3 comments about Payback.

1. Danny and Fergus are on the run again! This time they are trying to get Fergus's name cleared from the Secret Intelligent Service. He was framed when he was working with the SAS, and George Fincham wants to kill him now because he doesn't want anybody to know the real story. Danny is Fergus's grandson who helps the old SAS sergeant clear his name. Andy McNab and Robert Rigby made you feel like you were watching what was unraveling in the book. The action and all the moving around in the book keeps you hungry to keep reading.
   This book always keeps you on the edge of your seat. Danny and his grandpa are usually one step ahead of the Secret Intelligent spies who are trying to kill them wherever they are. Marcie Deveraux, a woman who works for the Secret Intelligace Service, is constantly changing sides on who she wants to help. She can help Danny and gramps, or she can help the Secret Intelligence Service. She adds a constant twist to the book because she is always shooting at something or someone, so everyone better watch out for her. Fergus and Danny have to worry about her, and they have to worry about teenage suicide bombers that have been popping up everywhere. However, Danny's girlfriend is constantly helping these two escape from danger. What would you do if you were in all of this mass chaos that Danny and Fergus are in? I know I wouldn't know what to do. In addition to all of this intensity, Danny and Fergus were constantly moving around from place to place in this book. They had to travel on foot for most of this story, so Fergus had to think of many great places to hide when the Secret Intelligence Service was on their heels. Fergus camped down in a national forest with Danny after he, Fergus, had been shot in the leg. Fergus hid himself in some pine trees where no one could see him. These two convicts, who are on the run, also broke into highly guarded areas. Danny broke into an army facility that had guards with machine guns and ferocious guard dogs. He did this just to clear his grandfather's name from the Secret Intelligence Service.
   This book was well written by the authors to the point where you could not stop reading it because there was always a critical turning point in the story. This book is interesting and keeps you wondering what's going to happen next. This book was a great sequel to Traitor because you are always biting your nails with all of the action happening.



2. A great book in full Mcnab style.
   I have read most of his books but his way of
   making quite internal military stuff mix with
   splendid action is amazing as always.



3. Another great title from the master of action books keep them coming. If you like action read Soft Target by Conrad Jones its an absolute fire cracker of a story, it will rock your soul !!

5 comments about America's "War on Terrorism".

1. Michel Chossudovsky's ultimate goal is to serve World peace by revealing extensive war crimes behind the `War on Terror'. His picture of the world and the US is far from rosy. For him, the `War on Terror' is in fact a `War of Conquest'.
   This is a very convincing but disturbing book pointing to the criminalization of upper echelons of the US State with the complicity of the media, which upholds the Bush administration's war agenda, camouflages war crimes, floods the world with blatantly distorted facts and disseminates fear amongst the population.
   For the author, the US is on the brink of becoming an authoritarian state. Key decisions are taken behind closed doors at the intelligence headquarters and the Pentagon, with the US Congress as a façade and a president as a public relations figurehead. The military/intelligence establishment acts as a parallel government.
   The `War on Terror' is used for the repeal of civil liberties and Constitutional government. New legitimacy emerged that undermines the judicial system (`Rule of Law') and that lays the foundation of a totalitarian state: emergency procedures can be used to usher Martial Law, leading to the suspension of Constitutional government.
   In the US national budget, state resources are redirected towards financing the military-industrial complex and domestic security, while social programs have been slashed.
   
   Internationally, the `War on Terror' is a pretext to conquer new economic frontiers, establish corporate controls (e.g. Iraq's oil), to encircle Russia (permanent military bases in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and in former USSR republics) or to prevent pipeline ventures with China and Iran.
   The US continues to support Islamic fundamentalism (India, China, Chechnya) in order to weaken `enemies', or to disarm social movements against the US (e.g. with the Taliban they try to create a new Saudi Arabia in Afghanistan where the leader of the Northern Alliance backed by Russia, was killed).
   Al Qaeda was heavily supported by the CIA and NATO in order to destabilize the Yugoslav federation.
   
   With `private wealth is in fewer and fewer hands', the author sees an upcoming world dominated by big corporations (finance, energy, pharma) and the military/intelligence establishment with the media as their mouthpiece.
   
   The author concludes with very disturbing facts about the London bombings which provided a new legitimacy to those who had ordered the illegal invasion of Iraq and which weakened significantly the antiwar and civil rights movements.
   
