I saw America snatch defeat from victory in Iraq

I saw America snatch defeat from victory in Iraq
Cheered on by jubilant locals, US soldiers toppled a statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. (Image: AP)
Bloomberg
By Bobby Ghosh Twenty years ago this week, I watched the start of the US-led invasion of Iraq on TV in a hotel room in Amman, Jordan, wondering whether it was good or bad luck that I was not in Baghdad to experience the so-called “shock and awe” bombing campaign. I had been forced to leave only a few days before, as the government of Saddam Hussein had begun selectively evicting foreign journalists.  The Ministry of Information wanted to reduce the number of unruly cats it would have to herd when hostilities broke out...

More The Life

Surf and turf: Te Ākau Roa serves the best
The Life Review

Surf and turf: Te Ākau Roa serves the best

Get in before the crowds of summer arrive.

Helen van Berkel 21 Sep 2025
My Net Worth: Alex Vranyac-Wheeler, Master Electricians CEO
Editor's Picks

My Net Worth: Alex Vranyac-Wheeler, Master Electricians CEO

"My parents taught me that grit and resilience can't be taught."

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Civic Theatre
The Life Review

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Civic Theatre

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is outrageous, heartfelt and impossible to ignore.

Dalaine Krige 21 Sep 2025
MG QS AWD Essence: big car, small money
The Life Review

MG QS AWD Essence: big car, small money

The QS is an imposing vehicle for the money MG asks for it.