Under Fire: An American Story

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Summary: Scott: Sandinista Apologist
Review: ... review...ill-informed and ignorant. If you want to know the truth about what went on in Nicaragua who better to tell than Lt. Col. Oliver North, a true American partriot. Lt. Col. North is owed a deep debt for his contribution to the fight against the Soviet and Cuban backed Sandinista's in Nicarauga. Had Reagan, North, Clarridge, and others not stepped up we would be looking at the potential of a Communist Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honudras, and Costa Rica. But I suppose that would be just fine with the likes of Scott. God Bless America and God BLess Lt. Colonel Oliver North (Ret.)!!!...

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Summary: Finally, the TRUTH!
Review: An excellent and concise exposition on what REALLY happened in Iran-Contra. The rest of the book is an above-average auto-biography of this loyal man who took the fall for the mistakes of others.

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Summary: Excellent book, very well written
Review: Curious about what really went on with the Iran-Contra affair, I wanted to read Oliver's story. He told the story, obviously from his point of view, but it was extremely believable. He was so candid about what he did wrong as well as what he did right. For anyone wanting to know the inside story, this book is great. It also has some awesome detail on Oliver's Vietnam experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this era in American history.

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Summary: Very detailed account of the story you haven't heard
Review: I enjoyed this book a great deal. I didn't have much knowledge about Iran-Contra, but this book does a good job of explaining exactly what, how and why it all happened the way it did. The descriptions of the situations and events are very well written so that others without similar experiences can understand what he went through. The whole book doesn't dwell on Iran-Contra and does a good job of keeping the reader interested about his Vietnam experiences and other moments.

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Summary: The best book ever written about Oliver North.
Review: I enjoyed this book because it told about Iran-Contra Affair from Oliver North's perspective. It also told about his life, his years in the United States Marine Corps, his service in Vietnam and with the National Security Council. The book describes how the White House and the CIA attempted to aid the Contras in Central America. I also liked the book because it also talked about Oliver North's life after his involvement in the Iran-Contra affair. This book is really interesting and is worth reading.

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Summary: An Entertaining and Insightful book, but not the whole story
Review: In this book, Oliver North writes primarily about his role in the Iran-Contra affair, giving his side of the story. However, he also gives an insight on his life beginning from his childhood, including when he was fighting in Vietnam. North points out that there were "two Vietnam wars," with North's involvement being in the northern part of South Vietnam--as opposed to the majority of U.S. troops, who were fighting further South. North explains the war he fought there "was more straightforward," explaining that if he and his men were to set up an ambush and spotted the enemy, they could be sure it was the enemy. "We didn't have to deal with that terrible problem of Vietnamese civilians who weren't civilians, or with Viet Cong guerrillas who would melt off into the countryside and disappear." North and Co. were fighting "NVA regulars--well disciplined troops with reinforcements close behind." (p. 93) He also explains how his deep involvement in the war caused him to go into deep depression, and almost cost him his marriage. On Iran-Contra, he gives some details of his meetings with the Iranians. In addition, gives details about his rise to the National Security Council and various assignments there until the Iran-Contra affair was exposed, when he was then fired. He is pro-Israel, and correctly criticizes Caspar Weinberger and some Middle East "experts" for being anti-Israel, and in some cases, anti-Semitic, (pp. 155-156) as well as criticizing Weinberger and George Schultz for advocating a pro-Iraq policy (pp. 287-88). He also explains the ordeal he went through in his six days of testimony before the House and Senate Select Committees--the text of which can be found in Taking the Stand, with an introduction by Daniel Schorr--and his subsequent trial. He also explains his life after his trial and appeals process were over through the end of 1990/early 1991. Overall, this book is useful in reading North's side of the story of the Iran/Contra scandal, as well as on his early life, his experiences in Vietnam, his personal life, his rise to the National Security Council Staff at the White House, right through the immediate aftermath of his trial. This book also has some humorous moments. North also occasionally quotes from the Bible. However, while North makes an issue of how much Ronald Reagan knew about Iran-Contra (pp. 10-11, 401-403), he says nothing about Vice-President and (then) President George Bush (the father of the current President) and of how much Bush knew about Iran-Contra. This is why I gave this book only a four-star rating instead of five. To find out why North is silent about Bush, this book should be read alongside The Crimes of a President, by Joel Bainerman--especially pp. 48-61--and The Secret War Against the Jews, by John Loftus and Mark Aarons, including their quoting from The North Diaries that was declassified under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Rating:
Summary: Really Amazing
Review: It's bad enough that this man is allowed to walk freely, let alone remain a public figure. Anyone who participated in the brutal terrorist war to kill hope (and tens of thousands of people) in Nicaragua and El Salvador has as much of the moral high ground as does Osama bin-Laden. It's really amazing how the public believed the lies told to it about the Sandinistas. A country where the capitalists keep their capital and are free to badmouth the government in a big daily newspaper doesn't seem like a "Communist Tyranny" to me.

Rating:
Summary: Really Amazing
Review: It's bad enough that this man is allowed to walk freely, let alone remain a public figure. Anyone who participated in the brutal terrorist war to kill hope (and tens of thousands of people) in Nicaragua and El Salvador has as much of the moral high ground as does Osama bin-Laden. It's really amazing how the public believed the lies told to it about the Sandinistas. A country where the capitalists keep their capital and are free to badmouth the government in a big daily newspaper doesn't seem like a "Communist Tyranny" to me.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic - better than fiction
Review: Mr. North broke the law, violated his oath as an officer and dishonored the Marine Corps. Because of a technicality he 'walked'rather than serve a considerable sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Ft. Leavenworth and then being subjected to the public humiliation of being drummed out of the Corps before assembled Marines and dishonorably discharged. Much of what is wrong with corporate America was exemplified by Mr. North's behavior. Shame on all who look up to Mr. North as a hero. He isn't.

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Summary: A dishonored Marine
Review: Mr. North broke the law, violated his oath as an officer and dishonored the Marine Corps. Because of a technicality he 'walked'rather than serve a considerable sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Ft. Leavenworth and then being subjected to the public humiliation of being drummed out of the Corps before assembled Marines and dishonorably discharged. Much of what is wrong with corporate America was exemplified by Mr. North's behavior. Shame on all who look up to Mr. North as a hero. He isn't.