   Michel Chossudovsky has written a dark and frightening book.
   It is a must read for all those interested in the future of mankind.
   
   I also recommend the works of W.G. Tarpley, W. Engdahl and N.M. Ahmed.



2. Many of the facts mentioned in the book I knew already, but it was for the first time when my conclusions and assumptions were supported by facts, names and figures.



3. Chossudovski has gathered a tremendous body of literature to make his case against America's mythological war on terrorism.
   Creating a myth is essential to manufacture consent and unity. Fear is more essential to manipulate the herd and take away their natural rights. Chossudovsky elucidates America's war on terrorism with overwhelming evidence that would leave the reader angry and flabbergasted.
   This book is a must read for every citizen who is concerned about his country's affairs, and for every critical thinker who cares about the truth.



4. Michel Chossudovsky has been one of my favorite writers on issues like globalization and the bogus "war o'terror" for some time now. He elegantly documents his meticulous research simply and without sensationalized embellishment. Unlike many other writers, Chossudovsky isn't attempting to entertain you or sell books; rather, he is delineating critical information in a lucid and precise fashion that will make sense for even the most casual reader.
   
   While I personally didn't necessarily glean a great deal of strikingly new information of which I wasn't at least partially previously aware, this book certainly helped me to put the puzzle pieces together and frame a better glimpse of the larger picture, outside of the perception management. It was nice to see this volume tie up loose ends and illustrate a time line of sorts. This is an especially great book for a new student of this topic.



5. Chossudovsky is an economics professor and a staunch critic of the New World Order agenda and the ongoing lies and war profiteering connected to that agenda. This book is a well-documented analysis of how the imperial racketeers operate, with an extensive deconstruction of the official mythology of the 9/11 attacks. Chossudovsky makes a solid case that elements with the US Government and the associated military-industrial complex were involved in orchestrating the attacks, using their CIA-created Arab assets as patsies for the official story used to justify the planned wars and freedom repressing legislations such as the PATRIOT Act. Chossudovsky traces the workings of U.S. intelligence operations and policies for many years, showing how the idea that 9/11 was a "make it happen on purpose" affair is most logical and best supported by the evidence. He looks at the long term agenda being pursued and how it will affect us if it continues unchecked. This isn't a difficult book to read and comprehend but it may be difficult for those who have held faith in the government and media establishment to digest. Chossudovsky has studied this subject well and his materials have been available at www.globalresearch.ca for several years. Anyone wishing to learn about the topics of 9/11, American imperialism, and the role of wars in the move toward globalization, is encouraged to read this book.

5 comments about Fear Less: Real Truth About Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism.

1. de Becker does a good job at putting the risks of terrorism into perspective with other risks we face everyday. Also, de Becker encourages the reader to be informed and aware of situations that could be indicators of trouble. Well worth the read.



2. Another hit from Gavin De Becker. Once again his common sense, see-it-for-what-it-is approach is on the mark. After reading this book you will not look at the news media the same, if you care to look at it much at all! The scare tactics thrown in our faces every day take on an almost comical appearance when you see them for what they are. Do yourself a favor and do as the title suggests, read this book and fear less.



3. Quick easy read. I wish I had read this right after 9/11 as it has taken me some time to come to the same conclusions this book offers. Even though that is when this book was written to be read, it didn't hurt to get some reasurance I am now on the right track. I like de Becker's style. He seems like a real classy guy.



4. This book was purchased and sent to Iraq to my grandson
   who is in the Military Police in Baghdad. He should be
   home on a two-week leave next month.
   
   So, I can't review the book. He has the second book by
   Gavin DeBeckker, which I purchased from your company and
   has indicated he thought it was very good and helpful.
   
   Elizabeth Ergovich



5. This book calms down silly fears and brings rational thought and analysis to what is truly to be feared and what is not. Very good reading.

5 comments about Religion of Peace?: Islam's War Against the World.

1. This is quite simply an excellent book. It is clear, concise, and includes the sources from which the information is derived. I have read many books on the subject of Islam and its political impact on the world today. This book tackles this complex subject with amazing clarity. The book does not read as a polemic or an anti-Islam screed. It simply analyzes the religion as a philosophy and a political movement from the sources which are most revered by Muslims themselves.
   If you are trying to understand the ramifications of this religion and its implications for both believers and non-believers this is an important work. The work may be frightening to Westerners, but that is because of the religion itself and not because of some bias of the author.



