Product Description
The recent wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan have generated gripping coverage from some of our most accomplished writers and correspondents, and Boots on the Ground collects the best new writing about our troops in the field. They include Mike Sager, who profiles marines training in the California desert for war in Afghanistan; John Laurence, who follows the elite 101st Airborne into a firefight at Baghdad airport; Evan Wright, who files a dispatch from Afghanistan with Canadian and American reconnaissance teams; Peter Boyer and David Levine, who explore the resignation of U.S. Marine Reserve Corps Major Scott Ritter from the United Nations arms inspection team sent to Iraq. These writers' stories offer new and deeper perspectives on the challenges and setbacks our soldiers face in modern combat, and together create a gripping portrait of the front lines in the ongoing war against terrorism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very liberal anti-war slant
Not at all balanced. While there were a few articles that appeared neutral in their coverage, most went out of their way to denounce Bush and paint soldiers in a less than complimentary light. Namely, articles from NY Times, The Guardian, The LA Times and the San Francisco Chronicle were simply biased and appeared to espouse a specific agenda. Don't waste time with this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The Iran-Iraq War, which ended in August 1988, one month short of its eighth anniversary, was one of the longest, bloodiest and costliest Third World armed conflicts in the twentieth century. Professor Karsh addresses the causes of the Iran-Iraq War, unpacking the objectives of the two belligerents and examining how far objectives were matched by strategy. He assesses the war's military lessons regarding such key areas as strategy, tactics and escalation and in particular the use of non-conventional weapons, Finally, he examines the utility of armed force as an instrument of foreign policy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

good
A good overview of a war that was never taught about in my high school. great photos and loved the portrait of a child soldier.

Good Source for History and Politics of the War
The historical content and political analysis in the book is so much in line with the way the war was perceived by the media and general public in many countries in the Middle East.

On the other hand, the analysis of the strategy and grand strategy of the war on page 84 is erroneous, and contradicts the basic principles of the theory of strategy.This part of the book shows lack of understanding of the theory of strategy. That is, the analysis is in favor of a general military operation, rather than a limited operation, which is strategically incorrect based on the conclusion that Iraq's limited military operation failed. What really makes the war analysis not convincing is the conclusion that a limited war failed and a general war might also have failed if Iraq pursued it. Added to that, the Iranian strategy was not discussed. The analysis also gives contradicting concepts about the reason behind the failure of Iraq's strategy.In one paragraph the reason is said to be Iraq was trying to "bite off more than it could chew", and in another paragraph the failure of Iraq's strategy was because Iraq "assigned to its military forces tasks which were too limited".

In analyzing any offensive, the author criticized the army that failed to achieve its goals and the army that succeeded by saying it could have achieved more. This type of analysis is the theme of the strategic analysis in the book.

Too biased for the series
The essential histories series is supposed to provide brief, readable accounts of major wars.The inherent problem with this idea is that often times the wars being discussed are much too complex to be covered in substantially less than 100 pages.That doesn't mean the series is without value, but that it should only be used as a first step towards understanding a subject, not the only step.The biggest drawback in this particular installment is that the lack of background info really robs the reader of valuable context.Even though the amount of space devoted to the Iran-Iraq war in one of the general Iraqi history books like Tripp's or Marr's is considerably less, the coverage is ultimately better because of the back story of the 70s that created many of the necessary conditions for the war.Beyond that however, Karsh's book provides a limited and somewhat helpful overview of the military and political aspects that influenced the war.

Karsh's book on the Iran-Iraq war not only suffers from only skimming the surface of a complex subject, but there is also a fairly obvious pro-Iraqi bias.If someone had absolutely no background in Middle Eastern history, they would come away with the impression that Iraq was completely blameless, when in fact Iraq initially began the war.When compared with the accounts of the war in other works on Iraqi and Iranian history, Karsh's version stands alone in its willingness to absolve Iraq of any wrongdoing.Considering that the series is supposed to provide an introduction to the conflict, this type of bias is really misplaced.The editors should have taken a serious pass at Karsh's finished version or had someone else write this particular installment.

The Cliff Notes of military history
The "Essential Histories" series from Osprey could easily be compared to the Cliff Notes series.They'll give you a nice introduction to a topic you are not familiar with, but no real depth.Most volumns are under 100 pages; therefore, don't expect many "man in the trenches" stories.

This volumn is a nice introduction to a recent war, and presented a bit better than most in the series.

Superficial
This is one of the few volumes to cover a sadly under-reported war. While it would be a good introduction to someone unfamiliar with the conflict, it is a bit shallow for those who already know a little. Karsh does a good job of analyzing the motives and thinking of both sides, without comment on the ethics of either. I found Dilip Hiro's book more informative. Even though Hiro is frankly trying to make a political point, there is a lot of hard data there if you are willing to sift it out.


