The Friends We Left Behind
George Packer has remained one of the best chroniclers of the war in Iraq since the U.S. invasion four years ago. In last week's New Yorker, he demonstrates the depth of his reporting skills with "Betrayed." It tells the story of the Iraqis who stepped forward to serve as translators, drivers and other helpers for the Western journalists, officials and consultants who flocked to their country after Saddam Hussein's downfall. With sharp details and powerful quotes, he shows us how these Iraqi allies have often been abandoned to the terror of their country's bitter fighting. Through their plight, we see how the whole situation in Iraq has soured. Full disclosure: I knew Packer years ago when we played softball together. His writing has always been impressive, and it keeps getting better. www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/26/070326fa_fact_packer/