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Targeted: Beirut — The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror
A Marine Corps Commandant’s Professional Reading List Selection
The first in a new “authoritative, shocking” (Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author) nonfiction series examining the devastating terrorist attacks that changed the course of history from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott, beginning with the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut.
1983: the United States Marine Corps experiences its greatest single-day loss of life since the Battle of Iwo Jima when a truck packed with explosives crashes into their headquarters and barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. This horrifying terrorist attack, which killed 241 servicemen, continues to influence US foreign policy and haunts the Marine Corps to this day.
Now, the full story is revealed as never before by Jack Carr and historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott with this “definitive, behind-the-scenes account of a mission and a fight that changed America” (Doug Stanton, #1 New York Times bestselling author). Based on comprehensive interviews with survivors, extensive military records, as well as personal letters, diaries, and photographs, this is “a masterwork of research and storytelling” (Peter Schweizer, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
The first in a new “authoritative, shocking” (Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author) nonfiction series examining the devastating terrorist attacks that changed the course of history from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott, beginning with the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut.
1983: the United States Marine Corps experiences its greatest single-day loss of life since the Battle of Iwo Jima when a truck packed with explosives crashes into their headquarters and barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. This horrifying terrorist attack, which killed 241 servicemen, continues to influence US foreign policy and haunts the Marine Corps to this day.
Now, the full story is revealed as never before by Jack Carr and historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott with this “definitive, behind-the-scenes account of a mission and a fight that changed America” (Doug Stanton, #1 New York Times bestselling author). Based on comprehensive interviews with survivors, extensive military records, as well as personal letters, diaries, and photographs, this is “a masterwork of research and storytelling” (Peter Schweizer, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
464 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2024
About the author
Jack Carr
31 books8,107 followersJack Carr is a former Navy SEAL who led special operations teams as a Team Leader, Platoon Commander, Troop Commander and Task Unit Commander. Over his 20 years in Naval Special Warfare he transitioned from an enlisted SEAL sniper specializing in communications and intelligence, to a junior officer leading assault and sniper teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, to a platoon commander practicing counterinsurgency in the southern Philippines, to commanding a Special Operations Task Unit in the most Iranian influenced section of southern Iraq throughout the tumultuous drawdown of U.S. Forces. Jack retired from active duty in 2016. He lives with his wife and three children in Park City, Utah. He is the author of The Terminal List, True Believer, and Savage Son.
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January 27, 2025
“The truck turned west, paralleling the concertina wire, as the driver…looped the lot. [Lance Corporal Eddie] DiFranco heard the rev of the Mercede’s engine as the operator shifted into a higher gear and increased speed. The driver then executed a sharp turn north and aimed his five-ton truck straight toward the wire barrier. Something felt wrong. DiFranco rammed a magazine into his rifle and chambered a round as the truck crashed through the barbed wire, producing a popping noise that survivors would later tell investigators resembled gunfire. The Mercedes accelerated, charging across the 450 feet that separated the concertina wire from the building. Before DiFranco could shoulder his M16, the truck blew past him, the operator gripping the wheel with both hands. ‘I caught only a glimpse of the driver as he passed by,’ DiFranco wrote in a handwritten memo for investigators. ‘He was wearing a blue shirt and had the smile of a crazy person on his face when he looked at me…’”
- Jack Carr and James M. Scott, Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror
At the risk of making broad assumptions, I’m guessing most Americans have heard of the 1983 suicide truck bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, without knowing much else about it. That’s the position I was in, before picking up Jack Carr and James M. Scott’s Targeted: Beirut. I knew of the attack, and the devastation it caused, without much of an idea about why the Marines were in Lebanon, or how they came to find themselves in the crosshairs.
Targeted: Beirut supplies those answers – and more – in a book that is well-researched, tautly written, and thoroughly compelling. It is also a representative portrait of all of America’s failed endeavors in the Middle East.
***
Before going any further, its worth saying something about the authors.
Jack Carr is a former Navy SEAL sniper, novelist, and podcaster. I haven’t read any of his fiction, but the algorithmic overlords that run YouTube has – on occasion – directed me to his show. I also watched The Terminal List, a television series based on one of Carr’s books, which is a well-produced actioner that operates within a questionable ethical world in which all wrongs must be righted by extrajudicial killings. Based on this resume, I probably wouldn’t have purchased Targeted: Beirut had Carr written it himself, simply because his background does not include the skills typically associated with nonfiction.
That’s where Scott comes in.
James Scott has produced some exceptionally readable, incredibly detailed, morally balanced books on the Second World War, including titles on the Dolittle Raid, the bombing of Tokyo, and the Battle for Manilla. Knowing that Scott was involved with Targeted: Beirut palliated any misgivings I might have had.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to know what each man brought to the table, especially since Scott’s storytelling skills are very good. Still, it feels like their book is the product of each author’s strengths, with Carr’s novelistic approach and military insights nicely balanced by Scott’s ability to describe the fraught contextual framework in which the Marine bombing occurred.
***
Targeted: Beirut gets off to a fast start, opening in April 1983 with a suicide driver headed towards the American Embassy in Lebanon’s capital city. The resulting explosion killed sixty-three, including famed Central Intelligence Agency operations officer Robert Ames.
By the time of this attack, the Lebanese Civil War had been raging for years, and American soldiers were already in-country. They were part of a multinational peacekeeping force meant to oversee the evacuation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) following Israel’s June 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Far from deterring President Ronald Reagan, the bombing seemed only to harden his resolve to maintain the presence of American forces.
Unfortunately, no one – not all the king’s horses, not all the king’s men, and not the U.S. Marines – could possibly be expected to put Lebanon back together again. Instead, the Marines became a conspicuous target for Iranian-backed militant groups, while being hampered by unclear rules of engagement. This set the board for a disaster that many saw coming.
***
The focus of Targeted: Beirut is on the men of the 1st Battalion of the Eighth Marines, who were part of the 2nd Marine Division assigned the thankless task of keeping the peace. On Sunday morning, October 23, 1983, 220 of these Marines – along with eighteen sailors and three soldiers – died in their barracks at the Beirut International Airport. Fifty-eight French military personnel were also killed in a separate attack that struck just minutes after the Marines were hit.
Books like this follow a specific template, one that straddles the line between meaningful remembrance and gross emotional manipulation. In short, we meet a bunch of guys, get to know them, and then wait tensely to see who will get out alive. Such emotional exploitation is to be expected in fiction, but becomes a lot trickier when dealing with actual human beings who walked the earth within living memory.
Targeted: Beirut succeeds in part because it treats these men very seriously. Instead of a few glib factoids, we really get to know them. Having interviewed survivors and family members, Carr and Scott have access to personal contemporary correspondence that brings the dead – briefly – back to fully realized life. The inevitable climax – which perfectly encapsulates Alfred Hitchcock’s dictum on the difference between “surprise” and “suspense” – is delivered with a real impact because Carr and Scott have done such a good job characterizing the victims.
***
It does nothing to reduce the tragedy of the barracks bombing – the effects of which still linger, forty-one years later, and will linger until the last person touched by it has gone – to note that America’s losses paled in comparison to the estimated 150,000 Lebanese civilians who died in an exceptionally messy collision of outside powers.
Given this reality, Targeted: Beirut could easily could have devolved into a lachrymose paean to fallen Americans that ignored the larger-scale tragedy all around them. Carr and Scott avoid this trap by providing a sharp primer on the conflict in Lebanon. While not meant to be comprehensive, they do a commendable job filling in the backstory, and identifying the many participants in this multipronged sectarian struggle: the PLO; Lebanese Christians; Sunni and Shiite Muslims; Israel; and Syria.
Carr and Scott’s purpose is obviously not to present the full story, which would require a lengthy volume of its own. But they do enough to widen the scope, thereby avoiding charges that Americans have to make everything – even another nation’s civil war – all about America. It also shows both why the Marines were in Beirut in the first place, and why they should never have been there at all. Importantly, Carr and Scott do not pick sides, but describe the brutality of all the contestants, such as the Israeli-backed massacre of Palestinians by Christian militias at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
***
One of the themes that Carr and Scott try to develop is the idea that the Marine barracks bombing was the “origin” of the War on Terror, which dominated the first decade of the 21st century. I’m not entirely convinced of this assertion, mainly because the assault – undeniably horrifying – does not fit neatly into the definition of “terrorism,” at least to the extent it involved an attack on uniformed troops, rather than civilians.
Carr and Scott are more successful in their critiques of American military intervention in the Middle East. Throughout, they are skeptical of President Reagan’s decision to deploy troops with only the vaguest of missions. There was no plan as to how the Marines could improve the situation. Without such a plan, they made things worse, becoming a lightning rod for criticism and a relatively soft target for anti-American groups. It resulted in the senseless deaths of United States soldiers, while simultaneously angering the larger Muslim world, lessening American prestige, and heightening American vulnerability. Regrettably, this scenario would unfold again, and again, and again in the years to come, at ever higher costs in lives.
- Jack Carr and James M. Scott, Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror
At the risk of making broad assumptions, I’m guessing most Americans have heard of the 1983 suicide truck bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, without knowing much else about it. That’s the position I was in, before picking up Jack Carr and James M. Scott’s Targeted: Beirut. I knew of the attack, and the devastation it caused, without much of an idea about why the Marines were in Lebanon, or how they came to find themselves in the crosshairs.
Targeted: Beirut supplies those answers – and more – in a book that is well-researched, tautly written, and thoroughly compelling. It is also a representative portrait of all of America’s failed endeavors in the Middle East.
***
Before going any further, its worth saying something about the authors.
