The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq - Hardcover

Packer, George

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374299633 ISBN 13: 9780374299637

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2005

Synopsis

The Assassin's Gate: America in Iraq recounts how the United States set about changing the history of the Middle East and became ensnared in a guerrilla war in Iraq. It tells the story of the people and ideas that created the Bush administration's war policy and led America to the Assassin's Gate--the main point of entry into the American zone in Baghdad. The consequences of that policy are shown in the author's vivid reporting on the ground in Iraq, where he made several tours on assignment for The New Yorker. We see up close the struggles of individual American soldiers and civilians and Iraqis from all backgrounds, including returning exiles, thrown together by a war that followed none of the preconceived scripts.

The Assassin's Gate also describes the effect of the Iraq war on American life, including the ordeal of a fallen soldier's family and the shortcomings of a political culture too impoverished in its knowledge of the world and too bitterly polarized to debate complex moral and strategic questions. George Packer's intimate first-person narrative navigates this journey through the landscapes of America and Iraq while tracing the author's own evolving views, bringing to the page the full range of ideas and emotions stirred up by our most controversial foreign-policy venture since Vietnam.

About this title

Review:

Praise for "The Assassins' Gate: "The most complete, sweeping, and powerful account of the Iraq War." --Keith Gessen, "New York" magazine "A deftly constructed and eloquently told account of the war's origins and aftermath . . . Packer makes it deeply human and maddeningly vivid."--Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, "Los Angeles" Times Book Review "Authoritative and tough-minded." --Michiko Kakutani, "The New York Times" "A book that is not only relevant but discerning and provocative. [Packer] offers the vivid detail and balanced analysis that have made him one of the leading chroniclers of the Iraq war."--Yonatan Lupu, "San Francisco Chronicle" "The great strength of George Packer's book is that it gives a fair hearing to both views. Free of cant--but not, crucially, of anger--Mr. Packer has written an account of the Iraq war that will stand alongside such narrative histories as "A Bright Shining Lie, "Fire in the Lake and "Hell in a Very Small Place. As a meditation on the limits of American power, it's sobering. As a pocket history of Iraq and the United States' tangled history, it's indispensable. As an examination of the collision between arrogance and good intentions, it could scarcely be improved upon . . . In short, "The Assassins' Gate is a book every American needs to read."--Tom Bissell, "The "New York" Observer "The best book I read in 2005." --Stephen Elliott, "LA" Weekly "A brilliantly reported analysis of the war in Iraq."--"GQ "Masterful . . . Packer's sketch of the prewar debates is subtle, sharp and poignant . . . His reporting from Iraq was always good, but the book is even better, putting the reader at the side of Walter Benjamin's angel of history, watching helplessly as thewreckage unfolds at his feet."--Gideon Rose, "Washington" Post Book World (cover review) "Packer provides page after page of vivid description of the haphazard, poorly planned and almost criminally executed occupation of Iraq. In reading him we see the staggering gap between abstract ideas and concrete reality."--Fareed Zakaria, "The New York Times Book Review (cover review)

Praise for "The Assassins' Gate: " " The most complete, sweeping, and powerful account of the Iraq War." -- Keith Gessen, "New York"" "magazine " A deftly constructed and eloquently told account of the war' s origins and aftermath . . . Packer makes it deeply human and maddeningly vivid." -- Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, "Los Angeles"" Times Book Review" " Authoritative and tough-minded." -- Michiko Kakutani, "The New York Times""" " A book that is not only relevant but discerning and provocative. [Packer] offers the vivid detail and balanced analysis that have made him one of the leading chroniclers of the Iraq war." -- Yonatan Lupu, "San Francisco Chronicle""" " The great strength of George Packer's book is that it gives a fair hearing to both views. Free of cant-- but not, crucially, of anger-- Mr. Packer has written an account of the Iraq war that will stand alongside such narrative histories as "A Bright Shining Lie," "Fire in the Lake" and "Hell in a Very Small Place," As a meditation on the limits of American power, it's sobering. As a pocket history of Iraq and the United States' tangled history, it's indispensable. As an examination of the collision between arrogance and good intentions, it could scarcely be improved upon . . . In short, "The Assassins' Gate" is a book every American needs to read." -- Tom Bissell, "The ""New York"" Observer" " The best book I read in 2005." -- Stephen Elliott, "LA"" Weekly" "A brilliantly reported analysis of the war in Iraq."-- "GQ" "Masterful . . . Packer's sketch of the prewardebates is subtle, sharp and poignant . . . His reporting from Iraq was always good, but the book is even better, putting the reader at the side of Walter Benjamin's angel of history, watching helplessly as the wreckage unfolds at his feet."-- Gideon Rose, "Washington"" Post Book World" (cover review) "Packer provides page after page of vivid description of the haphazard, poorly planned and almost criminally executed occupation of Iraq. In reading him we see the staggering gap between abstract ideas and concrete reality."-- Fareed Zakaria, "The New York Times Book Review" (cover review)

