“Iraq in my eye - Memoirs of a Navy SEAL” Book Review

“Iraq in my eye - Memoirs of a Navy SEAL” describes chronicles of the author's training  (Chuck Bravedy) experienced to become a member of the Navy SEAL team, followed by his tour on the ground in Iraq, his analysis of the war and why it isn't being won. I found the first-hand descriptions of his experiences on missions in the war zone very enlightening and came away with a much better understanding of what such missions are like and their risks.

Chuck Bravedy was a Navy SEAL stationed west of Baghdad in 2006. After five months he thought the job they were doing wasn’t good enough and wanted answers. At first he blamed his superiors. Then, he started his own research, asking the guys who interrogated the detainees and interviewing the guys he worked with.

After helping arrest insurgents and turning them over to military prosecutors, Bravedy noticed that in the corner of every prison room is a box of Korans which is the religious text of Islam, providing the opportunity to continually indoctrinate the insurgents into the desirability of killing Americans and living a violent, angry, hateful lifestyle. Bravedy also observed how mosques were operating as communication centers for the insurgents. Chuck Bravedy a Navy SEAL who realized the possibility while serving in Iraq, and then experienced eye-opening ideas on how to achieve success with the war in Iraq with religious alternatives.

Iraq in My Eye is the result of his research. This is not a long, ‘scholarly’, research report. His findings are not “politically correct.” The book is based on real statistics and real first-hand testimony from those actually fighting the war. Bravedy wastes no words describing the problems and issues. He concludes his book with three goals of the War, solutions that strike at the heart of the war on terrorism, and tells a way to pull out our troops.

Who knows better what the war is like than someone who has been deep in the thick of it? To understand this military action, one might sit back and let the media tell you what to believe, or you might take a look at one man’s personal experiences. The daily reports we see on IEDs is nothing compared to what is going on. The war in Iraq has now been going on for so many years it has become a constant fight for power and a battle that has taken many innocent lives.

Iraq in My Eye is a must read for those who want to understand why democracy isn’t working in Iraq. It is for those who to know what Iraqi terrorism is and why after these long years it is still a threat. From the heart of a Navy SEAL, we can begin to see the whole picture. Many might not agree with Bravedy’s ideas and political stance but it is an option to have understanding of the subject at hand. However, this is a worthwhile read because it provides an interesting and very personal picture of a part of current history that affects us all.