First published 2023
America's Global War on Terror lasted twenty years and delivered few victories. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan cost tens of thousands of American casualties and trillions of dollars while causing widespread suffering among the populations the US claimed to liberate. Now many Americans want to forget these wars and move forward. Bacevich and fellow veteran Daniel Sjursen have gathered fifteen original essays from American veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and later opposed these conflicts. These contributors come from different military services, ranks, and backgrounds. They describe why they initially chose to serve and explain the experiences that led them to speak out against the military system. Their accounts reveal how the world's most powerful military forces went so badly wrong. The veterans' direct testimony provides crucial insights into the failures of America's post-9/11 military interventions.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Iraq, Afghanistan
Period: 20th century, 21st century
304 pages · Paperback · Metropolitan
Content warnings: war