Praise for "The Assassins' Gate: " "The most complete, sweeping, and powerful account of the Iraq War." --Keith Gessen, "New York"" "magazine "A deftly constructed and eloquently told account of the war's origins and aftermath . . . Packer makes it deeply human and maddeningly vivid."--Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, "Los Angeles"" Times Book Review" "Authoritative and tough-minded." --Michiko Kakutani, "The New York Times""" "A book that is not only relevant but discerning and provocative. [Packer] offers the vivid detail and balanced analysis that have made him one of the leading chroniclers of the Iraq war."--Yonatan Lupu, "San Francisco Chronicle""" "The great strength of George Packer's book is that it gives a fair hearing to both views. Free of cant--but not, crucially, of anger--Mr. Packer has written an account of the Iraq war that will stand alongside such narrative histories as "A Bright Shining Lie," "Fire in the Lake" and "Hell in a Very Small Place," As a meditation on the limits of American power, it's sobering. As a pocket history of Iraq and the United States' tangled history, it's indispensable. As an examination of the collision between arrogance and good intentions, it could scarcely be improved upon . . . In short, "The Assassins' Gate" is a book every American needs to read."--Tom Bissell, "The ""New York"" Observer" "The best book I read in 2005." --Stephen Elliott, "LA"" Weekly" "A brilliantly reported analysis of the war in Iraq."--"GQ" "Masterful . . . Packer's sketch of the prewar debates is subtle, sharp and poignant . . . His reporting from Iraq was always good, but the book is even better, putting the reader at the side of Walter Benjamin's angel of history, watchinghelplessly as the wreckage unfolds at his feet."--Gideon Rose, "Washington"" Post Book World" (cover review) "Packer provides page after page of vivid description of the haphazard, poorly planned and almost criminally executed occupation of Iraq. In reading him we see the staggering gap between abstract ideas and concrete reality."--Fareed Zakaria, "The New York Times Book Review" (cover review)

Praise for "The Assassins' Gate: "
"The most complete, sweeping, and powerful account of the Iraq War." --Keith Gessen, "New York"""magazine
"A deftly constructed and eloquently told account of the war's origins and aftermath . . . Packer makes it deeply human and maddeningly vivid."--Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, "Los Angeles"" Times Book Review"
"Authoritative and tough-minded." --Michiko Kakutani, "The New York Times"
""
"Abook that is not only relevant but discerning and provocative. [Packer] offers the vivid detail and balanced analysis that have made him one of the leading chroniclers of the Iraq war."--Yonatan Lupu, "San Francisco Chronicle"
""
"The great strength of George Packer's book is that it gives a fair hearing to both views. Free of cant--but not, crucially, of anger--Mr. Packer has written an account of the Iraq war that will stand alongside such narrative histories as "A Bright Shining Lie," "Fire in the Lake" and "Hell in a Very Small Place." As a meditation on the limits of American power, it's sobering. As a pocket history of Iraq and the United States' tangled history, it's indispensable. As an examination of the collision between arrogance and good intentions, it could scarcely be improved upon . . . In short, "The Assassins' Gate" is a book every American needs to read."--Tom Bissell, "The ""New York"" Observer"
"The best book I read in 2005." --Stephen Elliott, "LA"" Weekly"
"A brilliantly reported analysis of the war in Iraq."--"GQ"
"Masterful . . . Packer's sketch of the prewar debates is subtle, sharp and poignant . . . His reporting from Iraq was always good, but the book is even better, putting the reader at the side of Walter Benjamin's angel of history, watching helplessly as the wreckage unfolds at his feet."--Gideon Rose, "Washington"" Post Book World" (cover review)
"Packer provides page after page of vivid description of the haphazard, poorly planned and almost criminally executed occupation of Iraq. In reading him we see the staggering gap between abstract ideas and concrete reality."--Fareed Zakaria, "The New York Times Book Review" (cover review)
"The most complete, sweeping, and powerful account of the Iraq War." --Keith Gessen, "New York"""magazine "A deftly constructed and eloquently told account of the war's origins and aftermath . . . Packer makes it deeply human and maddeningly vivid."--Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, "Los Angeles"" Times Book Review" "Authoritative and tough-minded." --Michiko Kakutani, "The New York Times""" "Abook that is not only relevant but discerning and provocative. [Packer] offers the vivid detail and balanced analysis that have made him one of the leading chroniclers of the Iraq war."--Yonatan Lupu, "San Francisco Chronicle""" "The great strength of George Packer's book is that it gives a fair hearing to both views. Free of cant--but not, crucially, of anger--Mr. Packer has written an account of the Iraq war that will stand alongside such narrative histories as "A Bright Shining Lie," "Fire in the Lake" and "Hell in a Very Small Place." As a meditation on the limits of American power, it's sobering. As a pocket history of Iraq and the United States' tangled history, it's indispensable. As an examination of the collision between arrogance and good intentions, it could scarcely be improved upon . . . In short, "The Assassins' Gate" is a book every American needs to read."--Tom Bissell, "The ""New York"" Observer" "The best book I read in 2005." --Stephen Elliott, "LA"" Weekly" "A brilliantly reported analysis of the war in Iraq."--"GQ" "Masterful . . . Packer's sketch of the prewar debates is subtle, sharp and poignant . . . His reporting from Iraq was always good, but the book is even better, putting the reader at the side of Walter Benjamin's angel of history, watching helplessly as the wreckage unfolds at his feet."--Gideon Rose, "Washington"" Post Book World" (cover review) "Packer provides page after page of vivid description of the haphazard, poorly planned and almost criminally executed occupation of Iraq. In reading him we see the staggering gap between abstract ideas and concrete reality."--Fareed Zakaria, "The New York Times Book Review" (cover review)

