Allies : The Us, Britain, Europe and the War in Iraq - Softcover

William-shawcross

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843542587 ISBN 13: 9781843542582

Publisher: Atlantic Books, 2004

Synopsis

'Allies is an account of the Iraq crisis, its causes and consequences. Writing in persuasive prose... Shawcross lets the record speak for itself... With cogency and passion, Allies makes the case that this [anti-American] kind of prejudice is disgraceful in itself - a negation of reality and a potential threat to the west and to the whole world order.' David Pryce-Jones, Sunday Telegraph The U.S., Britain and their coalition partners took enormous risks in invading Iraq in March 2003. They risked one of the most successful alliances in history. They risked damaging both the United Nations and themselves. They risked a much bloodier war than that which eventually took place, and they risked creating a new swamp in which terrorists could actually breed and flourish. Allies is an analysis of the risks taken in Iraq, the reasons for them and the ways in which the challenge posed by Iraq was unlike anything faced by the post-war Western consensus. Distinguished foreign correspondent William Shawcross shows why America had to take the lead, and why Britain - and many other countries - followed. It is required reading for everyone, regardless of political persuasion. From the reviews: 'A lucid and judicious analysis of the ways in which the challenge posed by Iraq was unlike anything previously faced by the postwar Western consensus.' Ian McIntyre, The Times 'Lucid and hugely readable... Allies is an articulate, informed presentation of the core relationship between George Bush and Tony Blair.' Paul Rogers, Independent

About this title

Review

William Shawcross first came to prominence with Sideshow, a ringing condemnation of Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon's actions in Cambodia. This time around, however, he heartily endorses the military actions of the American government as it invades Iraq and ousts the regime of Saddam Hussein. Preemptive war, says Shawcross, is not the anomalous tactic that some of George W. Bush's critics might suggest but rather a necessary strategy in dealing with dangerous despots. Shawcross treads lightly on the dispute over the existence of weapons of mass destruction and the unsettled landscape of post-Saddam Iraq while describing at length the human rights crimes committed by Saddam and his sons Uday and Qusay to make the point that that the war was justified. Germany and France are cast here as unappreciative opportunists for their opposition to Bush. Chirac, in particular, is on the receiving end of much enmity by Shawcross who never misses a chance to cite nicknames like "Super Menteur" (Super Liar) or "The Crook" to describe the French president. Oddly, given the book's title and cover photo of Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, there is little inside information on the relationship between the two men and the British and American decision makers that hasn't been well chronicled in mainstream news outlets' coverage of the war. This shallowness extends to the rest of Allies as well. One hopes for some innovative analysis or revolutionary research but Shawcross mostly just presents his opinion: that Saddam was dangerous, the Americans were right to remove him, and that the UN and much of Europe were wrong to object. Another problem with Allies is how fluid the situation in Iraq was as the book went to press. As a result, Shawcross's analysis runs the risk of being outdated and irrelevant within a comparatively short period of time. Allies is a quick read and Shawcross is a fine writer but one wishes that he could have provided more depth to such a complicated situation. --John Moe

About the Author

William Shawcross has been an internationally renowned commentator on issues of international law and policy for over thirty-five years.His other books include Sideshow: Kissinger, Nixon and Destruction of Cambodia; Deliver us from Evil: Warlords and Peacekeepers in a World of Endless Conflict, The Shah's Last Ride and The Quality of Mercy: Cambodia, Holocaust and Modern Conscience.

About this edition

• Publisher: Atlantic Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1843542587
• ISBN 13: 9781843542582
• Binding: Paperback