Inthespringof2004,armyreservistandpublicaffairsofficerStevenJ.AlvarezwaitedtobecalledupastheU.S.militarystormedBaghdadanddeposedSaddamHussein.ButsoonafterPresidentBush’sfamousPRstuntinwhichanaircraftcarrierdisplayedthebanner“MissionAccomplished,“thedynamicsofthewarshifted.SellingWarrecountshowtheU.S.militarylosttheinformationwarinIraqbyengagingthewrongaudiences--thatis,theWesternmedia--byignoringIraqicitizensandthewiderArabpopulation,andbypayingmerelipservicetothedirectiveto“PutanIraqifaceoneverything.“IntheabsenceofeffectivecommunicationfromtheU.S.military,theinformationvoidwasswiftlyfilledbyAlQaedaand,eventually,ISIS.Asaresult,effortstocreateandmaintainasuccessful,stablecountrywerecomplicatedandeventuallyfrustrated.AlvarezcoupleshisexperiencesasapublicaffairsofficerinIraqwithextensiveresearchoncommunicationandgovernmentrelationstoexposewhycommunicationsfailedandledtothebreakdownontheground.Arevealingglimpseintotheinnerworkingsofthemilitary’sPRmachine,wherepersonnelbecomestewardsofpresidentiallegaciesandkeepersofflawedpolicies,SellingWarprovidesacriticalreviewoftheoutdatedcommunicationstrategiesexecutedinIraq.Alvarez’scandidaccountdemonstrateshowafundamentallackofunderstandingabouthowtowageaninformationwarhasledtotheconditionswefacenow:theriseofISISandthereturnofU.S.forcestoIraq.
