Degrade and Destroy

The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump

By: Michael R. Gordon

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

"This is the ultimate insider's view of perhaps the darkest chapter of the Forever Wars. Michael Gordon knows everyone, was seemingly everywhere, and brings a lifetime of brilliant reporting to telling this crucial story." —Retired U.S. Navy admiral James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of To Risk it All: Nine Crises and the Crucible of Decision

An essential account of the struggle against ISIS—and of how Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden have waged war.

In the summer of 2014, President Barack Obama faced an unwelcome surprise: insurgents from the Islamic State had seized the Iraqi city of Mosul and proclaimed a new caliphate, which they were ruling with an iron fist and using to launch terrorist attacks abroad. After considerable deliberation, President Obama sent American troops back to Iraq. The new mission was to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIS, primarily by advising Iraqi and Syrian partners who would do the bulk of the fighting and by supporting them with airpower and artillery. More than four years later, the caliphate had been dismantled, the cities of Mosul and Raqqa lay in ruins, and several thousand U.S. troops remained to prevent ISIS from making a comeback. The “by, with, and through” strategy was hailed as a template for future campaigns. But how was the war actually fought? What were the key decisions, successes, and failures? And what was learned?

In Degrade and Destroy, the bestselling author and Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war’s most guarded secrets.

Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war—delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon’s book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

©2022 Michael R. Gordon (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Rare in depth Historical Accuracy

The absolute read on the defeat of ISISIL/ISIS in Iraq & Raqqua Syria. Extensive views of all parties civil & military. The inner trials & tribulations that our Military Commanders & Soldiers have to work with.
This operation of 7 years had a total 20 U.S. casualties, truly remarkable. And that the Iraqi military is capable with good leadership & assistance.

When will we learn…

Great analysis and review of the complex and complicated decision making processes that went into addressing a threat that continues to evolve and influence how the United States conducts its national security and foreign policy. This book illustrates how there is no level of genius or strategic planning that can undo mistaken, passive, or idiotic leadership. This books is an excellent follow up to Cobra II. History repeats itself over and over. Again, when will we learn…never.

Detailed is an understatement

A comprehensive dissertation on a forgotten war. It may have a tad too many military details for some.

Very informative!

This book came across my path in my coffee shop experience and I decided to give the audio a try since I'm a slow reader. The author/reporter gives a very detailed understanding of everything that goes on behind the scenes. You don't see unbiased reporting like this now days. In addition to the 100 pages of footnotes/references is a credit to the thorough job and explanation of a complex situation that occurred over many years in the Middle East. I can't recommend it enough.

Excellent dive into the history of the Islamic State

I would think this has to be the most detailed and comprehensive book out there on the war between the “Coalition” and it’s partners and ISIS; well researched and narrated too. However, my one criticism is that it could’ve benefited from more context on the YPG, SDF and the Syrian side of things in general. It’s clear that the author knows a lot about and probably specializes on the Iraq War and US presence in that country, and this provides for an extremely well researched side of things on the Iraq-focused chapters. While I’d say that the Syrian side of the book is relatively very well researched, that side of topic itself is still generally a lot more obscure than the Iraqi side and is usually only touched on vaguely in American media, so it requires a bit more research by the reader to paint a clear picture. That being said I learned a lot all around and will probably listen to it again.