The Occupation: War and Resistance in Iraq 1st Edition

by Patrick Cockburn (Author)

27 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-1844671649

ISBN-10: 184467164X

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In February 2003, Patrick Cockburn secretly crossed the Tigris river from Syria into Iraq just before the US/British invasion, and has covered the war ever since. In The Occupation, he provides a vivid and disturbing picture of a country in turmoil, and the dangers and privations endured by its people.

The Occupation explores the mosaic of communities in Iraq, the US and Britain’s failure to understand the country they were invading and how this led to fatal mistakes. Cockburn, who has been visiting Iraq since 1978, describes the disintegration of the country under the occupation. Travelling throughout Iraq, from the Kurdish north, to Baghdad, Falluja and Basra, he records the response of the country’s population – Shia and Sunni, Arab and Kurd – to the invasion, the growth of the resistance and its transformation into a full-scale uprising. He explains why deepening religious and ethnic divisions drove the country towards civil war.

Above all, Cockburn traces how the occupation’s failure led to the collapse of the country, and the high price paid by Iraqis. He charts the impact of savage sectarian killings, rampant corruption and economic chaos on everyday life: from the near destruction of Baghdad’s al-Mutanabi book market to the failure to supply electricity, water and, ironically, fuel to Iraq’s population.

The Occupation is a compelling portrait of a ravaged country, and the appalling consequences of imperial arrogance.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A wealth of telling detail.”—New York Times

“Cockburn’s account of the evolving conflict ... is informed by his keen personal observations and understanding of the complexities and horrors of daily life in Iraq.”—Library Journal

“Of the raft of books about the calamitous mismanagement of the intervention in Iraq, The Occupation is probably the most readable and certainly the only one that—even if only in the driest possible way—manages to be amusing.”—Christopher Hitchens

“A masterpiece of journalism.”—A. N. Wilson, Evening Standard

“From the front line itself, the brilliant and brave Patrick Cockburn has produced one of the best books of the year.”—James Naughtie, The Herald

“Brilliantly told ... No Western reporter knows the country better.”—John Freeman, The Plain Dealer

“A necessary book.”—Guardian

“One of the most accurate and intrepid journalists in Iraq.”—Sidney Blumenthal, Salon

From the Back Cover

National Book Critics' Circle Award Finalist

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Verso; 1st edition (September 17, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 229 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 184467164X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1844671649
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.73 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,356,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,416 in Political Freedom (Books)
- #1,463 in Iraq War History (Books)
- #1,868 in Military History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
27 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Required reading for US Department of Defense, State and Congress

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2008

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Along with "The Ugly American," this should be required reading for anyone in DoD, State and Congress. It's dense, hard-hitting and powerful. If you want to understand why the Iraqi insurgency exploded in the summer of 2003 and then continued to grow, read this book. Some vignettes in this book are also in Mr. Cockburn's other book about Muqtada al Sadr, but it doesn't detract from it's quality. You read it and just shake your head in disbelief and the lost opportunities.

But like his other book about Muqtada, it's clear Mr. Cockburn is no fan of the Bush Administration. Although this book is more measured, particularly through the first 3/4's of the book, by the end he's practically histrionic in his anti-Bush/Neo-con rants - which detract from the book. I get he has seen up close the impacts of American and British policies, and has lost friends because of them, but if he wants to truly do great work that will be accepted by a more general centrist audience, he's got to tone down the biases.

Still, the book is full of great and insightful information about Iraq. Worth the read.

One person found this helpful

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Timothy Byrne

Anecdotal, but a compelling depiction nonetheless

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2008

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The danger and confusion of Iraq probably make anything other than an anecdotal account of the occupation impossible. So perhaps this sort of is book is the best we can hope for. The book succeeds in presenting bits and pieces of narratives of the Iraqi situation directly contradicting the US Aministration's spin. For example while the administration has claimed that the resistance is largely a matter of a small number of Baath loyalists and foriegn sponsored paramilitary groups, Cockburn show the extent to which the resistance permeates most strata of Iraqi society. The book also presents wide ranging points of view of Iraqis to help the reader form an impression of what the Iraqi take on their political situation is.
The book is lacking in two ways. First, it could have benefited from an editor. It reapeats itself in a few places, and there are a few awkward back references here and there that could have been clearer. Second, the genre of the book - a book of anectodes and bits of interviews with little analysis - makes it of limited value. While it's certainly worthwhile to hear the various points of view voiced in the book, it's not clear that they represnet a dominant, average, or even significant viewpoint in Iraq.
Overall it's a valuable book, but more as a prelude to serious study of the situation than as a resource to be relied on.

