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MWSA Review
Author Dana Catoe in his book Inshallah provides us with a fascinating, in-depth insight into life as an American contractor in Baghdad in 2003 and 2004. The Iraqi government with our encouragement attempted to transition to a democracy after Saddam Hussein was ousted by US Forces. As the head of security for the Interim Iraqi government, Catoe had a front row seat and describes to us the dangers and difficulties that faced both Iraqi citizens and US soldiers and civilians assigned to Iraq at the time. Saddam Hussein was no longer in power, but substantial sporadic fighting was still occurring. The various Iraqi religious and political factions were still killing each other in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq. Even working for the Americans could be dangerous. Mortar rounds were routinely fired into the American Green and Red Zones and improvised explosive devices were commonplace. Author Catoe tells us like it was. This is a very interesting read.
Review by Bob Doerr (May 2025)
Author's Synopsis
Chaos and hope collide in this unforgettable book on the horrors of war, cultural tensions, and the development of a fledgling democracy during Bush-era Iraq. Authored by Interim Iraqi Head of Security Dana Catoe.
Step inside a tumultuous era of global history in this powerful memoir where Iraq’s former head of security, tells the true story of the Iraq War. As a pivotal player in Iraq’s interim democratic government from its inception in 2003 through the nation’s first free elections, Dana Catoe was tasked with protecting government officials, Iraqi employees, and civilians during a time of terror attacks and raging conflict. Catoe provides a rare, unfiltered perspective on the challenges of rebuilding a nation in the aftermath of the U.S. invasion.
Catoe draws on an extensive military background as a U.S. Marine, exposing us to the daily realities of life in the upper echelons of a provisional government—a perspective few have been privileged to experience. Beyond the halls of government, he also shares the struggles of ordinary Iraqi citizens caught in the tumult of change, terror threats, and political upheaval.
With vivid storytelling and an insider’s view on Bush-era Iraq, Inshallah: (God Willing) is a book of tremendous importance for history, offering a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes look at the successes and failures of America’s intervention in the Middle East. For fans of military memoirs, political history, and stories of human courage, or for students studying this defining era of world history, it is a can’t-miss. Both harrowing and inspiring, Catoe’s story illuminates the complexities of global conflict, the painful realities of war, and the fragile hope of democracy.
Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Number of Pages: 200
Word Count: 48,000