2. A true eye-opener. Many people are aware that, for Islam, the only acceptable form of government is a theocracy. That is, one in which religion dictates the laws. What few people realize, is that Islam has not abandoned its expansionist philosophy of the seventh century. It has simply lacked the means to further that expansion, until recently.
   
   Yes, one can find verses in the Our'an which speak of peace with the other "peoples of the book", that to say, Jews and Christians. However, these verses date from the beginning of Islam, when it was struggling to
   exist. Once Islam became well established in Arabia, the verses of the Qur'an instruct Muslims to make war on the unbelievers, and to spread the religion by force.
   
   As the Qur'an is the word of God, it can never be changed. However, verses can be abrogated (made void), by later verses, although all of the
   verses, both void and current, remain in the text of the Qur'an. Today's Islamist terrorists are but practicing the mandates of the seventh century
   Islam, in accordanc with the dictates of the Qur'an. Their goal is to conquer the entire planet for Islam. The extablishment of an Islamic hegemony.



3. It is anathema in America to vocally criticize another's religion. But the critique of Islam is not restricted to merely religious doctrine.
   
   It would be a joy to see an Islamic scholar attempt to debunk even one of Dr. Davis's numerous cogent arguments and conclusions. It simply isn't happening nor will it. Note one reviewer of ROP (a Muslim) attempts to invoke the "no compulsion in religion" Sura; conveniently excluding any mention that this Sura has long been abrogated by Islamic jurisprudence and Qur'anic expositors. Dr. Davis (a Stanford PhD) has, as have a number of contemporary scholars, exposed completely the fallacy of Muslim contentions that there is no "religious compulsion" in Islam. The distinctly Islamic ideological concepts of "abrogation" and "takiyya" will startle the reader who is making an intellectually rigorous and honest attempt to learn about the dysfunctional aspects of the Qur'an and Haddith. Why does Islamic law (sharia) punish with death a Muslim who sees the light and discards his/her Islamic faith?
   
   130 pages of scholarly rigor will compel those in free societies to be further educated about a clear and present danger. This is patently not hyperbole.
   
   Muslims can no longer be permitted to hide behind the veil of their religion; it is not merely a religion but a primitive totalitarian ideology. Therefore, the Qur'an and Muhammad (sunna/Haddith) are absolutely fair game and subject to critical examination and scrutiny requiring more substantive responses from Muslims than the typical proclamations of "anti-Muslim propaganda," and "religious prejudice."
   
   Anyone who understands the value of classical liberal thinking MUST, at some point, address the inherent problems of Islamic ideology. Dr. Davis will have the most skeptical reader motivated to learn more.
   
   It is astounding that we permit public education in America to teach Islam is a religion of peace. A Muslim may be peaceful but stop the intellectually fallacious notion the Islam is a religion of peace.
   
   The evidence demands a verdict, and Dr. Davis has delivered. An astoundingly timely read. High School and college students can begin an intellectually honest and academically rigorous study of Islamic ideology with this book. I submit that for legions of readers, Dr. Davis will ignite an epiphany.



4. Gregory Davis has written a book that will hopefully dispel the most common misperception of Islam as a religion of peace. In no way does Davis proclaim all Muslims are violent or fundamental but he does detail the struggle between one set of values and another and how Islam is believed by Muslims to be the only acceptable religion. The reader will learn that there is no freedom of religion in Islam and how Muslims have a duty to Allah to replace all other religions with Islam through whatever means necessary.
   
   While some of the more moderate Muslims will sit back and condemn us infidels for being "intolerant" to their beliefs (just read some of these book reviews!)they are also looking the other way at violence committed in the name of Allah. Muslims that believe fundamentally actively seek the subjugation or destruction of all other religions. It is something that the Western World must come to grips with to combat it.
   
   This is an excellent book for anyone just starting to question what they've been told to believe about Islam and just how much it contradicts with what they see. The book is a fast read and will hopefully leave the reader wanting more information.



