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mring42's review against another edition
4.0
A slow starter, but once you get into it, Suskind weaves a great story. His investigative work is second to none, and his ability to find and interview the people who were directly involved, rather than yet another interview with the high-level policymakers, makes this worth a read.
rnurwisah's review against another edition
5.0
A meticulously researched, frighteningly well reported book about the War on Terror. Thankfully, it's not all doom and gloom. Hope and possibility manage to peek through some very dark-looking clouds. No, I'm not just describing the cover.
ikahime's review against another edition
5.0
Never had my heart race as much as reading this book. Why isn't all of this common knowledge?! So many missed opportunities! Snubbing Iran when it came crawling to the negotiation table; CIA consciously deceiving America by back-drafting a letter to tie up all loose ends; rejecting double agents in Saddam's regime, willfully destroying years of hard espionage work cultivated by the British. WTF? WTF? WTF!!
Please read this, tell your friends, your family, then vote!
Please read this, tell your friends, your family, then vote!
runjuliet's review against another edition
4.0
Well, that was sobering.
What you've heard about is the revelations (not mentioned til the end, natch) that the Bush administration falsified documents that asserted Sadam Hussein's collusion with Al Queda and production of WMD. Startling, certainly. And of course, there's lots of examination and investigation of the administration, the military, and various government agencies demonstrating almost willing incompetence in the run up to and deliverance of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the 'war on terror' at large.
But the crux of the book is people. Specifically, that despite differences in geography, religion, and culture, all people want the same basic things: security, acceptance, purpose. And if governments and other large entities could just figure that out we all might be better off.
Suskind weaves stories of individuals through the journalistic expose: a Afghan exchange student, a Pakistani immigrant who works across the street from the White House, an American lawyer for a Guantanamo prisoner, the head of Middle-East-focused NGO, and an ex-CIA agent. Despite heading into overwrought Anna Quindlin territory now and again, Suskind's stories are truly thought-provoking on how religions and government affect individuals.
Probably the most intriguing profile of the book was that of Benazir Bhutto. Suskind doesn't sugarcoat her and her family's questionable (and corrupt) tenure in Pakistani politics, and is dubious (almost contemptuous) of her quest to lead her country again. But what Suskind finds is a woman 'coming to Jesus,' as it were: finally and sincerely embracing democracy as the savior for her people. Of course, we'll never know if she could have succeeded and her shady widower seems an unlikely successor of democratic altruism.
In short: if you care about the progress of this country - hell, humanity - read this book. Watch your Daily Show. Be a true citizen. And vote, dammit.
What you've heard about is the revelations (not mentioned til the end, natch) that the Bush administration falsified documents that asserted Sadam Hussein's collusion with Al Queda and production of WMD. Startling, certainly. And of course, there's lots of examination and investigation of the administration, the military, and various government agencies demonstrating almost willing incompetence in the run up to and deliverance of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the 'war on terror' at large.
But the crux of the book is people. Specifically, that despite differences in geography, religion, and culture, all people want the same basic things: security, acceptance, purpose. And if governments and other large entities could just figure that out we all might be better off.
Suskind weaves stories of individuals through the journalistic expose: a Afghan exchange student, a Pakistani immigrant who works across the street from the White House, an American lawyer for a Guantanamo prisoner, the head of Middle-East-focused NGO, and an ex-CIA agent. Despite heading into overwrought Anna Quindlin territory now and again, Suskind's stories are truly thought-provoking on how religions and government affect individuals.
Probably the most intriguing profile of the book was that of Benazir Bhutto. Suskind doesn't sugarcoat her and her family's questionable (and corrupt) tenure in Pakistani politics, and is dubious (almost contemptuous) of her quest to lead her country again. But what Suskind finds is a woman 'coming to Jesus,' as it were: finally and sincerely embracing democracy as the savior for her people. Of course, we'll never know if she could have succeeded and her shady widower seems an unlikely successor of democratic altruism.
In short: if you care about the progress of this country - hell, humanity - read this book. Watch your Daily Show. Be a true citizen. And vote, dammit.
jwmcoaching's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastically wonderful book! Suskind should win the Pulitzer a second time for this incredibly well-written account of current American life. His indictment of the lies and transgressions of the Bush administration concerning the Iraq war dovetails nicely with true accounts of Americans living their lives, while working to make America a better place again. Not presented in necessarily a political way, the narrative unfolds like the best of novels. Highly Recommended.
sonicmooks's review against another edition
3.0
if it were available i would have given this 3 1/2 stars...i liked it a lot...but it did not change my worldview or anything like that...did not really tell me much that i did not already know (or at least suspect)...but was well written and the various story lines brought a more personal feel to a lot of the broader issues that we as a country face in this post-9/11 world we have created...sort of like dealing with Frankenstein's monster. recommended.
