Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

I was excited to read this book. I thought Rosen's movement outside of the Green Zone might have generated valuable insight into both Iraqi and resistance culture. Unfortunately, I found the book analytically shallow, skimming the public surface of the society without penetrating into the substance beneath it. He overwhelms the reader with details of his experience in Iraq, and emphasizes that his knowledge of the language and the culture aided his understanding, but these details are only compensation for his inability to actually explain much about the things he is describing.

As examples, I will use two themes that dominate Rosen's book: anti-Semitism and the rhetoric of religious leaders. Rosen is repeatedly pointing out Iraqis' tendency to blame the circumstances of the Middle East, and particularly the occupation of Iraq, on conspiring Jews, as well as the frequent use of the term as an insult. He does not, however, attempt any explanation for this phenomenon outside of brief references to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. How do Iraqis perceive of Jewish-ness? What explains their belief in the conspiracy? These questions are not addressed. Instead, he is content to simply quote a number of anti-Semitic slurs.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the book is the incessant quoting of speeches in mosques without providing any interpretive tools for understanding the rhetoric. Rosen spent a lot of time - the overwhelming majority of the book - listening to sermons and talking to religious leaders. While Rosen does a good job of indicating when a leader might be speaking to militants, he does absolutely nothing to contextualize the language, attitude or culture of political Islam. How do "ordinary" Iraqis interpret these sermons? What do the words mean to them? How does this language - shocking in a Western vocabulary of "tolerance" - actually shape itself within Iraqi society? The people of Iraq - the recipients of these statements - are rendered nearly invisible, leaving a crucial gap in the lifespan of this rhetoric. Rhetoric is, after all, only as meaningful as its interpretation. Rosen simply translates the statements and sermons, leading the reader to the conclusion that they - and their attending masses - are predominately irrational, bloodthirsty and violent.

In failing to engage in a more thorough analysis of these two themes, Rosen mystifies them, erasing all but the most superficial conditions from which they emerged and in which they have purpose (or "reason"). Anti-Semitism and vitriolic rhetoric, then, risk being "naturalized", perceived as conditions that are somehow "natural" or intrinsic to Arabic culture. This is not explicit in the book. I believe Rosen's desire to portray the Iraqi people was genuine. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line there was a failure. Rosen was not capable of gathering any real insight or he was not capable of putting it into his book. Either way, "In the Belly of the Green Bird" is a disappointment.

Freelance reporter Nir Rosen traveled to Iraq and witnessed the fall of Baghdad in April 2003. He remained in Iraq until 2005, and the book, "In the Belly of the Green Bird: The Triumph of the Martyrs in Iraq" is an account of his time there. If you think the war is going swimmingly in Iraq, then this book--a scathing indictment of the Iraqi war--will either annoy you or leave you stunned. Rosen doesn't mince words--to him the Iraqi war is an unmitigated disaster.

The first part of the book begins with the invasion, and the wide range of opinions, expectations and reactions of Iraqis regarding the removal of Saddam and the subsequent American occupation. Rosen notes that at first the "violence was mainly chaotic" but that it rapidly "organized." With no army, no police presence, and no real political figures evident, Rosen argues that a "power vacuum" was created in Iraq, and subsequently, the mosques became the "new centers of power." Then, for a large section of the book, Rosen takes a chronological approach to events in Iraq. Most of us have read the headlines, but he presents the stories behind the headlines--and gives an incredible amount of detail, explanation and valuable cultural information.

Rosen does not hold a high opinion of the American forces in Iraq, and the book's focus is not concerned with getting the opinion of the average soldier. There is no real analysis of American policy regarding the privatization of Iraqi assets--no doubt this is because Rosen does not take a 'bird's eye' view of the war. Rosen's viewpoint is that of an 'on the ground observer' with sympathy for the average Iraqi citizen just trying to go about his business. While he blasts American strategical decisions, he also records numerous incidents in which American forces showed cultural insensitivity--and that's a nice way of putting it. In one section, Rosen explains how teams led an operation to arrest suspected terrorists and ended up (rather brutally) getting the wrong man. He records the American reaction to this major faux pas.

Rosen records various incidents from the fall of Baghdad until 2005, and he describes how the population absorbed and reacted to these incidents (the flattening of Falluja, for instance) and he paints an incredible picture. Rosen's analysis of the lectures given in mosques throughout Iraq is particularly interesting. He notes how and when these lectures began to alter and reflect the changing tension in this war torn country.

There's a lot to digest here--the initial reaction of the Iraqis following the invasion, the attempts by many clerics to preach patience and brotherhood to seal the Iraqis as a united people (Sunnis and Shias), the beginning rumblings of resistance to the occupation, and the rise of Moqtada al-Sadr--a man who seized the moment. Rosen details al-Sadr's religious courts, and it's not a pretty picture. But, as Rosen explains, many Iraqis saw the occupapation as a punishment for apostasy from Islam, and so this created a climate of radicalism. Rosen also makes it clear that the violence in Iraq is three fold--the "indigenous resistance to occupation", sectarian violence amongst ethnic groups, and a "second al-Qaeda"--part of the Jihadi movement with a much more complicated agenda.

The book's structure unravels and loses focus towards the end, and that is unfortunate. Nonetheless, this book is a must-read for those interested in the war, and Rosen is in a unique position to act as a cultural bridge between the Iraqis and his readers. If I had to select one thing to carry away from this book, it would be that Iraq's culture is incredibly complex, and it probably takes years of study to begin to understand its subtle nuances. America stepped into a hornet's nest in Iraq, and the country was a "tinderbox." Rosen identifies a pivotal incident--the bombing of the Kadhim Shrine--the event that lit the match--displacedhuman

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.

The overthrow of Saddam unleashed a spontaneous burst of repressed fury from Shiites that caused more damage to property than American bombs, says Rosen. Without the Baath Party, police, or army, angry young clerics come to the fore.

Anger at Americans rose soon after Saddam's overthrow, especially in Sunni areas. At the same time there were lots of written materials and rumors containing stores of alleged Jewish incursions and behind the scene machinations - eg. buying up homes, etc. American home searches, taking of prisoners (only about 2% were guilty of anything), accidental shootings, torture and mistreatment, and G.I. rudeness acerbated negative feelings about Americans - Iraqi's that didn't oppose us at first were quickly turned against us by these actions.

Meanwhile, in northern Iraq the Kurds return to areas formerly occupied, driving out those who moved in under Saddam's direction.

Rosen's "Bottom Line:" It is hard for Americans to understand just how deeply they are hated by ordinary Iraqis.

The highlight of this book is, far and away, the inside-Iraq perspective it provides. Rosen was constantly out and about (often and great personal risk) and met with all kinds of people in Iraq -Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, in the governemnt, in the resistance and just ordinary people.

That's the heart of the book, and it's very, very good. We have enough books about the goigns-on inside the Green Zone (which were never particularly ilustrative of the reality of >95% of Iraq) and about the perspective of US soldiers there. This book brings a new, different and very valuable perspective.

The main downsides are an appaling lack of editing (particularly in Chapter 6, about Zarquawi), and a tremendous pro-Arab/anti-Kurd bias.

The latter is probably the largest shortcoming; it's quite clear that it comes from his perception of Kurds as being non-religious and disdainful of Arabs. In his portrayal, Kurd leaders come across as being rabidly anti-Islamic and anti-Arab, and that obviously does not sit well with Rosen (who is both).

He's entitled to whatever view he wants to hold, but his tut-tutting over how Kurds drink whisky, dont go to the mosque much and describe Islam is "the religion of the arabs" that was forced on them through invasion comes across as profoundly petty.

It comes across in all kinds of ways - he primly describes how he refused to have a drink with a Kurdish leader, tells us how another one who's doing the first translations of Zen Buddist texts into Kurdish is "a real fascist" who should entitle his book "Zen and the Art of Ethnic Cleansing" because he's in favour of the return of Kurdish families to their homes in Kirkuk, where they were expeled from by Saddam's "Arabization" campaigns of the 1990's.

This puts an extra-large question mark on his judgement regarding other matters. However, the rest of the books was good enough that it still merits 2-3 stars.

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.

While Nir Rosen provides a much needed perspective from the ordinary Iraqi citizens who struggle with the horrors that surround them, I feel that the title is misleading. It should not be subtitled: "The Triumph of Martyrs in Iraq" but rather: "The Triumph of Chaos in Iraq". The US was well prepared to win the war with technology but ill prepared to win the peace with justice and stability. The evolution to chaos is clearly reflected in the poor understanding of the diverse cultural and religious forces in play, the hidden agendas of each faction for its own survival and success, and the clash of ideals between those most likely to lead. The result will be a generation of lost and disillusioned people who had high hopes shattered by the realities of human selfishness and inability to honor diverse perspectives.

As I read the numerous anecdotes I kept asking myself how I would react to a similar invasion by another country that wanted to "liberate" me and my family while missing the opportunity to provide basic security and stability for the ordinary citizen and his family to go about his life in safety. I expect I would feel the same degree of disgust and even hatred for the "occupiers". This then is a fine documentary of failed vision, failed cultural understanding, and lost opportunities. Unfortunately, it offers little insight or guidance for future actions or efforts. Hopefully another will step forward and use this valuable perspective to suggest future paths to safety and security for Iraq. It would be a true waste of humanity to see all of these valuable lives lost with no long term benefit to those most harshly affected.

Since I have never been to Iraq, I would not know if Iraqis hate us or not. I suspect they hate our occupation of the country-whether they are Shiite or Sunni. I know the Kurds love us, but that is beyond the pale of this book. Shiites think we are being too lenient on the Sunnis. Sunnis think we have turned over the reigns of power to the Shiites. Fighting between both distorts chances of peace.

This was written at the height of the civil conflict. War was waging between the sects. Now however, there is some political horse trading and coalition building, so Iraq may yet open up as some sort of liberalized Middle Eastern state.

This is an OK book about the civil conflict in Iraq from 2003-2007. Things have changed and gotten somewhat better. However, this opens up the difficult period following Saddam's overthrow.