In the Shadow of the Swords has been over a decade in the making, with plenty of starts and stops, as well as some detours along the way, including the occasional ‘what the hell, let’s just drop this whole thing.’ America’s effort in Iraq lasted through the presidency of George W. Bush and ended during the presidency of his successor, Barack H. Obama. Legitimate arguments can be made on whether or not we should have ever gone into Iraq. While I dismiss those who chant ‘Bush Lied and People Died’ as nothing more than political hacks, I will give credence to the more thoughtful who argue that mistakes were made and the war could have been better prosecuted. Indeed, mistakes were made, the most egregious in my mind coming early on, when the decision was made that anyone with any connection to the previous regime’s Baathist Party would not be welcome in the new Iraqi police and military forces. This decision helped provide the budding insurgency with a cadre of experienced fighters, who later killed and maimed thousands of members of the U.S. military, other coalition forces, civilian government employees, and private contractors working in Iraq.
The well-publicized ‘surge’, which came much later, created the possibility of Iraq emerging from decades of brutality and war, and becoming a valued partner in the Middle East. Iraq was on the right path, but in my opinion the Obama administration’s policies and strategies in dealing with the Iraqi leadership led that country back to the brink of dissolution, with the potential for Iraq to fall into chaos and anarchy following the rise of the Islamic State. This is without even mentioning the Islamic Republic of Iran asserting control over Iraq, its adversary in a decade-long war that had killed over half a million from both sides.
Finally, I should mention that it was a privilege for me to work alongside some of the finest people from American law enforcement that I have ever encountered. Most I have lost touch with, but there are still a few with whom I have kept an open line of communication. Sadly, some are no longer with us, like Bob Manfreed, my brother from another mother who I lost suddenly several years ago. Not a day goes by that I don’t recall him with fondness. I miss you Brother, but I’ll see you on the other side. Keep the cooler full and iced down!