John kael weston represented the united states for more than a decade as a state department official. A war interrogator racked by conscience the washington post. Kael weston is the author of the new book the mirror test. Mar 23, 2018 kael weston a former state department official, weston earned the secretary of states medal for heroism because of his work with marines in fallujah. America at war in iraq and afghanistan, which will be published in may. A new york times editors choice a military times best book of the year j. May 24, 2016 a new york times editors choicea military times best book of the yeara powerfully written firsthand account of the human costs of conflict. Coming up, maureen corrigan recommends several suspensefilled novels for. Read the mirror test america at war in iraq and afghanistan by j. Richard holbrooke in the longest war called john kael weston a remarkable young foreign service officer after he established a direct dialogue with tribal leaders, university students, mullahs, madrassa students and even taliban defectors in 2008.
He was a state department officer who spent more time on the ground in iraq and afghanistan than any other us diplomat seven years. America at war in iraq and afghanistan is one of horror. Based upon kael weston s seven consecutive years served mostly in frontline environments while attached as a state department representative to marine infantry units, he brings a wealth of first hand experience. The terror years from alqaeda to the islamic state by lawrence wright 366 pp. John kael weston represented the united states for over a decade as a state department official and political adviser. John francis, a mentor since the 1990s, when weston majored in political science with a minor in history at the u. Experiencing war through a twin the new york times. Weston s reportage recalls the finest foreign correspondence of the iraq and afghan wars. Looking in the mirror and seeing america maimed by war the. Afghanistan had something to do with 911 and was the right war. On the one hand hes hardheaded, able to survive under challenging conditions, but thats combined with. After spending more time in iraq and afghanistan than any other american diplomat, he. Weston applied the page 99 test to his new book, the mirror test. Apr 06, 2009 the longer the united states goes without an ambassador in iraq, the more a disservice we do to our 140,000plus troops and diplomats and to the iraqi people.
Prior to his wartime service seven consecutive years in iraq and afghanistan 20032010 alongside u. The first emails from iraq landed in john kael westons inbox while he was eating breakfast at a utah ski resort. This is no story told by someone residing safely in academia or in a washington, d. Kael weston examine the effects of terrorism in the middle east and the american obsession with it published. America at war in iraq and afghanistan, and reported the following. Kael weston was a legend amongst both the us military and the foreign correspondents who covered the wars in iraq and afghanistan. From 2003 to 2010, his twin brother, john kael weston, served in iraq and afghanistan as the state department representative in anbar province, iraq, and helmand and khost provinces in afghanistan. Washington acknowledged his multiyear work in fallujah with marines by awarding him one of its highest honors, the secretary of states medal fo.
America at war in iraq and afghanistan, a military times best book of the year and a new york times editors choice. Courtesy of kael weston with his tousled hair and fondness for jeanshe eschewed the pressed khakis favored by his colleaguesthe now 40yearold weston didnt look like an influential. Islamic statefighters had just seized fallujah, and the former state department. New york times, wall street journal, washington post, foreign affairs, npr, the hill, daily beast instructor. Based upon kael westons seven consecutive years served mostly in frontline environments while attached as a state department representative to marine infantry units, he brings a wealth of first hand experience. But readers expecting an antiwar tract may be in for a surprise, or at least half a surprise. A new york times editors choice a military times best book of the year a powerfully written firsthand account of the human costs of conflict. The mirror test is different from other current war books. Kael weston spent seven years on the ground in iraq and.
Westons reportage recalls the finest foreign correspondence of the iraq and afghan wars. Kael weston spent seven years on the ground in iraq and afghanistan working for the u. Phil klay, the author of redeployment and winner of the 2014 national book award for fiction and the john leonard first book prize wrote that the books is a. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. On the one hand hes hardheaded, able to survive under challenging conditions, but thats combined with a sort of innocence of believing the best about people. As weston puts it, i could only hope high school and college history books one day would declare in bold print and without asterisks. Westons title refers to the moment when people with severe facial injuries first look at themselves in the mirror. Kael weston has written an angry book perhaps too angry. Kael weston s the mirror test closely observed and illuminating. America at war in iraq and afghanistan, a military times best book of. Kael westons the mirror test examine the effects of terrorism in the middle east and the. Sep 04, 2016 the mirror test america at war in iraq and afghanistan by j. America at war in iraq and afghanistan at the marines memorial club on june 7, 2016.
State department in some of the most dangerous frontline locations. The longer the united states goes without an ambassador in iraq, the more a disservice we do to our 140,000plus troops and diplomats and to the iraqi people. A new york times editors choicea militar times best book of the yeara powerfully written firsthand account of the human costs of conflict. Dec 23, 20 from 2003 to 2010, his twin brother, john kael weston, served in iraq and afghanistan as the state department representative in anbar province, iraq, and helmand and khost provinces in afghanistan. Kael weston a former state department official, weston earned the secretary of states medal for heroism because of his work with marines in fallujah. John kael weston represented the united states for over a decade as a state department official and political adviser to marine units in iraq and afghanistan. His book on both wars is forthcoming from knopf 2015. Kael weston spent seven years on the ground in iraq and afghanistan. America at war in iraq and afghanistan knopfpenguin random house, 2016, a new york times editors choice, a. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Mirror test reflects on the consequences of the wars. The mirror test america at war in iraq and afghanistan by j. Sep 17, 20 john kael weston represented the united states for over a decade as a state department official and political adviser to marine units in iraq and afghanistan. Kael westons the mirror test closely observed and illuminating. Washington acknowledged his multiyear work in fallujah with marines by awarding him one of its highest honors, the secretary of states medal for heroism. The oxford childrens dictionary by alan spooner, john weston, bill le fever, paul thomas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Kael weston richard holbrooke in the longest war called john kael weston a remarkable young foreign service officer after he established a direct dialogue with tribal leaders, university students, mullahs, madrassa students and even taliban defectors in 2008. He spent seven years in iraq and afghanistan as a state department. A new york times editors choice a military times best book of the year a powerfully written firsthand account of the hu. Coming up, maureen corrigan recommends several suspensefilled novels for summer reading. He believes the rest of us need to take a look, as well. Apr 12, 2017 john kael weston represented the united states for more than a decade as a state department official.
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