The coverage of particular battles was sketchy, and the typical short format of Osprey precludes a lot of analysis and documentation. The Iran-Iraq war has yet to be described or analyzed by someone of the stature of David Glanz. Therefore, this book gets more stars than I would normally award, simply because there are so few other book worth reading on the Iran-Iraq war. ... Read more

Product Description
This book's innovative approach makes it an important intervention into the field of modern Iraqi and Arab history. Samira Haj's discussion of the factors that led to, and paradoxically caused the failure of, the 1958 revolution in Iraq forms the framework for her critique of conventional Eurocentric notions of nationalism, revolution, and modernity. Haj explains the pervasive violence of Iraq's political scene not by invoking ageless images of sectarian strife and irrational bloodlust but by showing that the violent political battles of the 1950s and 1960s were the result of fundamental changes in the system of ownership and agricultural production during the nineteenth century. Furthermore, she shows that the national government's smashing of the popular movement and the dismantling of its various grassroots organizations in 1963 signified the beginning of the end of participatory politics in Iraq. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essential history of the Iraqi predicament
This author has succeeded in explainingand elucidating a very difficultand prickly subject in an eloquent and easy flowing manner. She states thefacts simply and honestly and has produced a book that was difficult to putdown. The text read smoothly unimpeded by the difficult Arabic namescleverly gathered in the notes at the end.On the other hand these noteswill be an absolute delight for readers familiar with the names or even thepeople themselves.I spent a long lime leafing through these notes andremembering a great deal. I am most indebted to the author for educatingand enlightening me about the most important factors and events thatgoverned my own life.Until reading this book I had been unclear of theintricate details of what had happened then in Iraq.I recommend this bookto anyone who would really like to understand the Iraq of today and itsbeleaguered people.Without understanding Iraq's recent history it wouldbe impossible to even begin to fathom its unfortunate present.Most of allI strongly recommend this book to the Iraqi expatriates.As I was racingthrough the pages of this book, I was transported back in time and mymemory brought alive many of the scenes witnessed as a child growing inrevolutionary Iraq.I could almost hear again the chants and slogans thatwere ringing all over Baghdad and see again the pictures on the televisionscreen of the abhorrent " Peoples Court of Justice".I cannot wait for myson to grow up to read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The twentieth century witnessed the transformation of the area known currently as Iraq from a backward region of the Ottoman Empire, to one of the most important and dynamic states in the Middle East. This book focuses on the interaction between the old and the new, or between continuity and change, as it is manifested in the nature of social development, nation-building, the state and the political opposition The author examines the rise of modern Iraq and its roots in the second half of the nineteenth century when Ottoman reforms led to gradual state modernization and increasing integration in the World Economy. British control after World War I is examined as one of the major determining factors in the establishment of the current borders of the country and the nature of its subsequent national identity. The other important factor explored is the highly heterogeneous nature of Iraqi society and its division along tribal, ethnic, religious, and sectarian lines.Readers wanting a background to current events in Iraq and the Middle East ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Excellent Brief and Balanced Account
This is the best brief book on Iraq and its history as it tells the story of this country starting with its pre-Islamic times of the Sessanids and going well into modern day. The brilliance of this book is based on two factors. First, its choice of what to highlight and what to leave out was extremely successful and relevant for those who want to read history to understand modern day Iraq, and second, its dependency on the bottom lines of reliable secondary sources instead of amassing a big number of quotes from primary sources in order to make a point or two.
The choice of what to cover and how to cover events from Iraq's history yielded this extremely helpful book that brings 5000 years of history into this concise and brief book.
Abdullah's style is extremely catching and flows with practically no repetition. Unlike most history books on the subject, Abdullah economizes with the number of names and dates that he included in the book in order not to distract the reader's attention by bombarding him/her with an unlimited number of often irrelevant names.
Furthermore, Abdullah maintains much needed objectivity when telling Iraq's story at the time most of history books on the Middle East are loaded with prejudice and either explicit or hidden propaganda.
Other valuable insights include Abdullah's tracing of the regional influence on Iraq, both from the Sunni Arab West and the Shiite Persian East. Abdullah also writes with the current internal Iraqi divisions in mind and as you finish the book, you will certainly end up with the impression that history repeats itself.

Iraq - The Original Melting Pot
Grasping to make some sense of the chaos that is today's Iraq, I found A Short History of Iraq by T.A.J. Abdullah to be a throroughly engaging and enlightening read.Concise and with no apparent ax to grind Abdullah helps the inquiring reader gain some clarity to questions like "Who are these people of the Garden of Eden, caught betwen the Persians and the Turks?"What is the attraction of the poor of Baghdad to figures like Muqtada al-Sadr?What are the roles of Imams and shaykhs? How do the lingering shadows of the Ottoman Empire give a modern basis to the strife between Shi'i and Sunni.What is so important about Najaf and Karbala,why does everyone seem so contentious and why were the British so anxious to move back into Basra as the invasion wound down.After reading Professor Abdullah's book, today's chaos will seem no less chaotic. Taking account of two thousand years of turbulent history, however, gives one a feeling of empathy for the people civilizaton's oldest melting pot, and maybe a grain of hope.

I would recommend A Short History of Iraq to anyone who longs for a better understanding or feels compelled to offer an opinion on what he sees on the evening news, not the least of whom might be the commentators.I would like to say "Thank you" to Professor Abudllah for his timely work. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Unfiltered look at modern warfare
This book represents an unfiltered look at the experience of war as witnessed by a company commander in Iraq. The writing is not in a style a professional writer would use and that makes it better. There isn't a lot of extended description - just a telling of the facts most of the time. It stays focused on what a commander has to think about rather than on descriptions of sunsets on the desert. As a reader I was reassured by this.

