Imperial Life in the Emerald City
Inside Iraq’s Green Zone
Book • 2009
Imperial Life in the Emerald City is a firsthand account of life inside Baghdad's Green Zone, the walled-off compound where Paul Bremer and the Coalition Provisional Authority attempted to rebuild Iraq following the 2003 invasion.
The book details how American officials and contractors, isolated within this luxurious enclave, pursued ideologically-driven policies disconnected from Iraq's actual needs—such as flat taxes and microchip protections—while neglecting critical infrastructure like electricity and medical supplies.
Through vivid anecdotes and on-the-ground reporting, Chandrasekaran chronicles the mismanagement, incompetence, and cultural disconnect that characterized the early occupation and contributed to the growing insurgency.
The book details how American officials and contractors, isolated within this luxurious enclave, pursued ideologically-driven policies disconnected from Iraq's actual needs—such as flat taxes and microchip protections—while neglecting critical infrastructure like electricity and medical supplies.
Through vivid anecdotes and on-the-ground reporting, Chandrasekaran chronicles the mismanagement, incompetence, and cultural disconnect that characterized the early occupation and contributed to the growing insurgency.
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