-m
-m
jiujensu's review
4.0
Two shows/interviews:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93319762
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/13/the_way_of_the_world_ron
My thoughts:
Wow. Bush should have been impeached. He and his admin did in fact break the law. It was bad that they lied in the run up to Iraq (not illegal necessarily, unfortunately), but forging a letter from an Iraqi official "confirming" their list of lies in a covert action to alter public opinion tipped the scale. Ironically, the guy they wanted to copy the info in his own handwriting and sign it was the Iraqi intel guy who confirmed other reports from British intel and our own agencies that Iraq had no WMD (months before the invasion). He and those who reported this were ignored by Bush and only "used" when they wanted him to copy down this fabricated (by the White House) letter and have it planted in Baghdad by CIA. Of course their outing of him ( with a total lie only to save them some shame and from having to come clean) would put him and his family in danger, being collaborators and all, but hey, when has that ever mattered with Bush admin officials? Plame, anyone?
The book starts out with personal stories of a handful or people and how they experienced America or its decline in those 8 years. I was really enjoying that, then the second part really dove into 9/11, the run up to Iraq, Guantanamo, Bhutto's death and the admin's mishandling (to put it mildly) of it all (every last bit). We had the sympathy of the world after 9/11 and blew it. The British opened back channels in Iraq and then Iran to get solid intel and future negotiations started and we slammed the door because they wouldn't fall in line with our assumptions of WMD, etc.
When the story abruptly changed from personal stories to Bush admin stuff (I've about had enough) I was tempted to stop reading, but it actually was tied together quite nicely in the end. I think it was a bad decision to not fully investigate everything to find out who knew what and when and put it out for all eyes. Only then can apologies and amends be made and perhaps our reputation restored. We can and I hope we do repair our image by doing the right thing, but apologies and admissions of guilt (taking responsibility) are always a solid, healthy way to go.
I fully agree with the sentiment in the book that America needs to get back its moral authority -honesty, compassion, respect for others- and stop imposing our will on others. Giving without leaving the recipient in our debt. Bush was not a leader that helped us build on these principles. He destroyed them. Obama has had to start from scratch- or a negative position.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93319762
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/13/the_way_of_the_world_ron
My thoughts:
Wow. Bush should have been impeached. He and his admin did in fact break the law. It was bad that they lied in the run up to Iraq (not illegal necessarily, unfortunately), but forging a letter from an Iraqi official "confirming" their list of lies in a covert action to alter public opinion tipped the scale. Ironically, the guy they wanted to copy the info in his own handwriting and sign it was the Iraqi intel guy who confirmed other reports from British intel and our own agencies that Iraq had no WMD (months before the invasion). He and those who reported this were ignored by Bush and only "used" when they wanted him to copy down this fabricated (by the White House) letter and have it planted in Baghdad by CIA. Of course their outing of him ( with a total lie only to save them some shame and from having to come clean) would put him and his family in danger, being collaborators and all, but hey, when has that ever mattered with Bush admin officials? Plame, anyone?
The book starts out with personal stories of a handful or people and how they experienced America or its decline in those 8 years. I was really enjoying that, then the second part really dove into 9/11, the run up to Iraq, Guantanamo, Bhutto's death and the admin's mishandling (to put it mildly) of it all (every last bit). We had the sympathy of the world after 9/11 and blew it. The British opened back channels in Iraq and then Iran to get solid intel and future negotiations started and we slammed the door because they wouldn't fall in line with our assumptions of WMD, etc.
When the story abruptly changed from personal stories to Bush admin stuff (I've about had enough) I was tempted to stop reading, but it actually was tied together quite nicely in the end. I think it was a bad decision to not fully investigate everything to find out who knew what and when and put it out for all eyes. Only then can apologies and amends be made and perhaps our reputation restored. We can and I hope we do repair our image by doing the right thing, but apologies and admissions of guilt (taking responsibility) are always a solid, healthy way to go.
I fully agree with the sentiment in the book that America needs to get back its moral authority -honesty, compassion, respect for others- and stop imposing our will on others. Giving without leaving the recipient in our debt. Bush was not a leader that helped us build on these principles. He destroyed them. Obama has had to start from scratch- or a negative position.
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