The humor is often sublime and comes from the practical nature of Mr. Brown's thinking. For example, when the armor commanders in his mechanized unit suggest beefing up security during early morning hours (even though there was very little probability of attack) Major Brown suggest instead of putting rangers on the perimeter they just conduct life fire ranging exercises with his thinking being "I don't think anyone would prove a mechanized company doing live fire training." The break from the Field Manual way of doing things produces the humor.

Besides military jargon which the book is rife with, there is also a casual use of colloquialism. While not the mark of a professional writer it does add color and probably reflects how Major Brown actually speaks in person. It adds a lot of human element to the writing.

My own grandfather spoke extensively about his experience in the Central Pacific during WWII as a Seabee. Oddly, I reread many of his comments in Major Brown's book. Apparently there are common experiences in all wars. For me it improved my sense that this book was telling the real story of the Iraq war. The difference may be generational, but my grandfather was less sarcastic in his telling his story. His was also unfiltered and at one point the war deeply changed for him driving him to pessimism and one could argue poor discipline. Major Brown is already a bit of a pessimist to start with but one with a practical view on soldiering. All of his surprises are good ones. I think the best lesson of the book is the practical application of pessimism - how to survive through it, how to understand any situation through it and how to get of the war on it.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a real take on warfare. It is just as applicable to any other modern war as it is to the Iraq war. For the soldier the lessons at the end offer fantastic advice. The book was suggested to me by a Major and good friend who is off to Afghanistan.

Todd Brown
I had to have a book were I knew the author not often that happens.

Iraq Close Up
Whether you agree with the war or not, this book will enable you to experience the daily operations of an Army combat company.These men spent time in Samarra, an active part of the Sunni Triangle and were responsible for pacifying the area.The story brings you the good, bad and ugly of their experience and illustrates the bravery of those directly involved with the Iraqis in the first year of the war.
You will need to use the glossary of terms in the back frequently unless you are already in the military.Good reading for those thinking of enlisting.The real thing, not glorified. ... Read more

Product Description
"America had a secret weapon," writes Steve Call of the period immediately following September 11, 2001, as planners contemplated the invasion of Afghanistan. This weapon consisted of small teams of Special Forces operatives trained in close air support (CAS) who, in cooperation with the loose federation of Afghan rebels opposed to the Taliban regime, soon began achieving impressive--and unexpected--military victories over Taliban forces and the al-Qaeda terrorists they had sponsored. The astounding success of CAS tactics coupled with ground operations in Afghanistan soon drew the attention of military decision makers and would eventually factor into the planning for another campaign: Operation Iraqi Freedom.

But who, exactly, are these air power experts and what is the function of the TACPs (Tactical Air Control Parties) in which they operate? Danger Close provides a fascinating look at a dedicated, courageous, innovative, and often misunderstood and misused group of military professionals.

Drawing on the gripping first-hand accounts of their battlefield experiences, Steve Call allows the TACPs to speak for themselves. He accompanies their narratives with informed analysis of the development of CAS strategy, including potentially controversial aspects of the interservice rivalries between the air force and the army which have at times complicated and even obstructed the optimal employment of TACP assets. Danger Close makes clear, however, that the systematic coordination of air power and ground forces played an invaluable supporting role in the initial military victories in both Afghanistan and Iraq. This first-ever examination of the intense, life-and-death world of the close air support specialist will introduce readers to a crucial but little-known aspect of contemporary warfare and add a needed chapter in American military history studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Amazing!
As a member of our USAF and knowing several TACP Airmen, this book really put into light what exactly TACP's really are. So many people forget about how Air on Armour happens and its about time the ROMADS get the credit they rightfully deserve.

Awesome Book
So, I bought this book for a friend who is a ROMAD. He recently crossed trained into the job and thought it would be an interesting read since he will be deploying overseas in the future. I hadn't planned on reading the book myself. But as soon as I got it, I couldn't help but open it up and read it, and I'm glad I did.This book is awesome. It has helped me understand what he's doing and what he's talking about when we talk about his job. It makes me realize what a great asset he is to the military and how special he is to be doing what he always wanted. This book shows the obstacles and triumphs that TACP has had to overcome over the years. I have true appreciation for thier duties. I totally recommend this book!

All about TACP's
Okay, it looks like I'm the first to review this thing and it's a pretty good read. As a younger TACP, I found this book very informative. The author is a former Air Laison Officer. The author briefly talks about our "twilight worlds" where we're "held at arms length by the Air Force" and "not fully embraced by the Army" that we live with everyday. This book, at times, reads like a collection of events from the initial invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq told by TACP's in their own words. Among the numerous topics covered are the virtues of Close Air Support, the difference CAS makes on the battlefield, how TACP's are often misused by the Army, how reluctant the Army is to use TACP's, how CAS has saved the Army numerous times, and how TACP's always improvise and overcome obstacles to do our job. It talks about our fallen brothers and their sacrifices. It addresses the problems within the job and how in the past of TACP's, we were largely ignored before the war and how the future needs to be better as the battlefield evolves into the Joint atmosphere. There're about 2-3 years of war covered in the book, so it's a lot to address here. If you're a TACP, ALO, Army officer, or anyone curious as to what TACP's are or have done in the last two wars, buy this book. The book doesn't really offer any real solutions to the TACP problems it mentions, but I guess if you you at least identify the problem, that's a good start.

Quiet Professionals
This was an exellent look into an Air Force most Airmen do not even know about.The book was well written and provides a look at how all of those bombs fall on time on target.

