Why Are We at War?

Rating:
Summary: Serious food for thought
Review: Norman Mailer's concerns about American Empire have crossed my mind many times prior to reading this book. He rightly points out that much of our own democracy is being sacrificed in the name of defending freedom and exporting democracy itself to Iraq and other places. He questions the notion that democracy in Iraq [or anywhere else] can be easily established. The sheer hypocracy of Bush's position and the incredulity of former U.S. allies in the righteousness of our cause are convincingly called into question.

It is refreshing to hear someone of Mr. Mailer's stature question the wisdom of the path we appear to be on. There has not been a serious debate about this war in the main-stream press and certainly not in the conservative [self-proclaimed victims of liberal media bias] media.

Yes, there are some strange tangents and flights of fancy that might not have made it through a more carefully edited or researched essay. It seems Mailer decided to put this slim volume out quickly just to expedite getting his thoughts in the public forum. I don't particularly mind the unpolished nature of the book. The message is simply too important to delay!

Rating:
Summary: Serious food for thought
Review: Norman Mailer's concerns about American Empire have crossed my mind many times prior to reading this book. He rightly points out that much of our own democracy is being sacrificed in the name of defending freedom and exporting democracy itself to Iraq and other places. He questions the notion that democracy in Iraq [or anywhere else] can be easily established. The sheer hypocracy of Bush's position and the incredulity of former U.S. allies in the righteousness of our cause are convincingly called into question.

It is refreshing to hear someone of Mr. Mailer's stature question the wisdom of the path we appear to be on. There has not been a serious debate about this war in the main-stream press and certainly not in the conservative [self-proclaimed victims of liberal media bias] media.

Yes, there are some strange tangents and flights of fancy that might not have made it through a more carefully edited or researched essay. It seems Mailer decided to put this slim volume out quickly just to expedite getting his thoughts in the public forum. I don't particularly mind the unpolished nature of the book. The message is simply too important to delay!

Rating:
Summary: Why Are We At War?
Review: Norman Mailer, although an extremely opinionated writer, did an excellent job with the subject of the war in Iraq. He explained how the reasons behind this war were illegitimate, it was all for Bush to gain an empire. Bush believes that America represents good and every other country is evil. He figures that we are the only ones to solve problems. He then gets the United States involved in other countries affairs which he has no business doing. Mailer mentions how the "American administration is now a bloodthirsty wild animal. Bombs are its only vocabulary." He says that Bush is a "flag conservative" and uses the word evil like a way to increase his power. I agree that Bush is power hungry and seems to think that America is the greatest nation in which we are allowed to do as we please. Norman says that the United States is a hyperpower in which our military expenses are going to equal the top fifteen most powerful states together. Bush is trying to force a democracy on another nation, that was actually never a true nation. It was put together by the British after WWI. Mailer says that "Democracy is never there in us to create in another country by the force of our will. Real democracy comes out of many subtle individual human battles that are fought over decades and finally centuries, battles that succeed in building traditions." For us to go over and show them how to run a democracy, like we have, shows how arrogant we are.
Basically the entire book is like this and shows just how George W. Bush is power hungry and does not know how to run our country. I agree with all Norman's views in here and am inspired by his work, since I am anti-Bush and believe our government is corrupt.

Rating:
Summary: So, it's true?
Review: The most incredible idea found in this book is that muslim terrorism could be a rampart against Bush terror. The power of the US people is in their ability to keep Bush away from presidency at next election. If not we are probably all in bad shape.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent question with disturbing answers
Review: This slim volume, consisting mainly of some of Mailer's conversations and speeches after 9-11 and prior to the second Gulf War, gives us a disturbing answer to the cover's question that more than rings of truth.

You will have to read the book to understand why Mailer answers as he does. But as you might suspect, Mailer's answer is simply that our war on Iraq is motivated by a desire by many in the Bush administration to extend American influence directly, through military action, all across the globe. In the absence of another super-power to keep us at bay, as the Soviets did through the eighties, many now in power feel that there is no reason that America shouldn't spread its influence across the globe, that in fact it is our right, our duty, our God-given purpose, to do so.

