Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2023-289675
Reviews
" Paths of Dissent is superb, full of enraging and courageous writing at its best. This collection of sharp, thoughtful, painfully honest and intellectually probing essays from a wide range of American veterans offers absolutely critical perspectives on what we have done as a nation over the past two decades, and what we as individuals and as citizens need to do in response." --Phil Klay, author of Redeployment, " Paths of Dissent is superb, full of enraging and courageous writing at its best. This collection of sharp, thoughtful, painfully honest and intellectually probing essays from a wide range of American veterans offers absolutely critical perspectives on what we have done as a nation over the past two decades, and what we as individuals and as citizens need to do in response." --Phil Klay, author of Redeployment "Through eloquent and candid essays by Americans veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq, Paths of Dissent reminds everyone of the power and the patriotism of genuine military dissent. Andrew Bacevich and Daniel Sjursen have done us all a service by lifting up the voices of those who served--and revealing the principled commitment that drives these veterans to challenge a system urgently in need of reconstruction." --Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher of The Nation, " Paths of Dissent is superb, full of enraging and courageous writing at its best. This collection of sharp, thoughtful, painfully honest and intellectually probing essays from a wide range of American veterans offers absolutely critical perspectives on what we have done as a nation over the past two decades, and what we as individuals and as citizens need to do in response." --Phil Klay, author of Redeployment "Through eloquent and candid essays by Americans veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq, Paths of Dissent reminds everyone of the power and the patriotism of genuine military dissent. Andrew Bacevich and Daniel Sjursen have done us all a service by lifting up the voices of those who served--and revealing the principled commitment that drives these veterans to challenge a system urgently in need of reconstruction." --Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher of The Nation "Enlightening... Any citizen who wants to better understand our country's current military entrapments will want to read this book." --BookPage (starred review) "The contributors are excellent writers... An excellent, timely collection offering analysis of two decades of war and a broad swath of ideas and possible solutions to problems the military is largely incapable of fixing without outside attention." --Booklist "Gripping... Full of potent criticism and anguished admissions of guilt, this is a visceral takedown of America's forever wars." --Publishers Weekly
Dewey Edition
23/eng/20220719
Dewey Decimal
172/.420973
Table Of Content
Introduction: Reflections on Military Dissent Andrew Bacevich As American as It Gets Erik Edstrom How I Got My Humanity Back from the Army Joy Damiani A Fresh Purpose Dan Berschinski Going Public with the Truth Daniel L. Davis What Good Is Dissent? Roy Scranton When Grunts Complain Buddhika Jayamaha The Accountability-Avoidance Two-Step Jason Dempsey From the Rust Belt to Mesopotamia Vincent Emanuele Candor and Intolerance Paul Yingling A Sailor's Story Jonathan W. Hutto Sr. Reclaiming My Morality Matthew P. Hoh Truth, Lies, and Propaganda Kevin Tillman What I Learned in Baghdad Gian Gentile My Good War Gil Barndollar From Soldier to Witness Elliott Woods Conclusion: The Price of Free Pizza Andrew Bacevich Acknowledgments About the Contributors
Synopsis
Over the many years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States sustained tens of thousands of casualties, expended trillions of dollars, and inflicted massive suffering on the very populations that it sought to "liberate." In Washington and across the nation at large, the inclination to just forget the failures and move on is palpable. But there is much to be learned from these wars--and those who served and fought in them are best positioned to teach it. Paths of Dissent collects fifteen original essays from American veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan--hailing from a wide range of services, ranks, and walks of life--who have come out in opposition to these conflicts. Selected for their candor and eloquence by fellow veterans Andrew Bacevich and Daniel Sjursen, they vividly describe both their motivations for serving and the disillusionment that made them speak out against the system. Their testimony is crucial for understanding just how the world's self-proclaimed greatest military power went so badly astray., Compiled by New York Times bestselling author Andrew Bacevich and retired army officer Danny A. Sjursen, Paths of Dissent: Soldiers Speak Out Against America's Long War collects provocative essays from American military veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, offering firsthand testimony that illuminates why the Forever Wars lasted so long while producing so little of value. In the wake of 9/11, the United States embarked upon a Global War on Terrorism aimed at using American military power to transform the Greater Middle East. Twenty years later, the ensuing forever wars have produced little tangible success while exacting enormous harm. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has sustained tens of thousands of casualties while expending trillions of dollars and inflicting massive suffering on populations that we sought to "liberate." In Washington and across the nation at large, the inclination to forget these wars and move on is palpable. In fact, there is much to be learned and those who served and fought in these wars are best positioned to teach. The first book of its kind since the Vietnam era, Paths of Dissent gathers original essays from American veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, drawn from all services, ranks, and walks of life, who have come out in opposition to these conflicts. Selected for their honesty and eloquence by fellow veterans Andrew Bacevich and Danny A. Sjursen, these outspoken critics describe not only their motivations for serving, but also for taking the path of dissent--disappointment and disillusionment; the dehumanizing impact of combat; the loss of comrades to friendly fire; the persistence of xenophobia and racism--all of these together exposing the mendacity that has pervaded the Global War on Terrorism from its very outset. Combining diverse, critical perspectives with powerful personal testimony, Paths of Dissent sheds light on the myriad factors that have made America's post-9/11 wars costly and misguided exercises in futility.
LC Classification Number
UA23.P34 2022