The TACP's are smart, dedicated, Airmen that find ways to get air cover over our ground forces and save counless lives.More books like Danger Close need to be written about our forces that show the heroes that our men really are.

Great Book
This is really a great book, hard to put down at times.You can see the battles through the eyes of the people that were there.You also get their perspective as well as the importance of the techniques that they are using, and in some cases developing for the first time.This is a must have for anyone interested in knowing the real story behind the overwhelming success in the initial days of Afghanistan and Iraq. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

From Ur to the return of 1951
This fascinating book covers 3000 years of the history and culture of the Jews of Iraq, from when Ur of the Chaldess fell to Elamite invaders in 1960 BC to 1951 with the mass exodus of the Jews of Iraq back to their ancient homeland of Israel.
It is divided into three parts.
Part I covers the period from the Assyrian Captivity to the Arab Conquest (731 BC- 641 AD), Part II overs The Encounter With Islam from 641 t0 1850, and Part III covers the monumental events of the last hundred yers of the Jewish presence in Iraq, from 1851 to 1951.
The book is self-contained and an interesting read, and covers such events as the Assyrian and Babylonian destruction of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea, and the deportation of the Jews to Babylon, in captivity, the growth of Jewish communities in Babylon, and the long period when Babylon was the center of Jewish life in exile, after the destruction by the Romans of the Second Temple.
The author documents the ebb and flow of life for the Jews in the region, alternating between outright persecution and a tolerated dhimmni (inferior) status for the Jews.
He covers the
Mongol massacres of the Middle Ages, and Arab and Ottoman domination of Iraq.
Finally the book covers the Second World War, and the pro-Axis Rashid Ali regime of 1941, followed by the bloody Nazi-inspired pogroms, in which hundreds ofJews were massacred in Baghdad, known as the Farhud.
An independent Commisssion found that the Farhud had been caused by
* Nazi propaganda disseminated by the German legation.
* The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem who in the name of Arabism and Islam conducted Nazi propaganda and incited against 'the Jews and the British'.
* Palestinian and Syrian schoolteachers who poisoned the minds of their students with Nazi propaganda
* Nazi broadcasts from Germany which greatly contributed to Nazi and anti-semitic propaganda in Iraq.
* Iraqi radio broadcasts, which spread reports of non-existant misdeeds in 'Palestine', containing open and agressive incitement against the Jews
and the Futtuwa and ArabYouth Brigades whose members imbibed Nazism from the Palestinians and Syrians and regularly attacked Jews.



The Jewish return to the Land of Israel, known as Zionism, exacrebated widespread persecution of Iraqi Jews. But the majority of Iraqi Jews remained loyal to Zionism, and in 1951, after bloody attacks on the Jews of Iraq, and persecution, 107 603 Jews were airlifted to Israel, and 16 000 reached Israel by other means.
Only a remmant remained in Iraq, and they were subjected to intensified persecution after the Hashemite monarchy was overthrown in 1958 and a succession of Revolutionary and totalitarian regimes followed.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

American non-cultural policy revealed
In straightforward prose, Lawrence Rothfield follows the trail of indifference, misplaced memos, and incompetence that ultimately indicts -- not the US military -- but rather the Bush administration's lack of interest in cultural preservation -- for the looting of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad in the early days of the Iraq war.This is truly a revelation.For perhaps the first time in US history, we learn of an administration so callous and indifferent to history and culture that it took almost no precautions to protect the cultural heritage of the country under attack.The "lapse," which ramified in the looting of thousands of antiquities not just from the museum but from many archaeological sites as well, was first blamed on the military by the broadcast media, an error that Rumsfield was not quick to correct.But here in a compact text salted with documentary photos we get the full story of how this singular tragedy was caused by a failure of American and British foreign policy.The best book on the subject, by far.

Buy why?
I have read quite a few critical appraisals of the Iraq invasion and occupation. With most, there are several anecdotes of people that tried to warn the war planners and commanders of the invasion force. This is followed by details on how these concerns were pitched and what reaction was gotten from those in power.

This book misses that final step. The story told in this book is seemingly one of concerned archaeologists writing desperate missives to the Pentagon that went inexplicably un-returned and un-considered.

The author did report on allusions by some in command that museum protection was "way down the list;" this kind of answer is so glib and general that there is no utility in printing it. After all, in the course of executing any large operation, there are many tasks on the list but all of them, if important enough to be on the list at all, should be resourced and adjudicated to some level of satisfaction.

After reading all 160 pages and the foot notes, I have no better an idea of why the Pentagon did not plan to guard the Baghdad Museum and countryside dig sites than I did before I started reading the book. Was it laziness? Cultural arrogance? Rumsfeld's emphasis on keeping the invasion force as lean as possible? Unusually, and legitimately unexpectedly heavy combat conditions that prevented forces from performing the civil security role? The book just does not provide any information for the reader to come to a conclusion. This is just not acceptable for a book published so many years after the fact about a tragedy that has been so widely covered.

Missed opportunity, very disappointing
At the outset, let me say that I have read the kudos given this work on this site; these come from various important publications. But I beg to differ strongly with the favorable impression they create.

Personally, this was a very difficult read. Harking back to my days as a professor, I was reminded of how it recalls very bad doctoral dissertations, of the type that I would either have rejected or insisted on the author's doing a rewrite. The research is oustanding and comprehensive, but the presentation is worse than pedantic. Rothfield is drunk on alphabet-soup organizations to the extent that the reader becomes totally lost and confused as they are continually cited. Yes, bureaucracy malfunctioned worse than ever here, but the point does not need to be made on every other page.

