The Saddam Hussein Reader

Rating:
Summary: hacks at work
Review: A familiar gaggle of hacks give their views under the direction of Turi Munthe, who again demonstrates his lack of editorial originality. This volume will fail to stimulate or inform and is best employed as a bedtime alternative to counting sheep.

Rating:
Summary: Under achiever
Review: I really did not think enough original thought went into this compilation. It was rather disappointing. You would learn more from reading a good daily newspaper once a week.

Rating:
Summary: Opportunistic and Dull
Review: Munthe has been quick off the mark, albeit characteristically dull, in putting together this opportunistic collection of tired opinion from the usual old drones. It is a year on now, and the book tastes like stale beer and cigarettes in the mouth. The third chapter, ie post Gulf War, which ought to be acute, is the deadest part of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Opportunistic and Dull
Review: Munthe has been quick off the mark, albeit characteristically dull, in putting together this opportunistic collection of tired opinion from the usual old drones. It is a year on now, and the book tastes like stale beer and cigarettes in the mouth. The third chapter, ie post Gulf War, which ought to be acute, is the deadest part of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Useful, balanced and informative
Review: The Saddam Hussein Reader is an excellent compilation of articles on Hussein's brutal regime. There are a total of thirty-eight different articles by as many authors. Edited by Turi Munthe it is divided into three parts. The first dedicated to the Saddam's rise to power and his early years, the second part focuses on the Gulf War period while the last deals with the post-Gulf War regime.

It's unfortunate that the Saddam Hussein Reader starts off with the interview of Saddam by Fuad Matar. While interesting in its own way it goes on far too long and is ultimately a PR fluff piece by a pro-Saddam journalist. The rest of the section is quite good. Especially notable are Said Aburish's excerpt from the Politics of Revenge, Ofra Bengio's analysis of his Arab viewpoint and Charles Tripp's analysis of the Iran Iraq war. Avia Shiaim offers up a genuine critique of US policy towards Iraq in the 1970's that supported the Iraqi Ba'athist party .

Part II dealing with the Gulf War offers several articles from all across the political spectrum. Especially noteworthy is Saddam's own call to Jihad against the US coalition and a counter "Fatwa" by Muslims against the Iraqi regime's invasion of Kuwait. John Esposito's analysis of Islam and the Gulf War has a lot to commend it as well.

The final portion deals with the post Gulf War era in Iraq, options for ridding it of Saddam and arguments against US involvement. All in all this is an excellent selection of articles which range from anti-Saddam to pro-Arab to anti-US. From US military officers to Israeli Academicians to Arab activists like Edward Said to left wing icons like Noam Chomsky and Saddam himself there is something for (or against) everyone.

An excellent collection of articles and highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A Decent Book
Review: There are a few good essays,especially Saddam's work.It is most excellent.