"Make Them Better Than You" A Marine Sniper's Brutal Truth From Fallujah

Angelo A.J. Piscuti, a Marine veteran and author of *Dark Horse: Harnessing the Hidden Potential in War and in Life*, delivers a raw, unfiltered account of his combat experiences from Fallujah to Iraq’s post-invasion chaos, challenging the narrative that the Iraq War was a failure. He argues that while the war’s aftermath was mismanaged, the military victories—especially the liberation of Iraq and the establishment of its first democratic elections—were real and profound. Piscuti reveals that the true cost of war isn’t just in casualties, but in the moral weight of being a young man who kills, yet still sees himself as a protector. His central message? Leadership isn’t about ego—it’s about making the next generation better than you. He warns that when policymakers fail to define clear objectives, they betray the sacred social contract between the military and the American people. What’s more, he calls for greater trust in military professionals on the ground, especially in the Middle East, where nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are ready for progress—unless Iran continues to block it. Piscuti’s journey—from a self-doubting high school senior to a sniper in Fallujah and later a special operations veteran—becomes a blueprint for resilience. He emphasizes that discomfort is growth, failure is necessary, and true success is measured not by personal achievement, but by how much you elevate others.