Bookwars

In this corner (actually, in Forbes): Bing West, author of The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq reviews In a Time of War: The Proud and Perilous Journey of West Point' Class of 2002.

In this corner Andrew Exum responds.

My advice: read both books. (But no one's arguing against that.)

So what exactly is the argument here? There are many, but I think this exchange captures a point worthy of discussion that will likely (in the immediate dustup over Nir Rosen) be overlooked.

West:

Woodward did open doors for Murphy that led to reviews the mainstream press denies warrior-journalists like Michael Yon and David Bellavia, who understand the war at the gut level.

...while we're asking questions, who appointed him the sole arbiter of those who understand "the nature of war" or understand war "at the gut level?"

One is left with the image of savage combat against untrustworthy Iraqis in a frustrating war that exacted sacrifices equivalent in scale and loss to the Greatest Generation of World War II. Yet this war is less intense by orders of magnitude than Vietnam, and Vietnam was far less intense than World War II. Although this does not mitigate the sorrow or sacrifice of each family that lost a loved one, it is helpful to the reader when a nonfiction writer lays out his frame of reference.

...he [West] went after Bill Murphy's book in Forbes, sniping -- among other things -- that the contemporary American officer corps had not sacrificed on a level equivalent to those who fought in World War II and Vietnam -- wars "more intense" than the ones currently being fought. That's not true at all. I left active duty in 2004, and I certainly didn't have to sacrifice along the lines of what my grandfather offered to the country between 1942 and 1946. But if you're an officer who has served on active duty from 2001 until the present, the odds are your service to the country to this point has indeed been on par with anything asked of officers in Vietnam or World War II. But why are we even talking about this? What an ugly thing to say in the first place. What is West hoping to achieve? "

But that brings us to what I believe is West's real point, quoted above: "the mainstream press denies warrior-journalists like Michael Yon and David Bellavia, who understand the war at the gut level" - to which Exum responds (perhaps in anger over other issues) "who appointed him the sole arbiter of those who understand "the nature of war" or understand war "at the gut level?"" But he's aiming at the wrong target. A book review - which is what West was writing, after all - is by nature an opinion piece, and represents the opinion of its author. West isn't claiming "sole arbiter" status, nor is he even limiting his approval to two authors by citing them as examples of what he means (note West's key word "like").

He's simply pointing out that books like In a Time of War get reviewed in mainstream media publications, and books like Moment of Truth in Iraq and House to House do not. Likewise, Yon and Bellavia (and West and Exum, for that matter) are warriors, and Murphy is not [correction appended - see below]. This says nothing about their ability to write, or capture an experience in writing, or to make that experience accessible to a reader - outsiders are often better at that. Few among the mass of humanity master both pen and sword - or any other tool, for that matter - hence ghostwriters earn their pay.

But West isn't really criticizing anyone's writing skills here - he's claiming that "warriors" don't have a chance of seeing their efforts reviewed - favorably or otherwise - in the mainstream press. And by extension, they are denied exposure to readers "outside the circle" who use that source as a "buyers guide."

Update: An update from Exum includes a link to a response from Murphy. There Murphy states: "I was first introduced to West's work when I was on active duty in the Army Reserve," a biographical detail I'd previously missed - so my "warrior" comment (though not meant in a negative manner in the first place) stands corrected.

Disclaimers: I reviewed Yon's book for the New York Post, a publication that may be the exception that proves West's rule. Andrew Exum has been published in the New York Times (and asked me for my thoughts on his topic prior to publication). Bing's son Owen has published an article here in the Mudville Gazette - most certainly no mainstream outlet was interested in it at the time (though like his father he is published in mainstream outlets on occasion).