A Time of Our Choosing: America's War in Iraq

by The New York Times and Todd S. Purdum

Book Overview

It was a war like no other the United States had ever fought. It began with the bombing of Saddam Hussein's bunker and ended with statues of the Iraqi dictator being toppled in downtown Baghdad, and it marked a turning point in America's relations with its enemies, its allies, and its sense of itself. Yet most Americans experienced the war as impressionistic and often confusing-the story of one battle here, one unit there, a report from one city,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805075623
• ISBN13: 9780805075625
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Times Books
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

"The global war on terrorism began in Afghanistan..."

This book is an excellent documentation of the events that were carried out by terrorists culminating in the 9/11 Attack on America. Details are given of all the efforts made by America to encourage the UN and all the major countries to take action to put an end to terrorism. It's clear, by reviewing events,almost on a daily basis,that if terrorism was to be defeated,America would get little support or action from the UN or Europe.It shows that it was not America's decision to "go it alone",as so ofen portrayed by the media and many anti-American countries.In fact, America was not only "stiffed" ,but continually criticized for every effort made to end terrorism.Most of Europe conducted a "War over Iraq" while America conducted "war on Terrorism". The book covers events up to the middle of 2003. Since that time there has been little if anything done by most of these countries that should have joined in fighting terrorism.The fact is that they have turned up their diatribe against America to cancel free elections in Iraq,because they couldn't be carried out.The fact that they were successful on Jan 31,2005,seems to be a great disappointment to the naysayers,and certainly not something to be jubilant about.Since the election,they have been continuing their prediction of doom and gloom. If you really want to see what America's true intentions are, this book is the place to find the statements actually made, rather than listening to the commentaries made by so many in the media. If you have bought into the nonsense that America is the villain and brought the War on Terror on itself,you could do yourself a favor and read this book and get the facts. On 9/11 President Bush said: "Terror against our nation wiil not stand" As to my title--- "The global war on terror began in Afghanistan,to be sure,but it will not end there.It will not end until terrorist networks have been routed out from wherever they exist and it will not end until state sponsors of terror are made to understand that abetting terrorism is unacceptable,and will have deadly consequences for regimes that do." This statement by Defence Secretary Rumsfeld on June 9, 2000 pretty well details America's intent to win the War on Terror. There are also several other statements made about Iran,Syria,North Korea,etc.,that should be understood when thinking what America intends to do about terrorism. Well worth reading and and keeping for a reference.

A Worthwhile Overview

One of the values of this book is that it was one of the first on the war to make it into print. It provided the first descriptions that have since been reproduced in books by John Keegan, Bob Woodward, and Tommy Franks. Some of the more interesting facts included Wolfowitz's ability to speak six languages, the definition of peshmerga, the daily tallies of victims of Saddam's purges as told by a gravedigger (up to 18 each day in 2001), and the reason why a Muslim US Marine attacked fellow GIs. Plus there's the testimony of an armor officer that the tank battles outside Baghdad in April of 2003 felt like "five Desert Storms" - this from a veteran of Desert Storm. And there are some memorable quotes from a soldier entering Baghad with a flower placed in his Kevlar by an Iraqi, "These people couldn't be more friendly," as well as Iraqis chanting "George Bush! I love you! I love you!" And the positive aspects are balanced with mentionings of poor decisions, such as as Franks not allowing Jay Garner to enter Baghdad soon enough to provide adequate relief. According to the authors, he arrived about two weeks late.

Ace reporting in one simple book

The Iraq coverage of the New York Times (repeated for us in Europe in the International Herald Tribune) was not just good - it was magnificent. Now all of it is in one volume - and if you did not keep your daily press cuttings of their daily coverage, here is the book that enables you to be as transfixed by their coverage as those of us were who read their reports daily. Christmas is upon us - get this book for your friends to see what our troops were up to in Iraq. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan 2003) and the forthcoming CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED IRAQ WHICH LED TO SADDAM HUSSEIN (Caroll and Graf, 2004)