The Iraq War Reader: History, Documents, Opinions Book

The Iraq War Reader, a comprehensive guide "to the most urgent foreign policy questions of our time", comes from the editors of the 1991 anthology The Gulf War Reader. Culled from a wide variety of sources, these essays, commentaries and official documents cover the entire context of the conflict, with particular attention to the history and policies that led to the war. Divided into four sections and stretching from 1915 to the eve of war in 2003, the book offers viewpoints by pundits, politicians, professors and journalists from every conceivable perspective and political persuasion, including many who participated directly in the events. Part One, "Sins of the Fathers", deals with the modern history of the Middle East, beginning with the end of World War I and the betrayal by the Allies that led to the carving up of the region and to many current problems. It also explains how and why the United States developed a working relationship with Saddam Hussein in the first place. Part Two, "Aftermaths of the Gulf War," covers the years 1991 through 2001 and focuses on the breakdown of the inspections, the effects of the sanctions and Hussein's efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Part Three, "War with Iraq", covers the debate (mainly from a domestic perspective) over whether to attack Iraq and, if so, whether to act unilaterally or multilaterally. Part Four, "Through a Glass Darkly", offers various views of the future, including what sort of society and government will take the place of Hussein's regime and what role the United States now plays in the world. Impressive in its breadth and depth, this is an excellent one-volume compendium on a complicated and important subject. Even those who kept abreast of these events as they unfolded will find much to learn in these pages. --Shawn Carkonen, Amazon.comRead More