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Generation Kill

By Evan Wright

(26)

| Softcover | 9780425200407

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Book Description

Within hours of 9/11, America's war on terrorism fell to those like the 23 Marines of the First Recon Battalion, the first generation dispatched into open-ended combat since Vietnam. They were a new breed of American warrior unrecognizable to their forebears-soldiers raised on hip hop, Internet pornContinue

Critics

On War

The vanquished know war. They see through the empty jingoism of those who use the abstract words of glory, honor, and patriotism to mask the cries of the wounded, the senseless killing, war profiteering, and chest-pounding grief. They know the lies t ... (read full critics)

nybooks published on Mon, 23 Aug 2010

2 Reviews

13 people find this helpful

Somehow misleading Catch-Reader title: CHECK THIS OUT!

Author, Rolling-Stone journalist, reports forty days of Iraq invasion from it's start, while embedded in 1st Recon Marine Battalion.
He shared Marine life and fighting, from MRE to sleep deprivation to taking rounds. Fallaci in Viet-Nam was granted Major-equivalent rank being a journalist, thus ... (continue)

Author, Rolling-Stone journalist, reports forty days of Iraq invasion from it's start, while embedded in 1st Recon Marine Battalion.
He shared Marine life and fighting, from MRE to sleep deprivation to taking rounds. Fallaci in Viet-Nam was granted Major-equivalent rank being a journalist, thus enabled to command an helicopter to get her into action, but nothing like that was possible there, so he entered action in the beginning.
This way he suffered banning from day-by day communication, as like as being disallowed from autonomous wandering, a serious limitation for a journalist (he thought before) but a lifesaving measure as has been very clear after.
"Recon" means going into search for enemy.
Surprisingly 1st Recon was used instead as "spear tip" into fight. Hopefully it could have lured hidden Iraqi forces into battle. Suicidal task, unless proven Iraqi were already softened to residual random fighting forces only.
Not surprisingly were the SNAFU and TAFUBAR happening in every battle since centuries, no matter how much technology is available. Lube lacks, rifles stucks, nightvision without batteries, food lacks, trucks lost and impaired hygiene as NBC overall was compulsory.
This proves Mass Destructions Weapons still believed within into Saddam possibilities, as fighting and living inside rubber clothing into hot desert is a hell of a life.
Then they were ordered not to use, when was clear there were no dangers of being poisoned.
Techno-fighting is perfect into wargames. Sandstorm, comms encrypting mess and other disappointing mishaps, makes old fashioned artillery more reliable than close air support, unless called for by a moron asking for close fire without checking friendly troop position. Three cases of total madness. In two, refusal to obey went smooth. Extensive use of unprotected field artillery proves (again) that Iraqi were already without aviation and tactical support.
The overwhelming majority of Marines is not trigger happy, Iraqi civilian casualties were exceptions unless generated by a war criminal (happened), but it is clear the absence of a recovery plan for civilians, like Allied Army pursued during Italian WW2 campaign. Even CIA is frankly disappointing, showing absolute ignorance on how about deal with civilians.
At the end was proven that "Even though their Commander in Chief tells them they are fighting today in Iraq to protect American freedom, few would be shaken to discover that they might actually be leading a grab for oil. In a way, they almost expect to be lied to".
Lots of other useful info here, (available on request) maybe if our newspaper journalists could have read it, they may have been able to avoid confusing Cruise (missiles) with Cruiser (big warship).
Soundtrack:
Lee "Scratch" Perry - Arkology 3CD
Reel I: Dub Organiser
Reel II: Dub shepherd
Reel III: Dub Adventurer
The Upsetters - Dub Blackboard Jungle
Amp Fiddler + Sly & Robbie - Inspiration Information.
Don't waste innuendos, I like that while straight and sober.

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Procyon Lotor said on Mar 22, 2011 | 3 feedbacks

A really interesting view on the iraq war.
A great account of the life of young men called on to take life-or-death decision.

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Echomrg said on Dec 17, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback