The Fire This Time: U.S. War Crimes in the Gulf [Paperback]

Ramsey Clark (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0965691683 | ISBN-13: 978-0965691680 | Publication Date: September 21, 2005 | Edition: 3rd

Based on research conducted in more than 20 countries as well as eyewitness accounts, this book refutes the misinformation disseminated by corporate media and government sources about U.S. involvement in Iraq. Descriptions of war-torn Iraq during and after Operation Desert Storm illustrate the effect war crimes and violations of international law had on the Iraqi people; updated material examines how the people are still being affected more than a decade later. Analysis of the second Bush administration's use of the September 11 events to justify a new war against Iraq is included, as are letters to President Bush and the media.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The former U.S. attorney general, an internationally renowned human rights activist, traveled through Iraq during February 1991, gathering evidence of alleged American war crimes. Despite assurances from the Pentagon and allied leaders that everything possible was being done to avoid civilian casualties, Clark determined that the U.S.-led bombardment was a deliberate campaign against Iraqi civilians meant to deprive them of food, water, medical supplies and the wherewithal to resuscitate their economy. Clark argues--unconvincingly--that the U.S. Constitution was grossly violated, that 60% of our troops were duped "people of color" and most of the others were "poor whites," that U.S. warplanes killed 1500 civilians in one Baghdad bomb shelter, and that the American media conspired to persuade the public of the righteousness of the "deeply immoral" conduct of the war by U.S. forces. Saddam Hussein's conduct is not addressed. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This book by former U.S. Attorney General Clark is unique because it is based on his firsthand experience of the damage inflicted on Iraqi society as a result of the destruction of that country's civilian infrastructure during the Persian Gulf war. Clark goes beyond the usual explanation of the causes and consequences of the war and explains in detail "violations" of international legal principles by the United States and its allies in their war against Iraq. Clark also contends that the U.S. government led Saddam Hussein into taking actions that would justify U.S. military involvement in the Gulf. Clark's arguments may be controversial, especially to readers accustomed to popular explanations about the war, but they are certainly thought-provoking and worth reading. Highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.
- Nader Entessar, Spring Hill Coll., Mobile, Ala.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: International Action Center; 3rd edition (September 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965691683
• ISBN-13: 978-0965691680
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shocking truth about a war the West should be ashamed of, February 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fire This Time: U.S. War Crimes in the Gulf (Hardcover)

Since the British lost their grip on the Middle-East, the U.S. have taken over. Mr. Clark very accurately describes how the role of the U.S. during the Gulf war fits into the bigger picture of how the U.S. have tried (and succeeded) for decades to remain the world's number one power.
At first, I only wanted to read the book because I had some little doubts about the how objective the information that we received via the media was. On the whole, I agreed that action was needed, and that the war against Iraq could not be avoided. Until I read this book... It was like shells fell from my eyes. I realise now that not only there was a lot more violence used against Iraq than we were told, and that the purpose of this war was not to get Iraq out of Kuwait (which was indeed the 19th province of Iraq before England "created" Kuwait out of it in 1922), but to cripple an entire nation for decades to come. And also that this war was carefully planned by the U.S. for years. Mr. Clark shows this with countless examples, that make you think: "yes, I always had doubts about that". One of them is that although the CIA was already aware for sixth months that during the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq used poison gas against the kurds in the North of Iraq, it never revealled this information to the press until after the Iran-Iraq ceasefire in 1988, 3 hours before an Iraqi delegate arrived in the U.S. and gave a press conference. This delegate was rather taken by surprise by the questions he got at this press-conference. This is striking evidence of how the stage was about to be set for the next act: if Iraq and Iran stop killing each other (mind you: with military aid of the US to both sides, I trust we have not forgot about the Iran gate scandal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Contra_Affair) then we (the US) must find other ways to destabilise the region. Let's start by discrediting Iraqi delegates.
And the same Saddam, who had been the ally of the US from 1973 was demonized from that moment onwards.
I can hardly exaggerate the need for everybody to read this book, and learn what price the Iraqi people had to pay to secure U.S. access to cheap oil... that's what bothers me most: this war was not about democracy or human rights, it was about money and power only.
READ THIS BOOK!!! And see, among other things, that not only the Iraqi people were informed very subjectively by their media. We were also by ours.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Don't They Ever Learn?, December 18, 2002

By 

Wolfgang A. M. (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fire This Time: U.S. War Crimes in the Gulf (Hardcover)

This book is an indispensable documentation of the truth behind the concerted government and media 'processing' of the US/British Persian Gulf war crimes that left even thousands of US troops sick and damaged for life. Even more necessary now on the brink of an abyss that would wrap human progress on this planet in darkness for decades to come. You'll find that another obscene assault on Iraq could pave the way for further 'wars' on independent nations, political assassinations ad lib., witch hunts on US and other citizens in disagreement. Some US citizens may think they're paying to be safe, but may actually be paying to get smashed. When Will They Ever Learn? Everybody should read this. Ask for the new 2002 edition that includes powerful documentation on US war strategy since 9/11.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clark was prescient about war crimes even before Bush II, January 6, 2011

By 

Monish Chatterjee "Satyanweshi" (Dayton, OH, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Fire This Time: U.S. War Crimes in the Gulf (Paperback)

Ramsey Clark (RC) has been an inspirational voice for those who love peace and justice in this world. Even more so as a former senior member of the U.S. government who has the courage to speak out against the nefarious history of U.S. foreign policy. From 1991 and much earlier, the U.S. role in the middle-East has been one of coddling dictators and tyrants, condoning and even assisting Israel's illegal occupation and mass murders in Lebanon and Palestine, and inflicting unprovoked wars, death and destruction upon millions of innocent human beings, all in the quest for maintaining Empire's grip on oil and energy profits.

Through his words and actions of courage and conviction set against the dark forces of power and greed, Mr. Clark has stood even higher than the likes of Richard Clarke, John Dean, Joseph Wilson and others. His only close parallels would be Bill Moyers and Paul Craig Roberts (former government insiders), but RC to me goes even farther through his direct participation in the efforts to stop US-sponsored genocide and terror.