I RECENTLY READ A BOOK ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR THAT REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME. IT'S CALLED "THE GOOD SOLDIERS" AND ITS WRITTEN BY DAVID FINKEL.  DAVID WAS EMBEDED WITH ONE FIGHTING UNIT FOR MONTHS, GATHERING MATERIAL FOR THE BOOK.  IT TELLS ABOUT THE MONTHS AFTER THE "SURGE" WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE PRESIDENT, THE FRIGHTENING RIDES IN THE HUMVEES, THE HIDDEN EXPLOSIVES THAT WOUNDED AND KILLED AND THE AFTERMATH IN THE MILITARY HOSPITALS.  THE AUTHOR GIVES GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF INJURIES, AND THE EFFECTS OF THE TROOP PRESENCE ON THE NATIVE POPULATION.  IF YOU ARE SHOCKED BY LANGUAGE, YOU WILL NOT LIKE THE BOOK, BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT OUR INFANTRYMEN ENDURE IN THE MID-EAST WAR.