Targeted: Beirut

The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror

By: Jack Carr, James M. Scott

Narrated by: Ray Porter

A Marine Corps Commandant’s Professional Reading List Selection

The first in a new “authoritative, shocking” (Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author) nonfiction series examining the devastating terrorist attacks that changed the course of history from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott, beginning with the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut.

1983: the United States Marine Corps experiences its greatest single-day loss of life since the Battle of Iwo Jima when a truck packed with explosives crashes into their headquarters and barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. This horrifying terrorist attack, which killed 241 servicemen, continues to influence US foreign policy and haunts the Marine Corps to this day.

Now, the full story is revealed as never before by Jack Carr and historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott with this “definitive, behind-the-scenes account of a mission and a fight that changed America” (Doug Stanton, #1 New York Times bestselling author). Based on comprehensive interviews with survivors, extensive military records, as well as personal letters, diaries, and photographs, this is “a masterwork of research and storytelling” (Peter Schweizer, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

Neglected History Brought to Life

A book long overdue about a story woefully ignored. Beirut in 1983 was the site of some of the most egregious terrorist attacks on the United States and the chief blemish on Ronald Reagan's political career. Most conservatives, of which I am one, regard Reagan as one of our greatest Presidents. However, I can not shake the lack of a proper response to the Marine Barracks Bombing coming to the forefront when I think of him. Jack Carr and James M. Scott do an outstanding job bringing this history to life, telling the story of a watershed moment that changed the direction of modern warfare where asymmetry is now the norm. The impending sense of dread keeps building throughout the book, with the humanization of the people and families affected making it all so poignant. Ray Porter is terrific as usual in his narration of the audiobook. Highly recommend.

Utterly Fantastic!

Jack Carr is an amazingly talented author. I would not have believed that this story could have been so riveting. Well done Jack!

So relevant to today’s events

Should be required reading for today’s current situation, seems like the bad characters hang around forever.

Great Historical Coverage

I felt the authors did great covering the 1983 Marine Corps Suicide Bombing from the viewpoint of the leaders down to the War fighters on the ground. Kudos and well worth listening to.

Bad decisions by bad leadership

I was born in 1977. I have a small memory of this terrible tragedy.even though I consider myself as someone who knows military history. But alas I knew nothing about this. And it speaks volumes about what’s going on now 40 some years later.. this was an amazing account of what happened. May we never forget..