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Chasing Ghosts: Failures and Facades in Iraq: A Soldier's Perspective Paperback – May 1, 2007

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

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As a First Lieutenant and Infantry Platoon Leader for the U.S. Army National Guard, Paul Rieckhoff was charged with leading thirty-eight men in Iraq. He spent almost a year in one of the bloodiest and most volatile areas of Baghdad. And when he finally came home, he vowed to tell Americans the harrowing truth. He does just that, uncensored and unrehearsed, "and with wit and passion" (Arianna Huffington), in Chasing Ghosts-the first criticism of the Iraq war written by a soldier who fought in it.
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Review

Five months after Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq hit bookshelves, Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier's Fight for America From Baghdad to Washingtonjoined it.

It turns out Cobraand Ghosts are combat companions. Cobra is scholarly and objective. Ghosts is personal and political. Michael R. Gordon and retired Marine Lt. Gen. Bernard E. Trainor's Cobra explains how top leaders theorized a war. Army National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff's Ghosts explains how one platoon tested the theory.

"Not even two weeks after the world had been told 'mission accomplished,' my platoon [3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment] saw our first major enemy contact in Baghdad," Rieckhoff writes. With irony, he paraphrases Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: "We were at war with the army we had. The one the Department of Defense created for us. Thanks, Don."

Rieckhoff's wit and confidence--and frustration--form his story. A reader might wish somebody would remind the lieutenant that he joined the military and is in combat. No need. Rieckhoff is the first to admit he chose to serve and the first to try to right wrongs.

The proactive patriot visited a recruiter in Amherst, Mass., in 1998, when college kids weren't exactly lining up to [serve] in defense of freedom. In a democracy the military should be representative of the population. Just because I didn't have to go [into the military] didn't mean I shouldn't go.

When he did go to war, from 2003 to 2004, he saw that--as American soldiers in Baghdad, we were placed in an environment where the entire moral structure was crumbling.

The physical environment wasn't solid, either. "The heat, the shooting, the outdated flak jackets, the lack of information, the s----y chow, the [improvised explosive devices], the sight of our wounded buddies, the lack of sex, the holidays missed, the boredom, the uncertainty, the complete and total lack of control over our own lives," Rieckhoff writes. "So many reasons to be pissed."

So many reasons to be exhilarated, too: "I would never again have this much unadulterated power in my life. I could detain, harass, question and beat anyone I liked, at any time. It felt good. And I felt guilty that it felt good."

Rieckhoff's measure is whether he can serve the Constitution and the commander in chief. "My entire role in the war was a paradox: Against the war from the beginning, I volunteered to go fight in it," he writes.

After "countless raids in Baghdad," he decides the Pentagon is not aware of cultural differences. "America cannot win in Iraq without dramatically changing its course," Rieckhoff writes. "A lot depends on how American troops conduct themselves after a search is completed" how they react when they are wrong. ... Raids too often leave families, neighborhoods, seething with anti-American rage."

There is little relief from anguish when Rieckhoff completes his 10-month tour. During outprocessing, he discovers "physical examinations for returning soldiers were not mandatory," so he orders his platoon to get physicals.

In Manhattan, he sees "urban hipsters and hip-hop roughnecks wearing Army field jackets and camouflage to be cool" and laughs. He sees a Starbucks customer outraged by a major crisis "an improperly fitting cup lid" and he wants to scream. His jaw, he writes, "literally hurt from gritting my teeth and holding things in."

Holding back is not Rieckhoff s style. He becomes comfortable being interviewed in the news media. He founds the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. As its executive director, he advocates on behalf of service members and is an outspoken critic of the war. He writes a book.

How does "Ghosts" compare to memoirs such as John Crawford's poignant The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell, Jason Hartley's irreverent Just Another Soldier and Nathaniel Fick's descriptive and dramatic One Bullet Away? The hallmark of Ghosts is conviction told with clarity: "The brother of someone we killed in Baghdad is plotting right now to blow up the 6 train in New York, the Staples Center in L.A., your local mall. One major difference between Iraq and Vietnam: This war will follow us home." -- J. Ford Huffman, USA Today

About the Author

Paul Rieckhoff is the executive director and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) (formerly Operation Truth), the first and largest organization for veterans of the War on Terror. During his time in the Adamiyah section of central Baghdad, he led his light infantry platoon on hundreds of combat patrols with the 3rd Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions. He continues to serve his country as an Infantry Officer in the New York Army National Guard.

Rieckhoff is a nationally recognized authority on the war in Iraq and issues affecting our troops, military families, and veterans at home. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator and has appeared on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, FOX’s Hannity & Colmes, NBC Nightly News, 60 Minutes II, CNN’s Paula Zahn Now, ABC’s World News Tonight, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Air America’s Al Franken Show, and NPR’s All Things Considered, among many other programs. He and IAVA have also been featured across the country in numerous major national newspapers and magazines. He was named one of “America’s Best and Brightest of 2004” by Esquire. On May 1, 2004, in a spot normally reserved for governors and senators, Rieckhoff delivered the Democratic response to President Bush’s national weekly radio address.

Prior to his deployment to Iraq, Rieckhoff worked as a high school football coach and an investment banking analyst on Wall Street, and later spent several weeks contributing to the rescue effort at Ground Zero after 9/11. He is a graduate of Amherst College, where he studied political science. He lives in New York City’s East Village.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton Caliber; Reprint edition (May 1, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451221214
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451221216
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

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Paul Rieckhoff
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Paul Rieckhoff is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Executive Director and Founder of IAVA (Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America), the country's first and largest Iraq Veterans group. He is nationally-recognized authority on the Iraq war and is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, Chasing Ghosts.

