Episode Overview

Author: Anthony Swofford
Book Title: "Jarhead"
Original Broadcast Date: May 5, 2003

Ex- US Marine Anthony Swofford writes about his love-hate relationship with the military in his book Jarhead. "Jarhead" describes that high and tight shaved hair-cut worn by members of the US Marine Corps. As someone who served in the last war against Iraq, Anthony Swofford understands the blood lust and the fear and exhilaration of being a trained killer in the American military. But he's also someone who is a loner and reads Camus and the Iliad. He has existential angst. And there's not a lot of room for that in the US military.

Jarhead is an exploration of the violent culture of the US Marines and the extreme comradeship and loyalty that goes with it.
From his perspective as a US Marine vet who served in Desert Storm in 1991 Anthony Swofford questions the legitimacy of the most recent war against Iraq. In his conversation with Evan Solomon he admits he has mixed feelings about war. Swofford says, "If I had a son who died (in the latest war in Iraq) I don't think I'd feel that he died for something of real value. I don't think the evidence is there yet that this has done something that's made America safer."