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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally some eye-witness truth about Americans in Iraq, Jan 29 2007
This review is from: The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq (Hardcover)
All the hype about "bringing democracy to Iraq" comes crashing down as it ought in this gritty story of the American army.
Joshua Key was so crushingly poor that he fell for the advertising and decided to enlist to guarantee a regular paycheque and healthcare for his family. Given guarantees that he would be building bridges within the continental U.S. - they pulled that line on my friends during Vietnam, too - he was sent to Iraq six months later.
The idiocy of the American campaign is made eminently clear as Josh tells in painful detail about how he never even saw the enemy - and spent his time brutalizing Iraqi civilians as directed by his officers. Iraq wasn't a haven for terrorists before the American invasion - but it is now, and the Americans are the ones who made it that way.
This book will give you a good picture of life as a soldier in Iraq, and give you pause when you think about what our men are probably doing in Afganistan right now.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rare Insight - Compelling Read, Feb 21 2007
This review is from: The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq (Hardcover)
Joshua Key, a U.S. army soldier dared to think critically and he dared to follow his heart. Joshua knew that what the soldiers of his unit were ordered to do was wrong. They had been convinced that all Muslims and all Iraqis, including women and children, were the enemy. There was no separation between terrorists and ordinary civilians. Shoot first....use force....shut your mouth....follow orders....do not question authority.
Soldiers were kept on edge, kept fearful and with a lack of sleep. Violence was normalized and all Iraqis and Muslims were dehumanized. At first, the nighttime house raids created a rush but as time went on, Joshua recognized the hundreds of violent house raids for what they were, acts of terror on innocent civilians. Joshua relates stories about atrocities committed by American soldiers and abuse of power with no accountability.
Nightmares followed Joshua home to the states after his tour of duty in Iraq. Much anguish and thought went into his decision to not go back to Iraq.
This story is well-written and is a rare look inside the U.S. military. Definitely worth the read.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
one proud moment for Canadians, Jun 22 2009
This review is from: The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq (Hardcover)
A Deserters Tale destroys the myth of the US war on Terror and the compaign to bring Democracy and Freedom to Iraq. When Joshua Key's conscience could stand no more he fled to Canada with his family. However the Canadian government has refused to accept US War Resisters. Thankfully some Canadians have welcomed and are aiding the courageous men, women and children. The book is a must read.
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