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Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States
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Product Description
In this era of superheated rhetoric and vitriolic exchanges between the leaders of Iran and Israel, the threat of nuclear violence looms. But the real roots of the enmity between the two nations mystify Washington policymakers, and no promising pathways to peace have emerged. This book traces the shifting relations among Israel, Iran, and the United States from 1948 to the present, uncovering for the first time the details of secret alliances, treacherous acts, and unsavory political maneuverings that have undermined Middle Eastern stability and disrupted U.S. foreign policy initiatives in the region.
Trita Parsi, a U.S. foreign policy expert with more than a decade of experience, is the only writer who has had access to senior American, Iranian, and Israeli decision makers. He dissects the complicated triangular relations of their countries, arguing that America’s hope for stability in Iraq and for peace in Israel is futile without a correct understanding of the Israeli-Iranian rivalry.
Parsi’s behind-the-scenes revelations about Middle East events will surprise even the most knowledgeable readers: Iran’s prime minister asks Israel to assassinate Khomeini, Israel reaches out to Saddam Hussein after the Gulf War, the United States foils Iran’s plan to withdraw support from Hamas and Hezbollah, and more. This book not only revises our understanding of the Middle East’s recent past, it also spells out a course for the future. In today’s belligerent world, few topics, if any, could be more important.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #77594 in Books
- Published on: 2007-10-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 384 pages
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This is an important piece of work. It is original and fills a much needed gap in the literature. For anyone working in this field it would be essential."-Gary Sick, Columbia University (Gary Sick )
"This book is outstanding and important."-Nikki Keddie, author of Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution (Nikki Keddie )
"In Treacherous Alliance, Trita Parsi makes a persuasive case that since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has consistently used ideology to achieve hardheaded national interest objectives, rather than sacrifice national interest on the altar of extremist ideological goals. This is an extremely important point to bear in mind as Iran''s relations with US and Israel deteriorate and the prospect of yet another Persian Gulf conflict looms. This work, based on extensive interviews with decision makers in three countries, contributes both to our historical understanding and our current policy debate."-Francis Fukuyama, author of America at the Crossroads (Francis Fukuyama )
"A penetrating, provocative, and very timely study that deciphers how U.S. policy in the Middle East has been manipulated both by Iran and by Israel even as relations between these two oscillated between secret collusion and overt collision."- The Honorable Zbigniew Brzezinski, former US National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter (The Honorable Zbigniew Brzezinski )
"A brilliant interpretation of one of today's most enigmatic conflicts. In a sober and original analysis, Dr. Parsi unearths the true nature of the tension in the triangle Iran-Israel-USA as a manipulation by all parties-especially the Israelis and the Iranians-of ideological differences to conceal what can be a solvable strategic dispute. This is a study about the manipulation of ideology and religion in the struggle for mastery in the Middle East."-Shlomo Ben-Ami, Israel's former foreign minister and author of Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: The Israeli-Arab Tragedy (Shlomo Ben-Ami )
"Trita Parsi has written an outstanding book, filled with fascinating detail and trenchant analysis. Treacherous Alliance discusses Iran and Israel in dispassionate and smart ways, which is rarely done in the United States."-John Mearsheimer, University of Chicago (John Mearsheimer )
About the Author
Trita Parsi is president, National Iranian American Council, and adjunct professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University SAIS (School of Advanced International Studies). He writes frequently about the Middle East and has appeared on BBC World News, PBS News Hour, CNN, and other news programs.
Customer Reviews
Excellent, objective, and very timely book
I'm sure some will criticize and dismiss this book, mainly because it does a very fair and objective job of laying out both the positive and negative outcomes of American, Iranian and Israeli actions and decisions.
If you are either in the camp that believes the US and Israel are doing God's work in fighting those evil Muslim terrorists and can therefore do no wrong, you won't like this book. Conversely, if you think Israel is the root of all evil, you won't like this book either.
This book is DEFINITELY a must read if you have an open mind and want to better understand the dynamics of the struggle for dominance in the Middle East.
One of the best books available on modern Middle Eastern politics
In what is possibly the most heavily researched and referenced book I've ever read, Trita Parsi has written the diplomatic history of the volatile triangle formed by Israel, Iran, and the U.S. Parsi interviewed a large number of officials from all three countries and in doing so, provides a remarkably detailed account of how these countries worked with and against each other at times from the beginnings of the Cold War, all the way to present day.
At a time when the Middle East seems so volatile, reading Parsi's account shows just how close stability and security actually are. The main theme of the book would have to be that despite what most people would assume from casually observing events, ideology has very little to do with the Israeli-Iranian dispute. Strategic and geopolitical forces are what drive both countries and that as events change, Tel Aviv and Tehran constantly reassess their position via the other. Parsi describes how even immediately after the Iranian revolution, high levels of cooperation between the two countries persisted. Also apparent from Parsi's research is that there is a remarkable amount of consistency in Iran's foreign policy, regardless of the regime. Iran wants to play an important role in the region and is willing to cooperate, but when it's excluded by the U.S. and Israel, it lashes out. The best example of this is Iran's willingness to help the U.S. after 9/11 in Afghanistan, and also its offer in 2003 of a grand compromise with the U.S.
I've read quite a few books on the Middle East over the past several years, many of them phenomenal, but I think I have to place Parsi's book at the top of my list. It is easily the most informed, intelligent, and well-written books about the Middle East I've ever read. I'd be surprised if another book comes along to knock Treacherous Alliance out of the top spot. I always buy books faster than I read them, and I always enjoy looking through my shelves to pick out the book I'll read next, but I would actually take the time to read this book again though, and there are very few books in that category. I make it a point to get through as many books as possible, but this one's worth a second read. I can only hope that Parsi writes more books in the future and that they are widely read. Considering the controversial nature of the subject matter, Parsi remains incredibly detached throughout. At no point does this book come across as polemical, or having an axe to grind, which is also very refreshing.
Amazing!
This book is essential reading for anyone and everyone. Trita Parsi has done an amazing job of researching and tying together the relationship between Iran, Israel, and the United States. You may think you understand the situation or know the background behind the relationships of these countries...but until you read this book, you don't.
