The Forever War

I finished this book around the time the McChrystal report came out detailing the need for more troops in Afghanistan. For most Americans myself included the last decade has gone by like any of the previous. We come home from work, flip through the stations and hear of a war torn country far away.For eight years though that far off war has claimed the lives of over 5,000 U.S. soldiers not to mention thousands of Iraqi and Afghan citizens. Dexter Filkins the NYT's middle east correspondent finally has put a face and story behind the two wars.

From the Northern Alliance to Falluja, Filkins has written a book where from the start your not sure if you want to yell out in anger or simply cry. One of the opening scenes depicts the gruesome rule of law under the Taliban. Filkins witness's a pickpocket have his right hand cut off. While reading you don't feel like its Filkin's there,but actually you. That's what keeps you reading, from the IED explosions to the suicide bombers Filkins has portrayed the war like no other book on the shelves.

Every morning I wake up and read the paper, but since I finished "The Forever War" I almost dread flipping through the International Section. Today the times listed the names of 6 soldiers that were killed over the weekend. If it takes an additional 40,000 troops and 10 more years to stabilize Afghanistan I say hell to it, I'm not sure I can stand 10 more years dreading the first couple pages of the paper.

Below I've listed the names of that appeared in today's paper.

Iraq:

Todd Selge, 25, Staff Sgt., Army; Burnsville, Minn

Jordan Shay, 22, Specialist, Army; Salisbury, Mass

Afghanistan:

Darryn Andrews, 34, Second Lt., Army; Dallas, Texas

Christopher Baltazar,19, Lance Cpl., Marines; San Antonio, Texas

Benjamin Castiglione,21, Petty Officer Third Class, Navy; Howell, Mich

Randy Haney,27, Sgt., Army;Orlando, Fla