Arrows of the Night

November 21, 2011
Bonin, a 60 Minutes producer, clearly has the chops to tell a good story and this highly detailed study of Ahmad Chalabi, an Iraqi-born Shiite exiled to London during his childhood, does not disappoint. A determined and opportunistic man, Chalabi followed a cyclical pattern of "attaining power, provoking controversy and then turning adversity into advantage," with the ultimate goal of provoking the U.S. into overthrowing Saddam. Bonin's unflattering view of the U.S. government describes the Iraq Operations Group (IOG) in 1994 as "swarming with drunkards and whores" and former President George W. Bush as a hapless and ignorant figure. After attending meetings with the IOG, Chalabi learned that the CIA could be easily manipulated into starting a war. In fact, Chalabi was a major contributor to the "confirmation" of weapons of mass destruction that resulted in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Despite his early successes, the U.S. cut ties with Chalabi in 2004, causing his "near-Biblical fall from grace." Alive with action, Bonin's account is a whodunit for avid newshounds.

November 15, 2011
Emmy-winning 60 Minutes producer Bonin tells the story of America's (mis)adventures in Iraq through the lens of Ahmad Chalabi. Chalabi is a fascinating figure, and the book is as much a biography of this persistent, intelligent, savvy and manipulative man as it is a history of how America became mired in Iraq. Chalabi was born into one of Iraq's wealthiest and most influential families, and he lived a life of almost storybook privilege, at least until 1958, when the military overthrew the country's monarchy. The Chalabi family was particularly vulnerable, as they represented the lavish success of the few in a country where most people had no access to electricity, potable water or sewage systems. The fact that the revolutionaries were overwhelmingly Sunni only added to the political dynamic and to young Chalabi's resentments. When Saddam Hussein rose to power, Chalabi lived in comfortable exile abroad, always planning to return to topple the Hussein regime. As the United States became increasingly embroiled in events in Iraq, at first in support of Hussein's regime and later as its foe, Chalabi always seemed to be at the center of the storm, maneuvering himself into positions of influence and power, often outsmarting organizations such as the CIA along the way. As with many biographies, the book occasionally suffers from myopia as all of the events are seen through the lens of Chalabi. Nonetheless, Bonin offers a welcome contribution to the growing library of books on modern Iraq. This crisp, clean book won't be the last word on the perplexing events in Iraq, but for now it's one of the better ones.

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June 1, 2011

When his wealthy Shiite family was forced into exile during the 1958 revolution that put Saddam Hussein in power, Ahmad Chalabi vowed revenge. After several failed attempts at igniting a coup, he sought support of the U.S. government, first securing funding for Iraqi opposition groups and then delivering defectors whose testimony about Saddam Hussein's possession of WMD proved to be untrue. An important book from 60 Minutes producer Bonin.

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