Winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Award, George Packer is a venerated staff writer for The New Yorker-with four tours on assignment in Iraq. With The Assassins' Gate, he offers a penetrating work of journalism on the United States' occupation of Iraq. The Assassins' Gate, dubbed so by American soldiers, is the entrance to the American zone in the city of Baghdad. In 2003, the United States blazed into Iraq to depose dictator Saddam Hussein. But after three years and unknown thousands killed, that country faces an escalating civil war and an uncertain fate. How did it get to this point? George Packer describes the players and ideas behind the Bush administration's war policy. He also provides first-hand accounts of the men and women-both civilian and military, coalition and Iraqi-who are caught in the middle of the conflict. Rich in history and political insight, this is an important contribution to the ongoing dialogue over the Iraq War.
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"An on-the-ground view of the Iraq Conflict from New Yorker journalist Packer, with a balanced perspective that nevertheless makes the war look pretty much botched from conception to execution to reconstruction. It's not a complete downer, however, profiling countless hopeful strugglers on all sides."
— Robin (4 out of 5 stars)
" Donald Rumsfeld = war criminal. "
— John, 2/8/2014" Great book to learn about the history of the war and the major players in the ongoing saga. Gives you a great feel for life in Iraq during wartime. "
— David, 1/26/2014" This book stands out among those I've read so far about America's occupation of Iraq. The author is featured prominently in "No End in Sight", the recent documentary. Together, they are excellent companion pieces, if you're in to being outraged and depressed. "
— Brian, 1/25/2014" FFL selection. Author writes for the New Yorker and will be speaking at the library. "
— Faye, 1/13/2014" Excellent book about the American mistakes in Iraq the first two years of the war. Moving and well-documented "
— Mary, 1/3/2014" A little partisan at times, but overall pretty eye opening and startling. A good companion piece to State of Denial. "
— Golden, 1/2/2014" A must read for anybody who wants to know America's plan for Iraq invasion "
— Michael, 12/7/2013" One of many beat your head against the wall books written about the Iraq debacle. Fascinating, interesting, but ultimately terribly dispiriting hence the moderate ranking. "
— Pat, 11/20/2013" Only the first year of our Iraq War - excellent "
— Lonni, 11/6/2013" The most clear-eyed history I've ever read of why we're in Iraq and what happened. This is the standard by which future histories of this war should be judged. "
— Koven, 10/15/2013" Man, Iraq is messed up! "
— Nicky, 9/26/2013" An eye-opening look at American-Iraq diplomacy before, during and after the American invasion of 2001. "
— Moriabyrne, 8/31/2013" I started reading this book--but then had to return it to the library--but am definitely going to check it out again--it's phenomenal. Packer just wrote a fascinating article for the New Yorker on IRAQ, too. "
— Christine, 1/20/2013" Like watching slow torture. The war was screwed from the get go, and here it all is. At points, it seemed like too much opinion, which was unnecessary on such a major mistake. "
— Ethan, 1/13/2013" Required reading, if ever there was such a thing. "
— William, 8/14/2012" The Best Book on Iraq "
— j.marvin, 11/11/2011" Extremely informative. I wanted to learn more about a historical event that I have lived through and remembered, and this was truly fascinating. It was all new to me, so it took me awhile and it was dense, but I really enjoyed it. "
— Sarah, 11/10/2011" Best book I read in 2006. Pulitzer finalist which ought to have won. "
— Dan, 9/11/2011" A good narrative about all the many, many things America did wrong in the Iraq War. "
— Charles, 3/19/2011" I think Packer would have done better to stick with short articles. While some of the content in this book was interesting, much of it was too disjointed and tangential to hold my attention for long. "
— Jackie, 2/27/2011" FFL selection. Author writes for the New Yorker and will be speaking at the library. "
— Faye, 12/20/2010" George Packer is a very good writer and journalist. I've read him in the New Yorker for years and this book was sitting unread on my shelf so now I'm gonna look like a super smart smarmy bastard on the bus and train when I whip this badboy out. "
— Will, 12/16/2010" This has confirmed everything I ever thought about the war in Iraq. "
— Keith, 7/26/2010" Covers the period leading up to the Iraq war. Great book. It covers how there was no plan for what to do after Baghdad fell. "
— Manuel, 3/16/2010" Excellent book about the American mistakes in Iraq the first two years of the war. Moving and well-documented "
— Mary, 8/4/2009" Well done and easy to read. I gained a greater understanding of the war in Iraq "
— Roger, 6/17/2009" SOOO much ! <br/> <br/>George Packer did a remarkable job of blending personal stories about so many stakeholders involved in Iraq that I increased my understanding of that area ten fold. It really is such a complicated situation, created by centuries of competing factions. "
— Holly, 5/24/2009" Explains so much about how/why we are where we are now in Iraq . . . "
— Isahah, 3/12/2009" A really good analysis of how we got into the war in Iraq. Many different reasons but one goal. "
— Adam, 3/3/2009George Packer is an award-winning author and staff writer at The Atlantic. His previous books include The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America, winner of the National Book Award; The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq; and Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century, winner of the Hitchens Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography. He is also the author of two novels and a play and the editor of a two-volume edition of the essays of George Orwell.
Richard Poe, a professional actor for more than thirty years, has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including 1776 and M. Butterfly. On television he has had recurring roles on Star Trek and Frasier. His films include Born on the Fourth of July and Presumed Innocent. Poe is a well-known and prolific audiobook performer and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards.