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My Year In Iraq
The Struggle To Build A Future Of Hope
by L. Paul Bremer III with Malcolm McConnell


4.3

based on 10 reviews
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based on 3 votes
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Official Publisher Site

The ambassador chronicles his fourteen months as the top American political operative in Iraq.

Simon & Schuster, 432 pages
01/2006
$27.00

ISBN: 0743273893

Nonfiction
Current Events & Politics

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

San Francisco Chronicle Alexander Zaitchik

Bremer's combative and sometimes harrowing account of running the Coalition Provisional Authority between May 2003 and June 2004.

The New York Times Michiko Kakutani

My Year in Iraq, an amalgam of spin and sincerity, is partly an explanation (or rationalization) of actions Mr. Bremer took as America's man in Baghdad, partly an effort to issue some "I told you so's" to administration colleagues, and partly an attempt to spread (or reassign) responsibility (or blame) by tracing just who in the White House, Pentagon and State Department signed off on or ordered critical decisions made during his tenure.

The New York Times Book Review Dexter Filkins

For a memoir, this is a remarkably unreflective book.

Los Angeles Times Evan Wright

It is premature for the triumphal tone Bremer often adopts, but his commitment to the cause of Iraqi democracy seems genuine, even moving. What undermines "My Year in Iraq" and other books like it is the perception of eagerness to cash in and pay off grudges. [11 Jan 2006, p.E1]

New York Review Of Books Peter W. Galbraith

The value of his book lies in his often inadvertent revelations of failure.

Boston Globe Michael D. Langan

In his acknowledgments, Bremer thanks first, at some length, his agent, followed by his collaborator, his editor, and then the troops. It is good to see the combatants get a touch of credit. A better editor might have helped this seasoned diplomat re-create and recount this episode of his distinguished career with less ego and more candor.

Washington Post George Packer

Bremer is not a man given to sustained reflection or self-scrutiny...Rushed, self-confident and essentially superficial, the book is of a piece with the war that produced it.

The Economist

Though filled with quite interesting details, Mr Bremer's book is rather like his time in Iraq: conscientious rather than inspiring, lacking in vision and ultimately unsatisfying.

The Observer Peter Beaumont

But nowhere does he accept he made mistakes - not least in the controversial disbanding of the Iraqi army and the de-Baathification order, which would later undermine the coalition's efforts.

Daily Telegraph Con Coughlin

It is difficult to read Bremer's book without being struck by his grotesque naivety.

The average user rating for this book is 4.3 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

jerry h gave it a7:
I am rating this book for writing style and the author's intent. Also, as OSIP said, it has great info. Unlike DRUNKEN IDIOT, oops, I mean DRUNKEN MASTER, I can be civilized while writing book reviews.

Osip gave it a6:
Lot of CYA, but still some valuable insight.

Drunken Master gave it a0:
Self serving, trite garbage of the vilest sort. Bremer knows Iraq is a total debacle and is trying to deflect his own responsibility. Nothing this scumbag says should be believed.

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My Year In Iraq The Struggle To Build A Future Of Hope by L. Paul Bremer III with Malcolm McConnell

My Year In Iraq
The Struggle To Build A Future Of Hope
by L. Paul Bremer III with Malcolm McConnell