America Entangled: The Persian Gulf Crisis and Its Consequences [Paperback]

Ted Galen Carpenter (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 117 pages
• Publisher: Cato Inst (May 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932790852
• ISBN-13: 978-0932790859
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,333,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Americans Entangled by Their Own Stupidity, December 11, 2009

By 

James E. Egolf "James E. Egolf, MA" (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: America Entangled: The Persian Gulf Crisis and Its Consequences (Paperback)

This anthology titled AMERICAN ENTANGLED is a useful anthology in explaining the current disasters incubating in Western Asia. Those who wrote the essays provided a clear view of the stupidity of U.S. policy makers in "assessing" events in Western Asia and the Middle East. The complete lack of understanding is almost beyond belief. Such lack of knowledge on part of U.S. "experts" has led to dire consequences which the essay writers portray.

The begining essays in this book dealt with the historical background in Western Asia. What is totally ignored now is the massive aid the U.S. gave to Saddam Hussein and the Iraqis from 1963 to 1991. As an interesing aside, readers should view the video titled THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES which detailed the immense support that the CIA gave to Hussein. Another topic covered in the early sections of the book dealt with the fact that U.S. military forces fought FOR Hussein between 1987-1988. In fact, U.S. military authorities used satellite technology to assist Hussein's forces with logistial intelligence. What is now amusing is the media, in defference to their corportate paymasters, will not mention one word of any of this. Pres. Bush I and his advisors had so much contempt for U.S. citizens that when the First Gulf War started, these politcal incompetents referred to U.S. citizens as resources rather than individuals

The essays re oil dealt with possible economic consequences re disruption of oil supplies. Threats to the U.S. ecconomy were bogus. The First Gulf War was supposed to reduce gasoline and oil costs. Yet the price for gasoline increased in spite of rosy predictions of oil/gasoline price reductions. To let readers know how false this prediction was, one only has to look at current gasoline prices and the very high jobless rate now plagueing Americans. Pres. Bush II and his advisers argued that with the elimination Saddem Hussein, oil prices would be reduced to about $20 a barrel-fameous last works. The predictions of the "neocons" have proven to so false as to be laughable if not so tragic.

Essays dealing with constitutional issues were informative. Pres. Bush I stated he needed no congressional approval and that he could use U.S. military power unilatrallly. Sadly, few members of the U.S. House and Senate did not object at all to these claims of dictorial power. Also very few U.S. citizens had any qualms about the President acting as dictator. What was worse is that Pres. Bush II & co. threatened dissenters with indefinate detention and torture anyone who insisted on Constitutional Law and civil liberties granted by the Bill of Rights.

The essays that dealt with events in Iran coincide with events in Iraq. These essays also revealed the stupidity of U.S. presidents and advisors. For example, Pres. Carter said events in Iran such as the overthrow of Mossadeagh in 1953 were "ancient history." This stupid remark showed exactly what was/is wrong with U.S. policy makers. They know nothing and are proud to be stupid. As an aside this was just as stupid as the remarks by Pres. Bush II & co. when told of serious religious differences between Sunni and Shi'ite Moslems. Bush II & co. stated that they did not there were Shi'ites and Sunnis and they thought they were all Moslems They were so stupid that they did not know that Shia' Sunnis are different sectarian groups within Islam. They are both Moslems,and their religious differences have serious politcal overtones. Readers should know that Mossadeagh was opposed to Big Communism, persectuted domestic communists, and got Soviet forces to leave Iran after W.W. II. Yet his overthrow was based on the false premise that he was a Communist due to his demand that Western oil executives pay more for oil.

Some of the essays included the French, British, Japanese, and German interests in Western Asia. Political complaints that these authorities have not contributed more fall flat. The French, German, etc. authorities would contribute more if they could advise on policy decisions. Yet, U.S.policy advisors have told them that the U.S. will take their troops and support but no "outside" influence. U.S. policy makers might know more if they listened to such advice. They sure could use it.

One criticism of this book is that more historical background could have been offered. However, the book serves as a good guide to the disasters that incubate in Western Asia which will probably get worse. Readers who want a "quick guide" to the complex problems of Western Asia and the Middle East should read this book.

James E. Egolf
December 11, 2009

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shooting down the excuses for the Gulf War, August 3, 2001

By 

Ross Nordeen (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: America Entangled: The Persian Gulf Crisis and Its Consequences (Paperback)

Ten years after its publication, this slim volume stands up to the test of time. The essays, all written prior to the beginning of the Gulf War, soberly examine the rationales and likely outcomes of the then unfought conflict. Then-president Bush's "New World Order", the use of threats to the oil market as a rationale for the war, and long term problems in the mid-east are all critically dissected and little justification is found for military intervention.

Possibly the most interesting part of the book is the essays on the oil supply. A pro-war administration and its pundit allies in the press predicted sky high prices if America didn't strike against "naked aggression." An excellent case is made in "A War for Oil?" that no such thing would have occurred and the fact that oil prices have continued to decline over the past ten years, even with the restricted output and other disruptions in the oil supply, helps put the lie to such wild claims.

This book is an essential addition to the library of anyone interested in critiques of America's foreign policy and especially to those who are concerned with the tendency of the U.S. to intervene militarily abroad.