Kanan Makiya, Bagdhad-born professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Brandeis University, and the author of The Rope: A Novel (Pantheon, 2016), wrote an (anonymous) critique of the Iraqi regime which encouraged American neocons to invade Iraq. In his new novel he explores the devastation in Iraq during the U.S. occupation.

"I dared to hope, Brian," Makiya said about his optimism leading into the war about the prospects of bringing peace and democracy to Iraq.

"The odds were against success...but my heart and my political hope and my aspiration said otherwise. And I was wrong."

→ Hear more: Makiya will be in conversation with Lawrence Weschler at the NYU Journalism building tonight at 6:00pm. Click here for more details.