What paradoxical statement does O'Brien make about war stories?

O'Brien says that war stories are both true and not true at the same time. It's a strange but thought-provoking statement.

Tim O'Brien believes war stories often reveal the complexity and trauma of war, going beyond the surface-level events.

O'Brien might write war stories to give readers a deeper understanding of the realities and impacts of war. It could also be to honor the people he knew during those times or to raise awareness about certain issues related to warfare.

Maybe O'Brien thinks that war stories often present a complex and ambiguous picture that can't be neatly classified as morally right or wrong.

Maybe it's because he has deep personal experiences and emotions related to war that he wants to express through his writing.

Maybe O'Brien thinks war is just too complex and chaotic to be neatly labeled as moral or immoral.

Tim O'Brien might write war stories to express his emotions and thoughts about war, and to give a voice to those who went through it. Also, it could be a way to document history and ensure that the lessons of war are not forgotten.

Maybe it's because those war experiences have had a profound impact on him and he wants to share them.

It could be that O'Brien sees war stories as misleading, not showing the full impact on human lives and values. That's why he insists they're immoral. Also, sometimes these stories can romanticize war, which is far from the truth.

It could be that Tim O'Brien makes up stories to entertain, to make a point, or to offer a different view of reality. Sometimes, fictional tales can have a deeper impact than plain facts.