The Spymaster of Baghdad: The Untold Story of the Elite Intelligence Cell that Turned the Tide against ISIS
by Margaret Coker
“From ancient Mesopotamia to modern times, military commanders and political leaders have praised the stealth, patience and guile of spy craft when used in defense of their homelands and to achieve military victories.”
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The Spymaster of Baghdad is the fascinating story of an elite Iraqi intelligence unit–the Falcons, led by a man called Abu Ali al-Basri—who managed to infiltrate ISIS and collect vital information, particularly in tracking down Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019. Margaret Coker is an American reporter—her time in the Middle East included a stint as New York Times Baghdad bureau chief from 2017 to 2018—and she tells the story of two families in particular beautifully.
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