{"product_id":"the-spymaster-of-baghdad","title":"The Spymaster of Baghdad","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the former \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bureau chief in Baghdad comes the gripping and heroic story of an elite, top-secret team of unlikely spies who triumphed over ISIS. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Spymaster of Baghdad\u003c\/em\u003e tells the dramatic yet intimate account of how a covert Iraqi intelligence unit called \"the Falcons\" came together against all odds to defeat ISIS. The Falcons, comprising ordinary men with little conventional espionage background, infiltrated the world's most powerful terrorist organization, ultimately turning the tide of war against the terrorist group and bringing safety to millions of Iraqis and the broader world. Centered around the relationship between two brothers, Harith al-Sudani, a rudderless college dropout who was recruited to the Falcons by his all-star younger brother Munaf, and their eponymous unit commander Abu Ali, \u003cem\u003eThe Spymaster of Baghdad\u003c\/em\u003e follows their emotional journey as Harith volunteers for the most dangerous mission imaginable. With piercing lyricism and thrilling prose, Coker's deeply-reported account interweaves heartfelt portraits of these and other unforgettable characters as they navigate the streets of war-torn Baghdad and perform heroic feats of cunning and courage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Falcons' path crosses with that of Abrar, a young, radicalized university student who, after being snubbed by the head of the Islamic State's chemical weapons program, plots her own attack. At the near-final moment, the Falcons intercept Abrar's deadly plan to poison Baghdad's drinking water and arrest her in the middle of the night--just one of many covert counterterrorism operations revealed for the first time in the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Ultimately, \u003cem\u003eThe Spymaster of Baghdad\u003c\/em\u003e is a page-turning account of wartime espionage in which ordinary people make extraordinary sacrifices for the greater good. Challenging our perceptions of terrorism and counterterrorism, war and peace, Iraq and the wider Middle East, American occupation and foreign intervention, \u003cem\u003eThe Spymaster of Baghdad\u003c\/em\u003e is a testament to the power of personal choice and individual action to change the course of history--in a time when we need such stories more than ever.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dey Street Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51944082178279,"sku":"9780062947413","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0449\/4075\/5096\/files\/imageloader_f97aa6d5-fafd-440f-b080-790f8bfdbac2.jpg?v=1775352127","url":"https:\/\/arvidabookco.com\/products\/the-spymaster-of-baghdad","provider":"Arvida Book Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}