Ok, bored of talking to myself, so I'll end here. Feel free to post final reviews, including as many spoilers as you like.
My final review:
I wanted to like this book, but somehow it never quite clicked.
The two-by-four parallels to modern times almost never let up, and it was more irritating than enlightening. Yes, yes, I get it. War never changes, American soldiers are just like ancient Greek soldiers, etc. Could've been a lot more subtle. I mean, embedded reporters, really?
The other issue was that I never really connected with any of the characters. It always felt like there must be something to them, I just wasn't seeing it. Too many of the potentially powerful scenes were in narrative summary rather than in-the-moment action. Sucked out most of the impact.
The ending was inevitable, after what had happened through the rest of the book, but still managed to be affecting. People never change, really.
War is hell.