In war, there is no easy victory. When forces invaded Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime, most expected an easy victory. Instead, the gamble we took proved to be a serious mistake, and its effects continue to impact the lives of millions, in Iraq and in the West. With the distance we are gaining from these events, it can be argued that many of the problems we face today – the rise of the Islamic State, intensified Islamic terrorism, increased violence in the Middle East, mass migration – can be traced back to the decision to invade Iraq.

In the book "The Iraq War," award-winning documentary maker James Bluemel collects testimonies from people who lived through the horrors of the invasion and whose actions were shaped by such extreme conditions. It covers all sides of the conflict – Iraqi workers' families watching their country explode into civil war, soldiers and journalists in the field, American families facing the grief of losing their son or daughter, parents of a suicide bomber trying to comprehend the unthinkable events – to create the most detailed and multi-dimensional portrait of the war in Iraq to date. James Bluemel's book accompanies a major BBC series and serves as an essential chronicle of a conflict that continues to shape our world, and as a shocking reminder of the consequences of our past decisions.