Chas W. Freeman is one of America's most distinguished diplomatists. In a government career spanning three decades, he negotiated on behalf of the United States with over 100 foreign governments. In America's Misadventures, Freeman presents two dozen of his essays on the Middle East, all of them trenchant and many of them previously unpublished. The essays span the period from 1990-when as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Freeman helped plan and implement the massive, U.S.-led effort to liberate Kuwait from occupation by Saddam Hussein's Iraq-through 2010, by which time he had developed many thoughtful and well-informed criticisms of the policies Washington had pursued toward the region throughout the past two decades. The book includes considerable new material on Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, much valuable information about the structure and politics of Saudi Arabia, and many trenchant essays in which Freeman applies his smart and wide-ranging "Realist" form of analysis both to defining America's national interests in the Middle East and describing the often sad, confused, or counter-productive way in which it has sought to pursue them.
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About the Author
Since 1995, Chas W. Freeman, Jr., has chaired Projects International, Inc., a Washington-based firm that helps American and foreign clients to arrange business transactions internationally. Previously, during a distinguished government career spanning three decades, he negotiated on behalf of the United States with over 100 foreign governments in East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and both Western and Eastern Europe. In 2006, he was a member of the Iraq Study Group. Freeman hit the headlines in the early weeks of the Obama administration when Director of National Intelligence Adm. Dennis C. Blair named him Chair of the National Intelligence Council, citing his "diverse background in defense, diplomacy and intelligence." News of his impending appointment met a firestorm of criticism from numerous strongly pro-Israeli commentators, who lambasted Freeman for the view he had often expressed that the U.S. needed to maintain an even-handed stance between Israel and the Arab countries. In early March 2009, Freeman withdrew his name from consideration for the position and issued a statement, laying the blame for the campaign against him on a network of pro-Israel activists. As Ambassador to Saudi Arabia during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990-91), Freeman led an effort that more than doubled non-military exports to the Kingdom while managing the largest diplomatic mission in the world under the conditions of that crisis. His long involvement with China began with his service as the principal American interpreter during President Nixon's historic 1972 visit to Beijing. In addition to Chinese, Freeman speaks French and Spanish at the professional level, and can carry on conversations in Arabic and several other languages. His final position in government was Assistant Secretary of Defense, responsible for managing defense relations with all regions of the world except the countries of the former Soviet Union. He has received numerous high honors and awards for international negotiation and policy and management innovation.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Splendid, graceful, and important book by one of America's finest minds
October 20, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
American Misadventure's is simply a terrific book.
It's all an eye-opener and vitally important. Freeman renders places, and policy puzzles with wit and lyric competence. In some case, as well, it is a delicious "I told you so."
Ambassador Freeman ceaselessly warned of pitfalls and disasters in the making. Most of his admonitions went unheeded.
The first essay in American Misadventure is from Ambassador Freeman's time as American's senior envoy to Saudi Arabia at the time of the first Gulf War is as novel as it is indispensable. There is no other serious source of what really happened in terms of managing the odd coalition that carried the day in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In fact, diplomacy was critical to one of the most decisive victories since Agincourt. [The fruits of the victory were not really well harvested. Not that Ambassador Freeman didn't try to alert an administration appeared to suffer from a kind of policy attention deficit disorder.]
There is no keener observer of current affairs than Ambassador Freeman. His learning is massive and his observations are lasting, graciously rendered, and are certain to be mandatory reading for military, and diplomatic professionals-- and, as well, it is a remarkably useful for anybody who wants to know of America and the Arab world or the world from one of the best diplomats America has ever had.
It's all an eye-opener and vitally important. Freeman renders places, and policy puzzles with wit and lyric competence. In some case, as well, it is a delicious "I told you so."
Ambassador Freeman ceaselessly warned of pitfalls and disasters in the making. Most of his admonitions went unheeded.
The first essay in American Misadventure is from Ambassador Freeman's time as American's senior envoy to Saudi Arabia at the time of the first Gulf War is as novel as it is indispensable. There is no other serious source of what really happened in terms of managing the odd coalition that carried the day in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In fact, diplomacy was critical to one of the most decisive victories since Agincourt. [The fruits of the victory were not really well harvested. Not that Ambassador Freeman didn't try to alert an administration appeared to suffer from a kind of policy attention deficit disorder.]
There is no keener observer of current affairs than Ambassador Freeman. His learning is massive and his observations are lasting, graciously rendered, and are certain to be mandatory reading for military, and diplomatic professionals-- and, as well, it is a remarkably useful for anybody who wants to know of America and the Arab world or the world from one of the best diplomats America has ever had.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Former Ambassador Chas W. Freeman is, so far as I know, one of the few Americans with a real open mind to assess what is going on in the world. Mr Freeman could observe the Kuwait war (1990-1991) on the spot. His background, and his work as a diplomat, gives strong credence to his messages. At center is Mr Freeman's clear understanding of the importance and implications of the U.S./Israel connection, making U.S. impossible as an honest broker between Israel and the Palestinians. Moreover, Mr Freeman asserts, as long as the Israel/Palestine problem remains unsolved, no peace is possible in the area, and that is why recruiting of ever more new soldiers in the Al-Qaeda is guaranteed. An honest solution to this problem is the first precondition for a successful campaign against Qaeda terrorrism, and such a solution must create a Palestine with borders according to the UNSC Resolution 242.
Anyone should read Mr Freeman's book, and you will understand why and how the present situation has emerged, and what should be done to redress it. And if you are planning a diplomatic career, this book is an absolute must.
Mr Freeman also gives some observations on China and Saudi-Arabia, and the relations between the U.S. and these countries, which necessarily will become increasingly important in the coming years.
Anyone should read Mr Freeman's book, and you will understand why and how the present situation has emerged, and what should be done to redress it. And if you are planning a diplomatic career, this book is an absolute must.
Mr Freeman also gives some observations on China and Saudi-Arabia, and the relations between the U.S. and these countries, which necessarily will become increasingly important in the coming years.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thoughtful and scholarly read, not to be missed by any student of international affairs
December 2, 2010
Format:Paperback
America may not have handled itself the best it could in Middle Eastern affairs. "America's Misadventures in the Middle East" is a collection of essays from Chas W. Freeman Jr., who has acted as a diplomat on America's behalf against one hundred countries and served under President Nixon. Here he presents two dozen of his essays on the subject of the Middle East and provides much insight on what America has done right and what they have failed to do right. "America's Misadventures in the Middle East" is a thoughtful and scholarly read, not to be missed by any student of international affairs.
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