Air Force intelligence officer and Middle East specialist Rick Francona was the lead field military interpreter during the Gulf War and helped write reports to Congress. He has unique insights, having befriended Iraqi officers, who are now on the other side in the peace talks. This excellent, well-written book answers questions about the US relationship with Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War. Francona tells of his experiences with the Saudi Arabians, who did not want US soldiers' waste on Saudi ground and insisted on separating donated Christian and Muslim blood. The book also includes good discussions on chemical-weapon and missile use, social changes in Saudi Arabia, Israel's place in the Arab mind and US Middle East strategy.