Jack Carr is a former Navy SEAL sniper, novelist, and podcaster. I haven’t read any of his fiction, but the algorithmic overlords that run YouTube has – on occasion – directed me to his show. I also watched The Terminal List, a television series based on one of Carr’s books, which is a well-produced actioner that operates within a questionable ethical world in which all wrongs must be righted by extrajudicial killings. Based on this resume, I probably wouldn’t have purchased Targeted: Beirut had Carr written it himself, simply because his background does not include the skills typically associated with nonfiction.
That’s where Scott comes in.
James Scott has produced some exceptionally readable, incredibly detailed, morally balanced books on the Second World War, including titles on the Dolittle Raid, the bombing of Tokyo, and the Battle for Manilla. Knowing that Scott was involved with Targeted: Beirut palliated any misgivings I might have had.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to know what each man brought to the table, especially since Scott’s storytelling skills are very good. Still, it feels like their book is the product of each author’s strengths, with Carr’s novelistic approach and military insights nicely balanced by Scott’s ability to describe the fraught contextual framework in which the Marine bombing occurred.
***
Targeted: Beirut gets off to a fast start, opening in April 1983 with a suicide driver headed towards the American Embassy in Lebanon’s capital city. The resulting explosion killed sixty-three, including famed Central Intelligence Agency operations officer Robert Ames.
By the time of this attack, the Lebanese Civil War had been raging for years, and American soldiers were already in-country. They were part of a multinational peacekeeping force meant to oversee the evacuation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) following Israel’s June 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Far from deterring President Ronald Reagan, the bombing seemed only to harden his resolve to maintain the presence of American forces.
Unfortunately, no one – not all the king’s horses, not all the king’s men, and not the U.S. Marines – could possibly be expected to put Lebanon back together again. Instead, the Marines became a conspicuous target for Iranian-backed militant groups, while being hampered by unclear rules of engagement. This set the board for a disaster that many saw coming.
***
The focus of Targeted: Beirut is on the men of the 1st Battalion of the Eighth Marines, who were part of the 2nd Marine Division assigned the thankless task of keeping the peace. On Sunday morning, October 23, 1983, 220 of these Marines – along with eighteen sailors and three soldiers – died in their barracks at the Beirut International Airport. Fifty-eight French military personnel were also killed in a separate attack that struck just minutes after the Marines were hit.
Books like this follow a specific template, one that straddles the line between meaningful remembrance and gross emotional manipulation. In short, we meet a bunch of guys, get to know them, and then wait tensely to see who will get out alive. Such emotional exploitation is to be expected in fiction, but becomes a lot trickier when dealing with actual human beings who walked the earth within living memory.
Targeted: Beirut succeeds in part because it treats these men very seriously. Instead of a few glib factoids, we really get to know them. Having interviewed survivors and family members, Carr and Scott have access to personal contemporary correspondence that brings the dead – briefly – back to fully realized life. The inevitable climax – which perfectly encapsulates Alfred Hitchcock’s dictum on the difference between “surprise” and “suspense” – is delivered with a real impact because Carr and Scott have done such a good job characterizing the victims.
***
It does nothing to reduce the tragedy of the barracks bombing – the effects of which still linger, forty-one years later, and will linger until the last person touched by it has gone – to note that America’s losses paled in comparison to the estimated 150,000 Lebanese civilians who died in an exceptionally messy collision of outside powers.
Given this reality, Targeted: Beirut could easily could have devolved into a lachrymose paean to fallen Americans that ignored the larger-scale tragedy all around them. Carr and Scott avoid this trap by providing a sharp primer on the conflict in Lebanon. While not meant to be comprehensive, they do a commendable job filling in the backstory, and identifying the many participants in this multipronged sectarian struggle: the PLO; Lebanese Christians; Sunni and Shiite Muslims; Israel; and Syria.
Carr and Scott’s purpose is obviously not to present the full story, which would require a lengthy volume of its own. But they do enough to widen the scope, thereby avoiding charges that Americans have to make everything – even another nation’s civil war – all about America. It also shows both why the Marines were in Beirut in the first place, and why they should never have been there at all. Importantly, Carr and Scott do not pick sides, but describe the brutality of all the contestants, such as the Israeli-backed massacre of Palestinians by Christian militias at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
***
One of the themes that Carr and Scott try to develop is the idea that the Marine barracks bombing was the “origin” of the War on Terror, which dominated the first decade of the 21st century. I’m not entirely convinced of this assertion, mainly because the assault – undeniably horrifying – does not fit neatly into the definition of “terrorism,” at least to the extent it involved an attack on uniformed troops, rather than civilians.
Carr and Scott are more successful in their critiques of American military intervention in the Middle East. Throughout, they are skeptical of President Reagan’s decision to deploy troops with only the vaguest of missions. There was no plan as to how the Marines could improve the situation. Without such a plan, they made things worse, becoming a lightning rod for criticism and a relatively soft target for anti-American groups. It resulted in the senseless deaths of United States soldiers, while simultaneously angering the larger Muslim world, lessening American prestige, and heightening American vulnerability. Regrettably, this scenario would unfold again, and again, and again in the years to come, at ever higher costs in lives.
April 23, 2025
Jack Carr's first foray into non-fiction is a massive hit for me.
The book is well researched and written, and no stone has been left unturned by the authors of this book. Jack Carr's attention to detail comes through in this book and all the angles are covered. You are taken from the Oval Office in the White House to the war ravaged streets of Beirut by brilliant writing.
All the letters and interviews used brings this book alive and really takes you into the lives of these young warriors. The book honors all these young men who paid the ultimate price for the mistakes of politicians and throws open all the evidence for the reader to make their own conclusions as to who's fault this tragedy was. It also explains how this and the Beirut Embassy bombing was the start of the United States' war with terrorism and how unprepared the US was for such a campaign, not just militaristically, but also as a people.
Highly recommended read that has a good flow, and a must for Carr fans!!
The book is well researched and written, and no stone has been left unturned by the authors of this book. Jack Carr's attention to detail comes through in this book and all the angles are covered. You are taken from the Oval Office in the White House to the war ravaged streets of Beirut by brilliant writing.
All the letters and interviews used brings this book alive and really takes you into the lives of these young warriors. The book honors all these young men who paid the ultimate price for the mistakes of politicians and throws open all the evidence for the reader to make their own conclusions as to who's fault this tragedy was. It also explains how this and the Beirut Embassy bombing was the start of the United States' war with terrorism and how unprepared the US was for such a campaign, not just militaristically, but also as a people.
Highly recommended read that has a good flow, and a must for Carr fans!!
November 7, 2024
Jack Carr can write anything!! I'll be waiting for his next Terminal List book and hope he'll have another non-fiction out soon also.
August 18, 2024
There is a special kind of worry specific to history nerds. What happens when one of your favorite authors teams up with an author from another genre? In this case, a personal favorite of mine, James M. Scott, is partnering with Jack Carr, author of the wildly popular Terminal List and other thrillers to produce Targeted: Beirut. What will result when history meets thriller? Will I throw the book across the room?
No, I shouldn't have worried and no, I didn't throw the book. To quote what my 9-year-old told me last week, "You worry too much."
Targeted: Beirut tells the story of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing. The bombing is an example of a strange oxymoron in history. It is often referenced whenever terrorism is discussed, but this is the first book I have seen on the subject. For those unfamiliar, the U.S. under Ronald Reagan decided to involve itself in the affairs of Lebanon in the 1980s. To say it did not go well is a massive understatement. The entire episode is complicated, ripe for second guessing, and contains a large amount of finger pointing. The good news is that Carr and Scott are up to the challenge. The book deftly handles the political, military, and humanitarian sides of the story and the narrative never slows. The sourcing and research are top notch, and I felt like it was handled with clear-eyed discernment.
The book is so good that I was tempted to actually read fiction for once and pick up a Jack Carr book. For those of you who know my aversion to fiction, this is the best compliment I can give.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Atria Books.)
No, I shouldn't have worried and no, I didn't throw the book. To quote what my 9-year-old told me last week, "You worry too much."
Targeted: Beirut tells the story of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing. The bombing is an example of a strange oxymoron in history. It is often referenced whenever terrorism is discussed, but this is the first book I have seen on the subject. For those unfamiliar, the U.S. under Ronald Reagan decided to involve itself in the affairs of Lebanon in the 1980s. To say it did not go well is a massive understatement. The entire episode is complicated, ripe for second guessing, and contains a large amount of finger pointing. The good news is that Carr and Scott are up to the challenge. The book deftly handles the political, military, and humanitarian sides of the story and the narrative never slows. The sourcing and research are top notch, and I felt like it was handled with clear-eyed discernment.
The book is so good that I was tempted to actually read fiction for once and pick up a Jack Carr book. For those of you who know my aversion to fiction, this is the best compliment I can give.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Atria Books.)
January 30, 2025
Jack Carr has long impressed me with his fiction novels, so I was eager to see how well he did writing non-fiction. Working with military historian James M. Scott, Carr starts a new series exploring the most impactful terrorist attacks in recent memory. The authors begin with the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, an event that shook many to their core. This first book delivers everything and more, looking at background events, politics, and fallout, all while pulling no punches about any of it. Carr and Scott deliver a stunning review and offer their own sentiments, in an event they feel was the opening salvo in America’s War on Terror.
While I was too young to remember the actual event, I have heard about the 1983 bombing in passing, where a truck filled with explosives smashed its way through security fences and ploughed into the Marine barracks in Beirut. As the authors offer backstory to the event, they depict the tension in the region to offer the reader a sense of context. Israel was anlways looking for a foothold in the region, facing enemies at every turn. American Marines were in the area to offset the uptick in tensions as the Palestinians were setting up their presence in the region, and Lebanon’s religious clashes were heightening. There was a clear sense of unrest and the new Reagan Administration wanted to keep things calm amidst a potential powder keg.
While American presence was surely seen as troubling, no one could have predicted the response. Trying to broker deals and a sense of peace, Reagan and his people sought to create a sense of support, going so far as to work with all the actors, including the Lebanese leadership. While Marine presence was high, they were more a peacekeeping force than anything military. When a truck filled with explosives smashed into the Marine barracks, the explosion could be heard miles away and the destruction proved catastrophic. No one expected it and its fallout proved to be a stumbling block for the Americans, unaware of any rationale. Who could do such a thing and for what purpose?
The immediate reaction was anything but calm. The bodies were piling up and the bloody photos spun things in a highly troubling manner, painting a dire situation for Reagan and his team. When all was said and done, 241 Marines were dead and a new direction was set for American plans related to terror prevention. While no one thought this was a Lebanese reaction to American presence in the region, some pondered Syrian reaction, under their dictatorial leadership. However, it appeared as though this attack had Iranian fingerprints all over it.
Some would argue the need for ongoing American presence to calm things I. The aftermath of the attack. This was contrasted with many stateside—both politicians and the general public—who wondered about the need to sacrifice lives in a fight that was not directly impacting America. There was a massive pushback that Reagan faced, forced to build a solid argument to justify American presence and ongoing mission focus. There was little chance of easily explaining this all away. America needed to lead, but at what cost? Did American bloodletting serve to do anything but leave families empty and make a mockery of true peace?
The depiction of events, as well as adding all the angles for the reader to consider, proved stellar. Both Carr and Scott offer up great arguments and historical explanations to set the context for this attack and how it fit into the larger argument of Cold War clashes, America’s focus on stopping terror, and the start of unexplained reactions to American missions around the world. Many of the chapters offer insightful views while educating the reader from the outset, leaving the intensity to simmer as the truths come to the surface. Told in a clear and concise manner, the authors pull the reader into the middle of events and leave them seeking additional information, thorough honest interviews and detailed exploration of reporting at the time. I could not ask for more and was left curious about some of the threads left to dangle. Jack Carr and James M. Scott proved their mettle and have me eager to see where this series will go and which other events will make the cut!
Kudos, Messrs. Carr and Scott, for this stunning look into a messy situation that paved the way for four decades of terror-retaliation!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While I was too young to remember the actual event, I have heard about the 1983 bombing in passing, where a truck filled with explosives smashed its way through security fences and ploughed into the Marine barracks in Beirut. As the authors offer backstory to the event, they depict the tension in the region to offer the reader a sense of context. Israel was anlways looking for a foothold in the region, facing enemies at every turn. American Marines were in the area to offset the uptick in tensions as the Palestinians were setting up their presence in the region, and Lebanon’s religious clashes were heightening. There was a clear sense of unrest and the new Reagan Administration wanted to keep things calm amidst a potential powder keg.
While American presence was surely seen as troubling, no one could have predicted the response. Trying to broker deals and a sense of peace, Reagan and his people sought to create a sense of support, going so far as to work with all the actors, including the Lebanese leadership. While Marine presence was high, they were more a peacekeeping force than anything military. When a truck filled with explosives smashed into the Marine barracks, the explosion could be heard miles away and the destruction proved catastrophic. No one expected it and its fallout proved to be a stumbling block for the Americans, unaware of any rationale. Who could do such a thing and for what purpose?
The immediate reaction was anything but calm. The bodies were piling up and the bloody photos spun things in a highly troubling manner, painting a dire situation for Reagan and his team. When all was said and done, 241 Marines were dead and a new direction was set for American plans related to terror prevention. While no one thought this was a Lebanese reaction to American presence in the region, some pondered Syrian reaction, under their dictatorial leadership. However, it appeared as though this attack had Iranian fingerprints all over it.
Some would argue the need for ongoing American presence to calm things I. The aftermath of the attack. This was contrasted with many stateside—both politicians and the general public—who wondered about the need to sacrifice lives in a fight that was not directly impacting America. There was a massive pushback that Reagan faced, forced to build a solid argument to justify American presence and ongoing mission focus. There was little chance of easily explaining this all away. America needed to lead, but at what cost? Did American bloodletting serve to do anything but leave families empty and make a mockery of true peace?
The depiction of events, as well as adding all the angles for the reader to consider, proved stellar. Both Carr and Scott offer up great arguments and historical explanations to set the context for this attack and how it fit into the larger argument of Cold War clashes, America’s focus on stopping terror, and the start of unexplained reactions to American missions around the world. Many of the chapters offer insightful views while educating the reader from the outset, leaving the intensity to simmer as the truths come to the surface. Told in a clear and concise manner, the authors pull the reader into the middle of events and leave them seeking additional information, thorough honest interviews and detailed exploration of reporting at the time. I could not ask for more and was left curious about some of the threads left to dangle. Jack Carr and James M. Scott proved their mettle and have me eager to see where this series will go and which other events will make the cut!
Kudos, Messrs. Carr and Scott, for this stunning look into a messy situation that paved the way for four decades of terror-retaliation!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 23, 2024
TARGETED: BEIRUT Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TARGETED: BEIRUT gives readers an invaluable and incredibly gripping account of the fateful Marine barracks bombing that reshaped the global landscape and foreign policy. Vital perspective and compelling storytelling enable the reader to understand the position of a nineteen-year-old leatherneck in the center of the Beirut quagmire just as well as a policymaker amid cutthroat political discourse. Carr’s captivating writing and Scott’s meticulous historical insight result in unmatched depth and energy that make TARGETED a must-read.
Many of Jack Carr’s dedicated readers have called for the former Navy SEAL sniper turned author to write a nonfiction book. While this might not be what they envisioned, it isn't surprising that he decided to write about an issue so prevalent and impactful. Carr has teamed up with Pulitzer Prize finalist, historian, and acclaimed author of Target Tokyo, Black Snow, Rampage, The War Below, and The Attack on the Liberty to write the first book in their nonfiction series TARGETED. For their first outing, they decided to tell the story of the devastating 1983 Marine Barack’s bombing. The bombing is the Marine Corps’ greatest single-day loss of life since Iwo Jima. The bombing forever changed history and foreign policy.
Why is a terrorist attack that happened over forty years ago still relevant? The 1983 bombing marks the shift in the threat of terrorism. Ever since then, terrorism has become an overwhelming threat at the forefront of many concerned citizen’s minds. There are many lessons to be learned from this pivotal moment in history. We must take these lessons lest we repeat the same follies that have occurred again and again in recent history. TARGETED: BEIRUT not only unveils the form of warfare that is terrorism but also reveals key elements for victory.
TARGETED vividly displays the complete contradiction between Beirut, a city torn from years of constant civil war, and polite society. In the epicenter of the chaos from a constantly evolving war and an extremely fragile political scene, the Marines stood as peacekeepers in a region foreign to peace. TARGETED opens the intense diplomatic discussions surrounding Lebanon and the delicate dichotomy the Marines were constantly faced with. Seamless and thoughtful incorporation of interview quotes, news clippings, journal entries and letters envelop both avid and new history readers alike in the pivotal moments of the Beirut crisis.
Carr and Scott have unearthed mounds of history and key context while showing humanity through precise ground-level accounts. TARGETED: BEIRUT explores the terrorist attack as never before, exposing the dark but necessary truths and the decisions that led up to the attack. This terrible attack marked the earth-shaking shift in the warfare employed by America’s enemies and has completely changed our nation. The bombing also illustrates the contrast between the courage of the Marines to be a peacekeeping force in a murderous land and the cowardice of the terrorists to carry out such a sickening attack.
The bombing was a nightmare from which survivors would never awake. TARGETED has some of the most soul-stirring writing I have ever read. For many, the world would never be the same after this attack.
TARGETED: BEIRUT lays out lessons in leadership, effective strategy, the justification and use of military force, and the consequences of combating terrorism the same way as regular warfare. Many lessons could’ve been learned from Vietnam and should’ve been learned in Beirut that would have prevented recent military and diplomatic follies.
History books have many lessons that can be applied to the present, but when a book like TARGETED: BEIRUT is written for direct application to the major issues pressing society, the reader will find much wisdom. Targeted pivots seamlessly from ground-level stories to thoughtful examinations, reports, quotes, and background information. Carr and Scott explore the origins, motives, and influences of terrorism and examine the complicated and often conflicting results of America’s response to terrorism. TARGETED: BEIRUT provides valuable lessons in leadership, warfare, strategy, diplomacy, and foreign policy.
TARGETED: BEIRUT will be published on September 24th in Hardcover, Ebook, and Audiobook, but you can and I highly encourage you to preorder this book now.
Thank you Atria, Simon and Schuster, Jack Carr, and James M. Scott for making it possible for me to read Targeted early and write my review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TARGETED: BEIRUT gives readers an invaluable and incredibly gripping account of the fateful Marine barracks bombing that reshaped the global landscape and foreign policy. Vital perspective and compelling storytelling enable the reader to understand the position of a nineteen-year-old leatherneck in the center of the Beirut quagmire just as well as a policymaker amid cutthroat political discourse. Carr’s captivating writing and Scott’s meticulous historical insight result in unmatched depth and energy that make TARGETED a must-read.
Many of Jack Carr’s dedicated readers have called for the former Navy SEAL sniper turned author to write a nonfiction book. While this might not be what they envisioned, it isn't surprising that he decided to write about an issue so prevalent and impactful. Carr has teamed up with Pulitzer Prize finalist, historian, and acclaimed author of Target Tokyo, Black Snow, Rampage, The War Below, and The Attack on the Liberty to write the first book in their nonfiction series TARGETED. For their first outing, they decided to tell the story of the devastating 1983 Marine Barack’s bombing. The bombing is the Marine Corps’ greatest single-day loss of life since Iwo Jima. The bombing forever changed history and foreign policy.
Why is a terrorist attack that happened over forty years ago still relevant? The 1983 bombing marks the shift in the threat of terrorism. Ever since then, terrorism has become an overwhelming threat at the forefront of many concerned citizen’s minds. There are many lessons to be learned from this pivotal moment in history. We must take these lessons lest we repeat the same follies that have occurred again and again in recent history. TARGETED: BEIRUT not only unveils the form of warfare that is terrorism but also reveals key elements for victory.
