I bought this book after reading a NYTimes article about it and the author. Evan Wright is a Rolling Stone journalist who was embedded with the Marine's First Reconnaissance Battalion in the invasion of Iraq. He wrote a highly regarded series in Rolling Stone following the invasion and then made this book.
I was impressed. The book is great on two points. First, it provides a fascinating account of the invasion as it follows First Recon from Camp Mathilda in Kuwait, into Iraq in a massive feint move that drew Republican Guards away from Baghdad, and then on into Baghdad proper. During most of the invasion, the battalion he rode with was the deepest advance unit in the war and the platoon he spent most of his time with ended up getting some of the highest honors awarded to combat troops.
This tale of the invasion isn't a god's eye view either. He presents the invasion as it unfolds and includes the constantly changing orders received by commanders and conveys the lack of understanding and awareness that played out in real time. It is a interesting story of warfare and military operation.
Then of course is the human tale. There are a dozen or so Marines that constitute the bulk of the tale. We learn how they think and act and get a deep view of life as a Recon Marine. We see them struggle with civilian killing and contemplate differences and similarities between Iraqis and themselves. They discuss the meaning and intent of the war and offer their opinions about the usefulness or futility of any particular action.
There are a few tragicomic commanders throughout that mystified me as to their continued existence as commanders. Undoubtedly Wright's perspective was colored by the opinions of the men but there are clear examples of major fuckups by Captain America and Casey Kasem, such as EPW (enemy prisoners of war) abuse and the time the failure to question (as in confirm) orders ended up maiming a landmine specialist after they were sent on a minefield mission after dark. Sad stories of personal tragedy throughout.
I've often thought about how the college years of a person's life are so amazing. I went through such a transformation in between age 18 and 23 from my experiences in college. I realize that it isn't college per se as much a it is the learning curve from transitioning from high school to the real world that follows. The experiences of some of these Marines provide the same sorts of experiences on a visceral level unimaginable on a college campus. It was fascinating to watch their transformation over the 2 months or so the book covers.
This book isn't an indictment of or platitude about war. It's more the story of warriors and soldiers with Iraq as a backdrop. The politics of the war aren't covered at all. It's all about the young men as they are used as bait, in the larger strategic as well as tactical sense (they are ordered to stop their convoys (often in doorless and roofless unarmored Humvees) in ambush kill zones specifically to draw enemy fire). They make mistakes and shit happens, with civilians paying the price. The book is graphic at times (I had a hard time with the story of the 4 year girl who's brains fell out) but it was powerful. It wasn't sensational or polemic. It was very very good.
Posted by Nutrimentia at July 23, 2004 10:14 PM | TrackBack