Understanding Iraq’s collapse

Memoir: The Unravelling: High Hopes and Missed Opportunities in Iraq. By Emma Sky. Atlantic Books, €25.25. Reviewed by Andrew Lynch

Emma Sky (second from left): a compelling eyewitness of US and British mishandling of Iraq. Picture: US Military
Emma Sky (second from left): a compelling eyewitness of US and British mishandling of Iraq. Picture: US Military

Emma Sky can pinpoint the precise moment when she realised that America’s political leaders would never fully understand Iraq. It took place shortly after the 2010 general election, which left prime minister Nouri al-Maliki short of a majority but clinging to power thanks to support from Washington. As chief adviser to the US’s top military commander, Sky ...