Islam is in the news every day, the attitudes and actions of Muslims the topic of much commentary. Muslims agree that the Qur'an - Islam's holy book - and other early writings underlie their modern-day beliefs and actions. But these important sources are very difficult for outsiders to find, read, and understand. Consider how rarely a news article or analytical essay ever quotes Islamic scripture. As a result, observers miss a critical factor as they assess current events and trends. Islam in its Own Words is meant for the interested observer, rather than the scholar. It is the product of a careful combing of the Qur'an and other authoritative Islamic works to find short passages on major topics - passages that illuminate what Islamic doctrine actually is, shorn of modern-day accusations or defenses. Islam in its Own Words is by no means an exhaustive collection of every pertinent quotation, much less a commentary on Islamic theology.
The invasion of Iraq by American, British and other coalition forces has indeed transformed the Middle East, but not as the Bush and Blair administrations had imagined. It is Iran, not Western-style democracy, that has emerged as the big winner, creating a Tehran-Baghdad axis that would have been unthinkable before the war. THE END OF IRAQ is the definitive account of the US and UK's catastrophic involvement in Iraq, as told by America's leading independent expert on the country. Peter Galbraith reveals in exquisite detail how US policies -- some going back to the Reagan administration -- have now produced a nearly independent Kurdistan in the north, an Islamic state in the south, and uncontrollable insurgency in the centre, and an incipient Sunni-Shiite civil war that has Baghdad as its central front. Iraq, Galbraith argues, cannot be reconstructed as a single state. Instead, a sensible strategy must accept that it has already broken up and focus instead on stopping an escalating civil war. Unflinching, accessible and powerful, THE END OF IRAQ explores and explains the myriad mistakes and false assumptions that have brought the country to its current pass, and what must be done to prevent further bloodshed.
This volume offers an overview of the history, politics and economics of this fascinating country it's main focus being on King Hussein's reign, his quest to modernise, his internal struggle with the Palestinians and his pursuit of peace in the area.
Bringing together both contemporary and historical just war concepts, Peter Lee shows that Blair's illusion of morality evaporated quickly and irretrievably after the 2003 Iraqinvasion because the ideas Blair relied upon were taken out of their historical context and applied in a global political system where they no longer hold sway.
Although it seems almost incredible today, the United States had relatively little interest in the Middle East before 1945. But the dynamics and outcome of World War II elevated the importance of the Middle East in the American mind, and the United States has viewed the region with vital interest to its security and economy ever since. The projection of American power into the region has had consequences that have forever changed the United States and the Middle East, with the rise of al Qaeda and the turbulent occupation of Iraq being the latest examples. Crisis and Crossfire surveys and analyzes the broad contours of U.S. involvement in the region. It probes the reasons why the United States implemented various policies and assesses the wisdom of American leaders as they accepted greater responsibilities for preserving stability and security in the Middle East. Major themes include U.S.-Middle East policy in the context of the Cold War, the rise of Arab and Iranian nationalism, decolonization, the U.S. approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the politics of Western dependence on Middle Eastern oil, and America's military interventions, particularly its two wars against Iraq. This book's concise narrative and selection of primary-source documents make it an ideal introduction to U.S.-Middle East relations for students and for anyone with an interest in understanding the history behind today's events.
In the West, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and later Saddam Husain's political survival following a punishing defeat in war have been greeted with bewilderment and incomprehension. The history of politics in Iraq and the context which has given rise to Saddam Husayn's violent Ba'thist regime have been barely understood. This highly praised book is the first to explore the emergence of modern Iraq from its foundation in 1920 into the 21st century. It covers the period from the revolution in 1958, concentrating particularly on Saddam Husayn's rise to power and his consolidation as leader. It is the only political history of modern Iraq now available to provide a critical analysis of the Ba'thist regime which has ruled since 1968. The authors also explore the role and decline of the Iraqi Communist Party, the shifting policies towards the Kurds and the Shi'is, the nationalisation of oil and Iraq's relations with its neighbours. With the extensive revision and updatings of Peter Sluglett, they provide a stimulating analysis of the country's economy, now so drastically affected by international sanctions. --------------------- Real Promo blurb As the world holds its breath while the US-Iraq confrontation approaches its denouement, here is the definitive story of Saddam Husayn, his rise to power and the historical background to his dictatorship. This highly praised book explores the emergence of modern Iraq from the revolution in 1958 and concentrating on Saddam Husayn's rise to power and his consolidation as leader. The only political history of modern Iraq now available, it provides a critical analysis of the Ba'thist regime which has ruled since 1968. It explores the decline of the Iraqi Communist Party, the shifting policies towards the Kurds and the Shi'is, and Iraq's relations with its neighbours. Extensively updated by Peter Sluglett, it provides analysis of the country's economy, now so damaged by international sanctions. `This is an excellent, reasoned, historical analysis of Iraq, lucidly written, theoretically astute, empirically based, politically firm.' Fred Halliday `A very good book indeed' Albert Hourani --------------------------------- Author aff. The late Marion Farouk-Sluglett lectured in Middle Eastern Politics at the University College of Wales. Peter Sluglett is Professor of History at the University of Utah.
A unique, unprecedented eyewitness account of the thirty most critical days of Tony Blair’s political career as Prime Minister, from 10 March 2003 to the end of the second Gulf War, written by the former editor of The Times.
The Gulf War of the early 1990's (aka Operation Desert Storm and The Mother of all Battles) had a monumental impact on much of our world. Iraq had been dragged into yet another conflict by its warmongering president, Saddam Hussein. Peter and Hazel found themselves nearer to the conflict than their family and acquaintances thought wise, living in the neighboring country of Jordan before, during and after the Gulf War. Once the dust of the war had settled, Iraqis poured into Jordan by the tens of thousands. Iraq on Their Doorstep presents a compelling account of the fears, pains, and difficult decisions faced by Iraqis, as well as Peter and Hazel's own experiences as Westerners.
Barack Obama ordinarily pretends that he’s all-black, and America ordinarily pretends to accept him as such. But in reality, he has a disingenuous conflicted racial identity. The first biracial president’s racial confusions aligned so perfectly in 2008 that Obama was elected president. It was a huge win, given that Barack Obama had no record of legislative leadership prior to becoming president. Despite this, most blacks and many whites voted for him based exclusively on who and what he said he was and what they wished him to be. Obama’s identity, however, soon came under scrutiny, and critics questioned his views after his mentor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, openly maligned white America in a widely publicized rant. The president responded to such questions by publicizing a photo of himself with his white mother, grandmother, and grandfather, further complicating the issue. Explore how Obama’s conflicted racial identity heritage aligns with the nation’s uncertain identity. By learning more about the nation’s first biracial president, you’ll discover more about the individual and group attitudes that drive America’s views on race.
‘A magnificent new book … a major historical achievement’ Peter Oborne, Middle East Eye In this eye-opening book, Peter Shambrook delves into the secret correspondence between the British High Commissioner in Egypt, Sir Henry McMahon, and the Sharif of Mecca during the First World War. McMahon promised the Sharif an independent Arab state, including Palestine, after the war, in exchange for his alliance with Britain against the Ottomans. But what happened next changed the course of history. Despite the promises made, two years later Lloyd George’s government declared that Palestine would be for the global Jewish community. Shambrook’s meticulous analysis of official records and private papers reveals the behind-the-scenes machinations that led to this betrayal of the Arabs and exposes how successive British governments blocked the publication of the Sharif and McMahon’s correspondence. Presenting compelling evidence, Shambrook debunks the myth perpetuated by Britain and pro-Zionist historians that Palestine was never part of the lands guaranteed to the Sharif. He lays bare the truth and its devastating consequences, which have reverberated throughout the decades-long conflict in the Middle East. Shockingly, no British government has launched an impartial investigation into this matter or officially acknowledged its betrayal of the Palestinian people. This definitive work is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Israel–Palestine conflict, revealing a hidden chapter of British deceit and shedding light on the ongoing tensions in the region.
