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War Stories #1
War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom
The mainstream media are trying to discredit our victory in Iraq by saying there was no reason to take out Saddam. But Oliver North knows better. He was there. Embedded with Marine and Army units for FOX News Channel during Operation Iraqi Freedom, North (himself a decorated combat veteran) vividly tells the story his camera gave us glimpses of during the campaign to liberate Iraq. This updated edition features a new chapter detailing the events after the end of major hostilities—including the capture of Saddam Hussein—and brand-new action photos straight from the front line.
332 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 17, 2025
Lt Col North really knows how to put you in the arena with the action. An excellent read, with a DVD, on Iraqi Freedom. His experience in the military and politics gives him a unique perspective on the war. Oliver gained his first-hand information working as an embedded war correspondent with CNN.
January 1, 2024
This book has not aged well, but it is an interesting product of its time. It was written when Fox News was more of a news agency (albeit with a slant); Sean Hannity was balanced by Allan Colmes; Tony Snow was still alive; and Snow and Brit Hume were still voices of reason on the network. Of course this was also published before it became clear that the U.S. could not find Saddam Hussein’s nuclear materials or other WMDs. It was published before the long Iraq insurgency did incredible damage to our military. Then there’s the clouded and controversial past of the author, who faced serious charges over his role in the Iran-Contra scandal (though he was later cleared).
Why, then, did I give the book four stars?
Regardless of his past or his employer, I believe North’s intentions were honorable here. As a retired Marine who served in Vietnam (a fact he reminds the reader of often), he speaks the grunts’ language and does his best to convey their perspective of the second Gulf War. This was a welcome contrast to the “talking heads” (retired generals) who were prognosticating doom and gloom for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Again, the book didn’t age well, because the quagmire those talking heads warned about did come to pass, but not until after Saddam’s army was destroyed as a national fighting force. The fedayeen and foreign fighters North dismisses as being minor players during major combat operations we are still fighting 20 years later.
So, again, why four stars?
Because in army-vs.-army operations, the United States Marines and Army did accomplish their mission in rapid, definitive fashion. That deserved to be recognized. It wasn’t their fault that lack of foresight by the political class did not prepare them for what would happen after that terrific success. I’d be curious to read North’s reporting on the time since OIF.
Why, then, did I give the book four stars?
Regardless of his past or his employer, I believe North’s intentions were honorable here. As a retired Marine who served in Vietnam (a fact he reminds the reader of often), he speaks the grunts’ language and does his best to convey their perspective of the second Gulf War. This was a welcome contrast to the “talking heads” (retired generals) who were prognosticating doom and gloom for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Again, the book didn’t age well, because the quagmire those talking heads warned about did come to pass, but not until after Saddam’s army was destroyed as a national fighting force. The fedayeen and foreign fighters North dismisses as being minor players during major combat operations we are still fighting 20 years later.
So, again, why four stars?
Because in army-vs.-army operations, the United States Marines and Army did accomplish their mission in rapid, definitive fashion. That deserved to be recognized. It wasn’t their fault that lack of foresight by the political class did not prepare them for what would happen after that terrific success. I’d be curious to read North’s reporting on the time since OIF.
October 20, 2020
I got this book for a road trip that my husband and I went on. He got tired of the story so I ended up finishing it on my own. (He's not into books as much as I am) I give this a two star because it's not my cup of tea. I liked the story lone survivor but that is the point of view of the solider. I feel I will have the sawm views of war stories II, but I checked out the book from the library so I have to read it. That's just how I feel, I have to finish.
March 13, 2009
Ollie North; the former Marine who Marines love because he tells their story directly without embellishment; a technique more authors could do well to emulate. This was a book about what went on in the part of the war he covered while with Fox News. Told from first person, the usual tragedies, humor and "fog of war" details are delivered in coherent fashion. I won't go into much more other than to say he did a great job in providing some much-needed "other side of the story" from what the MSM provides; positive news on what our combat warriors endure, and why they do it. If you want to learn something, take time to read it with an open mind. We're gonna have to deal with other Saddams and poor national political leaders until the end of time...
possible-purchase
September 15, 2008Yesterday at work I met a WWII, Korean and Vietnam War Vet. He flew in all three conflicts and recommended this series to me. I'm passing on the recommendation to all my fellow former military friends. These look incredible!
And "yes" this is the same Olie North of the Iran-Contra Affair from the Reagan era!
And "yes" this is the same Olie North of the Iran-Contra Affair from the Reagan era!
August 2, 2025
Written in journal entry form, the embedded journalists gave me a first-hand account of life on the battlefield. Having lived through Operation Iraqi Freedom, I can definitely tell you the vast majority of coverage by other news networks were not favorable and almost completely erroneous. Not Fox News! They reported accurately and in a very timely fashion. While reading the book, I was having a hard time with all the military abbreviations until I found an index of them at the back of the book. Keep a bookmark back there while you read. There are other books in this series, and I will definitely read them. This book is very well worth the time to read. Please do!
December 11, 2025
If you received the DVD with the book… my advice is Read the book First, THEN watch the DVD, as it is a shortened version. Fox News cut out a lot of North’s dialogue!