TARGETED vividly displays the complete contradiction between Beirut, a city torn from years of constant civil war, and polite society. In the epicenter of the chaos from a constantly evolving war and an extremely fragile political scene, the Marines stood as peacekeepers in a region foreign to peace. TARGETED opens the intense diplomatic discussions surrounding Lebanon and the delicate dichotomy the Marines were constantly faced with. Seamless and thoughtful incorporation of interview quotes, news clippings, journal entries and letters envelop both avid and new history readers alike in the pivotal moments of the Beirut crisis.
Carr and Scott have unearthed mounds of history and key context while showing humanity through precise ground-level accounts. TARGETED: BEIRUT explores the terrorist attack as never before, exposing the dark but necessary truths and the decisions that led up to the attack. This terrible attack marked the earth-shaking shift in the warfare employed by America’s enemies and has completely changed our nation. The bombing also illustrates the contrast between the courage of the Marines to be a peacekeeping force in a murderous land and the cowardice of the terrorists to carry out such a sickening attack.
The bombing was a nightmare from which survivors would never awake. TARGETED has some of the most soul-stirring writing I have ever read. For many, the world would never be the same after this attack.
TARGETED: BEIRUT lays out lessons in leadership, effective strategy, the justification and use of military force, and the consequences of combating terrorism the same way as regular warfare. Many lessons could’ve been learned from Vietnam and should’ve been learned in Beirut that would have prevented recent military and diplomatic follies.
History books have many lessons that can be applied to the present, but when a book like TARGETED: BEIRUT is written for direct application to the major issues pressing society, the reader will find much wisdom. Targeted pivots seamlessly from ground-level stories to thoughtful examinations, reports, quotes, and background information. Carr and Scott explore the origins, motives, and influences of terrorism and examine the complicated and often conflicting results of America’s response to terrorism. TARGETED: BEIRUT provides valuable lessons in leadership, warfare, strategy, diplomacy, and foreign policy.
TARGETED: BEIRUT will be published on September 24th in Hardcover, Ebook, and Audiobook, but you can and I highly encourage you to preorder this book now.
Thank you Atria, Simon and Schuster, Jack Carr, and James M. Scott for making it possible for me to read Targeted early and write my review!
January 21, 2025
Honestly, when I picked up this one, I thought it was more like a dissection—clinical, precise, pulling the threads of geopolitics apart until the entire tapestry unraveled. Instead, Targeted feels more like a sledgehammer to a nail that didn’t need fixing.
Jack Carr has a knack for drama, and his narrative voice is undeniably gripping. But what this book gains in pulse-pounding immediacy, it loses in depth. The subject—the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut—is monumental, a defining moment that deserves scrutiny, nuance, and an unflinching look at the players on all sides. Yet Carr veers off into territory that feels less like investigative journalism and more like a political thriller dressed in nonfiction’s clothes.
The tone teeters between reverent and hawkish, often prioritizing emotional gut-punches over analytical rigor. It’s a story that should demand complex questions—about U.S. foreign policy, the shifting sands of Middle Eastern alliances, and the seeds of the so-called war on terror—but it settles for easy answers cloaked in patriotism. The result is a narrative that flattens history into a dichotomy of good guys and bad guys, ignoring the messy realities in between.
Carr’s background as a Navy SEAL undeniably lends credibility, but it also biases the lens through which this story is told. His prose is vivid, his pacing sharp, but the story feels too much like it’s been polished for the sound bite—a war cry instead of a conversation. It leaves you wondering: is this truly an untold origin story, or just the one we’ve been told louder?
Jack Carr has a knack for drama, and his narrative voice is undeniably gripping. But what this book gains in pulse-pounding immediacy, it loses in depth. The subject—the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut—is monumental, a defining moment that deserves scrutiny, nuance, and an unflinching look at the players on all sides. Yet Carr veers off into territory that feels less like investigative journalism and more like a political thriller dressed in nonfiction’s clothes.
The tone teeters between reverent and hawkish, often prioritizing emotional gut-punches over analytical rigor. It’s a story that should demand complex questions—about U.S. foreign policy, the shifting sands of Middle Eastern alliances, and the seeds of the so-called war on terror—but it settles for easy answers cloaked in patriotism. The result is a narrative that flattens history into a dichotomy of good guys and bad guys, ignoring the messy realities in between.
Carr’s background as a Navy SEAL undeniably lends credibility, but it also biases the lens through which this story is told. His prose is vivid, his pacing sharp, but the story feels too much like it’s been polished for the sound bite—a war cry instead of a conversation. It leaves you wondering: is this truly an untold origin story, or just the one we’ve been told louder?
October 11, 2024
I love Jack Carr but I just couldn’t get into this book at all. I got 50 pages in and my wife got 19 pages in before we each gave up. I couldn’t keep straight where in the timeline the story was, where the story was going and all the details. The details seemed superfluous at times and it was hard to see why they were important. I think it felt too granular and I would’ve appreciated more of a macro view for what in think Jack was trying to convey.
November 8, 2024
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unspeakable terrorist attack on Israel killing over 1200 men, women, and children, and seizing over 200 hostages. The Israeli response was a brutal attack of retribution that has led to the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians and the evisceration of a significant part of the Gaza Strip. Acting as an ally of Hamas and an Iranian puppet, Hezbollah launched a campaign of rocket attacks against northern Israel which led to over 60,000 Israelis abandoning their homes in support of their ally. Recently Israel assassinated Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and a number of other officials who were set to take his place. Once Nasrallah passed from the scene Israel launched an invasion of southern Lebanon and bombed any area of Lebanon which it deemed a stronghold of Hezbollah, including Beirut.
These events remind one of the 1982 Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon as history once again repeats itself fostering the creation of Hezbollah due to Israeli military and diplomatic errors. The introduction of Hezbollah to the world scene caused by the Israeli invasion would lead to the terrorist attack against the American barracks and headquarters in Beirut which resulted in the death of 241 Marines. The full story as to how and why this occurred and its impact on American foreign policy and the Middle East region and its effect on the families of the Marines who served is the subject of a new book by Jack Carr, a former US Navy Seal sniper and author, and historian James M. Scott entitled; TARGETED BEIRUT: THE 1983 MARINE BARRACKS BOMBING AND THE UNTOLD ORIGIN STORY OF THE WAR ON TERROR.
The approach the authors pursue in relating their subject is somewhat bifurcated. The narrative is broken down into three parts. First, half and the most important part of the monograph seeks to relate the background for the attack on the Marine barracks on October 23, 1983, beginning with the attack on the American embassy on April 18, 1983, and the evolution of Washington’s “peacekeeping mission” in Lebanon designed to curtail the factional warfare between Christian and Islamic forces centered on Beirut. The authors expand their focus on American decision making, the dangers Marines confronted as they carried out their mission, and the debate as to how the United states should respond to the plethora of sniper attacks, suicide bombings, and artillery shells that landed on the Beirut airport, the location of the Marine barracks.
In the next section, Carr and Scott describe the truck bomb attack in detail that resulted in the death of 241 Marines and another 158 wounded. They focus on rescue and recovery reflecting on the horror and other emotions displayed by Marines and others who charged into the debris to try and locate survivors. The concluding section of the narrative brings into clarity the response of the Reagan administration to the calamity unfolding in Beirut and the decision making that led to the American response to the crisis. In addition, the authors describe the agony faced by families and a final evaluation of the errors perpetrated by the Reagan administration.
All in all, the book is a useful retelling of events and the response of participants, but apart from exploring the private lives of numerous Marines and their families the book does not present any new detail. The main criticism of the book is at times it rests on secondary sources to present its story. The book relies heavily on journalistic sources, particularly that of Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, and Robert Fisk, of the Times of London, among others. Once the authors move on to Reagan administration decision making and later the emotional trauma faced by surviving family members, Carr and Scott primary sourcing improves as they rely on interviews with survivors and families who for many will not get over the tragedy.
The key event that would lead to the massacre of the Marines was the Israeli decision to launch “Operation Peace for the Galilee,” which was supposed to remove Palestinian Liberation Organization forces from southern Lebanon and push them twenty five miles north to the Litani River. Many events altered the Israel strategy as they moved beyond the river into West Beirut. Exacerbating the situation was the assassination of Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel, a Maronite Christian from Syria and his replacement by his incompetent brother Amin. Israeli actions fostered the further radicalization of Islamic Jihad and Islamic Amal with the assistance of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Originally greeted as saviors from the PLO, the Shiites in southern Lebanon grew increasingly angry against Israeli occupation leading to constant violence as Maronite Christians under the guise of the Phalangists fought various Islamic factions, in addition to an ethnoreligious group, the Druze. As the horrors of war evolved an international peacekeeping force made up of Americans, French, and Italians arrived on August 25, 1982, which eventually would lead to disaster.
The authors spend a great deal of time explaining the debate in Washington as to the mission of American forces. The United States wanted to be seen as a neutral entity to try and win over certain factions to try and create a government of reconciliation. However, as the United States armed the Lebanese army, it became the victim of numerous mortar and sniper attacks placing Washington in a quandary – if it retaliated it would no longer appear neutral – if they did nothing the Marines would become “sitting ducks.” Carr and Scott delve deeply into the debate within the Reagan administration with Assistant National Security advisor Robert McFarlane and Secretary of State George Schultz advocating a forceful response after diplomatic attempts to convince Syrian president Hafez El-Assad to withdraw his forces from the Bekaa Valley failed. Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger and Vice President George Bush opposed the use of force, and Lebanese policy became hostage to the interpersonal rivalries within the Reagan administration. Reagan and his advisors had difficulty making the tough decisions that were called for as the situation deteriorated. Historians are handicapped even after four decades as some critical meeting minutes and documentary details remain classified.
