Customer Reviews

Engaging Iran: The Rise of a Middle East Powerhouse and America's Strategic Choice (Praeger Security International)

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I found this book to be very helpful in laying out the myths of perception we in the west have about Iran. This book gives a concise grounding in the history of Iran, as a pawn in great power struggles and the growth and changes in Shi'a and Islamic faith in the region. I believe the grounding is complete enough that explanations of issues around today's geopolitics are easier to understand and judge.

I like the reminder to plan for long term end states desired in any political conflict. This was so clear in the U.S. adventure in Iraq. And we need to remember this in our dealings with Iran. It is important, as the author points out to us, to paint real images of those we think of as enemies, instead of dealing in stereotypes.

The last section, Part III, is devoted to detailing and proposing new policy approaches between the U.S. and Iran . These include a modified "Nixon Doctrine", approaches to maintaining "American Hegemony" and theories about democracies not going to war against each other. Some conclusions left me questioning some underlying assumptions but I recommend this books for its illuminating and provocative ideas.

This is a cracker-jack of a book. Lucidly written, rich with historical background, argued in a reasoned and intellectually honest way. I am not an Iran expert, but I imagine this book would make excellent reading for specialists as well as those generally interested in foreign affairs like me.

As I type this , we are discovering that Bush lied about the nuclear weapons in Iran. Just like he lied about Iraq he was bound and determined to send us into a war as he left office.
Read this book if you want to learn about the issues related to Iran and foreign policy.
Steven J. Ybarra JD