"Fiasco" by Thomas E. Ricks

Any review of a book on the Iraq war, invasion 2003 that is, will be sorely tempted to revisit the arguments on support or opposition to that war. So let’s get this out of the way first: In 2003 this reviewer was against the war. That said, it is not inconsistent to take the view that both the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan need to be concluded successfully to serve Western interests best.

Now to the book; Ricks has admitted that this book is nothing more than a “narrative history” of the events (p441). He picks up the story in 2002 and finishes 2005, and writes a postscript to the paper-back edition in mid-2006. Observant readers will notice this is incomplete, but Ricks continues the story with “The Gamble” (published in 2009 and to be reviewed later this year.)

Other than the time line, the story is not complete. There are very few voices other than American ones. As the intervention was mainly an American adventure it is not surprising that very few voices from the rest of the coalition of the willing (or unwilling, p347-8). The real omission is the lack of voices from Iraqis, especially insurgent Iraqis. Ricks does explain that the level and nature of the insurgency was such that it was too dangerous for any journalist to explore beyond Green Zone Baghdad to find them. Al-Qaeda can have no complaints. If they wanted their voice heard, kidnapping and decapitating western hostages sent its own message of discouragement to any intrepid journalist willing to listen to insurgents.

So Ricks has clearly interviewed and researched from the people he can, the insurgent Iraqi voice will need to wait till a later date. But boy does Ricks do a mighty fine job with the material he has. This is a valuable book that highlights the pit falls of invasion without a coherent and pragmatic occupation strategy needed post-conflict, post regime change. The insurgency grew after a successful invasion, and the Americans were without a coherent strategy to combat it.

Ricks concludes pessimistic about the chances of success in Iraq. Petraeus’s ‘surge’ since 2006 have given cause for cautious optimism. It is this reviewer’s judgement that some form of intervention will be needed at least half way through this decade. I also do expect to see US military bases in Iraq for some considerable time beyond then, and indeed the life of the insurgency. President Bush, criticised his predecessor Clinton for being a ‘nation-builder,’ and yet has committed his country to do just that for the foreseeable future, in not just Iraq but Afghanistan too.

Beevor’s review on the front cover is most telling; the story is “Almost beyond belief.” Almost.

Not for the faint hearted. Valuable and thought-provoking, this book gets 3/5.