Perhaps the best sources employed by the authors are the letters written by Marines to their families in the United States. The fears and hopes of the soldiers are on full display and it lends itself to a very personal examination of the crisis. Carr and Scott try to humanize their subjects as they describe family reactions, funerals, phone calls from President Reagan, but the bottom line is the family members, members of Congress, and certain elements within the Reagan administration could not fathom how American policy in Lebanon served any purpose.
The authors delve into the lives of many individual soldiers in their narrative. Among those who stand out are Colonel Timothy Geraghty who took command of Marine operations in Beirut on May 30, 1983, who opposed changing the rules of engagement even after the American embassy bombing and the increase in factional warfare. Lieutenant John Hudson who headed medical operations with fifty naval corpsmen. Drs. Gilbert Bigelow and James Ware, dentists who would take care of the local Lebanese and did yeoman work after the attack on the Marine barracks. Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, Father George Pucciarelli, and Chaplain Danny Wheeler did their best to maintain the spirits of the soldiers under their command and bring solace and comfort after the debacle and other situations. Hussein al-Mosur who headed Islamic Amal and Imad Mughniyeh who headed Islamic Jihad. The two organizations would unite and form Hezbollah, “the Party of God” who perpetrated the attack on the Marine compound with the assistance of Iran. Many other portraits are offered particularly after attacks and the ultimate explosion at the Marine barracks.
The authors do an excellent job conveying the angst that troops felt as they were sequestered in bunkers as rocket fire against their positions was almost constant. The anxiety is conveyed in their letters home as their compatriots were killed or wounded. An insightful example is a letter from Dr. John Hudson to his wife that reflected his anger, fears, and honesty evaluating what he experienced as useless sacrifices. Hudson believed the Marines were “sitting ducks,” particularly when the rules of engagement would not allow them to return fire. There are many other letter excerpts that reflect the untenable position the Reagan administration placed their soldiers in.
Carr and Scott alternate chapters between events on the ground in Beirut with that of decision making in Washington. The problem that comes to the fore is the lack of continuity between the two. To their credit the authors are successful in capturing the harsh reality of life in Lebanon during the period presenting heart rendering vignettes describing the lives of the Lebanese people. In the end there was to be no large-scale US military operation targeting those responsible for the bombing.
The book is an important one because of the lessons learned and those that should be learned today. The War on Terror did not begin until after September 11, 2001, however it was the 1983 bombing that was the precursor to a broader general global strategy to deal with terrorism. The attack highlighted vulnerabilities in dealing with terrorist threats and greatly influenced the evolution of Washington’s counterterrorism goals. In addition, the Israelis seem to be on the verge of repeating the errors of the early 1980s. The Netanyahu government’s actions in southern Lebanon and Beirut may seem like victory, but since there does not seem to be an end game (as is the case in Gaza), Israel will foster the next generation of Hezbollah/Hamas types that will emerge. It seems every decade or so Israel plays Whack a mole which in the real world is not a substitute for concrete policy to achieve long lasting change or at a minimum a reduction of tension.
These events remind one of the 1982 Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon as history once again repeats itself fostering the creation of Hezbollah due to Israeli military and diplomatic errors. The introduction of Hezbollah to the world scene caused by the Israeli invasion would lead to the terrorist attack against the American barracks and headquarters in Beirut which resulted in the death of 241 Marines. The full story as to how and why this occurred and its impact on American foreign policy and the Middle East region and its effect on the families of the Marines who served is the subject of a new book by Jack Carr, a former US Navy Seal sniper and author, and historian James M. Scott entitled; TARGETED BEIRUT: THE 1983 MARINE BARRACKS BOMBING AND THE UNTOLD ORIGIN STORY OF THE WAR ON TERROR.
The approach the authors pursue in relating their subject is somewhat bifurcated. The narrative is broken down into three parts. First, half and the most important part of the monograph seeks to relate the background for the attack on the Marine barracks on October 23, 1983, beginning with the attack on the American embassy on April 18, 1983, and the evolution of Washington’s “peacekeeping mission” in Lebanon designed to curtail the factional warfare between Christian and Islamic forces centered on Beirut. The authors expand their focus on American decision making, the dangers Marines confronted as they carried out their mission, and the debate as to how the United states should respond to the plethora of sniper attacks, suicide bombings, and artillery shells that landed on the Beirut airport, the location of the Marine barracks.
In the next section, Carr and Scott describe the truck bomb attack in detail that resulted in the death of 241 Marines and another 158 wounded. They focus on rescue and recovery reflecting on the horror and other emotions displayed by Marines and others who charged into the debris to try and locate survivors. The concluding section of the narrative brings into clarity the response of the Reagan administration to the calamity unfolding in Beirut and the decision making that led to the American response to the crisis. In addition, the authors describe the agony faced by families and a final evaluation of the errors perpetrated by the Reagan administration.
All in all, the book is a useful retelling of events and the response of participants, but apart from exploring the private lives of numerous Marines and their families the book does not present any new detail. The main criticism of the book is at times it rests on secondary sources to present its story. The book relies heavily on journalistic sources, particularly that of Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, and Robert Fisk, of the Times of London, among others. Once the authors move on to Reagan administration decision making and later the emotional trauma faced by surviving family members, Carr and Scott primary sourcing improves as they rely on interviews with survivors and families who for many will not get over the tragedy.
The key event that would lead to the massacre of the Marines was the Israeli decision to launch “Operation Peace for the Galilee,” which was supposed to remove Palestinian Liberation Organization forces from southern Lebanon and push them twenty five miles north to the Litani River. Many events altered the Israel strategy as they moved beyond the river into West Beirut. Exacerbating the situation was the assassination of Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel, a Maronite Christian from Syria and his replacement by his incompetent brother Amin. Israeli actions fostered the further radicalization of Islamic Jihad and Islamic Amal with the assistance of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Originally greeted as saviors from the PLO, the Shiites in southern Lebanon grew increasingly angry against Israeli occupation leading to constant violence as Maronite Christians under the guise of the Phalangists fought various Islamic factions, in addition to an ethnoreligious group, the Druze. As the horrors of war evolved an international peacekeeping force made up of Americans, French, and Italians arrived on August 25, 1982, which eventually would lead to disaster.
The authors spend a great deal of time explaining the debate in Washington as to the mission of American forces. The United States wanted to be seen as a neutral entity to try and win over certain factions to try and create a government of reconciliation. However, as the United States armed the Lebanese army, it became the victim of numerous mortar and sniper attacks placing Washington in a quandary – if it retaliated it would no longer appear neutral – if they did nothing the Marines would become “sitting ducks.” Carr and Scott delve deeply into the debate within the Reagan administration with Assistant National Security advisor Robert McFarlane and Secretary of State George Schultz advocating a forceful response after diplomatic attempts to convince Syrian president Hafez El-Assad to withdraw his forces from the Bekaa Valley failed. Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger and Vice President George Bush opposed the use of force, and Lebanese policy became hostage to the interpersonal rivalries within the Reagan administration. Reagan and his advisors had difficulty making the tough decisions that were called for as the situation deteriorated. Historians are handicapped even after four decades as some critical meeting minutes and documentary details remain classified.
Perhaps the best sources employed by the authors are the letters written by Marines to their families in the United States. The fears and hopes of the soldiers are on full display and it lends itself to a very personal examination of the crisis. Carr and Scott try to humanize their subjects as they describe family reactions, funerals, phone calls from President Reagan, but the bottom line is the family members, members of Congress, and certain elements within the Reagan administration could not fathom how American policy in Lebanon served any purpose.
The authors delve into the lives of many individual soldiers in their narrative. Among those who stand out are Colonel Timothy Geraghty who took command of Marine operations in Beirut on May 30, 1983, who opposed changing the rules of engagement even after the American embassy bombing and the increase in factional warfare. Lieutenant John Hudson who headed medical operations with fifty naval corpsmen. Drs. Gilbert Bigelow and James Ware, dentists who would take care of the local Lebanese and did yeoman work after the attack on the Marine barracks. Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, Father George Pucciarelli, and Chaplain Danny Wheeler did their best to maintain the spirits of the soldiers under their command and bring solace and comfort after the debacle and other situations. Hussein al-Mosur who headed Islamic Amal and Imad Mughniyeh who headed Islamic Jihad. The two organizations would unite and form Hezbollah, “the Party of God” who perpetrated the attack on the Marine compound with the assistance of Iran. Many other portraits are offered particularly after attacks and the ultimate explosion at the Marine barracks.
The authors do an excellent job conveying the angst that troops felt as they were sequestered in bunkers as rocket fire against their positions was almost constant. The anxiety is conveyed in their letters home as their compatriots were killed or wounded. An insightful example is a letter from Dr. John Hudson to his wife that reflected his anger, fears, and honesty evaluating what he experienced as useless sacrifices. Hudson believed the Marines were “sitting ducks,” particularly when the rules of engagement would not allow them to return fire. There are many other letter excerpts that reflect the untenable position the Reagan administration placed their soldiers in.
Carr and Scott alternate chapters between events on the ground in Beirut with that of decision making in Washington. The problem that comes to the fore is the lack of continuity between the two. To their credit the authors are successful in capturing the harsh reality of life in Lebanon during the period presenting heart rendering vignettes describing the lives of the Lebanese people. In the end there was to be no large-scale US military operation targeting those responsible for the bombing.
The book is an important one because of the lessons learned and those that should be learned today. The War on Terror did not begin until after September 11, 2001, however it was the 1983 bombing that was the precursor to a broader general global strategy to deal with terrorism. The attack highlighted vulnerabilities in dealing with terrorist threats and greatly influenced the evolution of Washington’s counterterrorism goals. In addition, the Israelis seem to be on the verge of repeating the errors of the early 1980s. The Netanyahu government’s actions in southern Lebanon and Beirut may seem like victory, but since there does not seem to be an end game (as is the case in Gaza), Israel will foster the next generation of Hezbollah/Hamas types that will emerge. It seems every decade or so Israel plays Whack a mole which in the real world is not a substitute for concrete policy to achieve long lasting change or at a minimum a reduction of tension.