5. This book is an eye opener. There will be a before and after in my life regarding having read this book. I was just not aware of the peril that Islam represents to our Christian-Western civilization. The author does a great job explaining why Islam is not a peaceful religion, in fact, Islam is as much a political system as it is a religion. Politically, Islam is bent on world domination as much as Fascism and Communism once did. If you are not already planning to become a Muslim, ignore this book at your own risk.

5 comments about American Soldier.

1. You have to be determined to finish this book. It starts slow, and the writing isn't the best, but it provides an interesting glimpse into the mind of Tommy Franks and the military during the Iraqi and Afghani invasions. I enjoyed it, and it's a great read for anyone interesting in the strategy behind our two latest wars.



2. I will admit my bias - I am a huge "fan" of General Franks. This book is about his life, his perspectives and experiences. There is a ton of stuff we'd never get to know about if it weren't for this book. One thing I admired most was his professionalism in writing it. If you're looking for some "tell all" expose, this ain't it. General Franks speaks respectfully about his bosses throughout the book. I know some readers won't like that, but to me it was refreshing.



3. I read this book when it first came out, and out of the thousands of books I have read over some 60 years, it is one of the most unforgettable. This man came out of the dust and dirt of Oklahoma and Midland, Texas to enter the Army as a grunt boot, and when he was getting on the bus to report to the Army, his Dad simply said "Make em a hand, son" which in West Texanese means, "Whatever they teach you to do, Son, do a good job for them!" And did he ever----Commander of the greatest Military Force in the History of this planet! An unforgettable true story that should make all Americans proud.



4. If you enjoy military biographies, this is one of the very best I've ever read.



5. Any American general or president who leads an army against jihadist Islam deserves our almost unqualified respect in a West that comes across as comfort-driven, welfare-pandering, entertainment-drugged, and seemingly too cowardly to defend itself. Both Tommy Franks and George Bush will stand tall in the annals of future history, as always defined by military prowess, long after the topical dust of our shallow, politically correct culture settles and fades into television-commercial oblivion.
   
   However, it's important NOT to take a book by Tommy Franks at face value. The brutal realities of fighting "our worst enemy since the civil war" will never be articulated in a world whose impression of any hard reality must first pass muster with Sunday School simplicity prompted by history- and context-free self-congratulation. "Guns aren't nice," some superficial wives sloganeer, and "Make love not war," effortlessly proclaiming a self-righteousness that is both unearned and dangerous to any hope of a durable peace.
   
   Accordingly, "American Soldier" is an unfortunate chronicle of media-palatible commentary about military and personal events that might be drawn quite otherwise if free-speech were truly to prevail in Tommy Franks' life as an honest spokesman of military wisdom. After all, he freely acknowledges his 4-starness to having been selected by Bill Clinton; he's a "Clinton general" in his own words. Must we ask what kind of commanding general would have been chosen by former presidential candidate Al Sharpton? Generals-in-waiting surely come in all chevrons, from Marxist liberals to Axis militarists. The commander-in-chief "of the moment" chooses. Today we want our military leaders to feign ideological innocence while being supported by a statistics-savvy management mechanism. Good luck, but it's ruthlessness and a whatever-it-takes aggressiveness that win wars, not media accountability or other facile diplomacy.
   
   Those who've attended the general's public lectures will recognize right away that he's not the Erwin Rommel, George Patton, or Tadimichi Kuribayashi they might have hoped for. Even so, let us acknowledge his predictable standing applause from largely World War II veterans everywhere: a salute to a universal code of military fighting spirit that has existed in all times and that will stand independent of the political surface.
   
   Too bad that Gen. Franks often chooses to portray a "Gomer Pyle" persona to audiences that expect to hear even more saber-rattling than is now fashionable. He shrinks from being more germane than political reality allows. Yes, we would much rather fight on foreign shores than at home. But shouldn't we also prefer to fight NOW rather than selfishly defer our battles to future generations? Too often, our orientation to politics is greedy, too apt to defer deprivations that might interfere with our own comforts. The example of our Spartan forebears will only vaguely influence us, though a strong Christian military in the West would surely benefit from a plunge into our Greco-Roman-Viking past!

5 comments about Man in the Shadows: Inside the Middle East Crisis with a Man Who Led the Mossad.

1. It is true that this book is not riddled with "cloak and dagger fireworks" but, it is not at al true that it is nothign more than a self-glorifying account of a man's own actions, as one reviewer has said.
   
   Halevy describes how events over the last 10-20 years have unfolded in the middle east, and in the process relates how the individual characteristics of the various leaders invovled helped to shape them. His accounts of the larger than life life people he describes are plain, to the point, and overall extremely insightful. He recounts, with much insight, the victories and successes of the last 2 decades. He furthermore, does not shy from describing, in detail, both his own failures and those of others.
   
   This book is an excellent read for those truly interested in the actuall manner and circumstance of the unfolding of history.



2. i love this kind of books .as a person who is living in the middle east which lived a lot of wars and conflicts between the arabs and the israeles i alaways search on the books talk about such a topic . this man mr halevy because his possision as a post leader of mossad explains and clears every thing about the middle east crisis. in a good degree of objectivety in a way that gives the reader who does not no any thing about the middle east a good background he is simple , clear , no complcations as he is chating with you or as when our moms told us stories before sleeping when we were young . it is a book you can read in the week end , in the holiday , in the tunel before going to the work >



3. Efraim Halevy could as well had added the following subtitle to his book: "My War Against Shimon Peres". The leitmotif of the first part of the book is the constant popping up of Shimon Peres's name in every possible circumstance where Shimon obstructs, deceives and schemes against literally everybody to assuage his thirst for glory. There is little doubt that Shimon richly deserved the overt animosity coming from Efraim Halevy. One can only sympathize and empathize with Halevy since the object of his dislike continues to scheme to this day.
   
   It is by no means easy to write a book on intelligence, especially so soon after leaving office. Everything you write may be used against your country. Therefore Halevy writes about people who are out of office or dead (the exception being Peres) , his contribution to the Israeli - Jordanian Peace Treaty and about general principles that are applicable at any time and therefore do not divulge anything of immediate value. His portraits of Israeli prime ministers are interesting in that he rehabilitates Shamir, is complimentary of Netanyahu, Rabin and Sharon, much less so of Barak and the premiership of his nemesis Peres does not even register. The ultimate snub.
   
   Halevy's observations about the work in intelligence are logical : "On issues of life and death the intelligence officer must always err on the side of the threat and not on the side of the optimist".
   
   To me the most significant part of the book are the last two chapters in which Halevy talks of WWIII, i.e. the war against Islamic terror. This is the part in which his weight as the ex head of the Mossad may have some impact on the `powers that be' of today. He correctly defines it as Islamic terror and not `war on terror' and warns that the West does not cooperate enough to confront the common threat. He is fully aware of the dangers of Al Qaeda and the way things may eventually turn: " Government and their senior executive officials will take action, the like of which has rarely ever been dreamed in the past." Halevy should be given credit for being one of the rare ex government officials who does not obfuscate in naming the enemy.
   
   But two aspects of his recommendations are questionable. The first is to squeeze in anti- terror legislation as soon as possible while the country is recovering from a major terror attack. Would it not be more reasonable to be entirely frank with the population, stop avoiding the truth and minimizing the threat, and educate the population so that it can support anti- terror measures in full clarity of what is being done?
   
   The second is his differentiation between Al Qaeda on the one hand and Hamas and Hezbolah on other. Hamas is, according to Halevy, different because "Hamas is not solely a terrorist group. It has political and social interest" "`In their own way, they aspire to be part of the system and not as Al Qaeda aspires, to destroy it ".
   
   Yes, but part of what system does Hamas want to be a part of? Exactly the same one Al Qaeda is fighting for! Allegiance to Islam tops any local self interest. Efraim Halevy and the intelligence community in Israel should be well advised to read up on Islam in the works of Ibn Warraq, Bat Ye'or, Serge Trifkovic , Robert Spencer and Daniel Pipes.



4. This book consists of some interesting recollections from Efraim Halevy, who served as the director of Israel's Mossad.
   
   We readers see how the First Gulf War, in 1991, Israel fared poorly. Yes, the United States helped defend Israel from Iraqi missile attacks. However, Halevy makes the point that most knowledgeable Israelis "did not believe that the United States was doing its best to apprehend the missile launchers" and for that reason, many Israelis are very suspicious of how much help the United States will ever give Israel should its survival be at stake.
   
   Israel did indeed agree not to join in the attack on Iraq, which may have saved the coalition against Iraq but the author shows that this did Israel very little good. While Iraq, a serious enemy of Israel, was indeed weakened, Israel quickly came under severe pressure from its friends to appease its remaining enemies.
   
   Israel has always needed peace, and this has made it susceptible to bogus offers of peace. Halevy explains how this affected negotiations that involved covert channels. As he says, rather than being a way to discuss issues regarding Israel's future, keeping Israel's interests in mind, the covert talks "evolved into a strategy designed to enable the devoted negotiators to engage in dreams of peace rather than to confront the true facts of life and to grapple with them."
   
   There is a long and interesting section on how Israel and Jordan managed to sign a peace treaty. And we also see what Halevy thinks of several famous people of the region. One is the notorious Yassir Arafat, who Halevy mentions was a "compulsive liar" who "would never honor a commitment and rarely would have anything but contempt for his peers." I remember being flabbergasted by the fact that rather than arresting, trying, and executing this thug, leaders of Western nations often showed esteem for him. But Halevy says that Arafat did pay a political price in 2000 and 2001 for refusing to make a deal at Camp David and then for lying about the Karin A arms smuggling to the president of the United States. Once again, I'm shocked that it took all this to discredit such a horrible person.
   
   We also see Halevy's puzzlement at Israel's acceptance, even under pressure, of the infamous "road map" proposed by the quartet of the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. This document "was deemed a nonstarter and a real danger to Israel's interests for a variety of reasons." And these reasons included allowing the quartet to determine if the Arabs had fulfilled their obligations on issues such as ending terror. That would pretty much let the Arabs do what they pleased.
   
   In this book Halevy often makes the point that one ought to honor one's word and build up one's credibility. I agree. And I think that means needing to resist pressure to make agreements that one can not or will not fulfill.
   
   I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it.



5. I bought (or got) this book 'cause I've always liked spy stories (I'm a John LeCarre man myself)and I had some expectations of a "show and tell" book by a former head of the Mossad. I also had some respect, as a citizen consumer of the news, of this official who had,somehow, something more European and dignified than the "average" Israeli macho security hero. Halevy was also Israel's ambassador to Jordan and very instrumental in brokering the peace agreement with Jordan.
   
   I found the book rather tiresome with a great deal of muted self-glorification and almost no revelations or juicy bits. Halevy comes across as a very loyal and careful technocrat with clear views (which I don't subscribe to) about the "War on Terror" being the central stuggle of our times.

5 comments about The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace.

1. Recommended by my son who is in the U.S. Dept of State. Found it interesting and well written. Thought it might be somewhat biased as the author was part of the post occupation phase in Iraq.Arrived in good time, in very good condition.



2. Books about the Iraq war are plentiful to say the least and unfortunately, many of them add little to the debate. Even so, there are many books that do and it can be a bit intimidating to dive into the subject. There isn't a single definitive book on the subject and if you really want to understand the war and its aftermath, you'll need to devote quite a bit of time to that end. Ali Allawi's book is definitely worth the read, but it's hard to tell exactly where this book fits into the overall picture from the title alone. What you'll find in The Occupation of Iraq is primarily a narrative (from an Iraqi perspective) of the political process in Iraq after the U.S. invasion. Although Allawi is at times critical of the U.S., what you won't find in this book is a rant against the Bush administration or the U.S. in general, even though many people reviewing books like this like to say that it's somehow incontrovertible proof that Bush is a lying criminal etc.
   
   As an Iraqi, Allawi provides a number of important insights that normally get left out of the discussion by American writers. One important piece of conventional wisdom is that Saddam Hussein's regime was secular and that the rise of Islamic extremism in Iraq is somehow America's fault, but Allawi correctly points out that in 1994, Hussein launched a faith campaign in order to enhance its authority and credibility. This more than anything the U.S. did planted the seeds of Sunni extremism. Another important, but often overlooked point involves the looting of the country that happened after the invasion. Allawi draws attention to the fact that the systematic looting of government buildings was not the work of random criminals, but rather by regime elements determined to dismantle as much of the state's infrastructure as possible, making in more difficult for the Americans and successive Iraqi governments and also to destroy as much incriminating evidence as possible. This never really gets discussed in other books on the subject, but it's an important point that makes a lot of sense when you think about it. As far as the criticism goes that Allawi was an exile, and therefore unqualified to really write about Iraq, the vast majority of the book is concerned with the post-invasion period, when he was part of the government. There is very little about Iraq before the war. These types of criticisms against Allawi carry little, if any weight.
   
