A Fist In The Hornet'S Nest: On The Ground In Baghdad Before, During And After The War »

Engel was one of the few Western journalists, and the only American television correspondent, to stay behind in March 2003 as President Bush issued a final ultimatum to Saddam Hussein and urged foreign nationals to leave. Engel moved into the Palestine Hotel—which was soon bombed by the Americans—as the war began, focusing on the street-level stories of average Iraqis while his "embedded" colleagues concentrated on military maneuvering. The first-person account is based on both his personal journals and public interviews; he tells of bribing bureaucrats, sidestepping imprisonment, and witnessing the casualties of torture and war. Engel also assesses the future of the Gulf region and analyzes where the American campaign has succeeded and failed. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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His description of the war in Iraq is vivid, politically astute, and strikes the perfect balance between drama and reportage.