This book is a missed opportunity because the American public needs to know what happened and did not happen in re: the looting of the great Baghdad Museum. For that reason, there should be some popularization of this topic because the disaster there cries out for widespread publicity. Although Rothfield does not so state, there is implicit anti-intellectualism in the failure to pay absolutely no attention to the museum. American military indifference, ineptitude, and incompetence need to be chronicled in readable fashion. Recent works describing the looting of Italy in WW II provide examples of how readable accounts can be handled.

I do not want to labor this critical view, but in closing let me say that I am amazed that the University of Chicago Press let this book be published with little if any evidence of the work of a serious editor.

Finally, this book's main value seems to be largely as a reference work for the wealth of data it contains. As a narrative of the disaster in Baghdad, it is a total failure.

How our military can build the capacity to secure cultural sites and institutions
"Behind the Looting of the Iraq Museum" is on the ROROTOKO list of cutting-edge intellectual nonfiction.Professor Rothfield's book interview ran here as cover feature on May 11, 2009. ... Read more

Product Description

“A searing document, one of the most revealing chronicles of the war yet published. It is as though correspondents are talking late into the night, trying to explain what it was like, what sights and smells haunt them, what they’re proud of and what they regret, what they saw coming and what they didn’t.”
—Anthony Swofford, The Washington Post

“Never in the fifty years that I have been in or around the news business have I read a better record of a historic event than this.”
—Reese Schonfeld, founding president of CNN

Customer Reviews (2)

Valuable insight into war reporting
This will give anyone who wonders about how the news (particularly the news of a controversial war) is transmitted to them via newspaper, television or radio. The interviewers have spoken to some of the best of the reporters who covered the invasion of Iraq at the side of the troops (Peter Maas wrote one of the most thoughtful and chilling reports on what it's like to be combat for the NY Times magazine that I have ever read, and is included in this) as well as those who were in Baghdad.

Most importantly, this shows how with each week and month that passed, the challenges of reporting what was happening within Iraq grew. The story became more complex and the dangers of trying to obtain accurate first hand information became more acute. At the same time, the frustration within the United States has only grown -- hunting for certainties that are thin on the ground, it has become more common to hear politicians and others lash out against "the media" for failing to show the "real" truth of life in Iraq.

Anyone who takes the time to even skim through this oral history will quickly realize that there may be no single truth, much less one that is easily understood by an American public looking for simple narratives. Moreover, readers will marvel that many of the journalists who have traveled to Baghdad over and over again are willing to repeatedly put their lives in jeopardy to try and explain what is happening there.

For anyone interested in delving more deeply, I'd suggest two quasi-memoirs. Naked in Baghdad: The Iraq War and the Aftermath as Seen by NPR's Correspondent Anne Garrels and Waiting for an Ordinary Day: The Unraveling of Life in Iraq are both tales of trying to report what is happening in Iraq.

Inside the inside story
This book is remarkable for its previously unreported insights and candor.I suppose the participating journalists have nothing to lose now when they talk about the challenges of reporting the war in Iraq. Still, they illuminate how clumsy the efforts were to control what they reported by limiting access or intimidation.It didn't take long for reporters to recognize the gap between ground truth and what was being pitched from the lecturn. This left a credibility gap that should have been forseen, reducing support for the war, whatever the merits. One story still unwritten is the role of Dan Senor when he headed the strategic communications team from the Green Zone. Did he take orders from others in Washington, or did he create policy on his own?Reporters told me they often didn't trust him, but they had no choice but report his observations. Second sourcing was often impossible. We all know there was little Phase IV planning, but the failure to plan for a credible, effective communications organization ranks high among the unforgivable ommissions. The military spokesmen were more credible than Bremer's folks, but military PAOs were not totally independent. It got to the point where Gen Sanchez and Amb Bremer wouldn't brief the media as a team, or so I was told. High marks to Mike Hoyt and John Palattella for assembling this imporessive undertaking. ... Read more

Product Description

This book provides the first comprehensive study of the evolution of the Iraqi military from the British mandate era to post-Baathist Iraq.

Customer Reviews (1)

Definitive account of a misunderstood and stereotyped military
I have researched the Iraqi army for some time for a government publication on a related subject.During that research I have relied on many books as sources, to include those written by Mohammad Gholi Majd, Peter Sluglett, Gerald de Gaury, David Fromkin, Reeva Spector Simon, and Majid Khadduri's.All are excellent, but with the possible exception of Reeva Spector Simon's, they (of necessity) discuss the Iraqi army in a peripheral manner.Al-Marashi and Salama have focused their work squarely on the subject of the Iraqi military and do not deviate from that focus during the entire book.The relationships between the army, king, baath party, and Saddam are explained in crisp, clear, detail.Their account also includes little known facts about the Iraq-Iran war, to include the "de-politization" of the Army in the wake of the loss of the Al-Faw peninsula.All in all, an excellent account worth aquiring for personal or reference libraries.Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

