Ghost Riders of Baghdad is a book of contradictions, and because of this, I have contradictory feelings about it. On one hand, Sjursen is an intelligent and articulate writer with unique insight regarding the Iraqi War and a proper understanding of middle-eastern history. On the other hand, Sjursen is a soldier who has a jaded perspective and ignores some of the facts. It's likely the author is still working through some of his feelings, still sorting through the emotions and the rationalizations, but this book captures that moment and still does a valid job of shining a spotlight on the US invasion of Iraq.

Sjursen knows history. He knows the players on the field and is able to label their sentiments and objectives in detail. He is articulate and well read (interestingly none of the authors he mentions are female). He is assertive. He is able to admit mistakes. And he is bold in his assertion that the war was full of corruption and lapses of judgment.

Despite attacking the war, Sjursen defends the army tooth and nail. Instead, he largely focuses his attack on the civilians at home. He complains about the passivity of the American populace and their ignorance of the war. And while some of his claims are certainly true, Sjursen overgeneralizes considerably, ignoring the protests that united a world against a war. While millions protested, Sjursen was an enlisted soldier. And perhaps those protests dwindled with time, but only because those who protested knew better. They knew there was no stopping the machine once the cogs began to turn—and Sjursen, despite his eventual position on the war, was one of those cogs.

The majority of the author's complaints are in response to “The Surge” and its ineffectuality. Sjursen argues that despite the assurance of government officials, the surge was a failure. He complains about how the soldiers were bullied, forced to extend their stay, because the numbers simply weren't there. He suggests that a draft should have been utilized. Here is a classic example of how confused the author seems to be about the facts. Despite his disagreement with the war, he proposes implementing a draft. Not only does this not make sense, but it ignores the fact that a draft would've worked counter to the goals of the American government. A draft would have taken the blinders off of the American populace. Concerned for the welfare of their non-combative child, the average citizen suddenly would know exactly what was going on in Iraq. Obviously, a draft would've been the quickest way to shut down the war. It would've been Vietnam Part II. That Sjursen, despite his impressive knowledge of Sunni and Shia relations and the history of Iraqi neighborhoods, does not realize the results of forced conscription on the war seems way off.

In my opinion, Sjursen is spot on when he is not ruled by his emotions. Justifiably, he is upset and angry about the results of his time in Iraq. But he's largely placing blame on the wrong people. We were in the streets. We were arguing against the war. We were making music and lifting our voices in protest. For what it's worth, we were here...

Ghost Rid­ers of Bagh­dad: Sol­diers, Civil­ians, and the Myth of the Surge by Daniel A. Sjursen is a non-fiction book about the author’s expe­ri­ence in Iraq. Mr. Sjursen served as an offi­cer in the US Army dur­ing, what is now known, as “the surge” which has been cred­ited by politi­cians as help­ing turn around the war.

Ghost Rid­ers of Bagh­dad: Sol­diers, Civil­ians, and the Myth of the Surge by Daniel A. Sjursen is the author’s account of his time in Iraq. The book really gives a good impres­sion on what it’s like to be “boots on the ground” dur­ing the occupation.

Mr. Sjursen talks about doing the job, how it’s viewed from ground level and what is being sold to the Amer­i­can pub­lic. Lead­ing his men, the author saw the prob­lems that they all faced on the bat­tle­field as well as their own pri­vate hell they faced when return­ing home.

Mr. Sjursen also shares his own per­sonal views about the war, pro­fes­sional sol­der­ing, the ugly busi­ness of man­ag­ing an occu­pa­tion and the even uglier pol­i­tics of insert­ing your­self in the mid­dle of a sec­tar­ian civil war. The author obvi­ously had much love and respect for the men he led and those he served with, he writes beau­ti­fully about each and every one of the, a tes­ta­ment to the his char­ac­ter as well as theirs.

I do agree with the author’s analy­sis that the major­ity of the Amer­i­can peo­ple have no stake in the war, either in blood or trea­sure, which is why there was never major oppo­si­tion to them. While the issues are com­plex and stag­ger­ing, the men on the ground some­times feel, and rightly so, that the Amer­i­can pub­lic is not with them except mean­ing­less faux patri­o­tism gestures.

As well as the per­sonal story, the author does an out­stand­ing job explain­ing the long and com­plex feud between the Sunni and Shia Mus­lims. Any­one who, at least, would like to under­stand this issue and the affect it has on the US troops who are stuck in the mid­dle of it would ben­e­fit from read­ing it.

Above all, this book is unblink­ing and inti­mate, while you might not agree with every­thing the author has to say it is cer­tainly a worth­while read.

Disclaimer: I got this book for free
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Sjursen brings the action in this one. From describing being an accidental soldier to that of dust-filled action of the kill zone, we are able to get the perspective of the inside soldier.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know what it is like to be a pair of boots when 'boots are on the ground' in the Middle East. in Ghost Riders of Baghdad, Daniel Sjursen gives a narrative of his life as an officer leading grunts in Baghdad and the surrounding areas during the famous 'surge'. It is gritty, in your face and brilliantly written. I now KNOW the guys he talks about. I know him.
I wish the 2016 presidential candidates were required to read this book. It isn't about: let's shoot 'em up and win this war; it is about doing the job. The job. ( )

Daniel Sjursen, a West Point graduate has written a very personal story about the Iraq war and the Surge. Experiencing it first hand, he brings in the important perspective of the front line soldier, void of the political chaff of politicians and generals and the claims that we avoided defeat in Iraq. The members of the Ghost Riders platoon saw it all during 2006-07 Surge. He writes of the injustice of the all-volunteer Army, the problems that soldiers face both on the battlefield and at home. He tells it with passion and poignancy. The deaths and injuries to several of his platoon make this book therapy for him—he notes that he can’t forget Iraq. This memoir is a good reminder of what happens when we commit ourselves without an initial clear plan and when we are forced to make adjustments to policy with little care to the consequence, both to our soldiers and civilians of Iraq. We see those results 10 years later in the form of continued war and bloodshed. ( )