There are several other volumes in the America at War series, including ones on the Revolution and the Persian Gulf War, but this is clearly the one of most interest now. The text may already be dated, but coverage of events leading up to the war is invaluable, as are Carlisle's endeavors to present facts fairly: Informed discussion about these controversies is possible and is preferable to simple disagreement or uninformed argument. . . . This work presents factual material in a balanced way so that readers can draw their own conclusions and weigh the arguments on both sides. Much of the book covers the war operations, but the text begins with a discussion of the origins of modern-day Iraq and other countries in the region and ends with Iraqi occupation. Boxed insets consider important subjects such as the Republican Guard and Al-Jazeera. The gray format and dark pictures are not enticing, but this is solid stuff. An extensive bibliography and a glossary are appended

Gr 9 Up-The war is defined as the three-week military campaign beginning in March 2003 and ending with the capture of Baghdad in April 2003. Introductory chapters discuss events leading up to the invasion, going back to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, Saddam Hussein's rise to power and the origins of the Baath Party, the Persian Gulf War of 1991, and September 11 and the subsequent actions in Afghanistan. The book concludes with a discussion of the occupation as of May 2003. Average-quality, black-and-white photos appear throughout. There are a number of sidebars on subjects such as the famous deck of cards featuring pictures of major wanted Iraqi leaders, the hunt for WMDs, and the Al-Jazeera news agency. The analysis of this controversial war is fairly evenhanded, but the tone of the book is dry and academic. Purchase this detailed and thorough treatment where additional materials on this subject are needed.-Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.