Customer Reviews

Iraq, Inc.: A Profitable Occupation (Open Media Series)

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I worked in Baghdad for an NGO outside the "green zone" and later worked for a British contractor that bid for reconstruction projects in Iraq on the basis there'd always be substantial Iraqi participation in all projects and decision-making. Chatterjee's Iraq, Inc is a well-researched, fair analysis of the deep involvement of big business and vested interests in the post-invasion management of Iraq, and provides striking insight as to why the last two years of occupation have gone disastrously wrong for both the US occupation authorities and the Iraqi people. Nothing in this book contradicts my experience of the sad implosion of post-invasion Iraq, changing Iraqi attitudes to the occupation and the reconstruction gravy train. A must read for those who want to understand where management of the post-war period has gone wrong; and for current green-zone employees who still haven't quite appreciated what they've contributed to in their blinded, do-gooding pompousness. A fascinating and sometimes (sadly) comic read.

Modern day muckraking at its best. The author is able to maintain his integrity while providing engaging report of the true details of corruption and war profiteering, that you aren't going to find anywhere else. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the conflict for an insightful account of Iraq's harsh realities.

Written by award-winning investigative journalist Pratap Chatterjee, Iraq, Inc.: A Profitable Occupation is a scathing indictment of how the American occupation has proven immensely enriching to private corporations - at the expense of American taxpayers and the freedom, safety, and economic stability of the Iraqi people. Chapters discuss the scams and frauds involved in reconstruction, the constant threatening presence of military men, militiamen, and civilians with guns, and the questionable and arguably unstable "shadow government" being set up. The author concludes his words in July of 2004, in fear of the future of Iraq. America and Iraq both need desperately to grapple with the difficult issues and outright larceny in order to promote the transformation of Iraq as a place where people can live without fear, and seek their destiny without the burdens of economic poverty or the hovering threat of violence. A "must-read" expose for anyone studying the recent war in Iraq and its aftermath.

What I liked about this book was the way information was provided. Many things I suspected had happened during reconstruction in Iraq were confirmed. I will not give to much away because I don't want to hinder your own thought processes or conclusions. This book is best read with an open mind, then form your own opinion. I encourage all people to not be sheep, but make a decision based upon information, and not because someone tells you what to do.

Over the past several years I have become familiar with Mr. Chatterjee's writing on the topic of the privatization of war, so I was interested to see what a full length book would provide.
I was not disappointed. I found Mr. Chatterjee's breakdown of some of the companies involved in the privatized military world to very informative and well researched. I would have liked to have seen more on the military's thoughts on the privatization of thier tasks and slightly less exposé style writing, but overall the questions he asks are answered in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the industry and its affect on the world at large.

Everyone knows that war is evil, deadly, horrible, etc. However, what some may not know is that war is also very mercenary - much of war is about a relatively few making huge amounts of money. The author writes a book explaining the war profiteering and corruption behind the war in Iraq. The author recently did an author event on C-Span2 BookTV which was very enlightening and added to the information in the book.

The recent 'war' in Iraq is a textbook example of corrupt government.

An administration front-loaded with many oil industry executives sent American soldiers to invade a sovereign country using fabricated evidence. The only freedom we were interested in was attempting to ensure that America would have a free oil supply.

Even after UN data revealed there were no WMD's, we quickly transformed a disarmament mandate into a regime change. Many of the same people who would be howling with anger if America's self-determination rights were similarly breached became oddly silent when we decided for ourselves that Iraq needed new (and more pro-American) leadership.

We have now reluctantly learned that the Iraqi's themselves were not happy to live under an American colonial government (regardless of what we were calling it). While we were talking about 'democracy' and 'freedom', we were preventing the Iraqi people from deciding if they actually wanted us in their own country.

Not doubting that Saddam was a brutal dictator, I question whether the Iraq policies of the Bush regime were any more humane.

The author is a passionate speaker, as evidenced in a recent C-Span Radio interview on his new book, listened to by yours truly while sitting in the Green Zone, Baghdad. I couldn't believe what I was hearing from this "writer". Complete fabrications, sensational accusations based on misinterpretations of the most innocuous events, and a fundamental lack of understanding of the urban street war that exists in Iraq. He brags about all the places he's been, reporting on "Burger Kings in Kosovo...Starbucks in Afghanistan"

Well, I've been everywhere he's been (and more), and unlike his casual left-skewed tourist trips, I'm STILL in Baghdad. I understand everything he talks about and at the risk of sounding like a right-wing "nut"; I can tell you that his reporting is not even good enough for Fox News. He demonstrates extremely poor writing through unfounded conclusions, with no real understanding of the issues he makes so accusatory. It strikes me as a hatchet job for the leftists, bemoaning Big Business which obviously is a front for Satan, and piloting a careening world to Doomsday all for a buck...with Bush and Cheney at the helm. NOT!

Unfortunately, Chatterjee really lacks fundamental reporting skills. Why? Because he set out to tell a story, and was not swayed by the facts. Honestly, I cannot speculate as to whether he's got a strong third-world liberal bias, or whether he's just not very intelligent...but this writing project is better suited for one of those throw-away papers you get in the seamy areas of LA, New York or San Francisco...you know the ones with all the sex ads in the back? At least there you are sure you're reading the output of a fringe writer who could otherwise not be employable in a mainstream journalistic position.

Unfounded accusations against the US, major Corporations, policy decisions... Amazingly, he found nothing good about the Iraq situation, and attributes it all to American Imperialism and, at the end of it all, suggests that it was all a Republican plot to revive the economy.

I'm surprised he does not discuss space aliens, geodesic domes, mental telepathy and the importance of eating Chicken Karma everyday.

Frankly, Chatterjee is an extremely poor journalist, writing about a sensitive, easily misinterpreted subject that will sell books no mater how bad the writing.

Folks - this is bad writing. The down-side is that he misconstrues events, makes sweeping generalizations without substantive fact-finding, and simply fails to understand. Avoid it, and read Google News. Whatever your political persuasion, you'll still have that sense of honor or umbrage, but you'll have saved $15 that's much better spent in church, or in the Salvation Army kettle, or even at the Kosovo Burger King...but don't give it to this guy - simply to reward bad writing & prejudiced behaviors. That does no one any good - no matter what side of the issue you're on.