May 21, 2026
A balanced, compelling and rounded work.
This book is the first in a planned series from Carr and Scott “to explore history’s most devastating terrorist attacks and examine their enduring global impacts,” and I wonder which ones are going to make their list. From reading this book, the project seems to be in good hands.
Carr and Scott do a good job describing the decisions made and how they contributed to tragedy. The Marines’ mission in Lebanon, it seems, was basically impossible. In terms of tactics, their position at Beirut’s airport was terrible, “possibly the worst since Custer at Little Big Horn,” in the words of one Marine officer. Reagan comes off as indecisive, partly because his own cabinet had internal disagreements about the mission. The portrait of national security advisor Bud McFarlane is particularly unflattering.
The narrative is clear, and the authors ably capture the human element, exploring and bringing to life the lives and experiences of the policymakers, commanders, and soldiers involved in this incident. The experiences of American families at home as they await the news from Beirut and eventually learn about the fates of their sons is particularly emotional.
Carr and Scott also do a great job fleshing out the setting of wartime Beirut, and the usual monotony, boredom, and loneliness of the overseas soldier’s life, punctuated by moments of terror, confusion, and tragedy. The accounts of the bombing’s aftermath and investigations are also good. The stories of the American, Lebanese, Syrian, Iranian, and Israeli actors in the story are well told (Carr notes that, when the Marines occupied the airport, they had to clear unexploded ordnance manufactured in no less than nineteen countries). The origins and role of Hezbollah is also explored.
The only quibbles are minor. There is little about the simultaneous attack on the French paratroopers’ barracks in Beirut. There’s a few annoying typos. And at one point the authors write the truck bomb used on the Marine barracks had the force of “12,000 tons of TNT,” when they almost certainly mean pounds.
A well-written, well-researched, and human work.
This book is the first in a planned series from Carr and Scott “to explore history’s most devastating terrorist attacks and examine their enduring global impacts,” and I wonder which ones are going to make their list. From reading this book, the project seems to be in good hands.
Carr and Scott do a good job describing the decisions made and how they contributed to tragedy. The Marines’ mission in Lebanon, it seems, was basically impossible. In terms of tactics, their position at Beirut’s airport was terrible, “possibly the worst since Custer at Little Big Horn,” in the words of one Marine officer. Reagan comes off as indecisive, partly because his own cabinet had internal disagreements about the mission. The portrait of national security advisor Bud McFarlane is particularly unflattering.
The narrative is clear, and the authors ably capture the human element, exploring and bringing to life the lives and experiences of the policymakers, commanders, and soldiers involved in this incident. The experiences of American families at home as they await the news from Beirut and eventually learn about the fates of their sons is particularly emotional.
Carr and Scott also do a great job fleshing out the setting of wartime Beirut, and the usual monotony, boredom, and loneliness of the overseas soldier’s life, punctuated by moments of terror, confusion, and tragedy. The accounts of the bombing’s aftermath and investigations are also good. The stories of the American, Lebanese, Syrian, Iranian, and Israeli actors in the story are well told (Carr notes that, when the Marines occupied the airport, they had to clear unexploded ordnance manufactured in no less than nineteen countries). The origins and role of Hezbollah is also explored.
The only quibbles are minor. There is little about the simultaneous attack on the French paratroopers’ barracks in Beirut. There’s a few annoying typos. And at one point the authors write the truck bomb used on the Marine barracks had the force of “12,000 tons of TNT,” when they almost certainly mean pounds.
A well-written, well-researched, and human work.
July 18, 2025
A little disappointed in this one since The Terminal List series is so good.
This book gave way too much information about certain things and was repetitive in parts. Made the book a little too long.
Then there was not enough information about other more important things.
This book gave way too much information about certain things and was repetitive in parts. Made the book a little too long.
Then there was not enough information about other more important things.
August 23, 2024
What a fascinating concept. A traditional writer of fiction decides to start an, I believe, planned trilogy, that tackles the origins and history of the war on terror. I’ve never read this author and am unsure if I will read his fiction, but I definitely recommend this one. I was mildly informed of the 1983 attack in n Lebanon now, in a page turning kind of way, I feel I know more about this tragic event.
November 8, 2024
Sunday, October 23, 1983. 6:21:26 AM. A 12 KT bomb destroyed BLT 1/8's HQ. Hiroshima was 15 KT.
The definitive telling of the fiasco that was Beirut. 241 Marines, sailers, and soldiers are dead because of Reagan's inept presence mission and Israeli vindictiveness and capriciousness. Just an outstanding telling of all the top level fighting at the highest levels of Reagan's administration over the role of the Marines. State and Defense were diametrically opposed. National Security Adviser doing his own thing. Meanwhile the Marines are in a tactically unsound position and target practice with orders not to return fire. It's also the story of the individual Marines and Navy, living and deceased. Camaraderie and heartbreak. A very emotional read. I knew some of the men. I was involved with the casualty assistance effort. It's pretty personal for all Marines. And we never attacked those responsible.
The definitive telling of the fiasco that was Beirut. 241 Marines, sailers, and soldiers are dead because of Reagan's inept presence mission and Israeli vindictiveness and capriciousness. Just an outstanding telling of all the top level fighting at the highest levels of Reagan's administration over the role of the Marines. State and Defense were diametrically opposed. National Security Adviser doing his own thing. Meanwhile the Marines are in a tactically unsound position and target practice with orders not to return fire. It's also the story of the individual Marines and Navy, living and deceased. Camaraderie and heartbreak. A very emotional read. I knew some of the men. I was involved with the casualty assistance effort. It's pretty personal for all Marines. And we never attacked those responsible.
November 10, 2024
I’ll start this note by saying I’m a huge fan of Carr’s. I think his writing has improved with each of his novels, and I was very much looking forward to this first foray into non-fiction. Alas, my feelings are mixed now that I’ve finished it. It was moving, informative, and, at times, disturbing. It paid homage in a somber and meaningful way to the sacrifice of the Marines in Beirut. That said, it was not the gripping drama I expected. It plodded a bit from time to time, especially during the first half. My suspicion is that my reaction is due to mismatched expectations. I expected something in the vein of a Jack Carr novel, but the reality is closer in spirit to Andrew Roberts’ Elegy: The First Day on the Somme. Targeted: Beirut is a testament to the courage and sacrifice of the men who died, and, indeed, to those who survived. It’s an indictment of the political forces who put them in harm’s way. It’s a challenge even to those with good intentions (i.e., Reagan). Ultimately, it’s a plea to remember the sacrifices made by American Marines in the name of peace in Lebanon in 1983. Certainly worth a read, but better read with proper expectations.
July 18, 2025
This captured the essence of what it was like to be there. The frustration. The despair. The camaraderie we all had for each other. The unpredictable nature of each day. Although, I was there as a young Marine shortly after this horrific attack, I can say this book is the most accurate and detailed account of what led up to it, the attack itself, and the aftermath.
October 22, 2026
Having finished The Best Kind of American, I found this book that delves deeply into October 23, 1983, attack on the Marine base killing 220 marines, 18 sailors and 3 soldiers along with 58 French paratroopers and injuring hundred of others - this event is part of the other book’s story. This attack remains the single deadliest day for the US marines since Iwo Jima in 1945. The marines had been part of
The book starts out with the attack and then backtracks into what lead up to the attack finishing up with the attack again, its aftermath in human stories and an analysis into American policy set by Reagan - The Best Kind of American digs deeper into that policy but Targeted is consistent with that book’s analysis. The difference between the two is that Targeted focuses more on the event and its toll on the victims and those left behind - I admit I teared up at the end especially when talking about the doctor, John Hudson, who cared for the troops and had just become a father. But all the destruction in that attack by Hezbollah was so senseless - just to show the Americans they weren’t wanted.
Back in the 1980s many were not aware of how inspiring the Iranian Revolution was to other Arabs in the region - though that really hasn’t turned out well; read Stolen Revolution for more details). So the threat to a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon - the Americans, French, Italians and British were invited by Lebanon to bolster defense of their country - was in the background but not visualized as deeply as it needed to be. At the time of the bombing Lebanon was engulfed in a long civil war further complicated when the Israelis invaded in 1982 along with the hovering Syrian presence. The Americans may have felt this was all “normal” so were perhaps not as vigilant but the April 1983 bombing of the American Embassy should have been a warning.
The writing is terse and stark especially when describing the after effects of the bombing. I could not comprehend having to clear the debris of human remains the brave survivors had to handle. The book is well researched. While it doesn’t focus so much on the policy issues that are vividly revealed in The Best Kind of American but Reagan was clearly above his head and being led by others who didn’t understand the changing Arab world.
I gave this book five stars because it fills a gap in a this period of history focusing on the day of the event and its human cost. It also confirms other information about Reagan’s policy that did not set up our foreign policy well. And I was very moved by the human portrait that was created by this novel.
The book starts out with the attack and then backtracks into what lead up to the attack finishing up with the attack again, its aftermath in human stories and an analysis into American policy set by Reagan - The Best Kind of American digs deeper into that policy but Targeted is consistent with that book’s analysis. The difference between the two is that Targeted focuses more on the event and its toll on the victims and those left behind - I admit I teared up at the end especially when talking about the doctor, John Hudson, who cared for the troops and had just become a father. But all the destruction in that attack by Hezbollah was so senseless - just to show the Americans they weren’t wanted.