October 8, 2009
The reporting North does about the events he directly witnesses as an embedded reporter during the invasion of Iraq or witnessed by soldiers he directly interviewed is pretty good, and this would be great if that were the entirety of the book. But a lot of material is just repeated rumors and speculation of his own or the soldiers around him - there is some historical value to keeping track of the latter, but it's incredibly lazy to not bother to find out what the facts were while putting the book together.
That gossip is minor compared with wasting probably a good quarter of the book with commentary about what he is saw on television or read in a paper, or even what he heard second-hand of what had been reported elsewhere. In every instance of this preoccupation he construes all criticism of the war or the then-president as criticism of U.S. armed service members.
In Charlie Wilson's War there were several mentions of Oliver North's initiatives involving the CIA Afghanistan war, and my reading was that he was simple and naive. In this book there is this shining gem of mental deficiency: North tells us that if critics were correct that the Iraq invasion was about oil, why didn't the U.S. 'keep' Kuwait and its oil after driving Iraq out of it in the Gulf War?
That gossip is minor compared with wasting probably a good quarter of the book with commentary about what he is saw on television or read in a paper, or even what he heard second-hand of what had been reported elsewhere. In every instance of this preoccupation he construes all criticism of the war or the then-president as criticism of U.S. armed service members.
In Charlie Wilson's War there were several mentions of Oliver North's initiatives involving the CIA Afghanistan war, and my reading was that he was simple and naive. In this book there is this shining gem of mental deficiency: North tells us that if critics were correct that the Iraq invasion was about oil, why didn't the U.S. 'keep' Kuwait and its oil after driving Iraq out of it in the Gulf War?
March 23, 2014
14% army and 6% marines could not be fought without fairer sex, better educated than any prior, take or save life, hero defined by how live, WV most serving per capita and Byrd hypocrisy, gone so far so fast with so few casualties, courage compassion commitment, less minority, leaflets to surrender avoid gas attacks, French weapons, British and American, eat drink sleep pray, 38 days air vs 2 first, get to oil fields avoid environmental damage, letters to NOK worst, 95% boredom and 5% stark terror is war, prowess precise humanity of troops to care for civilians and Iraqis, small unit leaders, media make-up stories on food water ammo, 1/3 Marines, found large number chemical suits and masks, waving cheering people and hungry Bush celebrated, as liberators not invaders, a hero for the way he lived, Imam requests to eliminate foreign Fedayeen, you can run you can’t hide Reagan, trashy 78 room palaces, 7kmx5km ammo warehouse, 37/55 dead targets $100M cash sons, media snatch defeat from jaws of victory, cynic from worst motives no objectivity, uso Newton Dinero, UN all about power, mass graves 1998inspectors 1200Kurdish towns RepGuard killed mujahideen 250KKurds and 250KShiites, Saudis called for help, desert storm 148 and 353 total.
December 30, 2014
I have read quite a few books on Iraq and Afghanistan. Oliver North was and imbedded reporter for the Fox News Network. There is some of his reporting I thought was pretty good. My big issue with this book was you would have thought the FOX News Network wrote it. He mentions the network close to at least once on each page of the book and sometimes multiple times. I have definitely read much better books on the wars. I expected it to be a much better book since Oliver North is a retired Colonel.
March 14, 2009
This book is a collection of mostly "situation reports" Oliver North makes as a FOX News reporter as he travels with the troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He spends most of his time covering the news in Iraq.
I believe Mr.North very likely to be a Christian, so I find it interesting to hear about the war from his perspective and point of view.
I thought this book was very informative and often, although not always, interesting.
I recommend age 16+
I believe Mr.North very likely to be a Christian, so I find it interesting to hear about the war from his perspective and point of view.
I thought this book was very informative and often, although not always, interesting.
I recommend age 16+
June 1, 2009
I enjoyed this book about North's time as an embedded reporter for Fox News with the Marines and the Army during the first few weeks of the Iraq War. Rather than tell the story of the war from a global perspective, it consisted of vignettes of the actions of ground pounders in the war. It's patriotic without being jingoistic (IMHO).
August 20, 2013
I'd give this 2.5 stars if that was an option. I did the audio version of this book on a road trip. It was interesting and passed the miles well but the book was as much editorial as memoir or war story. Still it was interesting to revisit the events of the first Gulf War with the benefit of a little distance and get North's perspective on that whole thing.
August 28, 2008
I am a love current events this book is just what I've been looking for it's so well done I feel like I'm there in the middle of what's going on great listen,and he even mentions a Lutenet Cournal his name is Steve Hummer that was kind of neat that's my name:)
May 4, 2025
Oliver North compiles stories of Soldiers and Marines from the early days of the second Iraq War. I viewed it as having too strong of a pro-war slant though really I think North just sought to bring good credit to the efforts of the US military.
June 4, 2015
I really enjoyed reading about the invasion of Iraq from Oliver Norths point of view. I usally don't read these types of books but gave this one a try. I especially liked the history at the end and enjoyed watching the DVD that comes with it.
May 4, 2009
I have his autograph in this book!
December 31, 2009
I got to meet Ollie! What can I say? Oooh RAH!
October 17, 2011
Lots of great pictures and up front and personal reflections from Oliver North's time in Iraq and Afghanistan
June 14, 2015
I liked being able to read accounts from someone who was part of the story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews