Since there have been many debates here about counterinsurgency approaches, Tom among others being skeptical of the shift to a hearts-and-minds, don't kill the civilians approach, thought I'd mention a new memior. It's by LTC Nate Sassaman, who commanded a battalion in Iraq in 2004. He was in Odierno's division, which was known then for a tougher approach than Petraeus' division there at the same time, and even for the 4th ID Sassaman's was the most hard line. He was eventually removed when it came out that he'd covered up (and possibly encouraged) some of his men drowning detainees in the Tigris.

The book isn't new, it's 2008, I was just reminded of it by a post at Tom Rick's blog. If you want to read a no-punches-pulled argument for a hard-ass, "make them fear us" approach, his would be worth looking at.

Rick's review:

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/07/28/how_to_lose_in_iraq_two_old_school_memoirs_show_the_way

Book:

http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-King-Betrayal-American-Commander/dp/B0017T0DDM/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Interestingly, Sassaman now advocates immediate US withdrawal from Iraq. Not on peacenik grounds, but instead something more like, "F#ck the Iraqis -- I hope they have a civil war and kill each other".