Quantity:

Express Checkout with PayPhrase

What's this? | Create PayPhrase

More Buying Choices

45 used & new from $8.30

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Share with Friends

Share your own customer images

Search inside this book

Tell the Publisher! I�d like to read this book on Kindle Don�t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods (Paperback)

~ (Author), Mike Leahy (Illustrator), Ray L. Smith (Foreword) "As America struggles to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan, it must remember that this region has hosted cultures much older than its own..." (more)
Key Phrases: standoff weaponry, thermobaric weapons, strongpoint defense, Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press, Lebanese Hezbollah (more...)

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)

List Price:	$14.95
Price:	$10.17 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save:	$4.78 (32%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Monday, November 23? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

28 new from $8.75 17 used from $8.30

Frequently Bought Together

Price For All Three: $31.87

Show availability and shipping details

This item: Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods by H. John Poole
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Militant Tricks: Battlefield Ruses of the Islamic Insurgent by H. John Poole
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
The Tiger's Way: A U.S. Private's Best Chance for Survival by H. John Poole
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Militant Tricks: Battlefield Ruses of the Islamic Insurgent

by H. John Poole

4.9 out of 5 stars (17) $10.17

The Tiger's Way: A U.S. Private's Best Chance for Survival

by H. John Poole

4.6 out of 5 stars (25) $11.53

Phantom Soldier: The Enemy's Answer to U.S. Firepower

by H. John Poole

4.9 out of 5 stars (21) $10.17

Terrorist Trail: Backtracking the Foreign Fighter

by H. John Poole

5.0 out of 5 stars (17) $12.78

Dragon Days: Time for "Unconventional" Tactics

by H. John Poole

5.0 out of 5 stars (13) $12.71

› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Have become addicted to ... Poole’s savvy books on how to beat the enemy, written for ... grunt at the bayonet level." -- 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." -- Gen. Anthony C. Zinni USMC (Ret.), November 2004

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

"Poole’s well-titled Tactics of the Crescent Moon offers an absorbing ... analytic study of ... Islamic guerrilla tactics." -- B.Gen. Edwin H. Simmons USMC (Ret.), September 2004

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

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

"[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 (Southern California), 28 November 2004

Product Description

Tactics of the Crescent Moon comes none too soon for deployed U.S. service personnel. Little, if any, of their battlefield intelligence has been tactically interpreted. U.S. analysts are generally more interested in the enemy’s strategic or technological capabilities. Even if those analysts did want to tactically assess the information, most lack the infantry and historical background to do so. This book fills that void. It reveals—for the first time in any detail—the most common small-unit maneuvers of the Iraqi and Afghan resistance fighters. Its author is a retired infantryman and recognized authority on guerrilla warfare. He has traveled the world extensively and still trains active-duty U.S. units.

Tactics of the Crescent Moon could save many lives (if not turn the tide of war) in the Middle East. It is a heavily researched, well-illustrated, and spell-binding account of how Muslim militants fight. While the book delves mainly into their tactical method, it also uncovers their cultural orientation. This nail-biting nonfiction covers events as recent as 15 September 2004.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Posterity Press (November 5, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0963869574
ISBN-13: 978-0963869579
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,675 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#33 in Books > History > Asia > Afghanistan
#67 in Books > History > Military > Iraq War
#81 in Books > History > Military > Strategy

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's H. John Poole Page

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
As America struggles to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan, it must remember that this region has hosted cultures much older than its own. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
standoff weaponry, thermobaric weapons, strongpoint defense, preparatory fire, machinegun fire, foreign fighters

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press, Lebanese Hezbollah, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Middle East, Afghan Service Bureau, United States, Muslim Brotherhood, Gaza Strip, Sadr Rebellion, Brigadier Yousaf, East Asian, North Vietnamese, Viet Cong, Saddam Hussein, Saudi Arabia, Suvla Bay, Marine Corps Gazette, Soviet-Afghan War, Bekaa Valley, East Baghdad, New York Times, South Waziristan, Ayatollah Khomeini, Party of God

New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 40 books:

The Bear Trap: Afghanistan's Untold Story by Mohammed Yousaf on 8 pages
The Sword and the Olive: A Critical History of the Israeli Defense Force by Martin Van Creveld on 4 pages
The Longest War: The Iran-Iraq Military Conflict by Dilip Hiro on 4 pages
Guerrilla Warfare by Rh Value Publishing in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
The World Held Hostage: The War Waged by International Terrorism by Desmond McForan in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)

See all 40 books this book cites

3 books cite this book:

Militant Tricks: Battlefield Ruses of the Islamic Insurgent by H. John Poole in Front Matter, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Terrorist Trail: Backtracking the Foreign Fighter by H. John Poole in Front Matter, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Information Operations: All Information, All Languages, All the Time by Robert David Steele on page 330

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Militant Tricks by H. John Poole

Discusses:

The Tiger's Way by H. John Poole

Discusses:

Phantom Soldier by H. John Poole

Discusses:

Neo-Conned! Again by D. Liam O'Huallachain

Discusses:

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	72% buy the item featured on this page: Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods 4.5 out of 5 stars (36) $10.17
	9% buy The U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual 4.8 out of 5 stars (24) $10.20
	8% buy Militant Tricks: Battlefield Ruses of the Islamic Insurgent 4.9 out of 5 stars (17) $10.17
	6% buy Light Infantry Tactics: For Small Teams 4.1 out of 5 stars (23) $14.36

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

counterinsurgen cy(15)

military(15)

afghanistan(10)

al qaeda(10)

strategy(10)

war on terror(10)

iraq(9)

tactics(9)

coin(6)

asymmetric(3)

Agree with these tags?

