Night Draws Near - Iraq’s People in the Shadow of America’s War (2005)

From the only journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting from Iraq, here is a riveting account of ordinary people caught between the struggles of nations Like her country, Karima—a widow with eight children—was caught between America and Saddam. It was March 2003 in proud but battered Baghdad. As night drew near, she took her son to board a rickety bus to join Hussein’s army. “God protect you,” she said, handing him something she could not afford to give—the thirty-cent fare. The Washington Post’s Anthony Shadid also went to war in Iraq although he was neither embedded with soldiers nor briefed by politicians. Because he is fluent in Arabic, Shadid—an Arab American born and raised in Oklahoma—was able to disappear into the divided, dangerous worlds of Iraq. Day by day, as the American dream of freedom clashed with Arab notions of justice, he pieced together the human story of ordinary Iraqis weathering the terrible dislocations and tragedies of war. Through the lives of men and women, Sunnis and Shiites, American sympathizers and outraged young jihadists newly transformed into martyrs, Shadid shows us the journey of defiant, hopeful, resilient Iraq. Moving from battle scenes to subdued streets enlivened only by the call to prayer, Shadid uses the experiences of his characters to illustrate how Saddam’s downfall paved the way not only for democracy but also for an Islamic reawakening and jihad. Night Draws Near—as compelling as it is human—is an illuminating and poignant account from a repoter whose coverage has drawn international attention and acclaim. "Like was a country of lives interrupted. And like Iraq, Karima - a widow with eight children - had weathered twenty years of wars, sanctions, and dictatorship. As night drew near and bombs began to fall once more on Baghdad, she took her son to board a rickety bus to Mosul, where he would reluctantly join Saddam's army. "God protect you," she said, handing him something she could not afford to give - the thirty-cent fare." "The Washington Post's Anthony Shadid also went to war in Iraq in 2003 - as a reporter. Fluent in Arabic, a veteran observer of the Middle East, Shadid hoped to explain the complexities of post-9/11 Arab identity and to tell the human story of the American invasion's impact on Iraqi lives. For months, as democratic ideals clashed with Arab notions of justice, he disappeared into dangerous, divided streets and towns, filing front-page dispatches that quickly established him as one of the most truthful and admired journalists on the scene." "Now, drawing on Iraqi history and travels elsewhere in the Arab world, Shadid weaves together an epic narrative that shows how Iraq - oversimplified by those who perceived it merely as a nation victimized by a repressive despot - was transformed in unexpected ways by the fall of Saddam and the arrival of the Americans. Night Draws Near illustrates the dramatic, unforeseen consequences that the U.S. invasion unleashed in this wounded but resilient nation, where the present is shaped by remembered glories of the past, the horrors of recent wars, and new resentments toward the West."--BOOK JACKET From The Only Journalist To Win A Pulitzer Prize For His Reporting From Iraq, An Account Of Ordinary People Caught Between The Struggles Of Nations. The Washington Post's Shadid Went To Iraq, Neither Embedded With Soldiers Nor Briefed By Politicians. Because He Is Fluent In Arabic, Shadid--an Arab American Born And Raised In Oklahoma--was Able To Disappear Into The Divided, Dangerous Worlds Of Iraq. Day By Day, As The American Dream Of Freedom Clashed With Arab Notions Of Justice, He Pieced Together The Human Story Of Ordinary Iraqis Weathering The Terrible Dislocations And Tragedies Of War. Through The Lives Of Men And Women, Sunnis And Shiites, American Sympathizers And Outraged Young Jihadists Newly Transformed Into Martyrs, Shadid Shows Us The Journey Of Defiant, Hopeful, Resilient Iraq, And How Saddam's Downfall Paved The Way Not Only For Democracy But Also For An Islamic Reawakening And Jihad.--from Publisher Description. I: Before. The City Of Peace ; Tabaghdada -- Ii: The American Invasion. What's Written On Your Forehead ; Like A Flower ; A Dark, Dark Tunnel ; A Daughter's Diary ; For You, Iraq -- Iii: Aftermath. Dry Bread With Tea ; The Blood Of Sadr -- Iv: The Occupation. A Very, Very, Very, Very, Bad Neighborhood ; The Mud Gets Wetter ; If You Want A Gazelle, Take A Rabbit -- V: The Insurgency. A Bad Muslim ; Baghdad Is Your City ; Oil And Punks ; Myths Of Resistance -- Epilogue. Anthony Shadid. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [399]-401) And Index. An Arab-American journalist looks at the Iraq War from the perspective of ordinary Iraqi citizens confronted by the dislocations, hardships, tragedies, and harsh realities of the conflict. Baghdad is a city of lives interrupted, its history a story of loss, waiting, and resilience.