Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods by H. John Poole

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 technological capabilities. Even if those analysts did want to tactically assess their vast quantities of information, most lack the infantry and historical background to do so. This book fills the 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) in the Middle East. It is a heavily researched, well-illustrated, and spell-binding account of how Muslim militants fight. While the book mainly delves into their tactical method, it also covers their cultural orientation.