Customer Rating: 
Summary: The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq from a personal perspective
Comment: The Forever War is Dexter Filkins's personal account of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a foreign correspondent for the New York Times stationed in Afghanistan (2001-02) and Iraq (2003-06), Filkins has bona fides in spades. Fortunately, he's also a good writer. Filkins's straightforward prose is well-crafted and clear, never detracting from the real story.
Rather than a comprehensive account of the wars, The Forever War is a zoom lens focusing on discrete scenes. One scene might describe a roof-top discussion with a patrolling U.S. marine, while the next scene jumps to an interview with the family of a suicide bomber. Filkins doesn't waste any time with transitions between unrelated scenes. This choppy structure is occasionally jarring but becomes easier to follow over time. Taken together, the disparate scenes reveal a great deal about the larger war, particularly the futility of the conflict. Despite aggrandizing political statements to the contrary, things aren't getting any better in Iraq, and there's no clear way forward. At times, I found myself wishing for a more global perspective--a more panoramic shot--to help me understand the larger picture and to place Filkins's experiences within a more complete timeline. However, there are plenty of other books that present that perspective. In this book, Filkins is trying to do something different and far more valuable.
Customer Rating:
Summary: TWO THUMBS UP
Comment: The Forever War takes you right there to the HELL which is WAR. Passage after passage, you are witness to what the media does not tell you. Have you ever wondered who the insurgents are? How many people make up our enemies in Iraq? How many groups are we really fighting? How many civil wars are really going on? This books gives truth and insight to these questions. Dexter puts his life on the line to report what is in this book. That is what makes this book extra valuable and respectable. I could not put this book down. After reading The Forever War, I thought about how crazed war can make people. Dexter says, "War brings out the best and worst of people". I believe that but we are stuck there trying to get the Shiites and Sunnis and Kurds to come together and control the whole of Iraq. Can it be done? Will it be done? Or will Iraq just be another Irsael with endless fighting amongst fellow citizens under mother country? Only history will tell.
Customer Rating:
Summary: review ended b4 end of 1st chapt
Comment: for a writer to use the Lord's name in vain, is my signal to put the book down. for this reason i did not get beyond the first few pages.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Forever War
Comment: For those of us that don't understand Bush's War, this is a small insight into another world. More American's need to understand we are in a Global Society and we can hide behind our wealth and the 82nd Airborne
Chuck
Customer Rating:
Summary: As it is
Comment: Mr. Filkins has written his story in understandable terms that anyone including those that have never seen combat can realize. He shows the hatred from both sides, the filth, the total lack of understanding of all and the distruction of a country that America is rebuilding as we go and dig our selves further into debt. He does not apoligize or complement either side but page after page brings to light further understanding. I feel this is one of the best on the war I have read. It clearly amplifys the reason we should be out of there. They do not want our Democracy and no matter what our government preposes will never be accepted. Lets get our men out of there and take care of America. Let them live in their ways as we insist on ours.
Summary: The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq from a personal perspective
Comment: The Forever War is Dexter Filkins's personal account of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a foreign correspondent for the New York Times stationed in Afghanistan (2001-02) and Iraq (2003-06), Filkins has bona fides in spades. Fortunately, he's also a good writer. Filkins's straightforward prose is well-crafted and clear, never detracting from the real story.
Rather than a comprehensive account of the wars, The Forever War is a zoom lens focusing on discrete scenes. One scene might describe a roof-top discussion with a patrolling U.S. marine, while the next scene jumps to an interview with the family of a suicide bomber. Filkins doesn't waste any time with transitions between unrelated scenes. This choppy structure is occasionally jarring but becomes easier to follow over time. Taken together, the disparate scenes reveal a great deal about the larger war, particularly the futility of the conflict. Despite aggrandizing political statements to the contrary, things aren't getting any better in Iraq, and there's no clear way forward. At times, I found myself wishing for a more global perspective--a more panoramic shot--to help me understand the larger picture and to place Filkins's experiences within a more complete timeline. However, there are plenty of other books that present that perspective. In this book, Filkins is trying to do something different and far more valuable.
Customer Rating:
Summary: TWO THUMBS UP
Comment: The Forever War takes you right there to the HELL which is WAR. Passage after passage, you are witness to what the media does not tell you. Have you ever wondered who the insurgents are? How many people make up our enemies in Iraq? How many groups are we really fighting? How many civil wars are really going on? This books gives truth and insight to these questions. Dexter puts his life on the line to report what is in this book. That is what makes this book extra valuable and respectable. I could not put this book down. After reading The Forever War, I thought about how crazed war can make people. Dexter says, "War brings out the best and worst of people". I believe that but we are stuck there trying to get the Shiites and Sunnis and Kurds to come together and control the whole of Iraq. Can it be done? Will it be done? Or will Iraq just be another Irsael with endless fighting amongst fellow citizens under mother country? Only history will tell.
Customer Rating:
Summary: review ended b4 end of 1st chapt
Comment: for a writer to use the Lord's name in vain, is my signal to put the book down. for this reason i did not get beyond the first few pages.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Forever War
Comment: For those of us that don't understand Bush's War, this is a small insight into another world. More American's need to understand we are in a Global Society and we can hide behind our wealth and the 82nd Airborne
Chuck
Customer Rating:
Summary: As it is
Comment: Mr. Filkins has written his story in understandable terms that anyone including those that have never seen combat can realize. He shows the hatred from both sides, the filth, the total lack of understanding of all and the distruction of a country that America is rebuilding as we go and dig our selves further into debt. He does not apoligize or complement either side but page after page brings to light further understanding. I feel this is one of the best on the war I have read. It clearly amplifys the reason we should be out of there. They do not want our Democracy and no matter what our government preposes will never be accepted. Lets get our men out of there and take care of America. Let them live in their ways as we insist on ours.