Ratings1
Average rating5
All right, so, I have not done a ton of reading on Iraq, possibly because it still feels too close for much objective debate. I would NOT categorize this book as objective (it's very kind to the case officers at CIA), but it IS a very interesting look at a failure of a number of different elements to work together. It is an indictment of the policy-centric bureaucratic sycophancy that drove a major political and military decision: the Iraq invasion.
Now, to be fair, I'm rating this as a must read for people who want to understand how the intelligence world can be spoiled by policy interests. I am sure that opinions will vary, but it came across as well-researched (given the subject matter) - again, NOT unbiased, but still worthwhile. Oh, and it's short!
Consider pairing with “Arrows of the Night” (about Ahmed Chalabi) and/or “Code Name: Johnnie Walker” (about an Iraqi interpreter) for a broader perspective on Iraq.