PUBLISHED/Chicago Review Press memoir/military
Brooklyn to Baghdad: An NYPD Intelligence Cop Fights Terror in Iraq
Christopher Strom with Jerome Preisler and Michael Benson
"If you don't understand how important a weapon on-the-ground intelligence and interrogation—or, as Christopher Strom might put it, 'talking'— can be, you need to read this book. 'Phoenix' and similar intel programs played an important role in Iraq and will continue to do so in any future conflict; here they are presented at ground level. Brooklyn to Baghdad illuminates a part of modern warfare rarely mentioned in history books, let alone news accounts of war. Its warts-and-more portrayal of personalities is refreshing. Its candid discussion not only of problems but of the dilemmas and ethics, or occasional lack thereof, of contemporary policing and military intelligence gathering makes it more than just a page-turner, though it is that, too. Strom, Preisler, and Benson have added an important book to the post-9/11 oeuvre."
—Jim DeFelice, coauthor of American Sniper, Every Man a Hero, and other bestsellers
"Terse, detailed account of a no-nonsense cop's time running interrogations in Iraq. ...A cynical but unique viewoint on the Iraq War."
--Kirkus Reviews
"...A highly informative glimpse into the cat and mouse side of counterterrorism."
--Booklist
"An inherently fascinating, even riveting read from cover to cover, Brooklyn to Baghdad: An NYPD Intelligence Cop Fights Terror in Iraq is an extraordinary and impressively informative memoir..."
--Midwest Book Review
How the no-nonsense approach of a streetwise NYPD intelligence sergeant helped develop the most successful counter-insurgency group in Iraq
Brooklyn to Baghdad is the true story of a retired NYPD intelligence sergeant applying his street-cop tactics and interrogation skills against a lethal insurgency that had infected Iraq. A group of retired Special Forces soldiers and law enforcement experts came together to form the counterinsurgency group codenamed "Phoenix Team." Exposing the corruption of both the Iraqi and US governments, the team faced serious setbacks and challenges. Brooklyn to Baghdad shows the effectiveness of Phoenix Team, their ability to process forensic evidence and human intelligence gleaned through interrogations at the point of capture to provide direct targeting for follow-on missions. This memoir also illustrates the politics of Washington, DC, and the US Army in the war-fighting effort, which continually hampered complete success while simultaneously preserving career aspirations. Throughout are many humorous and emotional anecdotes that reveal the men behind the missions and the toll the theater of war takes on real human lives
—Jim DeFelice, coauthor of American Sniper, Every Man a Hero, and other bestsellers
"Terse, detailed account of a no-nonsense cop's time running interrogations in Iraq. ...A cynical but unique viewoint on the Iraq War."
--Kirkus Reviews
"...A highly informative glimpse into the cat and mouse side of counterterrorism."
--Booklist
"An inherently fascinating, even riveting read from cover to cover, Brooklyn to Baghdad: An NYPD Intelligence Cop Fights Terror in Iraq is an extraordinary and impressively informative memoir..."
--Midwest Book Review
How the no-nonsense approach of a streetwise NYPD intelligence sergeant helped develop the most successful counter-insurgency group in Iraq
Brooklyn to Baghdad is the true story of a retired NYPD intelligence sergeant applying his street-cop tactics and interrogation skills against a lethal insurgency that had infected Iraq. A group of retired Special Forces soldiers and law enforcement experts came together to form the counterinsurgency group codenamed "Phoenix Team." Exposing the corruption of both the Iraqi and US governments, the team faced serious setbacks and challenges. Brooklyn to Baghdad shows the effectiveness of Phoenix Team, their ability to process forensic evidence and human intelligence gleaned through interrogations at the point of capture to provide direct targeting for follow-on missions. This memoir also illustrates the politics of Washington, DC, and the US Army in the war-fighting effort, which continually hampered complete success while simultaneously preserving career aspirations. Throughout are many humorous and emotional anecdotes that reveal the men behind the missions and the toll the theater of war takes on real human lives
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Chris Strom is a former US Marine and retired sergeant with the NYPD Intelligence Division. In October 2007, Chris was recruited by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), a government agency that devised top-secret strategies for combating IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the lead tactical debriefing officer, he participated in over 110 combat missions and 91 captures of high-value targets (HVTs) in southern Iraq and performed more than 200 battlefield interrogations. Chris is married with two children and lives in Roanoke, Virginia.
Jerome Preisler is a native New Yorker who has written forty published books of fiction and narrative nonfiction, including all eight titles in the number-one New York Times bestselling Tom Clancy's Power Plays series. He is also the author of the bestselling Net Force series (created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik).
Michael Benson is one of today's most popular true-crime writers, whose books include Escape from Dannemora, Nightmare in Rochester, Killer Twins, and The Devil at Genesee Junction. He is originally from Rochester, New York.
Chris Strom is a former US Marine and retired sergeant with the NYPD Intelligence Division. In October 2007, Chris was recruited by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), a government agency that devised top-secret strategies for combating IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the lead tactical debriefing officer, he participated in over 110 combat missions and 91 captures of high-value targets (HVTs) in southern Iraq and performed more than 200 battlefield interrogations. Chris is married with two children and lives in Roanoke, Virginia.
Jerome Preisler is a native New Yorker who has written forty published books of fiction and narrative nonfiction, including all eight titles in the number-one New York Times bestselling Tom Clancy's Power Plays series. He is also the author of the bestselling Net Force series (created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik).
Michael Benson is one of today's most popular true-crime writers, whose books include Escape from Dannemora, Nightmare in Rochester, Killer Twins, and The Devil at Genesee Junction. He is originally from Rochester, New York.
