Alliance Against Babylon: The US, Israel and Iraq [Hardcover]

John Cooley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2005

New controversial look at the US-Israel connection by the bestselling author of Unholy Wars Explores the roots of Israel's longstanding enmity with Iraq and its role in last year's war Cooley is a major world authority on the Middle East Life sales of Unholy Wars total over 26,000 copies The ruins of ancient Babylon still stand in Iraq. They are a reminder that today's conflict is only one of many that have engulfed the country, and the wider Middle East, over the centuries. John Cooley, a former correspondent for ABC News and the Christian Science Monitor, argues that America's new invasion and occupation of Iraq marks a turning point in the West's relationship with the Arab world, and alters the balance of power within the Middle East. He argues that the crucial factor in this new development is the relationship between Israel and the United States. Examining today's problems from this unique perspective, Cooley covers a broad sweep of history, from biblical Babylonian times until now. He shows how US and Israeli interests in the Middle East were contradictory at first. He explains how and why the US-Israel alliance gradually evolved. Drawing from unpublished sources, as well as from John Cooley's personal encounters with principal players such as David ben-Gurion, the Shah of Iran, Anwar al-Sadat, King Hussein of Jordan and Saddam Hussein himself, this book gives a uniquely valuable perspective on the complex history of Iraq and why it continues to be at the heart of world affairs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"John Cooley's understanding of the Middle East is almost second to none." John Pilger -- z

'A major contribution... [This book has] a depth and a vitality that will captivate many people.' -- Ray Close, former CIA Station Chief in Saudi Arabia

'A masterpiece.' Edward W. Said -- Praise for John Cooley's previous book, Unholy Wars:

'Cooley has been right so often he has few equals. ... This book is typically Cooley: much needed and brilliant.' -- John Pilger

'The Iraq war is unintelligible without the history John Cooley's brave new book provides.' -- Brady Kiesling, former US Diplomat in various Arab capitals who resigned in protest against George W. Bush's middle east policy

About the Author

John K. Cooley is a correspondent for ABC News and has written widely on the Middle East and North Africa. In 1996 he received the coveted George Polk Memorial Award from Long Island University for a 'distinguished career achievement in international reportage' for more than 40 years of reporting and living in the Middle East and North Africa. He is the author of five other books on the Middle East, including Payback: America's Long War in the Middle East (1991) and Libyan Sandstorm: Qaddafi's Revolution (1981).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press; 1St Edition edition (January 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745322824
• ISBN-13: 978-0745322827
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,524,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading, August 29, 2007

By 

Mazin B. Qumsiyeh "Mazin Qumsiyeh" (Connecticut and Palestine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alliance Against Babylon: The US, Israel and Iraq (Hardcover)

Cooley was a staff correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor and ABC News and has written widely on the issues (including six other books on the Middle East). Drawing on published and much unpublished works (including his own personal interaction with people like Ben Gurion), he focuses on Iraq as how it was/is impacted by Israel and the US. It is a concise description of the tragic history of ancient Babylon and modern Iraq in the context of meddling and/or occupation by outside powers (from the Ottomans to Britain to Israel and the US). It describes for example, the Zionist manipulation of Iraqi Jews to force them to flee their country. It describes how the CIA "gave Saddam a leg up" (Chapter 6). The detailed discussion of the history goes through the periods of the Iran-Iraq war when the US continued to back Saddam but also made dealings with Iran to keep them killing each other), o the period of the Kuwait episode (some call it gulf war I), Sanctions, and then the latest war on Ira that is still ongoing. The last chapter its titled "Endgame: Iraq democratized or dismembered?" and it deals with a range of issues from the neoconservative (Zionist) cabal in action to dismember Iraq with the help of Israeli intelligence and military support, the sharing of weapons and training, Abu Ghreib nightmare, Israel relationship with Turkey and Kurdish areas, and the alliances that are being built at the expense of native people in Iraq and Palestine.