US-Mideast relations since WWI

July 22, 2005 10:26 PM

Inspired by Ken Livingstone's remarks here, I would like to read a good historical account of US-Mideast relations from WWI to the present; a good comprehensive primer which covers the various US-backed dictators, oil relationships, arms deals, elections and so forth. Of the books you've read on this topic, what's the best, most sober & objective book covering the last century of US-Mideast relations?
posted by highsignal to Human Relations (15 answers total)

The best book I've read on this subject is The Clash of Fundamentalisms, by Tariq Ali. It is available from the publisher or from Amazon. Ali is a Pakistani author and historian who is fiercely critical of US imperialism around the globe, and he adds in some personal anecdotes as well, so it's perhaps a bit subjective. It covers more than just the 20th century, and also talks about South Asia, but it is an excellent book overall, and as a bonus it has an excellent picture of Bush on the cover wearing a turban and with a long mullah beard.
posted by number9dream at 10:57 PM on July 22, 2005

Here's a link that you may find interesting.
posted by sic at 4:32 AM on July 23, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks guys.

Part of the reason I want a good book on the subject is to loan it to my mother afterward -- my mom is pro-war and, regarding 9/11, believes the "chickens coming home to roost" explanation is total fantasy. I don't think she's ever really delved into the finer points of US-Mideast relations in the 20th century, and for that matter, I could use a brush-up.

I'm not looking for a fiercely critical book with funny pics of Bush, though. I'm looking for something very credible, very sober and very undeniably factual so that if I lended it to them, a pro-war person might open their eyes a bit. My mother (and me too, actually) is put off by anything of the Michael Moore variety, so I'm really looking for a source which is simultaneously academic but clearly illustrates how US-Mideast relations deteriorated for almost a century, climaxing with Sept 11th & The War on Terror. If you are familiar with Juan Cole, his knowledgable, intricate and sober (most of the time) approach is what I'm thinking of.

(I'm printing out that foreign policy report, sic - thanks)
posted by highsignal at 7:52 AM on July 23, 2005

highsignal, perhaps I did a poor job of describing Ali's book. What I meant by 'fiercely critical' is that he really highlights the contradictions between the stated intentions and actual policy of the US government in its actions in the Middle East.

I think it is also a really good book for those who are uninformed because it talks a bit about the history and structure of the Middle Eastern countries, so you wind up knowing something about the way these nations got to be the way they are. That was what I liked most about it, that it doesn't portray Islamic societies as monolithic, and it gives a really good sense of the different traditions of thought within Islam.

The book is definitely not in the Michael Moore tradition; the Bush picture I mentioned is also meant to highlight the rising religious fundamentalism in the US and how that affects US-Mideast relations. It is well-researched and referenced, although not to the level of, say, Noam Chomsky's writings. Even if you don't lend it to your mom, it's definitely worth a read for yourself.

You may find the following link useful also. I haven't read all of it, but it seems like a bit more objective type of thing.

Hope this is helpful.
posted by number9dream at 9:47 AM on July 23, 2005

Not as broad as the topic you asked about, but I just finished Ghost Wars: The Secret History of The CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden by Steve Coll. It gives good chapter histories of the origins of the current political states of the Middle East and Near East. The author writes with an excellent grasp of the morality of all players in this political struggle.
posted by rabbitsnake at 9:57 AM on July 23, 2005

Well, if you're really looking for a "very credible, very sober" source I suggest you not rely exclusively on Tariq Ali. He's the sort of observer who writes for Counterpunch and equates Fallujah with Guernica.

Now if you're fine with that, then have at him. But I'm thinking your mom's politics and mine are pretty close, and the minute you quoted Tariq Ali I'd file you as just another hard left twit, and wouldn't care much what you had to say about anything (your mom's probably more forgiving.)

Now I'll guess number9 will hold me and my suggestion of Daniel Yergin's The Prize (A history of the oil industry, so central to the modern history of the Mideast) in similar high regard. So my answer is really that you not look for a single source, but read a number of titles, one hopes with a open mind. not just to confirm a "chickens coming home..." theory.
posted by mojohand at 10:00 AM on July 23, 2005

Response by poster: I promise this is no disrespect to number9dream, but what mojohand just said about Tariq Ali is pretty much what I'd always gleaned about him, and certainly the editor of the New Left Review—smart as he may be—will probably not be the one my mom trusts as an objective source ;)

More suggestions of books like Coll's & Yergin's are definitely appreciated. I realize it's a tall order to ask for something sober & factual, yet condemning at the same time, but it's in line with what I believe, and when I'm done with vacation and done reading the book, I'd love to pass it to my mother who can actually be a pretty open minded recipient of information, assuming the author is not terribly vain or partisan.

