The Forever War

My birthday is coming up, and I feel bad asking for what will undoubtedly be a depressing book, but I want it. I want Dexter Filkins’ “The Forever War.”

You  can read his first chapter here.

I met Dexter before he went to Iraq. He was working temporarily in the Washington bureau of the New York Times. It’s entirely possible that his time there was spent preparing for Baghdad. I set up a desk for him; made sure he could access his e-mail; answered his questions about the workings of the office; helped him with the fax machine.

I remember him as kind, attractive, smart. Some reporters reach the big time and don’t have time to talk to the clerks. Dexter had time for us. I hoped he’d come back more often.

Dexter Filkins (NYT photo)

I pay attention to bylines and datelines. Bylines are at the top of the newspaper stories, they say who wrote it. Datelines tell you where they reported from. Datelines tell me where people I know are working these days. I kept seeing Dexter’s byline atop stories datelined BAGHDAD — …

The Iraq datelines have gone on for years. I worried about his safety and wondered if he’d ever come back. I never got to know him that well when I was at the NYT, find out if he had a family. Who missed him? He was doing great work, but who missed him? I know someone had to, more than just me.

I look at the pictures accompanying press for the book, and I barely recognize him. He talks about how Iraq has changed him and he can’t have conversations – about anything – with people who haven’t been. I want to read his book to empathize. To keep him in my prayers, and learn the names of Iraqis to keep in my prayers, as well.

A Q&A is here.

An adaptation is here.

You can purchase it here.