‘The Unraveling’: Succeeding in Iraq — and then a few years later watching it fall apart
More from Emma Sky’s new book, which comes out this month.
More from Emma Sky’s new book, which comes out this month. Anyone interested in an inside account of the American war in Iraq should read it. Sky, who was a political advisor to top American generals, provides a good overview of political events. One sad comment of hers: “For so many Iraqis, democracy has become synonymous with chaos and violence.”
She also offers up many tart observations and insights about people. Some of the fun ones:
—On Gen. David Petraeus: “It was this aspect of Petraeus that irked his peers the most: he always had to know more than anyone else.”
—When she met Tony Blair in Baghdad, he asked her why a British woman was advising the American military. She shrugged and said, “Stockholm syndrome.”
—On watching Donald Rumsfeld being briefed: “He turned the map of Kirkuk and northern Iraq and asked, ‘Where is Iran?’ I had hoped he knew that sort of thing.”
(Tom: Maybe he just wanted it marked on the map? I hope.)
Amazon
More from Foreign Policy


Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America
The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.


The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense
If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.


Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War
Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.


How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests
And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.