When describing the incompetence of the Iraqis, Finkel chooses to cite the barrage of questions that occur in the mind of a typical soldier. For example, when the Iraqi security forces allow an EFP to explode that was clearly within their range of vision, Finkel rhetorically lists the queries likely to pop into a troop's mind: "Did they know the EFP [explosive formed penetrator] was there but not say anything because they were in partnership [with the insurgent]? Were they merely incompetent? Did they ever come running to help? No. Not ever. Not even once" (Finkel 85). Finkel's use of military terms like EFP (rather than simply say 'explosive' like a civilian might) shows his attempt to enter into the bitter, sarcastic mentality of a soldier. Instead of merely reporting that the Iraqis did nothing meaningful to protect their country, even though they were ostensibly being taught to do so by the American military, he enters into the mind, sentence by sentence, of a troop on the ground, and shows the thinking process of an American soldier. After the list of questions that imply that there is no way that the Iraqis could not have known about the EFP -- and if they did know, they were so incompetent as not to be worth saving -- they are also shown to be without pity and consideration for the dying American troops who are supposedly helping them. In the eyes of the American soldiers, the Iraqis are unsympathetic, even though the U.S. is supposedly on an officially humanitarian mission, now that is clear that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

'Making the world safe for democracy'...

However, Americans are clearly embroiled in a country with ancient, tribal rivalries that even American leaders do not fully understand. The Iraqis and the Americans may have the tools of modern warfare, but so do their enemies. Of one Iraqi National Police battalion leader under American control: "He was a Sunni and most of his soldiers were Shiite, and for all he knew they were the ones sending him the text messages," prophesying his immanent demise (Finkel 85). The fact that death threats between ancient religious factions are now sent via text message is bitter testimony to the fact that while some things in the Middle East may change, other things stay the same.
Finkel's use of irony occasionally provokes mirthless chuckles in the reader, as he demonstrates the incompetence of both the Iraqi military and American intelligence. But ultimately, the author's use of irony conjures up a sense of sadness and pity in the heart of the reader for the good soldiers of the title who must risk their lives. The soldiers see the irony of their mission and its contradictions. Finkel takes the reader into the combatant's eyes and minds and forces him or her to see the world as a soldier. The troops are dedicated to their mission, but they also feel that it is doomed in many ways. "I like this president" says Kauzlarich, watching George Bush, as he eats dinner -- as ordinary soldiers bitterly mourn the loss of the lives of their friends (Finkel 105).

Works Cited

Finkel, David. The Good Soldiers. New York:…