Back in the 1980s many were not aware of how inspiring the Iranian Revolution was to other Arabs in the region - though that really hasn’t turned out well; read Stolen Revolution for more details). So the threat to a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon - the Americans, French, Italians and British were invited by Lebanon to bolster defense of their country - was in the background but not visualized as deeply as it needed to be. At the time of the bombing Lebanon was engulfed in a long civil war further complicated when the Israelis invaded in 1982 along with the hovering Syrian presence. The Americans may have felt this was all “normal” so were perhaps not as vigilant but the April 1983 bombing of the American Embassy should have been a warning.
The writing is terse and stark especially when describing the after effects of the bombing. I could not comprehend having to clear the debris of human remains the brave survivors had to handle. The book is well researched. While it doesn’t focus so much on the policy issues that are vividly revealed in The Best Kind of American but Reagan was clearly above his head and being led by others who didn’t understand the changing Arab world.
I gave this book five stars because it fills a gap in a this period of history focusing on the day of the event and its human cost. It also confirms other information about Reagan’s policy that did not set up our foreign policy well. And I was very moved by the human portrait that was created by this novel.
October 23, 2024
I can think of three occasions where people hated the United States enough to plan and carry out devastating attacks on U.S. citizens and military targets. All three occasions were proceeded by events that U.S. intelligence agencies were unable to connect the dots with tragic results. Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941 by a surprise attack by the Japanese despite military and diplomatic warning signs. The nation entered World War II ultimately defeating those who planned and executed the operation. The actions of the hijackers who flew commercial airliners into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and those who planned the attack all left signs of their plans which esteemed intelligence agencies missed. U.S. forces retaliated to punish those who carried out the acts. The same can be said of the October 23, 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon where warning signs included rehearsals and escalating attacks against the Marine peacekeepers. This time there was no immediate retaliation.
This comprehensive book exposes the reader to the events leading to the Beirut tragedy that Sunday morning, graphically describes the horror of the bombing, and reports the actions by the government leaders as well as the victims.
Carr and Scott combine facts with anecdotal recollections in a manner that makes the. book a quick and understandable story of the how, what, and why of the tragedy. They pull no punches explaining the thinking and actions of senior officials and Marines grappling with decision making and the consequences of those decisions with little editorializing. I was particularly interested in the actions and thoughts of Maine Commandant P.X. Kelley who felt emotional distress regarding the tragedy despite having conducted himself properly in all aspects of his leadership and behavior.
Just as Admiral Kimmel was held responsible for the Pearl Harbor attack, Colonels Gerlach and Geraghty were the officers disciplined for the tragic results in Beirut. All three were also victims of being at the “wrong place at the wrong time” despite their competence as government officers and intelligence experts failed to provide the Marine Officers information and/or permission to carry out their duties.
The authors did a great job and I highly encouraged all Americans to take the time to acquaint themselves with the beginning of the United States war against terror which now has been 41 years long.
This comprehensive book exposes the reader to the events leading to the Beirut tragedy that Sunday morning, graphically describes the horror of the bombing, and reports the actions by the government leaders as well as the victims.
Carr and Scott combine facts with anecdotal recollections in a manner that makes the. book a quick and understandable story of the how, what, and why of the tragedy. They pull no punches explaining the thinking and actions of senior officials and Marines grappling with decision making and the consequences of those decisions with little editorializing. I was particularly interested in the actions and thoughts of Maine Commandant P.X. Kelley who felt emotional distress regarding the tragedy despite having conducted himself properly in all aspects of his leadership and behavior.
Just as Admiral Kimmel was held responsible for the Pearl Harbor attack, Colonels Gerlach and Geraghty were the officers disciplined for the tragic results in Beirut. All three were also victims of being at the “wrong place at the wrong time” despite their competence as government officers and intelligence experts failed to provide the Marine Officers information and/or permission to carry out their duties.
The authors did a great job and I highly encouraged all Americans to take the time to acquaint themselves with the beginning of the United States war against terror which now has been 41 years long.
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July 17, 2025"In Beirut, the enemy is unseen. He is the chaos and instability that rides with the whirlwind of civil war, invasion, and political strife."
Jack Carr (former Navy SEAL) and James M. Scott (military historian) deliver a gripping and horrific account of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, where a suicide bomber drove a car bomb into a Marine compound, tragically killing 241 U.S. service members. The Marines had been deployed as part of a peacekeeping mission—an ultimately futile effort in a city torn apart by civil war between Christian and Islamic factions.
Both Carr and Scott excel in humanizing the tragedy by drawing from personal letters written by the Marines to their families and friends. Through these letters, readers gain an intimate understanding of the soldiers' hopes and fears. Readers also get a glimpse into President Ronald Reagan’s thoughts during the peacekeeping mission, as he kept a personal diary throughout his presidency.
Though the mission was undertaken with noble intentions, the U.S. peacekeeping effort in Beirut ultimately became a disastrous display of U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy. Carr and Scott explore the internal rivalries within the Reagan administration, the broader diplomatic missteps in engaging with Middle Eastern powers, and the fatal decisions—or lack thereof—made by senior officials that left the Marines vulnerable to this kind of terrorist attack.
This is a must read for anyone interested in Middle Eastern politics and military history. I'm definitely interested in reading more from both Carr and Scott.
Jack Carr (former Navy SEAL) and James M. Scott (military historian) deliver a gripping and horrific account of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, where a suicide bomber drove a car bomb into a Marine compound, tragically killing 241 U.S. service members. The Marines had been deployed as part of a peacekeeping mission—an ultimately futile effort in a city torn apart by civil war between Christian and Islamic factions.
Both Carr and Scott excel in humanizing the tragedy by drawing from personal letters written by the Marines to their families and friends. Through these letters, readers gain an intimate understanding of the soldiers' hopes and fears. Readers also get a glimpse into President Ronald Reagan’s thoughts during the peacekeeping mission, as he kept a personal diary throughout his presidency.
Though the mission was undertaken with noble intentions, the U.S. peacekeeping effort in Beirut ultimately became a disastrous display of U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy. Carr and Scott explore the internal rivalries within the Reagan administration, the broader diplomatic missteps in engaging with Middle Eastern powers, and the fatal decisions—or lack thereof—made by senior officials that left the Marines vulnerable to this kind of terrorist attack.
This is a must read for anyone interested in Middle Eastern politics and military history. I'm definitely interested in reading more from both Carr and Scott.
October 17, 2024
I am a big history buff and love history books. I especially love history books about subjects that are not widely written about. As to those books, I really love them when they are well done. That's a long and weird way to say I loved this book. Addressing the US Marines deployment to Lebanon, and specifically Beirut, in 1983 and the complex political dynamics that sent them there, kept them there and tied their hands while they were there. For the authors this is the origin of the war on terror and there is reference to subsequent terrorist attacks. I am not sure if the intent of the book was to lay the blame on the Reagan administration for years of battling terrorists, but the case could certainly be made. It is well researched history but reads like a modern-day military/political thriller. Cautionary note, it is also heartbreaking and the way in which the tragic deaths are captured is respectfully done but does not lack the background heartbreak of families, and eventually most Americans, as to why those deaths even had to occur. I was an 8th/9th grader when these events occurred, and the names and events bring up memories not often remembered which is a shame. The serviceman lost deserve to be remembered and honored. I actually met Ronald Reagan in 1986 which was an awe-inspiring experience and have always been a big fan of his and his administration. This book certainly raises doubts as to whether that respect and admiration is deserved. I don't think any type of book can receive higher praise than noting that it evoked powerful emotions. This book certainly did that for me, was thought provoking and made me reexamine my perspective on the world. Only the greatest of books can accomplish that feat. I try very hard not to be political but must say that one of the strong emotions evoked by reading this book is that the same crap is going on in the same region with the same actors in terms of the nation's/groups involved. A truly global failure which has no end in sight. Sad.
September 16, 2026
A non-fiction book about the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut.
“Old men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.” - Herbert Hoover
“Old men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.” - Herbert Hoover
September 27, 2024
As a member of the 22nd MAU that relieved the 24th MAU, I’m always prepared to look critically on at any book about the bombing. This one rates 5 stars, although I have one major and two minor comments. WHY NO MAPS? Should have been three - one of Beirut, one of the airport area, and one showing the attack. There are maps in other books on Beirut. Secondly, there should be an appendix showing the time line of events, putting things in context. Thirdly, the book should have better identified the people quoted in the book. Rifleman or supply clerk? BLT, MAU, or MSSG? Otherwise, a fine addition to the limited number of histories on Beirut.
September 16, 2025
A tough and sobering read. Took longer that expected. Had to take breaks as it can make you angry or sad. Jack Carr and James Scott do a good job of detailing the accounts of the events leading up to the Marines Barracks attack in October 1983, the actual event, and the aftermath.
This was one of the Reagan Administrations big failures. The interesting note was that Sec of State Schulz wanted military involvement in Beirut while SecDef Weinberger wanted the Marines out before all this took place, with the Spring 1983 precursor bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut. Most agreed on keeping the Marines there, even the Democrats.
The one story I've always heard was that it was Reagan's fault that the Marines did not have any ammo in their weapons when the truck plowed through the fence. Recounts per the book show the commander on site chose this to prevent accidental discharges and killing any innocent civilians. Even in hindsight, the rifles may have not stopped it, but better to at least have a small chance than none at all.
This is kind of where our battle with terrorism began per se. Even General Paul Kelley made a profound statement before Congress in the aftermath. "the general asked whether it would take a suicide bomber crashing an airplane for America to wake up to the reality of this new war." This became reality Sept 11, 2001.
This book is not for the faint of heart. Reading about those who were alive and what they did, only to lose their lives, was made harder by seeing their photos.
My two older brothers were in the Marines at that time, but fortunately, were not part of that deployment.
This was one of the Reagan Administrations big failures. The interesting note was that Sec of State Schulz wanted military involvement in Beirut while SecDef Weinberger wanted the Marines out before all this took place, with the Spring 1983 precursor bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut. Most agreed on keeping the Marines there, even the Democrats.