Rieckhoff created IAVA in June 2004 along with a couple of other Veterans, a handful of volunteers, and massive amounts of credit-card debt. The group attracted thousands Iraq War Veterans and more than 60,000 grassroots supporters across America, including family members of the troops presently in combat.

IAVA not only shed light on the challenges facing our Troops, but in late 2004 directly contributed to solving some of the most urgent problems. From investigating HUMVEE armor shortages to lobbying for expanded access to health care for Reservists and Guardsmen, IAVA pushed for real solutions to real problems.

Rieckhoff, 30, enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves on September 15, 1998 and completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Rieckhoff then served in the U.S. Army Reserves, as a Specialist with the 812th Military Police Company.

Rieckhoff left Wall Street on September 8, 2001 with plans to travel and complete additional military schooling. Those plans would change dramatically. On the morning of September 11, Rieckhoff was at his apartment on 24th Street in Manhattan when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. He saw the smoke from his rooftop, and immediately joined scores of volunteers serving in the rescue effort at Ground Zero. His unit was formally activated later that evening and he stayed on for an additional two weeks.

In February, 2002, Rieckhoff began Infantry Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated in June of 2002 and immediately volunteered for active duty and a place in the pending war in Iraq.

In January, 2003, Rieckhoff got the call to go to Iraq. Two days later, he was on a plane to join the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Rieckhoff was then assigned as Platoon Leader for 3rd Platoon, B Company, 3/124th INF (Air Assault) FLNG.

The unit was attached to 1st Brigade, 3ID and spent approximately 10 months conducting combat operations in Iraq, centered in the Adamiyah section of Baghdad on the Eastern bank of the Tigris River. Third Platoon conducted over 1,000 dismounted and mounted combat patrols. The 3/124th INF was the first reserve component unit in the Army to be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge since the Korean War. All thirty-eight of the men in Rieckhoff's platoon returned home alive.

Rieckhoff was honored in November by Esquire magazine as one of "America's Best and Brightest for 2004" and was interviewed Tom Brokaw on The NBC Nightly News. His recent appearances include:, ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulos, CNN's Paula Zahn Now, NewsNight with Aaron Brown, Anderson Cooper 360, Fox's Hannity and Colmes, CBS 60 Minutes II, MSNBC's Hardball.

Rieckhoff has also had opinion pieces printed by AlterNet, Knight-Ridder and the International Herald Tribune and has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times, Army Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, New York Daily News, Newsday and A.P.

Rieckhoff was released from active duty on March, 2004 and now serves in the New York National Guard. He is a staunch political independent and IAVA is tied to no political party or candidate. He is a graduate of Amherst College and lives in New York City.

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2009
    Paul really depicts what life is like for American troops that are on combat missions in Iraq. He brings fourth the fact that Iraq's problems will not be solved by American troops; the tactics currently used there of American troops showing up at Iraqi's homes unannounced will only breed future hatred; the opposition is growing because conditions have gotten worse for Iraqis since the invasion in terms of safety, curfews, electricity, food and water; the Iraqis that are currently detained and tortured in prisons is affecting future Iraqi's generations' views and perceptions of America, their policies, tactics and priorities. Paul also delves into his personal life and the dangers and mental/physical suffering that troops endure as a result of not knowing who the enemy is and what they are fighting for.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2014
    Paul Rieckhoff finally provides the American people with the answers to the Iraq War that we had been craving since the start in 2003. His experience as a Lt. in the Infantry during the first year of the war gives him and other Iraq War vets an UN-paralleled perspective on the war that should be taken as fact. Deviod of political bias or agenda, Rieckhoff's un-sparingly raw accounts of the war will have readers seeing the war through his eyes and help them gain a perspective no political speech could ever come close to providing.
    If you are interested in the military and or the war, thinking of or are already serving in the military, especially as an NCO or higher, ITS A MUST READ.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2009
    Too busy to keep up with our latest wars ?, especially the earlier part of the Iraq war , here is a good book to get you up to speed. It has a clear tone, fast pacing and is passionately sincere. Dealing with the topic of the book, most people still seem not to get the disposable part of war, and then of course there is the masters (tunnel vision) and ghouls (attack dogs) concept. Furthermore, this has nothing to do with walking in their shoes..., it's about belief systems, where we can evolve as in evolution or we're righteous like religion, but we can't just be ensalved by the all mighty dollar (Sucess feeds on motivation). To conclude, when our enemies see no weakness, only strength, there will be peace, history says civilizations come and ...., we are not aliens . Also read: The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2007
    I just finished reading Chasing Ghosts. I spent the time underlining key points that I want to share with friends and family. This book is extremely well written and very information on the first year of the war. Written from a soldier's perspective, it reminds me very much of Rajiv Chandrasekaran's book, "Imperial Life in the Emerald City." Both are indictments of the Bush Administration's failures in Iraq.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2014
    The definitive work on the Iraq war from a Soldier and founder of the IAVA. Both compelling and heart felt
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2021
    I enjoyed the portions of this book set in Iraq. Hearing a junior officer’s account of what he did and experienced in Iraq is fascinating. Unfortunately, the author should have ended the book with his unit’s return to the USA. His story after returning is not interesting and seemed to primarily involve his political activism.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2016
    Yes. Read. Become enlightened.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2008
    This was a great book and an easy read as it kept you engaged and intrigued. Enjoy!
    2 people found this helpful
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