Generation’s End: A Personal Memoir of American Power After 9/11

As we approach the ten-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we have a chance to see more lucidly how they were a turning point in America’s relationship with the world. America became more assertive abroad; its authority and legitimacy as the only superpower became more widely opposed; and the limitations of the Americandominated post-World War II international structures became clearer with each passing year.The first half of Generation’s End examines the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks through the invasion of Iraq in 2003. As the foreign affairs op-ed editor for the New York Times during this period, Scott L. Malcomson witnessed the newspaper’s struggles to deal with the threats to its city and to American security. He captures the confusion and bravery of those times with disarming honesty while also providing insight into the shaping of American (and New York Times ) policy.The latter half takes Malcomson to Geneva, where in early 2003 he became senior adviser to the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello. When Vieira de Mello was selected as the UN’s special representative for Iraq, Malcomson counseled him closely, writing strategy memos, speeches, and opeds (including politically sensitive material revealed here for the first time). This gripping memoir is a valuable resource for anyone seeking a more complete understanding of the lasting significance of 9/11 for all Americans.