Sorry I'm not a little better at framing this request for reading suggestions....
posted by highsignal at 10:14 AM on July 23, 2005

the minute you quoted Tariq Ali I'd file you as just another hard left twit, and wouldn't care much what you had to say about anything

...one hopes with a open mind

Pretty open-minded of you, mojohand.

That said, I wouldn't characterize Ali's writing as 'sober' in that he brings his own sense of morality into the book, but I would argue that Yergin does so as well. As does any writer, really; Ali is just a little more open about it.

If you could enlighten me as to why you think Tariq Ali isn't credible, I'd like that.
posted by number9dream at 11:36 AM on July 23, 2005

I second mojohand's "The Prize" sugestion. It's as sober and factual as it gets. Don't try to get a book that "condemns" because it'll be immediatly tossed out by pro-war people, as mojohand aptly pointed out.
The Prize is an eye-opening read, by any account.

number9dream:The original poster is looking for "the best, most sober & objective book covering the last century of US-Mideast relations" for his pro-war mom who probably is wary of left-leaning intellectuals. Your suggestion didn't correspond to the poster's request, mojohand pointed that out and the original poster agreed. Any further discussion is derailment, I'm afraid.
posted by ruelle at 12:16 PM on July 23, 2005

I'd add A Peace To End All Peace by David Fromkin, explaining why the Middle East ended up the way it did after the Great War. It focuses more on Anglo-French diplomacy up to 1922, but explains the American role very well.
posted by holgate at 3:33 PM on July 23, 2005

A History of the Modern Middle East, William L. Cleveland is a thorough survey from the time of Muhammad to the late nineties with just a bit about 9/11. The first 150 pages are pre-Ottoman, the last 300 are WWI and on.

What's really good about this book is that it covers everything -- all the stuff you listed and consequences of actions and the unintended consquences. For instance, how the first Gulf War led to the Madrid peace talks.

To really understand why and how the West got involved in the ME you need to know what was going on in the ME. This book will do that for you. If you find a book that just covers US-ME relations it would have a huge blind spot.
posted by raaka at 12:53 AM on July 24, 2005

Future: Tense, by Gwynne Dyer doesn't exactly meet your requirements, but I found it to be a very interesting book on the subject.

Gave me a better understanding of what's motivating the neo-cons and the radical islamists.
posted by Could it be, El Guapo ... at 5:28 AM on July 24, 2005

I found William Polk's The Arab World Today to be quite even-handed. The Cleveland book looks interesting, too.

Note that prior to World War II, the US wasn't heavily involved in the Middle East -- it was more Britain and France. And the relationships and conflicts within the region are as important, and complicated, as the relationships between the region and the US; e.g. the conflicts between revolutionary regimes like Nasser's Egypt and monarchical regimes like Saudi Arabia, and of course the conflict between Israel and the Arab states (here Polk provides an excellent overview).
posted by russilwvong at 10:50 AM on July 25, 2005

For a right-leaning/libertarian take - which uses much of the same evidence as Tariq Ali to reach a number of similar conclusions about the history of U.S. intervention in the region - try the Cato Institute's "Ancient History": U.S. Conduct in the Middle East Since World War II and the Folly Of Intervention, originally published in 1991. I'd also second Yergin's "The Prize," although I've only read sections.
posted by mediareport at 4:17 PM on July 25, 2005

Oh, you might also find it useful to point out to your mother this line from Condi Rice's recent speech at the American University of Cairo:

"For 60 years, my country, the United States, pursued stability at the expense of democracy in the region. And we achieved neither. Now we are taking a different course. We are supporting the democratic aspirations of the people."

The last two sentences are arguable, of course, given the obvious roles in the Iraq invasion of natural resources and strategic military bases, but the first two are a pretty remarkable acknowledgement from the current administration of how things have really been working over there. Funny how noting the obvious aobut U.S. Mideast policy apparently no longer counts as "America-hating."
posted by mediareport at 4:24 PM on July 25, 2005