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Midnight in Samarra

The True Story of WMD, Greed, and High Crimes in Iraq
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Midnight in Samarra recounts the true story of Gregory Ford, an intelligence agent and medic in Iraq who faced betrayal by his own command after exposing abuse, torture, and hidden American-made Weapons of Mass Destruction during the 2003 invasion. Ford's warnings about anti-American sentiment and critical intelligence about Saddam Hussein's whereabouts were suppressed, leading to his forced removal under dangerous conditions, including unlawful drugging and abduction. Years later, Ford fights for justice against a backdrop of military deception, highlighting one man’s courage amid institutional corruption.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is suited to readers interested in military memoirs, whistleblower stories, and uncovering hidden truths within government and armed forces operations. It appeals to those seeking a gripping, real-life account of courage and injustice during the Iraq War.

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The riveting, exclusive true story of an Iraq whistleblower who continues to be betrayed by his country.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The riveting, exclusive true story of an Iraq whistleblower who continues to be betrayed by his country, as told by an international bestselling author.

Gregory Ford, an intelligence agent and medic, was in Iraq for only a short time—from the invasion in March 2003 until early June of the same year, when he was strapped to a stretcher, drugged, and "renditioned" out of Iraq in a clandestine and criminal operation at the behest of his command, who were frantically trying to silence him. But why?

Midnight in Samarra is the shocking true story of one soldier's attempt to speak up and report the abuse and torture he saw being inflicted on the local population, as well as secret, incriminating, enormous Iraqi arms stores of American-made Weapons of Mass Destruction with bills of lading implicating, among others, famous political families. His warnings about simmering anti-American fury of the local populace were ignored and suppressed by his command; hundreds of millions of dollars in cash seized in the home of Saddam Hussein's main banker as a result of Ford's intelligence work vanished without a trace. Ford's information about Hussein's location, which could have led to the dictator's apprehension six months before his actual capture, was also ignored and suppressed.

As Ford was filing charges against his superior officers, they seized his weapons (illegal in a war zone), tried to declare him insane, abducted him by force, restrained him, administered a dangerous mind-altering drug during a Medevac flight, and tried to interrogate him while he was under.

Years later, Gregory Ford is still trying to get justice. His command—and high-ups in both the military and the government—lied, dissembled, obfuscated, danced, and dodged while Ford endured libel, slander, and innuendo, feared for his life, and, nearly a decade after the drugging on the plane, learned that the chemical injected into him had done permanent damage to his heart and nervous system. Midnight in Samarra is the story of one man's courage and conviction, and the horrifying truths of one of our most trusted and honoured institutions.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Janis Karpinski, former Brigadier General, praises the book as a painful yet powerful testament to one soldier's determination to tell the truth despite severe opposition from corrupt leadership willing to commit felonies to silence him. The story reveals the extent to which commanders will go to cover up failures. Karpinski emphasises Ford's resilience and commitment in exposing these intentional crimes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781510740204

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 08 October 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Sky Pony Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 408g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Frank Gregory Ford, part Native American, part Scots, has traveled the world, from Siberia to Sikkim to South America, has worked jobs ranging from presidential security under Nixon during Watergate to assistant medical examiner in Dade County. Now retired, he lives in California and seeks justice for the powerless.

Eleanor Cooney is the author of the international bestselling T'ang Trilogy, as well as the critically-acclaimed memoir Death in Slow Motion. Her work has appeared in Mother Jones and Harper's. She lives in Mendocino, California.

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