The Long Road to Baghdad: A History of U.S. Foreign Policy from the 1970s to the Present

by Lloyd C. Gardner

A sweeping and authoritative narrative, The Long Road to Baghdad places the Iraq War in the context of U.S. foreign policy since Vietnam, casting the conflict as a chapter in a much broader story of American diplomatic and military moves in the region. Diplomatic historian Lloyd Gardner explains the Iraq War as the necessary outcome of a half-century of doomed U.S. policies. The Long Road to Baghdad is essential reading, with sobering implications for a positive resolution of the present quagmire.

Genres: History, Middle East, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Joseph Stieb]

More dissertation fodder and another book emphasizing continuity of USFP in the ME from Carter to the Iraq War. Gardner argues that the consistent themes of USFP in the ME in this period are trying to get a bridgehead or base in the region, fighting off Islamist and Arab nationalist challengers, and seeking the free flow of oil. I think he drastically downplays the significance of 9/11 and the rise of the terrorist threat in this period in reorienting the ME from an issue of national interests to national security. This argument is very similar to Andrew Bacevich's America's War for the Greater Middle East, which I also didn't love as a work of history.

This also cannot be billed honestly as a history of USFP in general because it really only covers the ME. A lot of the second half, moreover, is basically a rehash of journalistic works on the origins and conduct of the postwar. Gardner takes on the persona of the disillusioned old prof who's seen it all before and isn't surprised these clowns messed things up. This would be a decent intro to USFP in the ME (Bacevich does a better job with the same argument), but I wouldn't highly recommend it. Nothing especially bad or good about it.

[Jiovanni Palomino]

incredible book on understanding the terrorist war that was the Iraq war

[Diogenes Grief]

I can't read this. I tried and pushed through the first few chapters, but to me (as a reader and researcher) this information is redundant. It is not a fault of the author at all. Gardner's writing style is clear, his purpose sound, and anyone willing to put these awful pieces together in a concise and coherent study of US foreign policy deserves honored kudos. However, for me, with Veterans Day approaching (and all the b.s. back-slapping hype that comes with it) and the ten-year anniversary of Fallujah Part 3, I just cannot read about this stuff again. I lived it. I was in Iraq in 2004 when the whole "hearts & minds" delusion unraveled in spectacularly destructive ways, and for me this woke me up to the chronic hypocrisy, ignorance, and greed of US government, with eyes wide open and appalled. What's more, my father was a Vietnam vet who went over in 1970, on the tail end of that tragic ordeal, and came back to battle (and ultimately lose to) his viscous demons. This was the nature of my English master's thesis, and the reasons I sought an additional master's in counseling. But I apologize. This isn't about me; it's just my mindset this morning.

I wish more Americans would consciously pull up the rug on US history and bear witness to the vile vermin scurrying beneath it. The media--mass media that is--historically falls prey to lies and delusions, and in our day and age promulgates them with wild abandon (e.g.: ebola). This is just my opinion of course, but I feel it in my bones.

I give many books 5 stars, especially in nonfiction, because a good book to me tackles something profound, for the betterment of an individual or society overall, so that we can learn, empathize, and grow, and hopefully change the course of future history. There will always be more wars, there will always be more catastrophes; it's how we as a species handle them that determines the outcomes, and that--to me--involves everyone capable.

Knowledge is power.

Peace.

[Tim]

It was enlightening to read such a well-presented and compelling argument. It abruptly ended, or at least it felt that way... because it was published in 2008 and I wanted to keep reading to contemporary times! My bad for waiting 2 years to read it.

It was gut-wrenching (idealist!) to see it all in black and white. The lead-up to the second Iran war was such a choreographed dance. Does not speak well for our country and it's "place" in the world. We've got a lot of re-building to do, and it's not just infrastructure in the middle east.

[Paul Froehlich]

In Vietnam and in Iraq, writes Gardner, "the US had truly succeeded the old colonial powers of Britain and France, despite American insistence that its vision and purpose was different." Our self-proclaimed mission in Iraq sounded a lot like the civilizing mission claimed by the European colonialists. There is much more in this well written book, and readers will better understand what went wrong in Iraq.

[Samantha]

Generally, I'm not one to read political works. However, it was interesting to read about how the U.S. got to the point where it is at in the Middle East. It would have been nice if Gardner hadn't jumped around so much within the chapters, but I did enjoy his sarcasm and wit.