Called by New York Times columnist David Brooks the "smartest and most devastating" critic of President George W. Bush's Iraq policies, Peter Galbraith was the earliest expert to describe Iraq's breakup into religious and ethnic entities, a reality now commonly accepted. The Iraq war was intended to make the United States more secure, bring democracy to the Middle East, intimidate Iran and Syria, help win the war on terror, consolidate American world leadership, and entrench the Republican Party for decades. Instead, Bush handed Iran its greatest strategic triumph in four centuries U.S. troops now fight to support an Iraqi government led by religious parties intent on creating an Iranian-style Islamic republic As part of the surge, the United States created a Sunni militia led by the same Baathists the U.S. invaded Iraq to overthrow administration gave Iran and North Korea a free pass to advance their nuclear programs Obsessed with Iraq's nonexistent WMD, the Bush administration gave Iran and North Korea a free pass to advance their nuclear programs Turkey, a key NANATO ally long considered a model pro-Western Muslim democracy, became one of the most anti-American countries in the world U.S. prestige around the world reached an all-time low Iraq: Galbraith challenges the assertion that the surge will lead to victory. By creating a Sunni army, the surge has, in fact, contributed to Iraq's breakup and set the stage for an intensified civil war between Sunnis and Shiites. If the United States wishes to escape the Iraq quagmire, it must face up to the reality that the country has broken up and cannot be put back together. Iran: Having helped Iran's allies take control in Baghdad, the Bush administration no longer has a viable military option to stop Iran's nuclear program. Galbraith discusses how a president more pragmatic than Bush might get Iran to freeze its nuclear program as part of a package deal to upgrade relations between two countries equally threatened by Sunni extremism. Turkey, Syria, and Israel: A war intended to make Israel more secure, undermine Syria's Assad regime, and strengthen ties with Turkey has had the opposite result. Nationalism: In the coming decades, other countries may follow Iraq's example in fragmenting along ethnic and religious lines. Galbraith draws on his considerable experience in Iraq and the former Yugoslavia to predict where and what the United States might do about it. The United States: George W. Bush substituted wishful thinking for strategy and as a result made America weaker. Galbraith provides some rules for a national strategy that will appeal equally to conservatives and liberals -- indeed, to anyone who believes the United States needs an effective national security strategy.
Co-authored by HRH Princess Alia, the eldest daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, and the artist and author Peter Upton,ERoyal HeritageEtells the story of the Arab horse in Jordan, from the early days of the Bedouin tribes to the 21st century, a story closely associated with the Hashemite family of Jordan, direct descendants of the Prophet. The account also tells of the Arab Revolt of 1916, in which the Emirs Ali, Abdullah, Feisal and Zeid, withET E Lawrence, drove the Ottomans out of the region, and how some of the Hashemite mares became the foundation stock of the Royal Stud in Jordan.ERoyal HeritageEcovers many other adventures including the traumatic events which nearly led to the loss of the StudOs precious mares and describes how, despite these setbacks, the Royal Stud has flourished. In 1987 Princess Alia, Director of the Royal Stud, organised the first Arab horse show to be held in Arabia entitled OThe Arab Horse at Home.O It was an event which inspired other Arab countries to organise horse shows of their own. Princess Alia includes many fascinating personal reminiscences: about the horses she holds so dear, the people involved in the Stud through the years, the famous and infamous, family and friends, heads of state and handlers. The work is richly illustrated with paintings, drawings and rare photographs from old archives and private collections, as well as up-to-date portraits of the Stud and its horses. Peter Upton gives an in-depth account of the horses themselves; the breeding, lineage and preservation of the hugely important Jordanian bloodlines. A story of legend, romance and war,ERoyal HeritageEtells with passion for the first time the remarkable saga of the Arab horse in Jordan.
To understand the cultural and political differences that endanger our world, we need to appreciate fundamental national stories. In this unique book, leading writers and scholars from twenty-eight countries give thoughtful, engaging accounts of their own nations history. The countries have been selected to represent every continent and every type of state: large and small; mature democracies and religious autocracies; states that have existed for centuries and those born recently, making up two-thirds of the worlds population. Peter Furtado is the former editor of the internationally renowned magazine 'History Today'. Note: The ebook edition includes the complete text of the printed book with a reduced number of illustrations.
