Iraq war books: the 2nd generation

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 3:18 PM Share

I've just read Refresh, Refresh, a graphic novel by Danica Novgorodoff about three teenaged boys in rural Oregon whose fathers are serving with the Marine reserves in Iraq, and about the decision these boys make during a fatherless year.

It is striking to me that these wars have been underway so long that we now have adults writing about growing up under their shadow.


EXPLORE:NORTH AMERICA, CULTURE, IRAQ
 

RUBBER DUCKY

4:18 PM ET

October 13, 2009

No exit?

Just by itself your second paragraph is as good an argument for exiting this Iraq war as any I've seen. The gain ahead? Doubtful in nature and dubious in prospect. The loss from continuing? What you said, compounded.

Folks, all the arguments to stay the course fall before the high cost and low possibility of anything resembling success — even if we could define success. It feels bad. Let's quit doing it.

We are not a warring nation, we abhor a standing army, we stand for peace: nothing keeps us in Iraq except ego. Either exit now or ... no exit.

 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008.

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