   Some things that stood out to me as odd though. One was that the preface was obviously written by someone whose first language isn't English, but the rest of the book doesn't come across this way at all. Maybe it was that the rest of the book was subject to careful editing while the preface was left alone. In any case, it seems like one person wrote the preface while a different person wrote the rest of the book. Also, there are severl times in the book where Allawi refers to himself, but it's in the third person. This adds to the impression that someone else wrote the bulk of the book. In most narrative accounts like this, a person involved in the story itself uses 1st person, not 3rd. Another odd thing about this book is that Allawi never capitalizes the words West or Western. Normally when writing about "the" West or "the" East, the words are capitalized. A subtle jab at the West by Allawi perhaps? Hard to tell, but odd nonetheless.
   
   At 460 pages, The Occupation of Iraq is a lengthy and sometimes difficult read, but ultimately rewarding. To my knowledge, this is the only work of such depth written by an Iraqi involved in the work of rebuilding Iraq at the governmental level. Fiasco and Cobra II cover the story from the American military perspective, The Assassins' Gate and the Foreigner's Gift are more of an investigative journalism/extensive travel diary, and State of Denial is the ultimate insider's look at the Bush administration. These are all important angles and necessary ones to fully understand what's happened in Iraq. Allawi's contribution provides a much needed Iraqi government perspective and in many ways, he's just as critical of the Iraqi government's failures as most are of the Bush administration. This probably shouldn't be the first book about Iraq that someone reads, because I think assumes at least some prior knowledge about the country. Someone with no background will likely have a difficult time here, but the book is certainly rewarding for those well-versed in the subject.



3. I just finished reading this book. It is the sixth book I have read on the war in Iraq, and the first by an Iraqi. It is not an easy read, but it is worth the effort. The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars is that it is kind of a chore to grind through the whole thing, but I am glad I made the effort.
   
   Compared to the other books on Iraq which I have read, this painted a much more complex picture of Iraq. It helped me to understand the complexities of Iraq, and how hard it is to govern it. The identification of Iraqis with Iraq seems pretty thin compared to identification with their religion, their ethnicity, their tribe, clan, family, etc.
   
   Allawi complements some and reproves others. The failure of the occupation is due to mistakes both by the U.S. and by the Iraqis. And he lays it all out quite well. One comment on the U.S. administration really stood out: He cited cheery quotes by both President Bush and General Petraeus in the midst of explaining the then current situation, which was anything but cheery. So I am even less inclined to believe anything said in the future by these two men. I had an idea there was corruption, but the scale of it is mind-boggling. Where other books, by Americans, detail the corruption on the American side, Allawi explains it on the Iraqi side.
   
   If you want to be informed, read this book. If you don't want to be depressed, pass it up.
   
   Dennis Veith



4. If you read just one book about Iraq you need it to be this one. This book is the most comprehensive book out there. It provides a very in depth explanation of Iraq. The book focuses on the political angle of Iraq. He has a lot of inside information that the American press just misses. He has some good insight on American policy that is interesting. The author is Iraqi so he has such an insight that is amazing. You can't find this anywhere else.



5. Title The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace
   Author: Ali A. Allawi
   Rating *****
   Tags iraq, occupation, war, george w bush, dick cheney, middle east, politics, government, achmed chalabi, ali allawi
   
   Excellent book, indispensible for any Westerner seeking to understand Iraq. Ali Allawi is an Iraqi who spent much of his life in exile from the Ba'ath regime, and was well-connected to the opposition who were influential once Saddam was overthrown, being a nephew of Ahmed Chalabi and a cousin of Ayed Allawi. He held various positions in post-Saddam Iraq.
   
   All of which prepares one for a biased telling of the story of Iraq, from the viewpoint of a partisan with a particular view. What one gets instead is a stunningly broad and deep look at all the strands that go into creating the Iraq of today. Allawi discusses the politics, religion, and economy of Iraq, showing the major players and their complex viewpoints, the interaction of all the persons, events, and influences in a remarkably dispassionate and balanced way. Yet he writes with an insider's knowledge and access to people in positions of influence.
   