Aimed at the young adult audience it discusses the major events which led to the Gulf War and the consequences for the future. Offers material not only on Iraq but on Israel plus other Gulf and Arab Nations. Quotes from political scientists, historians, journalists and eyewitnesses can be found throughout the text, which attempts to clarify some of the key events that pushed the U.S. into a violent conflict with Iraq. Includes timelines, black and white photographs, and charts.
U.S. foreign relations in the Middle East has remained crucial through many decades and the complications facing the United States in the Middle East have become even more acute. While the United States downgraded its military operations in Iraq, that country failed to achieve a stable, democratic footing and instead experienced schism and civil strife. Israeli-Palestinian disputes over land, the status of refugees, and control of Jerusalem intensified, and international conflicts between Arab states and Israel escalated for the first time since the 1980s. The Arab Spring protest movements of 2011 and after ignited political turmoil across the region, leading to revolutionary change in several states and triggering persistent unrest and violence in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. During the recent decade, in short, the Middle East has become the most unstable, dangerous, and complicated region of the world and the United States remains near the center of the maelstrom. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of United States-Middle East Relations contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on national leaders, non-governmental organizations, policy initiatives, and armed conflicts, as well as entries on such topics as intelligence, immigration, and weapons of mass destruction. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the US and Middle East Relations.
A New York Times Top 10 Best Book of the Year A Washington Post Notable Book Theirs was the most captivating American political partnership since Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger: a bold and untested president and his seasoned, relentless vice president. Confronted by one crisis after another, they struggled to protect the country, remake the world, and define their own relationship along the way. The real story of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney is far more fascinating than the familiar suspicion that Cheney was the power behind the throne. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with key players, and thousands of pages of private notes, memos, and other internal documents, Baker paints a riveting portrait of a partnership that evolved dramatically over time, during an era marked by devastating terror attacks, the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, and financial collapse. Peter Baker has produced a monumental and definitive work that ranks with the best of presidential histories.
A shattering journey of revelation, pain, and betrayal, Mission Rejected takes the reader deep into the turmoil of U.S. troops confronting the Iraq War.
The most lucid, comprehensive, intelligent and reliable account of post-war modern history on the market. Teaching Politics The book compels admiration for its thoroughness, its scope, the masterly ordering of its immense material. The Sunday Times The ninth edition of this enormously successful standard work has been expanded to take into account the developments of the last 10 years, including the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sudan; the accelerating emergence of India and China as major powers; the major political developments in Latin America, including the rise and perhaps fall of Chavez in Venezuela; the march of globalisation and the popular protest movements against; the expansion eastwards of the European Union; instability in the Middle East and the question of oil and energy supply. Marked throughout by Calvocoressis characteristic erudition and elegance, World Politics since 1945 is essential reading for those who need to understand the great sweeps of contemporary history
The book finds that the most important consideration for the public is the expectation of success. If the public believes that a mission will succeed, the public will support it even if the costs are high. When the public does not expect the mission to succeed, even small costs will cause the withdrawal of support. Providing a wealth of new evidence about American attitudes toward military conflict, Paying the Human Costs of War offers insights into a controversial, timely, and ongoing national discussion.
Covering criminal justice history on a cross-national basis, this book surveys criminal justice in Western civilization and American life chronologically from ancient times to the present. It is an introduction to the historical problems of crime, law enforcement and penology, set against the background of major historical events and movements. Integrating criminal justice history into the scope of European, British, French and American history, this text provides the opportunity for comparisons of crime and punishment over boundaries of national histories. The text now concludes with a chapter that addresses terrorism and homeland security.
Well-considered answers to the many questions raised by the situation in Iraq, past and present, are rare. This first comprehensive, thematically organised, bibliography devoted to Iraq is based on the full Index Islamicus database and is drawn from a wide variety of European-language journals and books. Featuring an extensive introduction to the subject and its literature by Peter Sluglett, this bibliography will help readers to find their way through the massive secondary literature now available. Following the pattern established by the Index Islamicus, both journal articles and book publications are included, as well as important internet resources. The editors have taken care to add much new material to bring its coverage up to date, and supplement the previously published volumes, while the most important and/or influential publications are conveniently highlighted in the introduction. An indispensable gateway for all those with a more than superficial interest in what is, and what has been, happening in this nation so much the focus of attention today.
