The Iraq War: A Documentary and Reference Guide

Mockaitis (history, DePaul Univ., Chicago; Iraq and the Challenge of Counterinsurgency) provides context and analysis for documents that trace the history of the most recent Iraq War. The 97 documents are organized in chapters such as "The Case for War," "Shock and Awe," "Reconstruction," "From Conventional to Unconventional War," and "The Rough Road to Democracy." The material is largely from U.S. government sources, but media outlets and other nations' documents are also represented. Each chapter begins with a one- to three-paragraph introduction and includes scattered insets with background information on relevant people or organizations; each document is given an equally short introduction and is identified by number, title, date, location, and significance. Following every piece is a citation and a one- or two-paragraph analysis. The author presents critical readings of the documents, making connections and assertions that are sometimes controversial, giving readers a greater understanding of the relationship among the events and the records discussed. Along with the volume's opening discussion on the nature of historical inquiry, these analyses can introduce students to the processes used to understand historical events. A list of resources includes websites, blogs, official publications, books, and articles.