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The Forever War (2009)

by Dexter Filkins(Favorite Author)

4.2 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0307279448 (ISBN13: 9780307279446)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Vintage

review 1: If you want to know why we're never going to win any lasting victories in the Middle East, this is the book to tell you.I don't pay a lot of attention to by-lines, but last week I read a terrific story about the Peshmurga - Kurdish fighters - in Iraq and Syria, and it was so well written and informative I had to check out the author. Dexter Filkins has been around the block, covering Afghanistan and Iraq for the NY Times since the late '90's. He's not a hotel journalist. It seems he's risked his life for the story more times than a truly sane person, and has unfortunately gotten at least one Marine killed in the process. He's also interviewed, interviewed, interviewed - insurgents, US and Iraqi military, CIA, various contractors, and the civilians who are being devasta... moreted by all the armed adventures running around the cities and countryside.The Forever War is a book of accretion. Battle after battle, firefight after firefight, corrupt politician after corrupt politician, wounded soldier after wounded soldier, mind shattered civilian - you get the point - until you're overwhelmed by the monstrousness of the wars, the insanity of the participants, and the futility of anything like a just and lasting peace.The final lesson: Odds are the guys in the flip-flops are going to win.
review 2: It is so easy to be lulled into the relatively soft cocoon of American life that I forget that there are tragedies happening in the world, daily, far outside my scope of understanding. It finally occurred to me that the best way to honor the lives of people who die to disseminate information is to, y'know, stay informed. I think there is a fear of becoming cynical and losing hope for good that comes with being informed of what's really going on, but it is the responsibility of a citizen of the world. less

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