An interesting source for general comprehenstion of the subject
I learned about the book in the Jack Sasson's mailing list. The reviewer suggested the book as a very good source for students who are new to the field as well as any layperson interested in the history of Mesopotamia. I would like to modify this description as follows; the book is a valuable source for putting together your scattered mental data of the periods, kingdoms, etc, by depicting an interesting and continuous socio-cultural background of the life which was going on in these periods. I had always heard about Ubaid, uruk, ur dynasties, amorites... without being able to fix in my mind a clear picture of their continuation and overlappings. This book, though relatively short, gave me that view and familiarized me with the life which was going on behind all these names and expressions. Since I am a second year PhD student, I cannot tell for sure how useful the book might be for a more advanced specialist. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Great insight of the modern US sniper
This book is a great portrayal of snipers from all the services and how each of us work together to make this war tick.
Each unit has a unique job and this book portrayed that well. From a Special Ops point of view, since our stories are never in the limelight I can appreciate the access and insight Gina and Matt recieved during the writing process.
I also like that each chapter is its own tale. Together it makes a whole and shows how our military is winning this war on Terrorism.
Well done!

As close as it could be
Being someone that has participated in sniper operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq I can say that this is the first, and only, authentic sniper book that has been published during the current conflict. Being a avid reader, I will pick up anything that has to do with the military. Unfortunately I have found very few realistic, authentic accounts of current combat operations. Sniper goes to great lengths to cover all aspects of sniping in the Global War on Terrorism. I like the fact that short stories were used, the reader gets to see the differences between conducting sniper operations within a city and out in the rural areas, as well as how different units and branches of the military operate. The folks interviewed were superb professionals, I know this because I get to work with them. Great book Gina and Matt.

Didn't flow for me
I read it.that is some good news because if I don't like a book at all I stop reading it.This book has many good stories but for me there was never really a flow.These are short stories of different Snipers (God Bless them all), so I get that the whole book may not flow. But in many cases the individual stories didn't flow. ... Read more

Product Description
A Nostalgic Trip into the History of the Jews of Iraq presents a history of the oldest Jewish community in the world. Translated from the work of Y.R. Ghanimah, the first Assyrian Christian to write a book on this subject and an acclaimed Christian who dedicated his life to serve the public, it contains facts and stories about the Iraqi Jewish Community from the Garden of Eden through 1924. The author also discusses the Assyrian, Jewish, and Christian Persecutions in Iraqi history. The translator adds a depiction of the modern history of the Jews in Iraq, exposing the rise of anti-Semitism there during this century and completing a thorough history of the Jewish people in Iraq. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

I LOVE THIS BOOK!
There are many books dealing with the Iraq War.But I found this book exceptionally comprehensive. This work begins where a book on the war should, with the history of Iraq. This approach makes the issues leading up to the war, the invasion, and events that followed much easier to understand. After providinghistorical background, including how British policies from World War I influenced Iraq and how later the Iranian Revolution affectedthe country and its leaders, the book covers theIran-Iraq War, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the 1991 Persian Gulf War and the resulting UN sanctions and WMD inspection program.Then the 6th chapter provides a provocative analysis of the major elements that combined to bring about the Bush administration's decision to go to war, including the role of U.S. news media. There's lots offascinating tidbits like accounts of Iraqi exiles who lied about WMD (like "curveball"), why Colin Powell's influential UN speech right before the invasion contained false claims about nonexistent Iraqi WMD, and descriptions of findings on how misconceptions among the American people about Iraq, 9/11 and the war were closely associated with people's main source of news. Chapter 7 is sort of a temporary detour from the main story to show how previous U.S. interventions in places like Iran, Vietnam, and Afghanistan affected U.S. policies towards Iraq. The 8th chapter turns to Iraq during the U.S. led occupation and describes the country's new leaders, many of them freshly returned from years of exile, the new Islamic oriented constitution, and the types of resistance that developed to the occupation from former Baathists to Al Qaeda type groups. The book in chapter 9 describes U.S. counterinsurgency policy and techniques, supplemented by powerful new technologies, employed in Iraq. This chapter also has some really interesting historical and contemporary material on the operations of private military companies in Iraq and elsewhere and how corporations and even the U.S. government may use them more often in the future in some places insteadof uniformed U.S. soldiers.The last chapter shows how far-reaching the impacts of the war have been for the Iraqi people, the Middle East, the U.S. war in Afghanistan, American politics and evenelections and the foreign policy of nations in other parts of the world.

Really informative if you want the complete picture of the Iraq War! Highly recommended!

A level-headed, at times disturbing account
Written by James DeFronzo (emeritus faculty of sociology, University of Connecticut) The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences is a close study of the historical, social, and political aspects of the Iraq War, from the forces and political decisions that caused it to the most important facts about the occupation, the development of the resistance, and the conflict's effect on other nations. More than just a historical account, The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences speculates on the future of the relationship between Iraq and the U.S., grounding its predictions for possible outcomes solidly in the evidence of the present. "'A lot of women in Iraq will say this was a war meant... to bring a better life and in fact, the bitter irony is that it brought exactly the opposite.'... Family law was turned over to religious courts. A number of female activists or women considered immoral were murdered, and criminal justice authorities seemed unwilling or powerless to punish the perpetrators. Banning female police officers from carrying guns threatened to reduce the number of policewomen, making the investigation and punishment of rape and spousal abuse much more difficult." A level-headed, at times disturbing account, The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences is highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
This book explains in detail President Obama's plan for America's most pressing problems. It describes how Obama intends to re-position the United States as a leader and role model for the world. In the midst of one of the greatest challenges our country has faced, Obama lays out his vision and goals for putting America back on track.

Among the topics are:
Reviving the economy, reducing the deficit, leaving Iraq, Universal Healthcare, Stem Cell Research, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea, energy independence, caring for our Veterans, improving education, Global Warming, Social Security, improving infrastructure, lowering taxes, and fighting terrorism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Obama didn't write this book
This book was a big let down. I wanted something that was written by the president, but instead this book was a collection speeches that he has said about these topics. Then after every speech someone else writes a dumbed down version of what the speech was about. They even refer to the president in the third person saying things like, "President Obama says..." Or, "what the president means..."
If you want a collection of speeches that the president didn't write in a book that wasn't written by the president then this book is for you. If you want something that was actually written by the president look elsewhere.

Worth the Read
This small book gives a good picture of where President Obama formed his political ideas.He has been down in the trenches working in non-profits with the neediest in our nation.His jargon and planning style are typically that of non-profits.This book shows that he is the first president of our country to really understand what is going on where the majority live.It proves he is not from the minority upper class that is so out of touch with what the rest of us are going through.This is where his hope comes from; the place where changes can be made.

Obama!!!
This book provides a great opportunity to hear the voice Obama off the camera. Though several quotes and portions of a few speeches are included, what you get here is the intelligence we finally have in the White House. You get to see what kind of change he wants in so many areas that weren't covered in-depth in the debates or in sound bites on the nightly news. His plans are very impressive. After reading this book, I'm even more hopeful about turning the country around.

Let's Hold Him to It
I read a previous review that implied Obama was "willing" to put this info out there. The truth is, he may have wanted it "out there" during the campaign, but now that he's president, he may not. Maybe the release of this book will finally help keep a politician honest.

Invaluable Resource
Now that the campaign is over, the conventions are done, the speeches that brought us to tears and rallied our country are fewer, Barack Obama must begin to meet the challenges our country faces in real way that involves so much more than inspiration alone.

For anyone who thought Obama was all talk and no substance, this book will set them straight. It discloses all of the plans and the agenda Obama wants to put forth for the country. Instead of a book of speeches, this is a book of well thought-out plans and policies. It's a quick and easy read of what we can look forward to in this president.

It's broken down into four sections:
Section 1- Restoring the Economy and Meeting Our National Obligations
a. Detailed outline of the Economic plan
b. Taxes and Tax Cuts
c. Fiscal Policy and the Deficit
d. Energy and the Environment
e. Science and Technology

Section 2- Improving the Lives of Americans
a. Healthcare
b. Education
c. Family and Women
d. Social Security and Medicare

Section 3- Protecting the Nation and Restoring American Values
a. Iraq
b. Nuclear Threats and Terrorism
c. Foreign Policy
d. Homeland Security
e. Defense

Section 4- Improving Our Communities
a. Veterans
b. Civil Rights
c. Poverty
d. Rural and Urban Planning
e. Community Service
f. Disabilities
g. Immigration
... Read more

Product Description
Since the 1990 Gulf War Iraq has become almost a national obsession. The U.S. media focus largely on Saddam Hussein, who is rumored to be stockpiling chemical and biological weapons, harboring terrorists, and threatening the national interests and security of his neighbors and the United States. Beyond these rumors, Americans know little about Iraq or its people. Lost in the crossfire of harsh rhetoric is any objective information about the daily lives of Iraqis, their ethnic diversity, their rich cultural heritage, and their ancient history stretching back five thousand years to Mesopotamia, the cradle of world civilization.

This superb collection of in-depth essays adds some much-needed balance to the misleading, superficial image of Iraq created by sound-byte journalism and political propaganda. The contributors, all specialists in Middle Eastern studies and affiliated with a variety of prestigious academic institutions (Villanova University, University of Chicago, Dartmouth University, University of Paris, and others), have written fascinating, informative, yet nontechnical articles designed to be accessible to a wide circle of readers, including nonspecialists.

Among the topics discussed are Iraq's ancient Mesopotamian archaeological heritage; Baghdad in the golden age of medieval Islam; the arts in Iraq; the role of women; the Christian, Jewish, Shi'ite, and Kurdish communities of Iraq; the debate over the boundaries of Iraq as a modern nation-state; the devastating effects of international sanctions on the economy, health, and daily life of Iraqis; the nature and causes of the current conflict between the United States and Iraq; the politics of water and oil rights; and much more.

This compelling collection of in-depth essays will enlighten anyone wanting a more complete and fair understanding of Iraq than can be found in the popular media. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good book
This is an outstanding work marked by objectivity and concern for the truth. It takes the reader away from the superficial and one-sided way in which the U.S. government and media portray Iraq, its history, people, and politics. The work carries a great deal of information that the U.S. public needs to know. I found it an eye opener that combines scholarship with straightforwardness. The chapters on archeology, Baghdad in the golden age, art, music, literature, history, and Iraq/Iran are most enlightening and charming. The chapters on some religious and ethnic communities, the sanctions, and politics provide information to a large extent unknown to the U.S. general public. The contributors impress me as excellent scholars, who have tried to support their views with historical facts and logic and, and who have undogmatically presented the reader with various points of view about some controversial issues, (see, for example, the issue of Halabja in the chapter on the Kurds). To call this kind of scholarly work "politically motivated" is to make a politically motivated statement intended to turn away the public from coming to know the truth about certain matters related to Iraq and our policy concerning it.
The criticism that the work has no chapter on Saddam Hussein is rather silly. This work is not about a man, but about a country. Hussein and his regime are mentioned in many chapters, and they are described as oppressive. However, to devote a separate chapter to Hussein would require the inclusion of many other chapters about many other man who have shaped the history of Iraq, including George Bush, the father and the son.

