Chandrasekaran Visit

As I mentioned in class, attending the speech by Rajiv Chandrasekaran at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, counts toward your Professional Practices credit. I think this could end up being one of the best events on campus this year. He's an engaging speaker, and his book blew me away. Some clickables:
1. Rajiv's appearance on The Daily Show (wherein Jon Stewart butchers his last name)
2. His appearance with Keith Olbermann (who got the name right)
3. His Web site on the book and his background
4. His book for sale on Amazon
"Imperial Life in the Emerald City" is easily one of the five best books I've read in the last five years. I recommend it as one point on a triangle of reading. It does an excellent job covering policy and the botched effort to rebuild Iraq. To get a view of the war's effect on everyday Iraqis, read Anthony Shadid's outstanding "Night Draws Near." And finally, I'm newly into Tom Ricks' "Fiasco," which provides excellent coverage from the military perspective. Read together, the three give you a well-rounded view of what is aptly called the key story of this generation.