Lanterna Rally

Author: Donald Wright

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2008-06-01

Total Pages: 718

ISBN-13: 9781470084097

On Point II: Transition to the New Campaign is the next volume in the US Army's series of studies focused on its operations in Iraq. The first volume, On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom, showcased Army operations in the decisive maneuver phase of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) through April 2003. On Point II begins with President George W. Bush's announcement of the end of major combat on 1 May 2003 and follows the Army's operations through the January 2005 Iraqi elections. In many ways, On Point II is a book the Army did not expect to write because numerous observers, military leaders, and government officials believed, in the euphoria of early April 2003, that US objectives had been achieved and military forces could quickly redeploy out of Iraq. Clearly, those hopes were premature. Like the first volume, On Point II will focus on the US Army within the context of a combined joint campaign and will also chronicle and analyze the Army's efforts across the spectrum of conflict to create a secure and prosperous Iraq. These two volumes share the crucial purpose of telling the US Army's story in OIF, a task that is challenging because of the contemporary nature of the events under scrutiny. As the authors of the first On Point stated in their Preface, "Interpreting history is difficult; interpreting ongoing events is even more difficult." Additionally, just as On Point was not the definitive history of the first phases of OIF, On Point II is not the seminal history of the Army's struggle to transition from decisive combat operations to a new type of campaign in Iraq. More will be written in the future, and readers will come to understand the events of OIF better as time passes; however, for those Soldiers engaged in future campaigns involving full spectrum operations, On Point II will provide initial insights into the Army's experience in OIF. The authors of the first On Point stated their goal was "to kindle the discussion on what happened and why." Ultimately, that is the goal of On Point II as well.