In the Name of Democracy: American War Crimes in Iraq and Beyond

Until recently, the possibility that the United States was responsible for war crimes seemed unthinkable to most Americans. But as previously suppressed information has started to emerge--photographs from Abu Ghraib; accounts of U.S. attacks on Iraqi hospitals, mosques, and residential neighborhoods; secret government reports defending unilateral aggression--Americans have begun an agonizing reappraisal of the Iraq war and the way in which their government has conducted it.

Drawing on a wide range of documents--from the protocols of the Geneva Convention to FBI e-mails about prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay to executive-branch papers justifying the circumvention of international law--In the Name of Democracy examines the legality of the Iraq war and the occupation that followed. Included in this powerful investigation are eyewitness accounts, victim testimonials, statements by soldiers turned resisters and whistle-blowers, interviews with intelligence insiders, and contributions by Mark Danner and Seymour Hersh.

The result is a controversial, chilling anthology that explores the culpability of officials as well as the responsibilities of ordinary citizens, and for the first time squarely confronts the matter of American impunity.

Jeremy Brecher has written and edited more than a dozen books, including Strike His articles have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Nation, and the Los Angeles Times. Jill Cutler, an assistant dean at Yale College, has edited several books, including Global Visions. Brendan Smith is an expert in international law and a former senior congressional human rights and defense aide. He has written for the Los Angeles Times, The Nation, and Foreign Policy in Focus. Until recently, the possibility that the United States was responsible for war crimes seemed unthinkable to most Americans. But as previously suppressed information has started to emerge--photographs from Abu Ghraib; accounts of U.S. attacks on Iraqi hospitals, mosques, and residential neighborhoods; secret government reports defending unilateral aggression--Americans have begun an agonizing reappraisal of the Iraq war and the way in which their government has conducted it. Drawing on a wide range of documents--from the protocols of the Geneva Convention to FBI e-mails about prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay to executive-branch papers justifying the circumvention of international law--In the Name of Democracy examines the legality of the Iraq war and the occupation that followed. Included in this powerful investigation are eyewitness accounts, victim testimonials, statements by soldiers turned resisters and whistle-blowers, interviews with intelligence insiders, and contributions by Senator Robert Byrd, President Jimmy Carter, John W. Dean, Elizabeth Holtzman, Richard Falk, Mark Danner and Seymour Hersh. The result is a controversial, chilling anthology that explores the culpability of officials as well as the responsibilities of ordinary citizens, and squarely confronts the matter of American impunity. An invaluable read and resource on U.S. war crimes and brutality, including our use of napalm on civilians, cluster bombing, torture, and other atrocities. It is a must-read for all citizens, and a reminder that we are responsible for the actions of our so-called 'democracies.' Let's apply criminal responsibility to our elected leaders. Let's hold ourselves accountable for change. Let's act before it is too late.--Denis J. Halliday, former United Nations Assistant Secretary General An invaluable read and resource on U.S. war crimes and brutality, including our use of napalm on civilians, cluster bombing, torture, and other atrocities. It is a must-read for all citizens, and a reminder that we are responsible for the actions of our so-called 'democracies.' Let's apply criminal responsibility to our elected leaders. Let's hold ourselves accountable for change. Let's act before it is too late.--Denis J. Halliday, former United Nations Assistant Secretary General

At last An antidote for all the lying reports from the Pentagon about Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and other American detention centers. We no longer have to listen to Lieutentant Generals telling us that nothing happened, the 'bad apples' did it, and anyway, none of it can be verified. This important book should be in the hands of every citizen.--Chalmers Johnson, author of The Sorrows of Empire and Blowback

It's all here, and in the original, black-and-white text: the torture memos, the Bush administration's preemptive war strategy, Kofi Annan's declaration that the U.S. invasion of Iraq is illegal, General Taguba's report on abuses at Abu Ghraib, and much more. This is an indispensable volume for those who want the facts on America's war of aggression in Iraq and its consequent record of war crimes. Read it and weep.--Robert Dreyfuss, author of Devil's Game: How the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam