ABSTRACT
Army field-grade officers serving in the northwest Iraq town of Tal Afar demonstrated an unusual brand of leadership that transformed the war's trajectory. These officers exhibited not only the classic aspects of strategic leadership, but also the unique characteristics of outstanding transformational leaders. Getting it right in Tal Afar from mid-2005 to mid-2006 set the stage for the shift in momentum that occurred for American forces in all of western Iraq, particularly Ramadi, in 2007. Extraordinary vision allowed these leaders to see beyond the tactical elements of a complex security environment. Strategic leaders in western Iraq demonstrated the ability to craft "smart power" strategies that utilized nonkinetic aspects of American military power. Empathy allowed these leaders to adjust their strategies to win the support of the local population and tribal leaders. And the best strategic leaders in Tal Afar complemented these traits with a deep creative streak allowing them to cope with limited resources and derive solutions to complex problems.