See all 56 tags...

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Reviews

36 Reviews

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (36 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Special Operations must read, October 12, 2005

By	M. Sexton (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having read the book and been impressed with how author join Poole has distilled into a readable and understandable format, the tactics techniques and ideology of muslim fighters, I have gained a perspective on their tactical methods that I did not have or could not have learned by a generalized study.

Gunny Poole has done the hard work of research for the grunt and special operations soldier. It is a book that gives a TACTICAL perspective explaining the subtleties of the eastern (south west asia in this case) tactical mindset.

As a current Special Forces soldier who has been to both Afghanistan and Iraq I RECCOMEND THIS BOOK.

I am also humbled by the experience and knowledge of those here and elsewhere who have reviewed and reccommended Gunny Poole's books and only offer my perspective from a sergeant's and operators viewpoint.

This book is not meant to give a big picture theorist a perspective on middle eastern culture and geo politics. And rightly so. It is a thought provoking and pertinent study for the soldier on the ground. Fighting the militants (insurgent).

No military study is currently availble that gives the tactical mindset and explains it as Mr Poole has. The only other that comes close is Afghan Guerilla war, a series of vignettes in the words of the Afghan mujahideen, which the soldier then has to try to figure out their tactical method within the given context.

Gunny Poole's Book Tactics of the Crescent Moon is better way for soldiers to learn the enemy.

If you want a book about US failures and how our real strategy is land and resource aquisition as one reviewer here lamented about, look elesewhere.

This book is for the guy on the ground who will be doing the fighting and the men that will plan and lead those operations.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

65 of 78 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 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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

13 of 13 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 (Camp Lejeune, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 36 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars I Gave This to a Friend Joining the Army
I gave it to him so he'll be more likely to live if he is shipped to Afghanistan. Here's what I wrote on the inside cover:

Much of what's in this book must be taken... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Al Globus

2.0 out of 5 stars A questionable outlook
I browzed through this tome after studying in Egypt, Israel, Palestine, and Turkey for a semester. Initially I was excited, 4th-generation warfare is an interest of mine, and the... Read more

Published 3 months ago by A. D. Knapp

4.0 out of 5 stars Insrugent Tactics
This is an excellent review and update of current insurgent tactics. Tactics are changing constantly. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Joseph Grebmeier

5.0 out of 5 stars Tactics of the Cresent Moon Outstanding resourse for Law Enformcement and Homeland Security Practitioners
John Poole has written another great book. I read this a couple years back and found this book to be an outstanding resource. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Fred Leland

3.0 out of 5 stars Title a bit misleading
If you are looking for a discussion on the tactics, from an operational sense, of the insurgent fighters in preparation for a deployment as I was you'll be left hanging a little... Read more

Published 6 months ago by George A

5.0 out of 5 stars The Human Factor
"Tactics of the Crescent Moon" by USMC (ret) LTC John Poole is simply the best open source publication regarding militant muslin combat methods. Read more

Published 8 months ago by R. Adrian

3.0 out of 5 stars Tactics of the Crescent Moon
There is a double feeling with this book by Poole. On the one hand, he has managed to point out some interesting facts and characteristics of what he calls 'militant muslim combat... Read more

Published 9 months ago by R. Frakking

5.0 out of 5 stars Book for military and security professionals
The book deserves a place on all national security professionals' bookshelves and a compartment in our warfighting kits. Read more

Published 9 months ago by G. I. Wilson

3.0 out of 5 stars Pooles View on contemporary guerilla warfare - muslim as it happens..-
This book deals with - as the title says - tactics of muslim guerilla warfare. It focuses on contemporary warfare with some historical flashbacks, with the aim of explaining... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Michael Andersson

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading....
The only thing I would add is that while I do not always blindly agree with everything John Poole says, his books should be required reading by all military personnel at all... Read more

Published 13 months ago by R. Friederich

› See all 36 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
history History of the Palestinian Nation?	2454	3 minutes ago
science Why are people here so scientifically illiterate	1111	4 minutes ago
science Global warming is nothing but a hoax and a scare tactic	4195	10 minutes ago
history Holocaust Denial Dissected	4079	12 minutes ago
history The Atomic Bombing of Japan	1712	15 minutes ago
science Rapid evolution in humans	7	50 minutes ago
military Vietnam	73	9 days ago