Hoffer traces history's complicated partnership with its coordinate disciplines of religion, philosophy, the social sciences, literature, biography, policy studies, and law. As in ancient days, when Clio was preeminent among the other eight muses, so today, the author argues that history can and should claim pride of place in the study of past human action and thought.
Although it seems almost incredible today, the United States had relatively little interest in the Middle East before 1945. But the dynamics and outcome of World War II elevated the importance of the Middle East in the American mind, and the United States has viewed the region with vital interest to its security and economy ever since. The projection of American power into the region has had consequences that have forever changed the United States and the Middle East, with the rise of al Qaeda and the turbulent occupation of Iraq being the latest examples. Crisis and Crossfire surveys and analyzes the broad contours of U.S. involvement in the region. It probes the reasons why the United States implemented various policies and assesses the wisdom of American leaders as they accepted greater responsibilities for preserving stability and security in the Middle East. Major themes include U.S.-Middle East policy in the context of the Cold War, the rise of Arab and Iranian nationalism, decolonization, the U.S. approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the politics of Western dependence on Middle Eastern oil, and America's military interventions, particularly its two wars against Iraq. This book's concise narrative and selection of primary-source documents make it an ideal introduction to U.S.-Middle East relations for students and for anyone with an interest in understanding the history behind today's events.
This volume offers an overview of the history, politics and economics of this fascinating country it's main focus being on King Hussein's reign, his quest to modernise, his internal struggle with the Palestinians and his pursuit of peace in the area.
Following on from Custom Maid Spin, Peter de Krassel turns his unique international perspective and controversial pen onto the business of war. In the course of reviewing the conflicts of the 20th century and today, he argues that to end, or at least minimize, the cycle of 21st century violence humanity is inflicting on itself, America must lead the peaceful charge for change. To do so Americans need to learn and understand the reasons for war and how future wars can be stopped. War is no the answer to hunger, oil, territorial expansion, ethnic cleansing or the survival of America. On the contrary it is its escalating destructive downfall. He points to China's re-emergence as a global power as America's greatest challenge - and one that must be resolved peacefully. America must keep in mind the warning by the Greek historian Thucydides, more than 2,000 years ago, that belief in the inevitability of conflict can become one of its main causes. In other words, America cannot afford to become a victim of its own political spin " Peter de Krassel's treatment on war reads like a journalistic account of Heart of Darkness. We are like Marlow, journeying down a political river, with each chapter forcing us to shed another layer of ignorance in order to acquire new insight. But this work also brings with it a sense of hope, for we the people are capable of molding our own destiny, as long as we have the wisdom and courage to change things." Brandon Royal, Author, The Little Red Writing Book "An anecdotal and passionate polemic on modern history. An unabashed racy weltanschauung that would not sit well on a White House shelf."Stuart Wolfendale, Columnist, The Standard Peter deKrassel was born in England of a Russian father and Palestinian Jewish mother. He has lived all over the world, including Switzerland, Israel and the United States. Currently he lives in Hong Kong. He has a unique perspective on world events both from the influences of the places he's lived in and the people he has met, as well as from his varied career in the law and the media.
If our homes are an extension of our personalities then the interiors in Dictators' Homes provide evidence to substantiate the theory that these men and women were the world's most terrifying rulers. Featuring rare, jaw-dropping photographs of interiors that are now mostly (thankfully) destroyed, Peter York places each lair in its historical context leaving no tiger pelt unturned. From Saddam Hussein's private artwork and General Noriega's Christmas tree to the alarming tube and knob contraption in Ceausescu's en-suite bathroom no design detail is unexamined. The worlds' most famous Dictators are here. From Mussolini and Mobutu via Idi Amin, Lenin and Tito this book ensures that Dictators' crimes against good taste will no longer go unpunished.
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