Ignorantest newspaper line of the day
The following sentences, printed under the byline of Julie Bosman of the New York Times, could only be written by someone who has not been paying attention: “Now that American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is winding down, the warriors are telling their stories. . . The books appear to be part of the next ...
The following sentences, printed under the byline of Julie Bosman of the New York Times, could only be written by someone who has not been paying attention:
The following sentences, printed under the byline of Julie Bosman of the New York Times, could only be written by someone who has not been paying attention:
“Now that American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is winding down, the warriors are telling their stories. . . The books appear to be part of the next generation of writing from the wars, following a first crop of books by journalists, like “Imperial Life in the Emerald City” by Rajiv Chandrasekaran, about Iraq.
Actually, one of the surprises of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq has been just the opposite: How many fine memoirs have been written over the last 10 years by soldiers, including many by enlisted ones.
As a public service, here is a remedial reading list for Ms. Bosman:
Nathaniel Fick, One Bullet Away
Andrew Exum, This Man’s Army
Craig Mullaney, The Unforgiving Minute
Peter Mansoor, Baghdad at Sunrise
Kayla Williams, Love My Rifle More Than You
Matt Gallagher, Kaboom
Benjamin Tupper, Greetings from Afghanistan
Seth Folsom, The Highway War
David Bellavia, House to House
Joe LeBleu, Long Rifle
Milo Afong, Hogs in the Shadows
Donovan Campbell, Joker One
Nick Popaditch, Once a Marine
John Crawford, The Last True
Jeremiah Workman, Shadow of the Sword
Jason Hartley, Just Another Soldier
Paul Rieckhoff, Chasing Ghosts
Nathan Sassaman, Warrior King
Vivian Gembara, Drowning in the Desert
Rusty Bradley, Lions of Kandahar
Sean Parnell, Outlaw Platoon
Brandon Friedman, The War I Always Wanted
Nate Self, Two Wars
Michael Franzak, A Nightmare’s Prayer
I know I am leaving out a bunch more, but all my books are 600 miles from where I am writing this. And I haven’t even included memoirs by spies, diplomats and other civilian officials. I suggest that as penance, Ms. Bosman read at least five of these memoirs.
More from Foreign Policy


Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?
The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.


Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World
It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.


It’s a New Great Game. Again.
Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.


Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing
The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.