Fiasco

You have probably heard of this book - "Fiasco" by Thomas Ricks. Ricks is a writer for the Washington Post.

Connected would be an apt description of Ricks.
There is long list of sources for his information, most of whom speak on the record.



I think I'll just quote a portion of Daniel Bymen's (also Washington Post) review:

"Indeed, the picture Ricks paints is so damning that it is, at times, too charitable to say that the military and civilian leadership failed. Fiasco portrays several commanders as misguided but trying their best, but others -- particularly the hapless Franks -- appear not to have tried at all. Worse, the overall war and occupation effort lacked the high-level White House coordination essential to victory, allowing Bremer to operate on his own, making major decisions without consulting the Pentagon or the National Security Council, let alone his counterparts on the military side of the occupation."


That fairly well lets you know what those 500 pages are going to confirm for you.
For me, the most compelling thing about the book is the field of vision Ricks is able to translate for the reader - through constant first person narrative.
Stories from the horse's mouth.


Facing the fact that we are going to have troops on the ground in Iraq for years to come, this book provides a great insight into the extent of our failings to date and the depth of the whole we are digging out of.

If you; care about the soldiers sent into harms way, care about our international standing as a country, have any regard for the thousands of Iraqis affected, are old enough to vote - you should probably read it...