Description
As hostilities in Iraq continue to dominate the media, and the US led coalition's approach to the war and the reconstruction of Iraq increasingly in question, Andrew White's is the voice of authority, always realistic but never without hope. But where is hope now? What is the future for Iraq?This is the fascinating, first-hand account of one man's deepening involvement over seven years with Iraq. As an envoy for peace, Andrew has dedicated himself to religious and political reconciliation in Iraq and frequently risked his life. In this new edition, Andrew White reflects on whathe has seen in Iraq during his ongoing visits since 2005, including the escalating violence, working with the military and the involvement of the Americans. He also assesses what he considers mistakes in the peace process. Among the more dramatic moments are the trial of Saddam, at which Andrew was present; the abduction of the leaders of St George's church and their presumed death; and hostage crises including the death of colleagues. Andrew's personal struggle has been very real, but he describes that even at the worst moments he does not lose hope.
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White served as the international director of the Iraqi Institute of Peace, which was founded in 2003 as a joint project of the Anglican Church's Coventry Cathedral and the United States Institute of Peace (or USIP--whose board of directors included in 2003 such notable Bush-appointed peaceniks as Douglas Feith and Daniel Pipes, along with the three ex-officio members of Secretary of State Powell, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, and the President of the National Defense University) with the ostensible goal of working with key Iraqi religious leaders to: "attempt to delegitimize terrorism and political violence," "develop effective working relations between Sunni, Shiite, and Christian leaders," "promote the status of women," and "serve as the advisor to Iraq's interim prime minister on interfaith relations." This is White's memoir of his tenure in that position, during which he spent significant time inside Iraq, albeit mostly within the "Green Zone." In addition to describing his activities, such as unsuccessful efforts to gain the release of aid worker Margate Hassan, he also reflects on various issues raised by his experiences, including the role of religion in terrorist violence (but not so much state violence) and the justness of the American-led war and occupation, which he finds to be fully supported by all three pillars of modern just war theory (jus ad bellum, jus in bellum, and jus post bellum). A new chapter has been added to this edition in which he describes why his hope "that Iraq will indeed one day be seen as the handiwork of God" remains undiminished. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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