I strongly recommend this remarkable collection of essays on Iraq and congratulate Professor Inati for his thoughtful and careful work that we badly need.

eye opining book
This is an outstanding work marked by objectivity and concern for the truth. It takes the reader away from the superficial and one-sided way in which the U.S. government and media portray Iraq, its history, people, and politics. The work carries a great deal of information that the U.S. public needs to know. I found it an eye opener that combines scholarship with straightforwardness. The chapters on archeology, Baghdad in the golden age, art, music, literature, history, and Iraq/Iran are most enlightening and charming. The chapters on some religious and ethnic communities, the sanctions, and politics provide information to a large extent unknown to the U.S. general public. The contributors impress me as excellent scholars, who have tried to support their views with historical facts and logic and, and who have undogmatically presented the reader with various points of view about some controversial issues, (see, for example, the issue of Halabja in the chapter on the Kurds). To call this kind of scholarly work "politically motivated" is to make a politically motivated statement intended to turn away the public from coming to know the truth about certain matters related to Iraq and our policy concerning it.
The criticism that the work has no chapter on Saddam Hussein is rather silly. This work is not about a man, but about a country. Hussein and his regime are mentioned in many chapters, and they are described as oppressive. However, to devote a separate chapter to Hussein would require the inclusion of many other chapters about many other man who have shaped the history of Iraq, including George Bush, the father and the son.

I strongly recommend this remarkable collection of essays on Iraq and congratulate Professor Inati for her thoughtful and careful work that we badly need. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Dismantled in the aftermath of World War I, Kurdistan islittle more than a lingering memory among millions of living Kurds,against whom are pitted the governments of Syria, Turkey, Iran, andIraq.Susan Meiselas gathers historical documents, maps, charts, andphotographs that document the changing fortunes of the Kurdish peoplein the 20th century; anthropologist Martin Van Bruinessen providesethnographic commentary on this mountain tribe's way of life.Kurdistan: In the Shadow of History helps bring the memory ofKurdistan and the reality of the present situation to the attention ofreaders unfamiliar with the region. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A "Must Own" Book
I can't put this book down, it's by far the most cherished book in my entire collection. The pictures, although heart-wrenching, are fascinating, the text is well researched and passionate. This is definitely a "must own" book, and I believe it should be required reading for all students. It captures the plight of the Kurdish population perfectly, and chronicles concisely the abuse and atrocities they have endured over the centuries. At the same time showing in explicit detail the pride and beauty of the Kurds. Anyone with even the slightest interest in history, justice, politics, or the cultures and traditions of the Kurdish and Middle Eastern regions, should own this book. Five stars is not nearly enough to rate this book, it deserves 5000 stars.

Save your pennies, it's worth it!
I don't own this book and can't afford it...but I'm saving to buy it. In the mean time I have access to one of the largest Middle Eastern libraries in the United States with unended renewal policies, so I do have a copy in my posession.

The pictures alone are absolutely amazing and well worth the book price. It has photos of original documents and papers that other books only mention in brief, transcripts from radio programs, diary entries, newspaper clippings, government papers...it is truely an amazing Kurdish documentary.
However because it does cover so much, it is not as in depth into specific subjects as other works. This does not make it any less valuable a resource though, for it contains a LOT of information that I have yet to find in any other source.

If you are a Kurdish scholar you MUST buy this book. If you are a Kurd and want to know your history, you should read this book. If you are curious about the Kurdish people, or have an interest in the regions history I highly recommend this book.

Even if you despise the Kurdish people and couldn't care less about their struggles, I still encourage you to read this book. For, if what you've been taught is true, it should certainly stand up in the face of all evidence. If it is not true, it is never too late to learn...and perhaps, just maybe, when your own country no longer discriminates against people who are different, other countries will no longer discriminate against yours for being different as well....just a little food for thought.

Would rather read a single personal account
Although this is a quality book, it is so overpriced that few people would ever buy it or get a chance to read it.I believe that the world is in great need of a readable volume about a Kurd who suffered through and survived the chemical attacks.I hope that an author famous for bringing to life the experiences of individuals will tackle this much needed project. Most people need to be educated on the Kurdish issue and on the Armenian issue.Such a book on either subject that targets ONE LIFE, I will buy and pass along to my Kurdish and Armenian relatives.This one is too convoluted and out of price range.

AMAZING BOOK!!
It is an absolutely well-written book, with great information about the history of the Kurds. It is definitely worth more than how much it's listed for because of the information and the pictures it has. I just can't wait to read more books of the writer! She has done a beautiful job.

Not your average coffee table book...
For those with an interest in Kurdish studies, this volume is a must.Recording the history of this nation-less state, Meisalis has done an extraordinary job of compiling not only the traditional linear history, but has added a caleidoscope of supporting documentation, to include rare pictures,maps, letters, etc....I value this book as a cornerstone of my collection of books dealing with the history of this region (Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria).As mentioned in other reviews, this is a weighty tome (literally).Well worth the look for the pictures alone! ... Read more