Aftermath

Nir Rosen
October 2010     ISBN: 1568584016

Nir Rosen's Aftermath is an extraordinary feat of reporting that follows the contagious spread of radicalism and sectarian violence that the invasion of Iraq and the ensuing civil war have unleashed in the Middle East.

Taking us from Iraq to Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and finally Afghanistan, acclaimed journalist Rosen goes to the alleys, deserts, refugee camps, mosques, and battlefields of the post-invasion Muslim world to show how the American military has influenced Iraq and Afghanistan and how it has been influenced by its new theater of operations. Challenging all prior narratives of the conflict, from the left and the right, Rosen, with his unprecedented access to the belligerents, provides a vivid X-ray of the U.S. military and its opponents in the Middle East. Aftermath is an unsparing account of what America has wrought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It is a painful experience to read Nir Rosen's highly informed account of the destruction of Iraq and the spread of the plague of sectarian violence incited by the invasion to Lebanon and beyond. The image this meticulously detailed rendition brings to mind is of a brutal ignoramus wielding a sledgehammer to smash a complex structure he does not understand, with unpredictable but predictably awful consequences. Amazingly, Rosen finds rays of hope in the ruins. No less compelling, and distressing, is his vivid account of his experiences in Taliban-controlled territory. An indispensable contribution to the understanding of great contemporary tragedies."
—Noam Chomsky

"For Americans, the story of U. S. military involvement in the Islamic world centers on "us" not "them," with Afghans and Iraqis cast as victims or bystanders. In this brilliantly reported and deeply humane book, Nir Rosen demolishes this self-serving picture, depicting the relationship between the occupied and the occupiers in all its nuanced complexity."
—Andrew Bacevich, author of Washington Rules: America's Path to Permanent War

"If you think you understand the war in Iraq, or just think you should try to, read this book. This is a deep dive through the last seven years of America’s foray into the Middle East. No one will agree with everything here, but anyone interested in what we are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan will benefit from reading it."
—Thomas E. Ricks, author of Fiasco and The Gamble

For more information on Nir Rosen, please visit his website.