The most complete, sweeping, and powerful account of the Iraq War. "Keith Gessen, New York magazine"

A deftly constructed and eloquently told account of the war's origins and aftermath . . . Packer makes it deeply human and maddeningly vivid. "Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, Los Angeles Times Book Review"

Authoritative and tough-minded. "Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times"

A book that is not only relevant but discerning and provocative. [Packer] offers the vivid detail and balanced analysis that have made him one of the leading chroniclers of the Iraq war. "Yonatan Lupu, San Francisco Chronicle"

The great strength of George Packer's book is that it gives a fair hearing to both views. Free of cant--but not, crucially, of anger--Mr. Packer has written an account of the Iraq war that will stand alongside such narrative histories as "A Bright Shining Lie," "Fire in the Lake" and "Hell in a Very Small Place." As a meditation on the limits of American power, it's sobering. As a pocket history of Iraq and the United States' tangled history, it's indispensable. As an examination of the collision between arrogance and good intentions, it could scarcely be improved upon . . . In short, "The Assassins' Gate" is a book every American needs to read. "Tom Bissell, The New York Observer"

The best book I read in 2005. "Stephen Elliott, LA Weekly"

A brilliantly reported analysis of the war in Iraq. "GQ"

Masterful . . . Packer's sketch of the prewar debates is subtle, sharp and poignant . . . His reporting from Iraq was always good, but the book is even better, putting the reader at the side of Walter Benjamin's angel of history, watching helplessly as the wreckage unfolds at his feet. "Gideon Rose, Washington Post Book World (cover review)"

Packer provides page after page of vivid description of the haphazard, poorly planned and almost criminally executed occupation of Iraq. In reading him we see the staggering gap between abstract ideas and concrete reality. "Fareed Zakaria, The New York Times Book Review (cover review)""

"The most complete, sweeping, and powerful account of the Iraq War." --Keith Gessen, New York magazine

"A deftly constructed and eloquently told account of the war's origins and aftermath . . . Packer makes it deeply human and maddeningly vivid." --Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Authoritative and tough-minded." --Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

"A book that is not only relevant but discerning and provocative. [Packer] offers the vivid detail and balanced analysis that have made him one of the leading chroniclers of the Iraq war." --Yonatan Lupu, San Francisco Chronicle

"The great strength of George Packer's book is that it gives a fair hearing to both views. Free of cant--but not, crucially, of anger--Mr. Packer has written an account of the Iraq war that will stand alongside such narrative histories as A Bright Shining Lie, Fire in the Lake and Hell in a Very Small Place. As a meditation on the limits of American power, it's sobering. As a pocket history of Iraq and the United States' tangled history, it's indispensable. As an examination of the collision between arrogance and good intentions, it could scarcely be improved upon . . . In short, The Assassins' Gate is a book every American needs to read." --Tom Bissell, The New York Observer

"The best book I read in 2005." --Stephen Elliott, LA Weekly

"A brilliantly reported analysis of the war in Iraq." --GQ

"Masterful . . . Packer's sketch of the prewar debates is subtle, sharp and poignant . . . His reporting from Iraq was always good, but the book is even better, putting the reader at the side of Walter Benjamin's angel of history, watching helplessly as the wreckage unfolds at his feet." --Gideon Rose, Washington Post Book World (cover review)

"Packer provides page after page of vivid description of the haphazard, poorly planned and almost criminally executed occupation of Iraq. In reading him we see the staggering gap between abstract ideas and concrete reality." --Fareed Zakaria, The New York Times Book Review (cover review)

About the Author:

George Packer is a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of several books, most recently Blood of the Liberals (FSG, 2000), winner of the 2001 Robert F. Kennedy Award. He is also the editor of the anthology The Fight Is for Democracy. He lives in Brooklyn.

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0374299633
• ISBN 13: 9780374299637
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 467