Deschutes Public Library

The spymaster of Baghdad, a true story of bravery, family, and patriotism in the battle against ISIS, Margaret Coker

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-296) and index

contains biographical information

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The spymaster of Baghdad

bibliography

Margaret Coker

a true story of bravery, family, and patriotism in the battle against ISIS

"From the former New York Times bureau chief in Baghdad comes the gripping and heroic story of an elite, top-secret team of unlikely spies who triumphed over ISIS"--, Provided by publisherFrom the former New York Times Bureau Chief in Baghdad comes the gripping and heroic story of an elite, top-secret team of unlikely spies who helped Iraq triumph over ISIS. In the early years of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, with extremist violence raging in Baghdad, one Iraqi spymaster{u2019}s intelligence unit emerged as a crucial player in the U.S. efforts to quell terrorism. Composed of ordinary Iraqis with little conventional espionage experience, the Falcons broke Al Qaeda{u2019}s grip on their country only to be faced with its more ruthless successor: the Islamic State. These elite Iraqi spies secretly infiltrated the ranks of the world{u2019}s most powerful terrorist group, saving countless lives in Iraq and the broader world. Centered on the Falcons{u2019} spymaster, Abu Ali al-Basri, and the relationship between to brothers in his unit, The Spymaster of Baghdad is the dramatic yet intimate account of the unit{u2019}s exploits, which until now have been ignored or absent from official U.S. chronicles about Iraq. Harith al-Sudani is a rudderless college dropout when his all-star younger brother Munaf recruits him to join the Falcons. Munaf{u2019}s talent for covert intelligence-gathering initially drew the spymaster{u2019}s attention, yet it is Harith who volunteers for the most dangerous undercover mission imaginable: walking into the lion{u2019}s den to live among the terrorists. Meanwhile, Abrar al-Kubaisi, a middle-class chemistry student, gets radicalized online after her sister is killed at an American military checkpoint, and leaves Baghdad to join the Islamic State. When snubbed by the group{u2019}s chemical weapons program, she plots her own attack to poison Baghdad{u2019}s drinking water before the Falcons can stoop her. Margaret Coker{u2019}s deeply reported account follows the emotional journey and moral struggles of these unforgettable characters, interweaving lyrical, heartfelt family portraits with gritty tales of spy craft and feats of cunning, courage, and betrayal. A page-turning account of wartime espionage in which ordinary citizens make extraordinary sacrifices. The Spymaster of Baghdad challenges our perceptions of terrorism and counterterrorism; Iraq and the wider Middle East; American occupation and foreign intervention. With narratives of Iraq often centered on American sins and suffering, The Spymaster of Baghdad illuminates the essential role Iraqis played in rebuilding their country after 2003, serving as a testament to the power of personal choice and individual action to change the course of history

True story of bravery, family, and patriotism in the battle against ISIS