Book Review- The Fighting 69th: From Ground Zero to Baghdad by Sean Michael Flynn

Wow! Two books in a row turned in to the library on time.


I just finished (well finished listening) to this book and pleased for having done so.  Beyond the obvious patriotic elements of the book there were a few things that stood out as a first-hand look at the Iraq War.

The first was the unit itself.  The Fighting 69th had been a part of every major conflict since the Civil War until Vietnam.  By the time of September 2001, the unit had transformed itself to a loose band of misfits who could barely muster for a parade, to a slightly less loose band of misfits who could barely muster for a parade. Security duty at West Point, and duty at Ground Zero moves the unit closer to its deployment, but not fully.  From there they train in the states, and ship to Iraq.  They serve with distinction the blood soaked town of Toji to Route Irish in Baghdad making a lasting mark on the Iraq War.  By the end of their tour of duty, the 69th was ranked by Army Brass as one of the best in country.  In a sense, the Fighting 69th is a feasible comparison to the Dirty Dozen of Hollywood.  It provides a interesting perspective which is the book's hook.  Flynn well documents the struggle of Colonel Jeff Slack to prepare the unit. This was particularly eye opening when you consider the lack of simple competency the unity processed before the war, to where it ended the war.

The History Podcast #29 - Lack of Good War Films about Iraq and Afghanistan

The History Podcast #29

Download Podcast - Lack of Good War Films about Iraq and Afghanistan 

This history podcast discusses the lack of quality war films about current wars. In particular, we question why there hasn't been any comedic or critical films produced about Iraq and Afghanistan. There are many films that are critical of past american wars, and darkly comedic too. Vietnam comes to mind. Today, it seems that no one in our country is allowed to say anything pejorative or critical of any american military action. Why has there been such a sea change in the last 20 years? Why can't MASH, Catch-22, Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, etc. be made today? Is this a part of a bigger problem?

Book Review - Obama's War by Bob Woodward

When delving into anything written by Bob Woodward, one must give serious credence to his somewhat liberal bent. He is after all the slayer of the un-slayable Conservative Richard Nixon. He has been outspoken in his support of President Obama, and his policies. However, Woodward is still a top rate journalist and is, for the most part able to step off the slant and do his job well. This book is well researched and very well documented. Look not for any “Deep Throat” type sources, but Woodward does interview those that are pertinent to the story at all levels.

I read this book as the combat almost two full years after the last combat troops were pulled out of Iraq, and during the handover to NATO troops in Afghanistan, but the insight to those decisions could not be clearer. Throughout the book, Woodward documents the critical decisions making process taken by the administration, that at times was nearly paralyzed by turf wars and backbiting. 

Early into the book Woodward’s bias is first betrayed. In the first few chapters great pain is taken to describe the pitfalls of the Bush administration’s handling of the war, and the residue of those maneuvers on current events. As the book proceeds, it is easy to see a “us verse them” mentality between military and civilian leaders was very present and well established by the time President Obama takes office. The facts, as presented by Woodward, show the measures taken first by Candidate Obama, President-Elect Obama and finally President Obama to utilize the military. Those measures were soundly rebuffed on all fronts with few exceptions.