---
product_id: 57713100
title: "Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State"
brand: "carter malkasian"
price: "€ 41.34"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 7
url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/57713100-illusions-of-victory-the-anbar-awakening-and-the-rise-islamic
store_origin: IE
region: Ireland
---

# Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State

**Brand:** carter malkasian
**Price:** € 41.34
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State by carter malkasian
- **How much does it cost?** € 41.34 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/57713100-illusions-of-victory-the-anbar-awakening-and-the-rise-islamic)

## Best For

- carter malkasian enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted carter malkasian brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State

## Images

![Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719pSjyqFSL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    A Book based on Actual Experiences on the Ground, Offering Convincing Arguments
  

*by T***A on Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2017*

This is a fascinating book that looks into an important question that has, surprisingly, gained limited attention: Was the Anbar Awakening/ Surge a success? The Surge and the revival of the Counterinsurgency(COIN) doctrine in the 2000s have triggered numerous debates on its effects. However, the chain of events in the 2010s, most importantly the rise of ISIS in Iraq, demand us to reassess the Surge, particularly in Anbar Province the heart of the Sunni insurgency. As the tile of the book illuminates, the author offers readers a cautious assessment of the Anbar Awakening, seeking to explain why the success of the Surge was short-lived, as someone who was in Anbar right before the surge.The uniqueness of the author's writings, including his previous book, " War Comes to Garmsar" is his actual experience in these conflict zones as an academic and practitioner and his ability to immerse himself to the local customs. The center of gravity of Counterinsurgency operations is to "Win Hearts and Minds". Understanding local dynamics, therefore, would be a crucial part of successfully conducting counterinsurgency. In that regard, the author's arguments are solidly supported by what he saw and heard on the ground making his argument that U.S.intervention into Iraq had a detrimental impact on the country's security convincing. This book is, thus, a great read for anyone interested in understanding the rise of ISIS and the security challenges in the region.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Great write-up of the misunderstood success of the "surge" which ...
  

*by W***K on Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2018*

Great write-up of the misunderstood success of the "surge" which masked the ongoing base of support for Islamic State ideology, values and personnel in Iraq. Underestimating this support led to the faltering of Iraqi security forces in the summer of 2014. Could have benefited from bringing in Arabic sources to strengthen the book's main point.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    An important insight
  

*by K***R on Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2019*

Many believe Iraq was 'unwinnable', a foregone conclusion.This book shows how it could have been saved - was almost saved - as late as 2007-2008. This, perhaps, makes the story even more tragic.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ie/products/57713100-illusions-of-victory-the-anbar-awakening-and-the-rise-islamic](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/57713100-illusions-of-victory-the-anbar-awakening-and-the-rise-islamic)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Ireland*
*Store origin: IE*
*Last updated: 2026-02-12*