1. The Forever War by Dexter Filkins Trina Cochran

2. Subsection 1 In this section of the book, Filkins describes an attack by US marines on an Iraqi insurgency stronghold. His depictions of the marines generally present them as young, albeit well-trained and hardened, kids. He also relates the sense of chaos that he felt during these moments, and contrasts these feelings to the calm leadership and aid of the marines. Finally, he ends the section by remarking upon the sense he, at 45 years old, has of his own child- like need for protection while the marines, at 19 years old, are the ones providing it.

3. Subsection 2 Throughout this subsection, Filkins describes the Afghan people’s changing views of the Taliban. He takes the story from when they ‘tamed’ the ruthless and vicious warlords of the country to when they themselves had become just as ruthless and controlling. In the beginning, the people garnered well-deserved respect for these conquerors of the hated warlords, but as time wears on the people change their views. Along the way, they have been pushed down and have seen unimaginable horrors. As exposure to these atrocities grew, so did the indifference of the people witnessing them, creating a resilient sense of acceptance from the people.

4. Subsection 3 In this subsection of his book, Filkins goes more in depth into the reality of civilians after the American invasion into Iraq. A feeling of despair is expressed and displayed by many, summed up by a former detainee of Saddam Hussein’s regime saying “Being here gives me a doomed feeling.” He also details various acts of hope and progress that have occurred in these cities and towns across Iraq, only to be blasted apart or shot down by the acts of the Iraqi insurgency. All of this contributes to the sense of despair felt throughout the country.

5. Subsection 4 This subsection discusses the “two conversations” that are going on in Iraq - “the one the Iraqis were having with the Americans, and the one they were having among themselves.” The former is the cover they keep to keep Americans happy, and the latter is “the one that really mattered.” These parallel realities that kept US forces frustrated against the insurgency and the Iraqi people were perpetrated by several barriers. Filkins details how language was the most basic barrier. When translators were used, solutions between soldiers and civilians were easier to find. When they were not used - and they very often were not - misunderstandings and conflict ensued. Another main barrier was the fact that many Iraqis realized that by telling the Americans what they wanted to hear, they could get what they wanted, be it money or life. This insured that the insurgency was very difficult to trace, as its members were virtually unidentifiable.

6. Subsection 5 In this subsection, Filkins details the numerous and frequent suicide bombings that took place in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq during the war. He discusses how they targeted public places or spots of improvement; morning prayers, pump stations, anywhere with crowds or lines. His endless descriptions of the bombings create a sense of despair and resignation to the blasts that he is helpless to stop. In this regard, I have to agree with Filkins’ obvious view that not much could be done to stop the attacks, not with such an unpredictable and difficult to pinpoint source of violence. Filkins’ matter-of-fact manner of discussing the bombs and deaths is at first unthinkable, but I have to agree that he, and evidently the American military, was near-powerless to stop them. They could stay behind their own fortifications, but there was no way they could prevent the whole city from coming under attack - it is the unfortunate truth.

7. Subsection 6 Throughout this subsection, Filkins describes and recounts his time with a marine unit during their takeover of Falluja, an insurgent city in Iraq. He witnesses them in and out of combat, two completely different situations - one tense and confusing, the other completely ordinary. By contrasting the very young men and their personal stories to their reality of war and of friends and comrades dying, Filkins highlights his frustration with the confusion of the war and argues how the deaths of these young soldiers seem so uncalled for. I too believe that many parts of the war must have been extremely difficult to handle and to deal with, especially seeing such young lives be wasted. The death toll that this war has taken on the U.S. military has been over 4,000 troops. But the number cannot reflect the personalities and personal stories of those soldiers, or how many more soldiers needlessly lost friends and comrades in a seemingly futile assault.