Product Description
"One moment, I was standing there with my buddies unloading a truck. The next moment, my ears picked up the distinct `pssst' sound homing in on us....

"Hit the ground!" someone yelled.

"Right behind the first mortar was a second, then a third, then a fourth. They each slammed into the earth with an enormous impact. The ground shook. The eight-story building above us shuddered, and we all covered our heads when the windows blew out.

"As I lay there with glass and debris raining down on me, all I could think was, `Holy sh*t, what did I get myself into?'"

President Bush is fond of saying, "When Iraq can stand up, America can stand down." A large part of "standing up" is having a well-trained police force in place to maintain peace and order.

Why is it taking so long to put a solid police force together? How prepared are the Iraqis to carry out their duties? What pitfalls are Americans facing as they try to get Iraqi police up to speed?

In this book Robert Cole--a retired California police officer hired by DynCorp as an international police trainer--presents a vivid account of the challenges of training the Iraqis to handle their own security. In blunt, everyday language, Cole gives the reader an unusually candid and often hair-raising glimpse into reality at the street level as he and his colleagues navigate the dangerous sectors of Baghdad, Tikrit, and Kirkuk, dodging explosions and bullets aimed at them by young, Iraqi, wannabe heroes.

Cole describes situations not shown in the media that fly in the face of the party line from Washington: men in their sixties being hired as policemen, Iraqi detectives who extract information from people by ramming toothpicks under their fingernails, officers suggesting that the best way to subdue potential suspects who flee is by shooting them in the back, police hunkered down in their barracks who refuse to patrol neighborhoods for fear of violence, an enemy that easily blends into a population armed to the teeth with loaded AK-47s, and the routine frustrations of cultural and language barriers to communication.

In sharp contrast to the usual bromides about staying the course, Under the Gun in Iraq paints a brutally realistic picture of the bleak, perilous road ahead. This is essential reading for all Americans seeking an honest understanding of the dire situation in Iraq. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Insightful look into the situation in Iraq
I used this book as a first hand account in a paper for my intermediate writing class. I though it was a great first hand account to offset the scholarly research papers I have been reading about the police training in Iraq - the book gave feeling and realism to a situation that is often misunderstood. I appreciate the work of our soldiers more now that I have read for myself a little of the situation across the world in Iraq.

Iraq is not the US
Mr Cole has written a nice little story book about Iraq. I believe the only thing he knew about Iraq was, it is hot in the summer and the people spoke a differant language.
As a former Army MP,Police Officer and Contract worker in Kuwait,I knew going in that persons from from arab countries did things very differant.
After 3 months of living in Kuwait, I was never surprised at the things I saw.
Mr Cole never seemed to understand that. He just asummed that all police do and act like police from the USA. From basic police patroling to investagation work. They just spent 30 some years under a dictator rule, they were not police officers, they were security officers. To keep ones job and life they had to keep their mouths shut and play the game.
If you go to any county to work,learn about the culture and it's people 1st. It will make your life and job so much more enjoyable.
I am glad that I did not buy this book,it was a gift. If you want to read it, get a used discounted or library copy.

credible account - highly recommended
I found nothing in the book that was slightest bit unbelievable. It takes a certain amount of courage to tell the truth regarding Iraq when there are so many powerful (and well-armed) people wedded to comfortable (and profitable) lies and delusions. Other reviewers claim that Robert Cole is lying or distorting. Well, fine, - but why? Where's his profit? Nothing he has to say is the slightest bit sensational or an expose likely to increase sales of his book.

Loved it!
I love this book!This book was sent to me by someone in the Military Police in Iraq as a slice of life over there.It was fascinating.In fact it was a 'can't put it down' page turner.I highly recommend it.The only problem is that better editing is needed to correct spelling errors, very amature indeed.

Excellent, involving reading
Author Robert Cole is a retired police officer and international police trainer, who adds his technical insights to this story of training Iraquis in handling security challenges. His survey of the realities of life in Iraq and the challenges facing local police offers an unusual stark, realistic portrait of daily life in the country, plenty of insights into why traditional Western strategies won't work, and makes for excellent, involving reading suitable not just for military libraries but for any strong in Middle East culture. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Air & Space Power Journal, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2006. The length of the article is 4146 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Air Force's missing doctrine: how the US Air Force ignores counterinsurgency.
Author: Kenneth Beebe
Publication: Air & Space Power Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 20Issue: 1Page: 27(8)

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US Army, Technical Manual, TM 5-4320-305-10, PUMP UNIT, CENTRIFUGAL, HOSELINE, 600 GPM DED, MODEL US612ACD-1, (NSN 4320-01-193-3429), military manauals, special forces, military manuals on dvd, military manuals on cd
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This course provides information on the responsibilities of the intelligence officer. It covers the aspects of intelligence needed to be an effective intelligence officer.You will be able to conduct intelligence training, intelligence planning, combat reconnaissance and surveillance, analysis of the area operation, and procure and distribute maps. ... Read more

Product Description
This study considers the creation of a high-end police force for use in stability operations, examining its ideal size, how responsive it needs to be, where in the government to locate it, its needed capabilities, its proper staffing, and its cost. A 6,000-person force--created in the U.S. Marshals Service and whose officers are seconded to domestic police agencies when not deployed--would be the most effective of the options considered. ... Read more

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US Army, Technical Manual, TM 55-1520-247-CL, OPERATORS AND CREWMEMBERS CHECKLIST, ARMY MODELS EH-1H/X HELI,

SCOPE. This checklist contains the operator's and crewmember's checks to be
accomplished during normal and emergency operations. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from APS Diplomat Recorder, published by Arab Press Service on October 11, 2008. The length of the article is 762 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: IRAQ - Oct 5 - 11 Die As US Force Raids House In Iraq.
Author: Unavailable
Publication: APS Diplomat Recorder (Newsletter)
Date: October 11, 2008
Publisher: Arab Press Service
Volume: 71Issue: 16

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Product Description
This digital document is an article from APS Diplomat Recorder, published by Pam Stein/Input Solutions on October 9, 2004. The length of the article is 534 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: IRAQ - Oct 3 - US And Iraqi Troops Consolidate Hold On Samarra.
Publication: APS Diplomat Recorder (Newsletter)
Date: October 9, 2004
Publisher: Pam Stein/Input Solutions
Volume: 61Issue: 14

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This digital document is an article from APS Diplomat Strategic Balance in the Middle East, published by Arab Press Services on May 8, 2006. The length of the article is 703 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: IRAQ - The Challenges Of Terrorism - Part 9 - The US Strategy.(embassies)
Publication: APS Diplomat Strategic Balance in the Middle East (Newsletter)
Date: May 8, 2006
Publisher: Arab Press Services
Volume: 51Issue: 5

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This digital document is an article from Sojourners Magazine, published by Thomson Gale on November 1, 2006. The length of the article is 1203 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Who will protect us from him?(George W. Bush)
Author: Jim Wallis
Publication: Sojourners Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 35Issue: 10Page: 5(2)

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This digital document is an article from APS Diplomat Recorder, published by Pam Stein/Input Solutions on June 4, 2005. The length of the article is 483 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: ARAB-US RELATIONS - Jun 1 - US Warns Countries Not To Aid Zarqawi.(Abu Musab al Zarqawi)
Publication: APS Diplomat Recorder (Newsletter)
Date: June 4, 2005
Publisher: Pam Stein/Input Solutions
Volume: 62Issue: 22

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