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Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: A Photographer's Chronicle of the Iraq War
Arriving in Iraq on the eve of the U.S. invasion, unaffiliated with any newspaper and hoping to pick up assignments along the way, Ashley Gilbertson was one of the first photojournalists to cover the disintegration of America’s military triumph as looting and score settling convulsed Iraqi cities. Just twenty-five years old at the time, Gilbertson soon landed a contract with the New York Times , and his extraordinary images of life in occupied Iraq and of American troops in action began appearing in the paper regularly. Throughout his work, Gilbertson took great risks to document the risks taken by others, whether dodging sniper fire with American infantry, photographing an Iraqi bomb squad as they diffused IEDs, or following marines into the cauldron of urban combat.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot gathers the best of Gilbertson’s photographs, chronicling America’s early battles in Iraq, the initial occupation of Baghdad, the insurgency that erupted shortly afterward, the dramatic battle to overtake Falluja, and ultimately, the country’s first national elections. No Western photojournalist has done as much sustained work in occupied Iraq as Gilbertson, and this wide-ranging treatment of the war from the viewpoint of a photographer is the first of its kind. Accompanying each section of the book is a personal account of Gilbertson’s experiences covering the conflict. Throughout, he conveys the exhilaration and terror of photographing war, as well as the challenges of photojournalism in our age of embedded reporting. But ultimately, and just as importantly, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot tells the story of Gilbertson’s own journey from hard-drinking bravado to the grave realism of a scarred survivor. Here he struggles with guilt over the death of a marine escort, tells candidly of his own experience with post-traumatic stress, and grapples with the reality that Iraq—despite the sacrifice in Iraqi and American lives—has descended into a civil war with no end in sight.
A searing account of the American experience in Iraq, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is sure to become one of the classic war photography books of our time.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot gathers the best of Gilbertson’s photographs, chronicling America’s early battles in Iraq, the initial occupation of Baghdad, the insurgency that erupted shortly afterward, the dramatic battle to overtake Falluja, and ultimately, the country’s first national elections. No Western photojournalist has done as much sustained work in occupied Iraq as Gilbertson, and this wide-ranging treatment of the war from the viewpoint of a photographer is the first of its kind. Accompanying each section of the book is a personal account of Gilbertson’s experiences covering the conflict. Throughout, he conveys the exhilaration and terror of photographing war, as well as the challenges of photojournalism in our age of embedded reporting. But ultimately, and just as importantly, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot tells the story of Gilbertson’s own journey from hard-drinking bravado to the grave realism of a scarred survivor. Here he struggles with guilt over the death of a marine escort, tells candidly of his own experience with post-traumatic stress, and grapples with the reality that Iraq—despite the sacrifice in Iraqi and American lives—has descended into a civil war with no end in sight.
A searing account of the American experience in Iraq, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is sure to become one of the classic war photography books of our time.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 6, 2019
Contains some really powerful photographs of brutality of war on both sides and the human suffering of the side in between , the common people. A very unbiased photo reportage of the Iraq war.
September 25, 2016
This photographic memoir of the Iraq War was disturbing and all too human. Gilbertson started out as a free-lancer at the beginning of the 2003 war and was picked up by the New York Times. At the age of 23, he was following the troops, drinking with them, and watching them get killed. He went out on patrols, and documented the Iraqi election in photographs with lots of purple inked thumbs. I liked the set up of the book, which had sections of text and then sections of photos. He also shows emotion at the death of soldiers, including ones who were escorting him. He is definitely against the war, but he sticks with the unit. One of the things that sticks with me is how the dusty beige sand seems to reflect gold, and this contrasts with the bombed out buildings the troops are sheltering in. A horrible situation but some of the picture are beautiful.
January 1, 2017
I don't know why I chose this book to end my 2016. It's not exactly a festive book. Still, I loved it.
My special someone was deployed in Iraq back in 2008-2009. It was hell! Since then I always have a weird feeling about the Iraqi war: it always hits too close to home. Back in September, when I was ultra-sad for other reason, I read the other photographic collection by Ashley Gilbertson Bedrooms of the Fallen and I cried all the tears I had. I bought this one and I kept it in store waiting for better days.
Apparently yesterday was a better day.
It was weird to read what Gilbertson wrote. Being in Iraq for no reason but taking pictures, with little money and no knowledge of Arabic. It was even weirder the idea of following the military personnel everywhere without being a soldier himself. Living in harsh condition, eating crap and suffering PTSD's. The reader can easily notice how the author change his attitude towards the war, till the point he had to go back home.
I agree with the photographers who said that Iraq doesn't look good in pictures: I mean, the yellowish and brownish tones are the predominant in most of the photos. One of the pictures reminded me of this photo. It's the symbol of the attack suffered by the Italian Carabinieri back in 2003, if I remember correctly. It was the day in which people realized that the soldiers were fighting a war over there, not just keeping peace.
I like the fact that Gilbertson named real names. Real people who died in the field. Not just Americans but also Iraqi, specially the two guys from the police bomb squad.
No tears, this time. I was just worried about the poor families at home, who never know if their loved ones will be back at home and in which condition.
Very good collection with text to match the quality of the pictures.
