A Better Country: Why America Was Right to Confront Iraq [Paperback]

Arthur Borden (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761841067 | ISBN-13: 978-0761841067 | Publication Date: June 10, 2008

Arthur Borden's A Better Country demonstrates why America was right to confront Saddam Hussein. This book analyzes the public debate over Iraq to show how partisanship has obscured the purposes of the war effort and promoted a mistaken image of American power both domestically and abroad. A Better Country reminds us that, stretching back to the presidency of Jimmy Carter and before, there had been a broad consensus over the touchstone issues of Iraq, the Middle East and the unmentionable reality of oil--until political argument became degraded by charges of betrayal and wholesale deception. Taking by turn the key points of argument-from weapons of mass destruction and the inspectors to containment and the imminence of the threat from aggressive Iraq-Borden argues that even the Administration failed to present clearly the true nature of the security risks facing America. From George Bush and Hans Blix to Meet the Press and The New York Times, this book provides a lively account of how America--over its airways, through its newspapers and thus within its living rooms--argues out the great issues of the day. Written by a veteran World War II and of the many political crises since, this book is underlined by a personal narrative about the meaning of America and of American power at its best. It renews the principle that, in rising to address security risks in an uncertain world, America itself becomes a better county.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Written in the compact style of a lawyer, Borden lays out a compelling case for the war in Iraq being a necessary one. Reaching back to the Carter doctrine, he ably argues that Bush’s actions, and President Clinton’s, were simply extensions of this well-known doctrine. Jimmy Carter declared that the free flow of oil was critical to our nation and its economic survival and we, as a country, would do what is necessary to ensure it....The book is highly recommended to those who are tired of having to accept the conventional wisdom that has been crafted over the years and want something solid with which to fire back. Arthur Borden’s “A Better Country” delivers the necessary ammo. (McQ The Qando Blog: Http://Www.Qando.Net/Details.Aspx?Entry=9741 )

A Better Country is concise and compelling. It sets the record straight on the threat of Saddam's regime and on the U.S. decision to invade Iraq. It cuts through the confusions of the war debate, and it will help to overcome the deep and disabling divisions in America's civic life. This is essential reading for policy analysts, politicians, and the general public--indeed for all of us who want to restore the integrity of American politics. (Dr. Herbert London )

About the Author

After serving in the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945, Arthur Borden enrolled in law school to prepare for a role in government. Like many other WWII veterans who had the same hope, he stayed in private practice to support his growing family and to realize the American Dream.

Product Details

• Paperback: 102 pages
• Publisher: Hamilton Books (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761841067
• ISBN-13: 978-0761841067
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,543,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A worthy primer for the Iraq War debate, November 8, 2008

By 

Shane R. Borgess "Evrviglnt" (Irvine, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Better Country: Why America Was Right to Confront Iraq (Paperback)

The book, titled "A Better Country: Why America Was Right To Confront Iraq" is published by Hamilton Books and tells the story of why we took Iraq seriously. Mr. Borden is a Democrat, and like so many others in his party, he's faced with the prospect that the facts behind the war have been dismissed, forgotten or twisted for political reasons. In 88 pages he outlines the intelligence, the arguments, the failures and the threat Iraq posed. What makes this book truly useful is that one can sit down for a single afternoon and rise from the chair with a healthy understanding of all aspects surrounding the Iraq war, making it a great place to start if you're out to change minds.

He begins by reminding the reader of the Carter Doctrine (yes, that Carter!) that declares, in no uncertain terms, that "An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force." He does this not to revise President Carter's reputation as a foreign policy failure, but to make the point that the stance taken by President Bush wasn't a first, it was in line with government policy going back decades. President Clinton's Iraq Liberation Act in 1998 was another dot on the line that ended at President Bush's desk, but the difference between the two was that the 43rd president wasn't willing to pass on the Iraqi threat like the 42nd did. Mr. Borden makes his points powerfully, and draws from history, documents and speeches to prove his case.

Every chapter, pithy as it is, continues in this methodical fashion. He addresses the failure to find WMD and the use of that charge by opponents. Another chapter centers on the promise of containment and the prudence of relying on the United Nations to disarm dictators. He wonders why anyone is surprised that the administration forced a democracy on the hapless Iraqis, and skillfully works through the Iraq War Resolution for those who haven't taken the time to read it. It's a book of thought provoking essays. It's also a valuable weapon against those who would rather not sift through the details.

It's worth debating whether we ought to have gone into Iraq, but no thoughtful deliberation can happen without the facts. The media in this country and around the world settled for a narrative that focused on equivocating America and her enemies, but there are few cases as stark as the one made in confronting a defiant tyrant in a country that had used WMD after 9/11. Whether this generation of Americans will look beyond slogans and platitudes for the answers to the moral questions that will define us, we can only ask that the wise do their duty. In that, Arthur Borden earns my gratitude.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars President Bush Was Right, September 9, 2008

By 

Matthew J. Veasey "www.mattveasey.com" (Philadelphia, PA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Better Country: Why America Was Right to Confront Iraq (Paperback)

In September of 2002, with the first anniversary remembrances of the 9/11 attacks taking place across the country, and with America obviously preparing to go to war to thwart another such attack, Arthur Borden began to notice some disturbing reactions coming from his Democratic Party, even among his own friends and colleagues. These reactions and the totality of the circumstances involving 9/11 and it's various related issues led Borden to study the issues more closely and led him to realize that he was now living "..in an America which is not the country where I went to college, served in a good war, and enrolled in law school.." The result of his studies is the book "A Better Country: Why America Was Right to Confront Iraq" released this year as a soft cover by Hamilton Books. In it's short number of pages (67 plus a handful of indices), Borden makes a compelling argument that not only was President George W. Bush right in going into Iraq and deposing it's despotic leader Saddam Hussein, but that this move was vital. He also makes the case for remaining in the country, and possibly for the need to extend the conflict into Iran in the near future. From the free flow of the oil that is vital to our national and the world economy, to a geo-political presence vital to securing peace and democracy, Borden moves through the many varied and important issues over the last few decades that led to the Iraqi campaign and the larger War on Islamofascism. Borden presents that both of the Bush administrations and the Clinton administration recognized the threat of the Hussein regime. These administrations recognized that it was reasonable to confront the Iraqi regime based on the longstanding and widely-supported 'Carter Doctrine' which recognized the vital interest regarding the free flow of oil from the Middle East. He goes on to present that a combination of intentionally biased liberal media attention, a near traitorous attitude by many Democratic Party politicians, and even the faux pas committed by the current 'W' administration led eventually to the public turning on this necessary war effort. His chapters on "The Missing WMD" and the Joe Wilson-Scooter Libby issue of the "Aluminum Tubes and Yellow Cake" are particularly insightful, revealing, and well researched. What Arthur Borden does with "A Better Country" is present a better narrative for this necessary effort in Iraq. The book is a short and easy read, but also a detailed and educational must-read for anyone interested in exploring the issues behind the necessary sacrifices being made by America's troops in Iraq over these last few years.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you want the TRUTH???, September 4, 2008

By 

L. F. Wall (California via Pittsburgh PA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Better Country: Why America Was Right to Confront Iraq (Paperback)

I just got this book today. I have not finished reading it yet, but I want to make one short point.



CARTER and CLINTON left Bush out to hang. They put those policies (Carter Doctrines and Clinton's "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998") in place to protect American interests in the Gulf Region and Bush just followed through. Clinton knew the public would NOT buy off on it.

President Bush sincerely went into Iraq, to not only protect the American interest in the region, but also for our National Security. Unfortunately, the critics and the Democrats (a.k.a. "Bush Haters") took an opportunity to promote their party and self interest.

Ted Koppel was on 'Meet the Press' in 2005. He is stated saying that the difference between the Clinton Administration and the Bush Administration is 9/11. If 9/11 happened under Clinton's watch, he would have invaded Iraq.

History is always being rewritten. We will look back and see Bush did the RIGHT thing for our country....not for the Republicans....not for dad, and definitely, not for the oily companies.

By the way, this book was written by a Democrat and a member of the "The Greatest Generation."

Mr. Borden, Sir. You are truly "The Greatest Generation" Thank you for writing this book.

Heed the warning, people.