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Chain of Command (Abridged): The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib Audiobook
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(3.07) - 592 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Since September 11, 2001, Seymour M. Hersh has riveted readers -- and outraged the Bush Administration -- with his stories in The New Yorker magazine, including his breakthrough pieces on the Abu Gharaib prison scandal. Now, in Chain of Command, he brings together this reporting, along with new revelations, to answer the critical question of the last three years: how did America get from the clear morning when hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon to a divisive and dirty war in Iraq?
Hersh established himself at the forefront of investigative journalism thirty-five years ago when he broke the news of the massacre in My Lai, Vietnam, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize. Ever since, he's challenged America's power elite by publishing the stories that others can't or won't tell.
In Chain of Command, Hersh takes an unflinching look behind the public story of President Bush's "war on terror" and into the lies and obsessions that led America into Iraq. With an introduction by The New Yorker's editor, David Remnick, Chain of Command is a devastating portrait of an Administration blinded by ideology and of a President whose decisions have made the world a more dangerous place for America.
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"It is truly explosive. It unearths weaknesses in American spy agencies prior to September 11, 2001, attacks.Tons of information about American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, and Washington's relations with Musharraf and Saudi Royal family. Details and hidden information regarding torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons was interesting."
— Intikhab (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Provides an oblique but timely reminder of why rules exist in the first place: to guard against the failings to which human beings with all their frailties and foibles are prone and for which, in public life, others—nineteen- and twenty-year-old soldiers—are obliged to pay.”
— Washington Post -
“Based on previously published articles and supplemented by fresh revelations..this sobering book is the closest anyone without a security clearance will get to operatives in the inner sanctums of America’s intelligence, military, political and diplomatic worlds.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Packed with specific details and thoughtful analysis…Part of Hersh’s skill lies in uncovering official reports that have been buried because government or military leaders find them too revealing or embarrassing. Chain of Command is filled with such stories…Hersh offers readers a clearer understanding of what has happened since September 11 and what we might expect in the future.”
— Amazon.com
Awards
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One of the 2004 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books
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A 2005 Audie Award Finalist
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An ALA Notable Book Finalist for Nonfiction
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New York Times bestseller
Chain of Command Listener Reviews
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" Seymour Hersh is the best friend American democracy has got. We all know the Bush (Cheney) Administration is corrupt. Hersh was on top of it before just about anybody else. "
— Chris, 1/23/2014 -
" Chilling look at the Bush Administration. Hersh doesn't hesitate to label Cheney a war criminal. "
— Steven, 1/23/2014 -
" Very highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an in-depth look by one of the most worldly renowned Journalists. The book explores the functions/dysfunctions in government and the military that lead to the second Iraq War and the ugly Abu Gharib incident. "
— Lori, 1/21/2014 -
" Horribly depressing, gripping account of the madness of GW Bush and his Iraq War machinations. "
— Patty, 1/16/2014 -
" This weaves together some of Hersh's reporting in the New Yorker with some additional reach. I had a hard time keeping track of all the players -- which guy was the security business entrepreneur who also advised the government on defense policy? -- but the overall message came through. "
— Mary, 1/16/2014 -
" It was so upsetting to read - I donated it to the library. The truth hurts. "
— Tulara, 1/12/2014 -
" I found the information contained in this book interesting. I fully support our troops and what they are doing to combat our countries War of Terrorism. Some of the information here is disturbing. What happened to America doing the right thing? "
— Mtbike40, 11/13/2013 -
" This was one of the first critical books about the war that I read that made me viscerally angry. But I couldn't put it down. "
— Kerry, 10/20/2013 -
" This book was stunning, riveting, and wholly disturbing. Nothing I didn't suspect, but the facts were indisputable. The ramifications and reverberations of these war criminals' behavior will come back to haunt us for many decades to come. "
— Maryann, 8/31/2013 -
" This guy has connections...made for a very alarming and interesting read. "
— Scott, 7/15/2013 -
" interesting insight into how the us government used selective intelligence to escalate the war on terror. excellent content, but a bit long. probably would have enjoyed reading his pieces in the new yorker. "
— Christine, 5/31/2013 -
" tough. didn't have the courage to read it until now with the obama presidency.... "
— Marta, 3/14/2013 -
" Excellent analysis of the events between 9/11 and the Iraqi War. Hersh is an excellent writer and presents his facts clearly. This was truly a scary book. "
— Kristina, 12/5/2012 -
" Painstakingly researched account of the road to U.S.-sanctioned torture and human rights abuses at Abu Ghraib. "
— Kathy, 11/8/2012 -
" It's sad if this is true, and I believe it is, that all our soldiers died for the wrong reasons. "
— Tim, 8/8/2012 -
" My problem with Hersh is that I can't tell how much of what he says is true. "
— Nathanael, 7/5/2012 -
" Read this as part of a class called "Conflict Reporting." It was one of hte most compelling journalistic endeavors I had read since "Into the Wild." "
— Mfalco65, 6/10/2012 -
" This book gives you many insights into US foreign non-policy. "
— Armando, 5/22/2012 -
" If you want to know what our government and our military leadership is really doing in "the war on terror", read this book. You won't find this kind of stuff out by reading the papers or watching the news. "
— Michael, 2/29/2012 -
" Hersh makes clear that it wasn't just a few wayward soldiers. "
— Karl, 11/17/2011 -
" Very informative - a must read for every American - insightful about what's going on in our government today & in recent past - difficult to follow at times "
— Michaelbatte, 3/30/2011 -
" It's sad if this is true, and I believe it is, that all our soldiers died for the wrong reasons. "
— Tim, 2/25/2011 -
" Excellent analysis of the events between 9/11 and the Iraqi War. Hersh is an excellent writer and presents his facts clearly. This was truly a scary book. "
— Kristina, 9/13/2010 -
" Chilling look at the Bush Administration. Hersh doesn't hesitate to label Cheney a war criminal. "
— Steven, 5/15/2010 -
" Horribly depressing, gripping account of the madness of GW Bush and his Iraq War machinations. "
— Patty, 3/7/2010 -
" Very informative - a must read for every American - insightful about what's going on in our government today & in recent past - difficult to follow at times "
— Michaelbatte, 8/4/2009 -
" This book gives you many insights into US foreign non-policy. "
— Armando, 1/4/2009 -
" Read this as part of a class called "Conflict Reporting." It was one of hte most compelling journalistic endeavors I had read since "Into the Wild." "
— Mfalco65, 12/17/2008 -
" tough. didn't have the courage to read it until now with the obama presidency.... "
— Marta, 12/17/2008 -
" This was one of the first critical books about the war that I read that made me viscerally angry. But I couldn't put it down. "
— Kerry, 12/8/2008 -
" This guy has connections...made for a very alarming and interesting read. "
— Scott, 12/5/2008 -
" I found the information contained in this book interesting. I fully support our troops and what they are doing to combat our countries War of Terrorism. Some of the information here is disturbing. What happened to America doing the right thing? "
— Mtbike40, 11/12/2008 -
" Painstakingly researched account of the road to U.S.-sanctioned torture and human rights abuses at Abu Ghraib. "
— Kathy, 10/4/2008 -
" Hersh makes clear that it wasn't just a few wayward soldiers. "
— Karl, 8/22/2008
About Seymour M. Hersh
Seymour M. Hersch is one of America’s premier investigative reporters. In 1969 he wrote the first account of the My Lai massacre in South Vietnam. In the 1970s he worked at the New York Times in Washington and New York. He has won more than a dozen major journalism prizes, including the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting and four George Polk Awards.