My special someone was deployed in Iraq back in 2008-2009. It was hell! Since then I always have a weird feeling about the Iraqi war: it always hits too close to home. Back in September, when I was ultra-sad for other reason, I read the other photographic collection by Ashley Gilbertson Bedrooms of the Fallen and I cried all the tears I had. I bought this one and I kept it in store waiting for better days.
Apparently yesterday was a better day.
It was weird to read what Gilbertson wrote. Being in Iraq for no reason but taking pictures, with little money and no knowledge of Arabic. It was even weirder the idea of following the military personnel everywhere without being a soldier himself. Living in harsh condition, eating crap and suffering PTSD's. The reader can easily notice how the author change his attitude towards the war, till the point he had to go back home.
I agree with the photographers who said that Iraq doesn't look good in pictures: I mean, the yellowish and brownish tones are the predominant in most of the photos. One of the pictures reminded me of this photo. It's the symbol of the attack suffered by the Italian Carabinieri back in 2003, if I remember correctly. It was the day in which people realized that the soldiers were fighting a war over there, not just keeping peace.
I like the fact that Gilbertson named real names. Real people who died in the field. Not just Americans but also Iraqi, specially the two guys from the police bomb squad.
No tears, this time. I was just worried about the poor families at home, who never know if their loved ones will be back at home and in which condition.
Very good collection with text to match the quality of the pictures.
January 28, 2008
I was fortunate enough to come across this book at the Photographic Resource Center in Boston. I didn't know it at the time, but "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" stands for "What the Fuck?" These words are perfect not only to describe the contents of the book, but of course the entire U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. I don't know if "refreshing" is an appropriate word to use, but the book stands in stark contrast to images from Iraq that make it through the mainstream media filter. Gilbertson is brave and unflinching, and the images do exactly what they intend to: describe the ridiculous horror of the situation. I know I haven't seen such a collection of straightforward images during the entire conflict. It seems the military learned their lesson during Vietnam when they allowed news organizations free reign over reporting. Now with all of our information coming from "embedded journalists" the degree of control on reporting is unprecedented in such a large scale American conflict. In a time when the mainstream media have even battled over footage of flag draped coffins, WTF shows the true side of the war. There is ample narrative to describe the ongoing conflict, and often a photo of someone will be accompanied with the footnote describing their death. If more people have access to seeing what is actually going on then perhaps the public will stop holding the military in such reverence and become outraged when such an unwarranted abuse of power takes place on their behalf.
April 9, 2008
This is a "coffee table" book of Ashley Gilbertson's photographs of the Iraq War. His photos are stunning and haunting... should be required reading for all Americans.
May 19, 2019
News photographer present at the battle of Fallujah, November 2004. The narrative alone is worth a read, the photos add to it.
August 14, 2024
"I left Iraq in January of 2006 convinced that the country would never put itself together again, whether under American or Iraqi administrators. America invaded Iraq, and it stood aside as the country plunged into chaos. The occupation steadily inflamed the insurgency and turned Iraq into the number one destination for jihadists across the world. America armed militias on all sides, and then shrugged as civil war broke out, proclaiming it to be an Iraqi issue.
"The Americans lost the war, and in losing it, turned Iraq's people against each other with greater fury than what had been exacted on them for the last four years. They broke Iraq apart, and its people are devouring the pieces--and themselves."
"The Americans lost the war, and in losing it, turned Iraq's people against each other with greater fury than what had been exacted on them for the last four years. They broke Iraq apart, and its people are devouring the pieces--and themselves."
May 29, 2020
Simply the most amazing and authentic book I’ve read, amongst dozens, about the reality of combat photojournalism.
Read
December 23, 2016Ashley Gilbertson is an Australian photographer who photographed the Iraq War for the New York Times. The pictures are very good. But they are even better because of the text that describes what he had to go through to get them. With the soldiers, he ran through fire, and endured days of waiting and uncertainty. The captions of the photos say, again and again, "This is so-and-so. A week later he was dead." Gilbertson had to return to the states, and receive therapy for PTSD. Eventually he was able to go back. Although he praises the men he worked with, and many of the people he met, the last word is depressing. Iraq as a country has been ruined, and we helped to ruin it. (I'll get a quote for that.)
April 15, 2013
An excellent companion to Filpin's "The Forever War" as Gilbertson and Filpin spent time together in Irag and reflect on a couple of the same incidents. Fine writing and striking photos. I think this book should be required reading for Bush, Cheney, and all those other men that created the Iraq war. Don't miss it.
January 6, 2008
Gives you a good feel for being in Iraq from the beginning of the war. The pictures are great, but looking at them after reading the author's description of events makes them many times more moving. An important book.
April 21, 2008
the pictures are awesome. Its kinda anti-war, and the author shows a lot of pic's of people who died later in the war. You can tell the guy doesn't like the US government much, but the photo's are very good.
July 28, 2011
CAVEAT: I've met Ashley on a few occasions and know him professionally via work. That said, I envy Ashley Gilbertson's talent and opportunity and am grateful for the look into his journey. These photographs serve as an important witness and jarred me out of my comfort zone. Highly recommended.
Want to Read
October 19, 2007i wanna read it soooooooooooo bad
December 12, 2007
This is a valuable book in that it is not censored news, but a first hand account, with powerful photos.
January 19, 2012
Get this book and read it. Photojournalism at the very source.
October 22, 2012
Excellent journey through a war in a country completely unknown to most Americans.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews