does."

A must read for anyone interested in:
* knowing more about CA.
* hearing about what the US Army is trying to do (NO we don't just kick in doors!)
* understanding the frustrations, elations, depression and joy of being a US Army Civil Affairs Soldier in a combat zone.

This book came out before people generally understood the nation building aspect of the U.S. mission in Iraq so I think it's gotten missed. I think people should see this in the newstands and book stores again like it was a new release because where people weren't ready for this information in 2005, I think they are now in 2007 as the Bush admin talks more now about nation building and moves away from talk about conquest.

Excellent book, excellent illustration of the issues we are FINALLY seeing in the main stream news about Iraq.

As the mother of a CA soldier of whom I am exceptionally proud I can only say bravo Mr. Schultheis for your wonderful view of our soldiers!
It's about someone appreciates all that CA does for people in other countries and the Army in general. This book shows the true view of the Civil Affairs Battalions and their work in Iraq over the last 2 or more years. A must read for all CA families and anyone wondering if we are really helping the people of Iraq!
Thank you Mr. Schultheis for keeping it real!

"Waging Peace" deserves your attention because reading it shows you the possibility for success in Iraq: a restored nation with functional physical and social infrastructures. It shows you a real-world example of Thomas Barnett's System Administrator teams. "Nation-building" is not a dirty word, and this book shows that mission can happen and can succeed.

I read this book with amazement. Why don't we hear more of these stories? Why isn't there more writing about the USACAPOC and US Army Civil Affairs units? Thank you, Writer Rob, for giving us news from Iraq to cheer about. I believe that CA could be the face of the "new army". This story is cause enough to consider enlisting...