Rhetorical Analysis in the We Meant Well By Peter Van - Book Report/Review Example

Rhetorical Analysis in the book We Meant Well By Peter Van Introduction The reconstruction campaigns by the American government in Afghanistan and Iraq have, and still continuous, to expend millions of dollars from taxpayers on meaningless projects. For instance, how can people be trained on how to manage businesses like coffee shops and cafes on open streets without electricity or water? How about establishing milk factories in the desert where the roads are impassable? How will the milk reach the market? Peter Van Buren, a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), tries to answer those questions in his book We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose, the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People. The humorous book was published in 2011 by Henry Holt and Company, in New York. The author recounts how the U.S government is using billion of dollars on projects that seemingly end up collapsing. Peter Van, an American diplomat, now aged 55, served as a veteran FSO for 23 years (Van 4). In 2009 to2010, the veteran lead two Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) from the Department of State in a nation re-building projects in the rural parts of Iraq (Van 8). The U.S government is spending millions of dollars from taxpayers on meaningless projects and seemingly benefiting only the contractors. The thesis statement, which is the subject of the discussion, is why should the U.S government spend billions of money on promoting reconciliation yet in some part of the country clean water remains unaffordable, blackouts are part of daily life, and only a quarter of the total population has proper sewage and sanitation system? The discussion in this paper vigorously defends the thesis statement. It also offers the author’s personal opinion regarding the subject of discussion whilst citing vivid examples in the book. Discussion The author centers his argument on the topic of reconstruction efforts during the building of the Iraq nation. In particular, he observes that the reconstruction team focused more on spending money on programs rather than concentrating on the results of those programs. What is more is that anyone who dared to go against the status quo was severely punished. He notes that there was no clear framework for accountability and hence a lot of cash was been embezzled. In his book, Peter Van recounts numerous cases of how money was wasted due to lack of proper accountability. Van states that there is no single time he was ever questioned by his supervisors at the U.S embassy after approving a program. However, when he cancelled a program that he deemed to be economically infeasible, he was in great trouble. Peter Van cites many cases illustrating how money was misused and wasted. For instance, it was believed that in order to avoid the resurgence of the terrorist group, al-Qaida, the solution would be to create more job opportunities to the Iraqis. In consequence, as one of the reconstruction effort, the State established a chicken processing plant. The chicken processing plant cost $2.5.It was mainly established to package and sell frozen chicken parts (Van 35). For over 5, 000 years, Iraqis had been keeping chickens for purposely for selling in the market. However, the chicken processing plant was not of any help, simply because most of the Iraqis do not own refrigerators. What is more disappointing is that the rural parts of the country lack access to reliable electricity. Ironically, there is an army video clip that promotes the poultry processing plant as a successful project. The clip shows nine Iraq citizens working in the plant while the audio talked of the plant creating 450 jobs. The sad reality is that no chickens were ever processed nor sold. Peter Van Buren only cites one incidence when the plant processed and packed the chickens. This was only when there was a visit by the journalist. As a quirk of fate, the leader in charge of the plant during these visits would purchase chickens and process them. This was only meant to conceal what was happening in the background. The project was marred by irregularities. For instance, there was a lack of coordination by the United States government, the contractor was overpaid, and the majority of the experts hired were unqualified. Most of the employees had little knowledge about operating a chicken processing plant. Indeed, this account does not only pose the reconstruction efforts as pointless, but also compels the author to participate in dreadful activities. Another vivid example that clearly illustrates how money was wasted was the project where all windows would be provided with beekeeping facilities. These facilities went on to cost the U.S government $25,000 (Van 45). However, the majority of the windows were not interested in keeping bees as it was presumably thought. They never showed the same enthusiasm as they when they were given short skirts. Actually, very few went to receive the facilities. Further, the governments spent $ 35 million on military control facilities that were never used (Van 48). The army went ahead to withdraw from the base housed the military facilities. Moreover, for unclear reasons, the State Department spent $ 19 million on projects that were never finished. The money was spent when upgrading the country’s largest prison. Sadly, the project failed when it was only a half complete. Surprisingly, projects that seemed to be successful faced countless challenges. A good example is the project initiated by the Iraqis. This is yet another topic that the authors use to centre his discussion. The Al-Zafraniyah Support Center for women, a local women group on the outskirts of the country instigated a project that provided free medical care. The reconstruction team gave out $85,000 in support of the centre. The centre had a social worker who offered counseling services to the members of the community. Also, there were two competent lawyers who helped the women obtain grants and benefits from the U.S government. Finally, there was a medical doctor who attended patients and lead workshops events. The doctor used to visit the centre twice a week. Remarkably, this project was an immediate success. In fact, within the first month, the centre had served more than one hundred women. Shockingly, the centre was closed after six months. In his book, Peter Van Buren observes that the centre was shut down simply because the centre had run of funds and the government priorities seemed to have moved into other flashier projects. Peter’s prose is characterized by humor and skepticism. For instance, when the Sheik asks for a generator in order to recognize the Americans, Van Buren responded by pretending to write a note that read “in the next invasion, please bring more generators”. This portrays peter van as someone who can do anything so as to achieve his goal. Van Buren manages to develop vivid chapters such as the chicken processing plant where readers are left posed with myriad questions. However, the narrative lacks dialogue and character. In point of fact, the only dialogue in the book is found in the chapter on the title Soldier Talk. Perhaps, he wanted to solely reveal the mischievous acts been carried out by the Reconstruction Teams in Iraq. Also, unsatisfying is his level of introspection, the subtitle itself how I helped lose mirrors some level of criticism. This is because it is not clear the exact role that Van Buren played in the projects he describes. Nonetheless, the narrative offers an opportunity to evaluate the U.S paternalism with other .countries critically. However, his skeptical tone permits him to remain detached In my own opinion, the narration in memoir We Meant Well by Peter Van evidently shows how our leaders are inept and corrupt. Personally, after reading the book I was left disillusioned and appalled but wiser. As unpalatable as it may look, it is an important book especially to the leaders. Truly, the author’s message should be factored in any ongoing discussions concerning the reconstruction efforts by PRTs in Iraq. Some may criticize the author’s message but rightly, Peter Van has called a spade a spade, something that I like about the prose. Moreover, the book has convinced me that majority of the government’s contractors are not earnestly after carrying projects, but seemingly they are after siphoning taxpayer’s money. This is a book that I urge all leaders especially the Presidents to read before they decide on invading another country. The narrative is a constant reminder that culture is created not by policy or consultation but through history. Moreover, this is a book that is worth been read by church members. The book portrays how military officers and State Department officers use mischievous ways to loot money from the public. Their sole aim is to advance their selfish goals without much caring on whether the projects succeed or not. As the case in the narrative, God requires us to be avoid been corrupt, show love and be just. We should remain steadfast in embracing righteousness whilst build a nation that embodies justice. Conclusion Finally, the book We Meant Well authored by Peter van contains valuable lessons for both civilian and military leaders. Among its many revelations, the book raises countless questions regarding the complexities of reconstruction efforts in rural parts of Iraq. Peter van is tasked with the responsibility of leading the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in the nation re-building project. Peter’s main aim is to inform readers of flaws and irregularities that marred the reconstruction efforts in Iraq. There are many rhetoric situations in the narration. As seen from the discussion, Peter Van uses numerous rhetorical tools in his memoir to point out how the U.S government is spending millions of dollars from taxpayers on meaningless projects and seemingly benefiting only the contractors. The prose is central as it inspires reflection on how to evade similar errors in the future. Works Cited Van, Buren P. We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose, the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2011. Print. Read More

