Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2003 to 2005 by Thomas E. Ricks Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2003 to 2005
Book Review: Tragic!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
A fantastic account of the poorly planned run up and ill fated execution of the conflict in Iraq. Ricks speaks with the authority of a reporter who has followed the military for years between his posts as a correspondent at both the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. Through the relationships he has obviously built with members of the military and candid interviews they have granted him, Ricks is able to give a nuanced explanation of not only what went wrong, but why. This book is essential reading for anyone who is concerned with America's affairs and the consequences of this country's actions on the rest of the world. Book Review: A Convincing Look Back
Summary: 4 Stars
Thomas Ricks' Fiasco is a convincing account of how Iraq got to where it is today, or at least where it was when Fiasco went to publication. Whether its last 30 pages are predictive as well remains, I think, to be seen. He has his black hats and white hats clearly and, to me, rightly aligned. Some of the white hats, particularly Gen. Petraeus, are now in charge of implementing the occupation. The last few months have apparently seen some positive effects as a result of applying the painful lessons that Ricks so thoroughly recounts. Since this is a volume of how the war was waged ineffectively, Ricks does not thoroughly address whether Iraq is central to the national security of the United States. The answer to that question -- too rarely asked by the candidates currently trooping through the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire -- has to determine our next steps in the months ahead in Iraq. Meanwhile, Ricks has written a primer on what went wrong. It could have been shorter. At the same time, more of the black hats', particularly Bremer's, thinking would have been useful perspective, but I suppose they did not consent to interviews for the book.
Highly recommended, but it does not have to be read in depth word for word. It's the broad sweep of the argument that matters, not each detail.
Book Review: Fiasco
Summary: 5 Stars
What to get mad at the Gov read this book. And laugh at the next guy who trys to but the US into another war.
Book Review: Lessons learned with lost lives
Summary: 4 Stars
American occupation of Iraq has been a called a fiasco because of our leaders' lack of understanding in counter-insurgency campaign. This book documents the failures of the war planning in the Bush administration.
It is said with the surge that the right military efforts are finally coming into place. However, lack of political progress may doom this last push. The war can only be won when the wills of the people are won. This is the basic tenet of the counter-insurgency campaign.
Book Review: Mind Boggling
Summary: 4 Stars
A well written book that again brings home the incompetence of war. It is a crushing critique of the administrations failing in Iraq. It may be that author Ricks has his own agenda, but still, the facts speak for themselves. A good, if distressing read.
I would also recommend, Flying North South East and West, an adventure in Flying that includes examples supplying both sides in war. A good read.
Flying North South East and West: Arctic to the Sahara