3 people found this helpful

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Pedro Villarias

The story of Iraq after the American invasion of 2003 ...

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2016

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The story of Iraq after the American invasion of 2003 with a lot of first hands accounts.A must for any politician involved in foreign affairs. It shows the dangers of external involvement in a country with little concern of its historical, religious and ethnic peculiarities. Along with the other work of the author “Out of the ashes”, about the period between the two Gulf wars, you can obtain a very clear vision of the tragedy of modern Iraq.

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Nerdus Maximus

My first exposure to any book by Patrick Cockburn

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2007

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I won't give it 5 stars because the writing style is too informal and he doesn't follow a chronological line; he jumps back and forth in time between chapters. Still, this is a valuable account of daily events in the lives of Iraqis, which have largely escaped our news services. It's tragedy piled upon tragedy, and if it weren't a situation full of death, destruction, desperation, and horror, it'd almost be comical.

It is certainly an easy read and it's hard to put down... you'll be done with it in no time.

Definitely a valuable contribution to anyone with an interest in the history of the second war against Iraq.

7 people found this helpful

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J. McCarthy

Resist War

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2008

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The Occupation: War and Resistance in Iraq

I thought this book lived up to all the reviews I had read about it in various magazines.

For anyone who is interested in facts, not fiction, about the U.S. occupation of Iraq, this book will more than suffice. It is filled with relevant, and verifiable facts, and if you believe, as I do (and have from the very beginning) that the U.S. invasion of Iraq was a mistake, this will just add fuel to your fire.

3 people found this helpful

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MishterBiggles

A full and explicit account of what really occurred in iraq post invasion

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2015

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Well researched and thought the eyes of one of the best journalist who lived through the hell scape that became iraq after the invasion.
The book captures the details and events that was ignored or missed by mainstream sources during the conflict.
The book shatters the myths of the insurgents being foreign elements or saddam loyalists the became the theme for the bush administration

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Constitutional Lawyer

Very detailed, adds a perspective not often seen

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2013

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The author writes a very (did I just say "very" ?) detailed description of the occupation of Iraq and the various mistakes (did I just say "mistakes" ?) made by the US in its invasion and occupation of Iraq. He is unrelenting in his criticism of the actions of the US, just as the facts dictate.

Apparently no one "up top" knew what they were doing, and neither did most of the "leadership personnel" on the ground, is the conclusion the book compels. Golly.

At this point this book is a bit dated, but it is still valuable.

One person found this helpful

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excellent

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2006

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Very well written, detailed and inciteful, highly recommended for anyone who wants more than the "embedded" corporate media perspective.

12 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2020

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Well written by an author who is experienced with the troubles of the Middle East.

Philip

This is as close as you'll get to the reality out there...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2009

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without getting shot at...or blown up...

The author has lived in Iraq on and off since the 1970s, and he knows the streets and the personalities. They probably (non pc thought coming up here...) trust him more because he's Irish, not American or English. His brother writes the CounterPunch articles.

Reading this book, you can smell the anarchy and the fear out there... No I'm not being melodramatic. He has a unique ability to convey that very fully in an understated manner. He has access to more personnalities in Iraq from government level to street level than you could imagine would talk to one man. But, and this is the crunch, it all fits togetherlike a glove. This man knows Iraq like few other Westerners. He can get under the skin of the place and has done so succesfully. Again he is Irish so he has none of the overbeaeing arrogance, and/or self-righteousness, false pity of many American and English authors. He has no imperial/do gooder baggage to drag around. He tells it exactly as he sees it - no, he tells it exactly as THEY see it, the PBI (Poor bloody Iraqis). He pulls no punches,but weaves their narratives together with compassion and intelligence. He lets THEM do the talking...

But don't take my word for it; just go read it for yourselves and understand...

4 people found this helpful

Wayne Brown

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada on March 15, 2015

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Good.

Sarah Jessica

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2015

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great product

Dr Talal Farah

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2014

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quite informative

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