Customer Reviews

One Weekend a Month

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One Weekend A Month is an extremely well written indictment of the US occupation of Iraq. The author strips the conflict of its righteous veneer and shows through the eyes of Army Reservists how the reconstruction effort in Iraq has been bungled due to incompetence and poor leadership. Craig Trebilcock, a former Army officer who was involved in restoring the Iraqi legal system, uses a scathing wit and satire to show how clueless US policy makers are in trying to graft democracy onto a culture that does not value the idea.

The story tells of a Civil Affairs reserve unit from Baltimore, MD that is mobilized for the invasion and occupation of Iraq. An eight man team called "Team Jaguar" is tasked with restoring the Iraqi courts. As their leader, Major Trevanathan, quickly learns that there is no plan or resources to accomplish the mission he becomes disillusioned with an effort that seems to be floundering in quicksand. Trevanathan redirects his energies to attempting to obtain medical care for a critically ill war orphan. As his efforts to accomplish this one single act of kindness amidst the chaos of war are repeatedly frustrated, the increasingly cynical officer learns that in war the enemy is not only the opposing military force; sometimes it is your own self-absorbed superiors and the indifference of the society you are trying to help.

Humorous, compelling, and controversial, this book shows a side of the Iraq conflict that the politicians and Press don't talk about. A must-have for anyone who wants to peek behind the curtain on the "War on Terrorism."

This provocative account of the Iraq war calls into question the assumptions about the conflict that we hear every day from Washington - that democracy "is on the march"; that the Iraqis are really interested in reform; that we are doing more good than harm by staying in Iraq. It was a shocker from the very first page and I got so wrapped up in the story and its characters that I finished the entire book in two days. The author, who was a vet in the war, shows how the Iraqis and US soldiers really interact on a daily basis, with all the mistakes, misunderstandings, and humor that occurs when two such completely different cultures run into each other. The central story of how an army officer finds meaning in a no-win assignment by trying to help a sick Iraqi boy is compassionate and well presented. The last chapter choked me up. This book really opened my eyes and I highly recommend it to anyone who wonders "what the heck is really going on over there..."

You HAVE to read this book if you have interest in what our soldiers are experiencing in Iraq or what life is like for civilian Iraqis caught up in the war. The story follows the efforts of an eight man National Guard team trying to bring democracy to a bunch of Iraqi officials who aren't buying. It is funny, angry, and sad all at the same time. The author was apparently in Iraq and his knowledge of that culture and the frustrations of army life shine through. Should be required reading at the Pentagon!

Craig Trebilcock has written an incisive, biting, unflinchingly honest tale that illuminates the real stories of our misadventure in Iraq. He should know: He spent most of a year there, and came home sobered to the promise vs. the realities.

Craig Trebilcock takes readers to a place they will seldom have been--or even heard about--on the ground in Iraq, following "shock and awe." The place itself is inherently inhospitable, and the Americans are misunderstood and largely unwelcome. The leadership in the "Green Zone" doesn't have a clue about the conditions troops and reservists are facing, the Iraqi cultural issues are totally ignored too. The mismanagement of the post invasion period is so incredible, that it almost defies belief--yet, rings true. Worse yet, is the dilemma of reservists pressed into extended hazardous duty with little or no preparation and similarly unprepared/unqualified leadership. While this is a "fictionalized" account, it reeks of truths that need to be exposed--and problems that need to be addressed. This book is worthy of much broader exposure than it has had thus far. All patriotic Americans need to read it--and then contact their Congressman or Senator.

Fantastic book,
Craig really makes you feel like you are right there with him. You can feel his frustration of a system that is not functioning in the military, corruption and ineptness. The Iraqi civilians who's culture is so alien to the Americans as to create a huge progress barrier, to say the least. Enjoyed the book from cover to cover and found it very enlightening of what goes on over there!!!!!