I think the author hit the perfect point in time to bring light upon this battle, with the survivors still alive and young enough to have precise memories of what happened but also distanced enough to speak clearly without fear of disciplinary, or other kinds, of retribution.

This precise timing is rightly exploited with an exhaustive research of books, articles, oral histories and the numerous interviews conducted by the author with the survivors. The result is a very detailed account of the battle that despite the amount of information that it presents is an easy read.

Another plus for this book is that it reflects poor leadership or other mistakes, as the Saudis multiple blunders or American blue on blue accidents, instead of just being another Fox News toned hagiography of American servicemen.

If anything one could complain about the book being written too much from the point of view of junior officers, the author was one in the Marine Corps at a different time, but all writers have a point of view that they can never escape completely. ( )

Storm on the Horizon turned out to be an unexpected gem of an account of modern warfare. The author, a Marine himself, is an outstanding researcher and storyteller, and puts the reader right in the middle of the battle in and around Khafji, Saudi Arabia. No extra fluff, no added drama, just he raw recollections of the men who witnessed and participated in thwarting the large mechanized Iraqi raid across the border prior to the Allied invasion of Kuwait in the first Gulf War. An excellent read for any warfare history buff. Four and one-half stars. ( )