The one story I've always heard was that it was Reagan's fault that the Marines did not have any ammo in their weapons when the truck plowed through the fence. Recounts per the book show the commander on site chose this to prevent accidental discharges and killing any innocent civilians. Even in hindsight, the rifles may have not stopped it, but better to at least have a small chance than none at all.
This is kind of where our battle with terrorism began per se. Even General Paul Kelley made a profound statement before Congress in the aftermath. "the general asked whether it would take a suicide bomber crashing an airplane for America to wake up to the reality of this new war." This became reality Sept 11, 2001.
This book is not for the faint of heart. Reading about those who were alive and what they did, only to lose their lives, was made harder by seeing their photos.
My two older brothers were in the Marines at that time, but fortunately, were not part of that deployment.
July 3, 2025
Certainly an interesting time in which to read this book (although I suppose you could say that for any time in the last 40 years of US meddling in the Middle East). If you're like me (read: under the age of 50) there's a good chance you'd heard little to nothing about the 1983 bombing of the US Marines outpost in Beirut. I basically knew nothing.
Beyond learning the basic facts of the story (241 marines dead, the most in a single day since Iwo Jima) the book gives interesting historical perspective to where we find ourselves today. There are the similarities to our mistakes of the last 22 years (going into Middle Eastern nations with little to no plan, inserting ourselves into fractious civil wars without picking sides, etc.) you also learn about how the decisions made 40 years ago still affect us today (you learn about the founding of this nascent group called Hezbollah). In so many ways, this attack began the modern era of terrorism that we still find ourselves in.
The good news is, we have fully learned from our mistakes and will totally never do stupid stuff like this again. Totally.
Beyond learning the basic facts of the story (241 marines dead, the most in a single day since Iwo Jima) the book gives interesting historical perspective to where we find ourselves today. There are the similarities to our mistakes of the last 22 years (going into Middle Eastern nations with little to no plan, inserting ourselves into fractious civil wars without picking sides, etc.) you also learn about how the decisions made 40 years ago still affect us today (you learn about the founding of this nascent group called Hezbollah). In so many ways, this attack began the modern era of terrorism that we still find ourselves in.
The good news is, we have fully learned from our mistakes and will totally never do stupid stuff like this again. Totally.
July 23, 2025
Wow! So much I never knew. This was not an easy read - a lot of blood and gore and death, but you kinda know that going into it. Still, I could feel my cortisol levels rising (not a good book to listen to while sitting in DC traffic!).
This is a must read for anyone in the counterterrorism field. Carr did a great job of showing how Hezbollah, al Qaida, ISIS, and the rest of modern terrorism began in Beirut.
I've read Carr's Terminal List (fiction) series (liked some, wasn't a fan of others) and was not particularly blown away by his writing. This book was on a whole other level. He should definitely stick to non-fiction!
This is a must read for anyone in the counterterrorism field. Carr did a great job of showing how Hezbollah, al Qaida, ISIS, and the rest of modern terrorism began in Beirut.
I've read Carr's Terminal List (fiction) series (liked some, wasn't a fan of others) and was not particularly blown away by his writing. This book was on a whole other level. He should definitely stick to non-fiction!
August 23, 2026
A brilliant account of the US misadventure in Lebanon.
It takes on perspectives from the politicians, chief officers in the Marine Corps, the Marines on the ground and loved ones back home.
A peacekeeping mission that quickly turns into one where the Marines are sitting ducks as the rules of engagement prevent them from fighting back due to them being there to mediate and facilitate peace in a distant war in a far off land.
It's like watching Einstein's definition of insanity. The same excuses that the US used in the early 80's are still trotted out now for why they're over in the Middle East.
"We have interests in the region. We want freedom so if one country loses it, we all lose it. Israel. Sticking one up to the Soviet Union" etc etc etc.
Sound familiar? These 'leaders' are evil and keep sacrificing lives and money for the same nonsense they have always pretended it was for. It sounds so virtuous and good on the surface. It isn't.
Great book.
It takes on perspectives from the politicians, chief officers in the Marine Corps, the Marines on the ground and loved ones back home.
A peacekeeping mission that quickly turns into one where the Marines are sitting ducks as the rules of engagement prevent them from fighting back due to them being there to mediate and facilitate peace in a distant war in a far off land.
It's like watching Einstein's definition of insanity. The same excuses that the US used in the early 80's are still trotted out now for why they're over in the Middle East.
"We have interests in the region. We want freedom so if one country loses it, we all lose it. Israel. Sticking one up to the Soviet Union" etc etc etc.
Sound familiar? These 'leaders' are evil and keep sacrificing lives and money for the same nonsense they have always pretended it was for. It sounds so virtuous and good on the surface. It isn't.
Great book.
August 25, 2026
Given the lurid title and the genre in which the author normally works, I was expecting something a little more sensationalized than this. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Carr has presented a very cogent and fairly balanced explanation of what happened in Beirut in 1983 while telling the story tautly enough to be interesting.
Many parts of this book reminded me uncomfortably of another thousand American soldiers billeted at an airport with high ground all around, in Pristina in 1999. I was one of those Americans, and even though Albania wasn’t the war-torn hellhole that Lebanon was, I now recognize that a lot of the billeting and security decisions made by my battalion commander were probably lessons learned from Beirut, a defeat inflicted while my commander had been at West Point. I wonder now what he knew that I didn’t, both experientially and professionally.
When we did move into a war-torn hellhole a few weeks later, as peacekeepers in Kosovo, we hardened our buildings as much as we could against car bombs. But we still lived in significant apprehension. So it was with that mindset that I was able to read about Marine peacekeepers less than 20 years before, grappling with the hollow feeling of being watched all the time while patrolling without much of a mandate.
I learned much from this book, primarily that in my mind, I’d never differentiated between two bombs: one at an embassy, the other at a Marine barracks. I’d also failed to understand the intensity of the one-way combat the Marines had faced prior to the bombing.
This is a well-told story about a nearly forgotten event. In light of the murky, unpleasant present, it’s an important reminder about why Iran cannot seem to separate Israeli operations in Lebanon from American operations in the Strait, and about just how long the IRGC has been interested in dealing violently with American interlopers in that part of the world.
Many parts of this book reminded me uncomfortably of another thousand American soldiers billeted at an airport with high ground all around, in Pristina in 1999. I was one of those Americans, and even though Albania wasn’t the war-torn hellhole that Lebanon was, I now recognize that a lot of the billeting and security decisions made by my battalion commander were probably lessons learned from Beirut, a defeat inflicted while my commander had been at West Point. I wonder now what he knew that I didn’t, both experientially and professionally.
When we did move into a war-torn hellhole a few weeks later, as peacekeepers in Kosovo, we hardened our buildings as much as we could against car bombs. But we still lived in significant apprehension. So it was with that mindset that I was able to read about Marine peacekeepers less than 20 years before, grappling with the hollow feeling of being watched all the time while patrolling without much of a mandate.
I learned much from this book, primarily that in my mind, I’d never differentiated between two bombs: one at an embassy, the other at a Marine barracks. I’d also failed to understand the intensity of the one-way combat the Marines had faced prior to the bombing.
This is a well-told story about a nearly forgotten event. In light of the murky, unpleasant present, it’s an important reminder about why Iran cannot seem to separate Israeli operations in Lebanon from American operations in the Strait, and about just how long the IRGC has been interested in dealing violently with American interlopers in that part of the world.
December 13, 2024
Deep detailed look at the 1983 US Marines Barracks bombings in Beirut which Carr argues began the modern war on terror. He includes very well researched human stories from people on the ground up to conversations and thoughts by President Reagan. The politics, stakeholders, and chaos of Lebanon that continues to this day was evident back then, pushing us to always consider as Americans, what are we doing in the Middle East?
November 2, 2024
The book I just finished reading was a very detailed book about the bombing of the American embassy in Beirut Lebanon. It gave me a better understanding of how the Reagan administration worked to try to secure a peaceful solution in Beirut and how the bombing changed the course of the Middle East war.
November 19, 2024
Jack Carr’s research is unparalleled. His ability to tell the story without bogging it down in a mundane way, that can sometimes happen with historical writing - is true talent.
I hope he does another book like this, and continues to branch out. Would recommend this to anyone who cares to learn more of an in depth look of the attack in Beirut, our troops and the decisions made and why.
I hope he does another book like this, and continues to branch out. Would recommend this to anyone who cares to learn more of an in depth look of the attack in Beirut, our troops and the decisions made and why.
September 12, 2026
One hesitates to criticize a former Navy SEAL. Maybe I’ll just blame “Pulitzer prize finalist James M Scott” for his choices. Those choices created a book from which I learned not a lot about Lebanon’s civil war, not a lot about the geopolitics at the time, but on the other hand did have to absorb a crapload about specific Marines and the letters they wrote, and vivid moment-by-moment depictions of more than one funeral.
In fact, having slogged through 80% of this book before abandoning it, my reflection is that it is 80% blow-by-blow depictions of funerals and 20% geopolitics. I could have forgiven the reverse ratio, but overall I cannot forgive the overwhelming emphasis given to pure emotion in this work. Journalists are depicted as being voyeurs in the aftermath of the bombing of the Marine’s admin building, but this book is just more voyeurism: mining the most literate of the Marine’s letters to their families, and supplementing liberally with journalistic flair mined from public sources.
Disappointing.
In fact, having slogged through 80% of this book before abandoning it, my reflection is that it is 80% blow-by-blow depictions of funerals and 20% geopolitics. I could have forgiven the reverse ratio, but overall I cannot forgive the overwhelming emphasis given to pure emotion in this work. Journalists are depicted as being voyeurs in the aftermath of the bombing of the Marine’s admin building, but this book is just more voyeurism: mining the most literate of the Marine’s letters to their families, and supplementing liberally with journalistic flair mined from public sources.
Disappointing.
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