The Cyprus Conspiracy: America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion [Hardcover]

Brendan O'Malley (Author), Ian Craig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000

In 1974 the Greek colonels ousted the Greek-Cypriot leader of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, and Turkey retaliated by invading and seizing a third of the island. Cyprus remains split in two, like Berlin before the wall came down, bristling with troops and spying bases, and permanently policed by the United Nations. Henry Kissinger claimed he could do nothing to stop the coup because of the Watergate crisis, but this book presents evidence to support the view that it was no failure of American foreign policy, but the realization of a long-term plot. The authors describe the strategic reasons for Washington's need to divide the island. Their account encompasses an international cast of characters that includes Eden, Eisenhower, Nixon, Kissinger, Wilson, Callaghan, Grivas, and the leaders of the two halves of the divided island, Clerides and Denktas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Cyprus Conspiracy delivers new and damning detail on how the big powers (including good old "ethical" Britain) taught Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots not to live together." -Boyd Tonkin, The Guardian "O'Malley and Craig show how powerful and penetrating journalism can be by producing a book of high quality and academic value. This book fills a gap in the literature about Cyprus and the Cyprus problem, and will also be of interest to those working on the eastern Mediterranean, and on US and British foreign policy in the region." -Mediterranean Politics "A marvellous new book ... It is a fascinating story of international intrigue, espionage and intelligence, brilliantly and graphically told and it will open a lot of eyes of people who, until now, had no inkling - until today - about the real and intriguing reason behind the partition of Cyprus." -Chris Moncrieff, The House "This well written and well researched account of events provides the understanding of the situation and the causes, which led to the escalation of the crisis in 1974." -Konstantinos Kotzias, Contemporary Review "With diligent research and fluency, they chart the labyrinth behind what they conclude was an international plot." -Belfast Telegraph 'The book should be of value to those interested in coming to a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding Cyprus.' -Intelligence and National Security

About the Author

Brendan O'Malley is Foreign Editor of the Times Educational Supplement and Ian Craig is Political Editor of the Manchester Evening News.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris & Company, Ltd (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860644392
• ISBN-13: 978-1860644399
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,721,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > History > Europe > Cyprus

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book dealing with the 'how' and 'why' of the Cyprus problem, April 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cyprus Conspiracy: America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion (Hardcover)

I first would like to challenge the last reviewer to explain when Turkish Cypriots ever accounted for a 33% minority on Cyprus during those turbulent years. Statistics consistantly show the number to be around 18%. With that said, this is not a book which engages in finger pointing. Atrocities were undoubtledy commited by both parties. In fact, the authors on several occasions give us numbers of the Turkish Cypriots killed, wounded, or fleeing. I wonder just how much one reviewer took a hard look at this book when mentioning pictures seen in occupied Cyprus of Turkish Cypriot children dead in a bathtub, yet the picture is IN THE BOOK!!! Personal acounts and personal tragadies of the invasion and events leading up to it are not the main focus of this study. Rather it is the 'how' and 'why' of the unfolding events.

O'Malley and Craig do a good job of this I believe. I would have liked to see a more detailed analysis of how exactly the US pushed the junta in attempting a coup to remove Makarios. Did Kissinger know Turkey would invade and the cards would play themselves out, or did Kissinger have to work more with Turkey "under the table" to broker what seems to be a playing out of the 1964 alternate plan to partition Cyprus? Two other brief criticisms are 1) the sometimes general and arbitrary footnotes to "Interview with the authors." O'Malley and Craig interviewed several people so it can be confusing just what "interview" they are refering to, and 2) the sometimes frustrating footnotes to the House sub-committee papers and other government documents, which to no fault of the authors, isn't exaclty readily available at the local library for personal reference.

That said I think the book is an excellent study into the rather unfortunate methods the United States implements its foreign policy in order to protect military interests at all costs. Lets hope that in the future the Cypriots (both Greek and Turkish) can decide their own fate rather than Ankara, Athens, London, and especially Washington at their necks. A unified, peaceful Cyprus is attainable, especially in the EU. Let's not lower our hopes and aspirations in saying that partition is the only solution.

36 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last we've hit the jackpot!, May 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cyprus Conspiracy: America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion (Hardcover)

Whilst reading the other reviews to this book it just forced me to add my own.What I like to see is people writing books without worrying about whom they upset.Even though the book is brief compared to the actual history that should be included to create a full apprehension of the situation in Cyprus,it hits the most important issues and gives a good understanding of what is going on here.

What I don't like to see,is reviews from people who have visited the North of Cyprus for their holidays,purchased a book,and have become historians overnight without having a clue about anything

Thank you

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, April 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cyprus Conspiracy: America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion (Hardcover)

Good insight into US foreign policy. This book is factual and very well written. You get a great understanding on how small counties have been used over the years by powerful nations like the US, Soviet Union, and various regional powers in the world.