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information: Advance Praise Max Cleland "This book hit me in the gut. Written by one who lived with the ground truth of the Iraq war with his United States Army platoon, it is the real story of how the lies, idiocies, frustrations, obscenities, and tragedies of the war impact those who fight it. It is a call to arms for common sense change not only in Iraq but also in America. This book will set your teeth on edge. It is full of courage, GI talk, humor, and pure patriotism. It is a must read for all of us struggling to understand the number one issue of our time." Richard Clarke "America has to thank its new war veterans for going into harm's way when ordered. But now America has to also answer the questions of vets like Rieckhoff: why were they lied to, why were they not given all the protections available, who will pay the price for the almost 20,000 casualties? Rieckhoff's anger is the rage of a patriot." Arianna Huffington "Too often, what's missing from the dialogue about Iraq are the voices of the soldiers themselves. But Paul Rieckhoff offers much more than just a grunt's eye view of the war; he also provides a unique and well-informed critical perspective—delivered with wit and passion. Chasing Ghosts is a story of Iraq, but it's also the inspiring tale of one individual's political awakening. This is a book that all Americans who care about their country should read." Bobby Muller "Chasing Ghosts is like a first-hand report from your coolest friend, providing that your coolest friend had shipped off to an unpopular war. Rieckhoff totally nails the absurdities of American soldiers confronting mortality in aid of a failing mission. Anyone trying to figure out how the Iraq war went into the ditch needs to study Rieckhoff's Chasing Ghosts. With the eye of a seasoned novelist and the sensibility of a hip New Yorker, Rieckhoff brilliantly captures the American soldier's experience and in so doing, foreshadows a gloomy military outcome." Evan Wright "Chasing Ghosts is a gripping account of the occupation of Iraq as told by a U.S. Army officer with the courage to reveal bitter truths about the grand American scheme to remake the Middle East in its own image. Paul Rieckhoff writes with rare authenticity and passion not just of the war abroad but also of even tougher battles faced by him and other veterans now returning home. Every American who professes to 'Support our Troops' should read Chasing Ghosts." Nathaniel Fick "Paul Rieckhoff is a citizen in the classical sense. Like Cincinnatus, he went to war when his nation called, but his service didn't end when he came home. Paul poured his hard-won wisdom into changing the public dialogue about Iraq—and it's working. He's a patriot, a warrior, an organizer, and a leader—and now he brings us this book. Chasing Ghosts tells the story of a young officer's fights in Baghdad and a young citizen's fights in Washington. Paul's an inspiration. You cannot put his book down without realizing that guys like him are changing Iraq and America too." Chuck Palahniuk "Alternately hilarious and tragic, Chasing Ghosts gives us the best reporting to come out of the Iraq War — possibly the best reporting to emerge from any war. No book since Catch-22 has depicted this gruesome subject so compellingly. Rieckhoff should make room on his mantel for the Pulitzer Prize." Ben Mezrich "Fast paced and brutal, Chasing Ghosts opened my eyes to a world I knew nothing about. An absolutely riveting account by a thinking soldier—I could almost feel the sand grating against my skin. A compelling read." Chuck D "Paul Rieckhoff is a human being of true substance and character. These descriptions are tossed around too easily nowadays, but Paul is one of the few who are really striving for what is right, in our lifetime. His dedication to truth and life itself is clearly proven in his work—and now his word—for all to feel." Gideon Yago " Chasing Ghosts is a clarion call for any young idealist who has ever doubted their own power to confront the status quo and affect change. Rieckhoff's commitment to fight for his young soldiers, on and off the battlefield, shows a caliber of principle and leadership that deserves to be read, lionized, and understood. An honest, electric memoir of one young man's trip from the harrowing vortex of urban combat in Iraq to the blood-sport of American politics." Serj Tankian "Paul Rieckhoff, the executive director and founder of IAVA, is truly
a unique voice of truth, whose stories of his service in Iraq enlighten,
inform, entertain, and capture the understanding missing on the war.
Paul shows us that you can be a brave soldier and a brave citizen without
compromising either, without compromising the truth, nor yourself and
your integrity. The sensory images he presents in his book, Chasing
Ghosts, of a soldier's life in Baghdad, are vivid, vibrant, and
unique. All the good and the ugly discussed with the honest and integrity
that we wish our administration could mirror. A must read that I could
not put down." |