The chicken processing plant cost $2.5.It was mainly established to package and sell frozen chicken parts (Van 35). For over 5, 000 years, Iraqis had been keeping chickens for purposely for selling in the market. However, the chicken processing plant was not of any help, simply because most of the Iraqis do not own refrigerators. What is more disappointing is that the rural parts of the country lack access to reliable electricity. Ironically, there is an army video clip that promotes the poultry processing plant as a successful project.

The clip shows nine Iraq citizens working in the plant while the audio talked of the plant creating 450 jobs. The sad reality is that no chickens were ever processed nor sold. Peter Van Buren only cites one incidence when the plant processed and packed the chickens. This was only when there was a visit by the journalist. As a quirk of fate, the leader in charge of the plant during these visits would purchase chickens and process them. This was only meant to conceal what was happening in the background.

The project was marred by irregularities. For instance, there was a lack of coordination by the United States government, the contractor was overpaid, and the majority of the experts hired were unqualified. Most of the employees had little knowledge about operating a chicken processing plant. Indeed, this account does not only pose the reconstruction efforts as pointless, but also compels the author to participate in dreadful activities. Another vivid example that clearly illustrates how money was wasted was the project where all windows would be provided with beekeeping facilities.

These facilities went on to cost the U.S government $25,000 (Van 45). However, the majority of the windows were not interested in keeping bees as it was presumably thought. They never showed the same enthusiasm as they when they were given short skirts. Actually, very few went to receive the facilities. Further, the governments spent $ 35 million on military control facilities that were never used (Van 48). The army went ahead to withdraw from the base housed the military facilities. Moreover, for unclear reasons, the State Department spent $ 19 million on projects that were never finished.

The money was spent when upgrading the country’s largest prison. Sadly, the project failed when it was only a half complete. Surprisingly, projects that seemed to be successful faced countless challenges. A good example is the project initiated by the Iraqis. This is yet another topic that the authors use to centre his discussion. The Al-Zafraniyah Support Center for women, a local women group on the outskirts of the country instigated a project that provided free medical care. The reconstruction team gave out $85,000 in support of the centre.

The centre had a social worker who offered counseling services to the members of the community. Also, there were two competent lawyers who helped the women obtain grants and benefits from the U.S government. Finally, there was a medical doctor who attended patients and lead workshops events. The doctor used to visit the centre twice a week. Remarkably, this project was an immediate success. In fact, within the first month, the centre had served more than one hundred women. Shockingly, the centre was closed after six months.

In his book, Peter Van Buren observes that the centre was shut down simply because the centre had run of funds and the government priorities seemed to have moved into other flashier projects. Peter’s prose is characterized by humor and skepticism. For instance, when the Sheik asks for a generator in order to recognize the Americans, Van Buren responded by pretending to write a note that read “in the next invasion, please bring more generators”. This portrays peter van as someone who can do anything so as to achieve his goal.

Van Buren manages to develop vivid chapters such as the chicken processing plant where readers are left posed with myriad questions. However, the narrative lacks dialogue and character.

Read More