In the Belly of the Green Bird: The Triumph of the Martyrs in Iraq

Nir Rosen is lucky to be alive. Travelling through Iraq during a very dangerous time, Rosen risked his life every day. He also got some great firsthand information. Rosen's book really shows what disarray the country of Iraq is in. It also shows how much most Iraqis dislike Americans. And it is not a hidden, secret hatred, either. To read firsthand accounts of speeches, prayers, and calls to action is mind blowing. Rosen shows us an Iraq that we otherwise couldn't have known existed. Rosen points out the difference between the Iraqi resistance, that just want the Americans out of Iraq, and the jihadis, that are looking for a final holy war between Muslims and... pretty much anyone who's not Muslim. All this violence adds up to a hard time for any Westerner in Iraq. It even makes it dangerous for Iraqis to walk the street as hundreds are killed each week in car bombings and shootings. The Iraq Rosen portrays in this book is very different than the Iraq that you hear about on the news. We might hear about occasional bombings, but I don't think we realize how bad the situation is over there. I don't know what the solution is, and Rosen doesn't offer one; he objectively displays the information he gathered. But this information seems to point towards an inevitable civil war. Anyone that is interested in reading about what life in Iraq was like between April 2003 and the elections in January 2005 should pick this book up. The afterword goes into late 2005, and gives you an idea of more recent developments. I didn't have any knowledge of Iraq going into this book and now I want to know more. This is the kind of news that we should be given on a day-to-day basis. Rosen covers the good and the bad in equal parts, and really shows us the opinions of different sects of Iraqis. This only serves to highlight how different they truly are, and how those differences could be leading Iraq to a Civil War.

For anyone interested in what is really happening in the mosques and with the mullahs of Iraq, this is the book to read. As other reviews and the publisher's blurb point out, Nir Rosen had access to the locations and people who are actually making a difference in the hearts and minds of Iraqis and they are not the Americans. Couple this book with Thomas Ricks' newly released "Fiasco" and the case will be made that America in is way over its head in a world inhabited by radical Islam, something not seen in the world for centuries. Rosen says he made his mother cry. This factual, beautifully reported, exquistiely researched book will make you cry, too.

Nir Rosen provides the most credible, fair and balenced (sorry Fox, you've seemed to have blown it again!) report on the evolution of thought across the critical spectrum of players in Iraq. His middle-eastern looks, his fluency in Arabic, his respect of the culture, his persistent curiosity, and his unwaivering nerve gave him confidential audience to the major figures in the post-invasion Iraq. He details the Iraqi perspective of the American forces from greeted liberator to hated occupier as countless US stategic blunders and cultural disrespect allowed the insurgency to take control of what is now a failed state in the early stages of civil war. Most importantly Rosen digs out the fact, reports accurately from the field, and leaves the spin to Fox and the AEI. A must-have book for anyone seeking the truth on this sad period in American history.

Finally, at long last, a readable, credible account arrives that objectively peers inside the Iraq insurgency to explain its foundation, motivation, and evolution. After culturally emerging himself with Iraqis of every stripe, Rosen writes from a decidedly non-Western perspective, demonstrating a mastery not only of both Shia and Sunni sects of Islam but the complicated and failed history of colonialism in Iraq as well. Many professionals I know are reading his book carefully to understand what perhaps our Washington-juandiced eyes have been unable to see: that the stigma of occupation runs deep in the Middle East, especially in Iraq, and that no matter how much planning or preparation might have been applied, the US invasion of Iraq was doomed from the start.

Rosen's book is a must read for anyone interested in discussing the Iraqi conflict. It provides fascinating and much needed insight into the events of the last three years from a little known perspective - that of the Iraqi population. The reality on the ground proves to be in stark contrast to the platitudes fed by the administration as well the general media which is limited with respect to its access due to both safety concerns as well as an uninviting indigenous population. Rosen's recklessness for his safety seems a blessing as numerous insurgent commanders are interviewed and Rosen leaves no stone unturned. The book is rather comprehensive in its detailing of the conflict and the various demographics in Iraq. The writing style, though at times uneven, generally proves to be an ideal blend of of vital information and history together with interviews, experiences and anecdotes detailing Rosen's journey throughout the country. The traces of cynicism which decorate the book sporadically hint at Rosen's misanthropic tendencies yet are easily forgiven considering his extended exposure to the various extremes of the cultures he explores. Overall most of the book is extremely readable (an unexpected page turner at times) and though many of the details and names will escape the reader at its close, the perspective and knowledge gained is invaluable. Perfect for a course on modern Iraqi politics, urban military conflicts and the like.