The implication that America is edging closer to empire, similar to Rome, is not unique or necessarily original to Mailer. What Mailer does, however, is shed a great deal of light on why that theory makes sense, and why such a direction for America is a dangerous and potentially fatal path.

This book appeared in print just prior to the actual declaration of war against Iraq, and I doubt that many Americans gave it much credence. In light of the new revelations, being made by our own Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz no less, of what really motivated our war in Iraq, I highly recommend that Americans read this book now and take the time to ask the current question, "Why Were We At War?"

Rating:
Summary: Brief yet poignant, and always interesting.
Review: Why Are We At War? is a collection of Mr. Mailer's musings on the state of the union post-9/11, and it's wonderfully written and intellectually engaging. Whether or not you agree with the "liberal" angle taken in this book (I am much more conservative than Mailer) it is still well worth a read.

If you're looking for hardcore evidence or "proof" regarding the so-called war for oil you should look elsewhere. Most of Mr. Mailer's hard facts are simply borrowed from other prominent, and more exhaustive, sources. However, if you want a great discussion about how Mailer feels, and how many of us feel, in the midst of a war on a faceless enemy, then this monograph will do the trick.

Much of the book is set up as a discussion with Mailer's close friend, and that unique approach allows the reader to enter into the discussion. Although the title poses the question of the day, Mailer's answers are fleeting and inconclusive. Mailer never establishes the "reason" for the current (and ongoing) incursion, but he tackles the issue head-on. Mailer doesn't profess to have all of the answers, and that is the beauty of this book. Turn off the noise, and enter into an honest discussion of an issue that cannot be explained by the pundits, both liberal and conservative, feeding the public pre-packaged "truths." None of us can honestly profess to know the true motivations behind this war, but trying to pin down reasons and motives is a laudable, if not trying, affair. Mailer takes the occasion to guide the reader through this debate with style, insight, and, at times, confusion. He's one of us after all.

Rating:
Summary: Brief yet poignant, and always interesting.
Review: Why Are We At War? is a collection of Mr. Mailer's musings on the state of the union post-9/11, and it's wonderfully written and intellectually engaging. Whether or not you agree with the "liberal" angle taken in this book (I am much more conservative than Mailer) it is still well worth a read.

If you're looking for hardcore evidence or "proof" regarding the so-called war for oil you should look elsewhere. Most of Mr. Mailer's hard facts are simply borrowed from other prominent, and more exhaustive, sources. However, if you want a great discussion about how Mailer feels, and how many of us feel, in the midst of a war on a faceless enemy, then this monograph will do the trick.

Much of the book is set up as a discussion with Mailer's close friend, and that unique approach allows the reader to enter into the discussion. Although the title poses the question of the day, Mailer's answers are fleeting and inconclusive. Mailer never establishes the "reason" for the current (and ongoing) incursion, but he tackles the issue head-on. Mailer doesn't profess to have all of the answers, and that is the beauty of this book. Turn off the noise, and enter into an honest discussion of an issue that cannot be explained by the pundits, both liberal and conservative, feeding the public pre-packaged "truths." None of us can honestly profess to know the true motivations behind this war, but trying to pin down reasons and motives is a laudable, if not trying, affair. Mailer takes the occasion to guide the reader through this debate with style, insight, and, at times, confusion. He's one of us after all.

Rating:
Summary: Factless Arguments...
Review: Why are we at war?
That question is never answered by Mr. Mailer because he rambles on and on about possible theories without supplying any factual evidence.
The real question that needs to be asked is:

Why would you ever read this?

Rating:
Summary: Very Very Timely
Review: You might think this book out of date since the war in Iraq is essentially over, but Mailer is not discussing Iraq per se but the on-going (and apparently ne'er-ending) war against terror.

Bleak and somber, Mailer makes many excellent points and a few silly ones. I don't buy his idea that right-wingers hated Clinton because Clinton thwarted Bush the Elected's "New World Order." My recollection is that many on the right-wing were deeply suspicious of Bush I and the idea of an American Empire. Nonetheless, the book is thought-provoking and well worth an eveing of your time.