   Moreover Allawi is competent in discussing the influences that drove the American invasion, and provides an excellent analysis of a theorist the Americans SHOULD have paid attention to , Robert Merton, and his theories of the law of unintended consequences. By the end of the book one is well aware of how difficult and multi-faceted a job is nation building, not something that should be attempted lightly or in ignorance.
   
   Allawi includes brief but important analyses of the views of the other regional powers, including Iran and Saudi Arabia. Their views are complex and multi-layered.
   
   One item was particularly interesting to me. I just read the book _Century of War, Century of Media_ which was particularly horrifying in describing the use of phosphorus by US troops in Fallujah. Allawi's book confirms that account on p. 339, "The MNF [multinational force] was accused of using banned chemical weapons such as white phosphorus and incendiary bombs, a charge denied by the State Department but subsequently indirectly confirmed by the Department of Defense."
   
   The book does not end on a hopeful note. The situation in Iraq is dire, with few good solutions. But after reading this book one has a much better idea of how the situation became what it is, which is a necessary condition to finding solution
   
   Publication Yale University Press (2007), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 544 pages
   Publication date 2007
   ISBN 0300110154 / 9780300110159

5 comments about The Assassins.

1. I've enjoyed all three books, but this one is the best of the three. There's less incindental religious pretext (which you can only assume is there to push a point), and a lot more suspense. The build up is long, but enjoyable, and the action at the end is addicting. The only bad thing I'd have to say about it is that you're reading what would be unfolding right now, and it isn't. The "good" state of things in the middle east doesn't exist, and reading it in the future might be a sad reminder of the political mudfest of the time.



2. Stories about real-life possibilities and the likely actions agencies around the world take to cause and prevent them. I am very impressed.



3. This is as usual, a great book written by Oliver North. Shipping was fast. Book looks great.



4. This was the first book I have read voluntary in years, and what a great book. Really a great way to come back to reading. The book was gripping from the first page and you just need to read one more page...till your done with the book. An eary realism to the book and the time relevance of our time is great and something awesome to relate to. It is like watching the prime news at night.



5. I enjoyed the action North put into this story. With his military back ground as suport, the realism and pace of the story was enjoyable. Read it in two evenings.

5 comments about Long Live the Queen.

1. In my opinion, this is one of White's best works. Although this is technically a YA book, the only real "teen" thing about it is Meg's age. She, her siblings, parents and various White House personas are thoroughly fleshed out, as well as the multitude of psychological issues that come along with being the child of a president. Here, when Meg's position in life leads to her abduction -- an incredibly grave situation -- White combines it with the thoughts running through Meg's mind, which are usually humorous and sarcastic. A thoroughly enjoyable read.



2. I think I first read this book back in middle school, in the late 80's; and immediately bought The Presidents Daughter so I could read that too. I'm now 29, and after a LONG search, have FINALLY recovered an original copy of White House Autumn to complete the trilogy. Wonderful writing, who could not love Meg and her family? And I find as I get older, each time I re-read I manage to pick up more detail, more emotion, more understanding. These books are wonderful for teenagers and adults alike. I recently read that a fourth book, titled "The Queen Lives On" will be released this fall; but have yet to get confirmation from any of the publishing companies. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reprint this series and release the next book!!! I am dying to know how Meg's life has turned out, I would love to read about her college years (and find out if she ended up dating Josh again, LOL).



3. I read a lot of books as a young adult but these books really stand out in my mind. They are incredibly gripping and well written. I have been trying to track this series down for awhile and could not be more happy to have located them. I read them in the early 90's but still loved the 80's culture (Tab and Joan Jett included) and recently purchased a pair it Tretorns because Meg owned them. All in all, great books for anyone to read!



4. I first read this book when i was 15 now at 17 i still love this book its such a good read the main character is engaging and clever. You can see in this story what a post traumatic stress disorder may do to a person. It really makes you feel for this character



5. Ellen Emerson White is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her central character Meg is a strong-willed survivor who can also be an irritable, smart-aleck teen, not a typical heroine, to White's credit! The description of her time with her captors is harrowing. The story of her road to recovery is compelling. All the books in this series are worth reading.

No comments about Theory of the Partisan: Intermediate Commentary on the Concept of the Political.