Of course “Forever War” is a derivation of Dexter Filkins’ 2008 account of the Afghan war, The Forever War, a book I coincidently read last week for the first time. Dexter served as a war correspondent for The New York Times during the Afghan war. By simply recounting his daily experiences in country, he makes the most compelling case possible for why the battle for hearts and minds could never be won by coalition forces. 

Perhaps the origin for Filkins’ book title is the novel, The Forever War, first published in 1974 by Vietnam veteran Joe Haldeman. Described as belonging to the genre of “military sci-fi,” it won both Hugo and Nebula awards.  This will be my next book after finishing the latest issue of PAW.

William P. Watson ’77
Durham, N.C.