The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue with little evidence that they will soon end. Our troops and their families face another holiday season of separation and worry. Because of this, I am recommending some books this week that provide insight into both Islam and the war in Iraq.
“Islam: The Religion and the People” is by Bernard Lewis and Buntzie Ellis Churchill. If you are looking for a good, concise overview of Islam, this is the book for you. “Islam: The Religion and the People” is an objective, easily read introduction to Islam. It explains among other things how Islam differs from Judaism and Christianity, Islam’s five pillars of faith, the difference between Shi’a and Sunni, the treatment of women and much more. This is a balanced, non-biased explanation of Islam, and I highly recommend it.
Another book that comes highly recommended is “After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam” by Lesley Hazleton. Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing about the difference between the two Islamic sects, nor how or why they separated. The division between the two groups began in 632 C.E. after Mohammed’s death. The Shi’a followed Mohammed’s son-in-law and first cousin Ali. They believed he was the rightful heir. The group’s name is Shiat Ali and means followers of Ali. The Sunni supported Abu Bakr, who was elected to succeed Mohammed as Caliph. The power struggle was as horrific as any fictional thriller. “After the Prophet” is written for the layperson in an easy-to-read style..
Farnaz Fassihi works for the “Wall Street Journal”. She is the deputy bureau chief for the Middle East and Africa. From 2002 to 2006 she was the “Journals” reporter in Iraq. In her book “Waiting for an Ordinary Day: The Unraveling of Life in Iraq” Fassihi bears witness to what she saw. When she arrived in Iraq, Saddam Hussein was still in power and his smiling portrait was everywhere in evidence. Iraqi women strolled the sidewalks in hip-hugging pants, knee length skirts, with painted nails and high-heeled sandals. When she left, simply traveling to the vegetable market could mean death. Now, Iraqis are just waiting for an ordinary day. This is a compelling book about the destruction war has brought to Iraq.
Richard N. Haase was a member of the National Security Council staff for George H. W. Bush and State Department Director of Policy Planning for George W. Bush. Currently, he is president of the Council on Foreign Relations and is an authoritative voice on the two Iraqi wars. His book “War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars” contrasts the Iraq War of 1991 with the war of 2003. Haase believes strongly that the first war, following Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, was a war of necessity. A war with strong international support, it had limited ambitions and was well executed. The current war, however, is a war of choice. Other diplomatic options besides war were available to the United States in 2003. According to Haase, wars of choice should only be undertaken “after the most rigorous assessment of the likely costs and benefits of acting…The standards for wars of choice must be high if the human, military, and economic costs are to be justified.” As we celebrate this season of peace on earth, may we all remember those whose lives are impacted by war.
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