Myths, Illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East (Hardcover)

~ (Author), David Makovsky (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ross (The Missing Peace) and Makovsky (Making Peace with the PLO) contend that if the U.S. wants to broker peace in the Middle East, it must cease operating from ideological assumptions and œsee the world as it is. Ross, now an adviser to Hillary Clinton, was chief negotiator for the Clinton administration, and Makovsky is with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; their call comes with real bona fides. œContext matters, they write—but they, too, fail to consider the entire context in question: Israel is all but denied agency, as the authors fail to address the impact of its occupation of Palestinian lands. What may be the crux of the book is found in a mention of This Much Too Promised Land by Ross's former deputy, Aaron David Miller, which examines American negotiating mistakes, including the efforts of his and Ross's team. Ross and Makovsky's open antagonism to Miller suggest they may be less interested in learning from errors than in explaining why everyone else is wrong. (June)
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Product Description

Two experts debunk misconceptions about the Middle East and set clear-eyed policies for the future

Why has the United States consistently failed to achieve its strategic goals in the Middle East? According to Dennis Ross and David Makovsky, two of America's leading experts on the region, it is because we have been laboring under false assumptions, or mythologies, about the nature and motivation of Middle East countries and their leaders. In Myths, Illusions, and Peace, the authors debunk these damaging fallacies, held by both the right and the left, and present a concise and far-reaching set of principles that will help America set an effective course of action in the region.

Among the myths that the authors show to be false and even dangerous is the idea that Israeli-Palestinian peace is the key to solving all the Middle East's problems; that regime change is a prerequisite for peace and democracy; and that Iran's leadership is immune from diplomatic and economic pressure.

These and other historic misunderstandings have generated years' worth of failed policies and crippled America's ability to make productive decisions in this volatile part of the world, a region that will hold the key to our security in the twenty-first century. Ross and Makovsky offer a critical rethinking of American perceptions at a time of great import and change.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (June 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670020893
• ISBN-13: 978-0670020898
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,712 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Insights, but -, July 19, 2009

By	Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist" (Phoenix, AZ.) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Why has the U.S. consistently failed to achieve peace in the Middle East? According to the authors, it is because we have repeatedly fallen for myths about the region. These include: 1)Iran's religious leadership is immune from diplomatic and economic pressures, 2)Israeli-Palestinian peace is key to solving all the Middle East problems, and 3)Regime change is prerequisite for peace and democracy.

The authors early on point out that Middle-East diplomacy must be addressed in the larger context of China, Russia (seeking a role as counterweight to the U.S.?, nervous about its own Muslim inhabitants), and Global Warming (the Middle East can undercut initiatives if they lower prices).

Clearly, the preeminent threat of our time is that radical Islamists may get their hands on a nuclear weapon. In addition, say the authors, it remains unlikely that Islamists extremists who embrace suicide bombing are deterrable. While perhaps true, downgrading the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from top priority in the context of terrorism seems extremely dangerous, given Bin Laden and others listing it as a prime grievance. On the other hand, the authors do make the case that this 60-year-old conflict is not the answer to every Mid-East problem - eg. the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), and Gulf War I and II had no connection to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

"The main opponents of Arab-Israeli peace . . . primarily the Islamists" is a statement that suggests a serious bias on the author's part - no documentation was given. Though the book repeatedly slams Bush II policies in the area, this statement creates wonder that the authors would have done better. Further, at no point do they depict Israelis as a source of problems - even their continual building of settlements.

Moving on to Iran, the authors begin stating that U.S. problems with Iran go back many years . . . starting with the 1979 revolution - oblivious to the U.S. role in overthrowing the elected Iranian government to protect U.S. and British oil interests. Regardless, the current situation is depicted from both the viewpoints of "engagers," and "regime changers." Again, solutions are muddled by Russia, China, and the 2007 NIE findings on Iran's nuclear program. Ross/Makovsky see sanctions as having impact - prices of affected goods have risen 50%, and possibly this underlies the dissidents' energy in the latest election. On the other hand, the book should have done a better job of examining the problems associated with Iran's declining production - the material was unclear what the root causes and cures are.

Finally, "Myths, Illusions, and Peace" probably makes its greatest contribution regarding the topic of Israel's value to the U.S. Other sources conclude that Israel has no positive value whatsoever; Ross/Makovsky point out that Israel has protected Jordan vs. Syria, and can be seen as a counterweight to Iran, Hamas, and Hizbollah. The latter points, however, were not explicated.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding review of Middle East history and thoughtful look ahead, July 15, 2009

By	Jonathan Groner (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What you thought you knew about peace-making in the Middle East is probably not true. Ross and Makovsky set out to rebut the "myths and illusions" of both the neo-conservatives and the "realists," two of the most influential schools of thought, and they succeed.

Simplistically, one might have thought that the neo-conservatives, many of whom supported the war in Iraq and many of whom advocate regime change in Iran, are "pro-Israel," and that the "realists" are anti-Israel. Ross and Makovsky make a convincing case that the policies advocated by both groups are not in the interest of either Israel or the United States.

The authors write from decades of experience and from a deep knowledge of the region and of all the key players. They argue that the eight years of the Bush administration brought confusion, indecision, and some downright incompetence when it came to Iran policy and to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. They also launch a detailed rebuttal of the Walt-Mearsheimer thesis that Israel is now a strategic liability to the United States, showing convincingly in my view that Israel is a strategic asset.

Ross and Makovsky avoid cliches and bring a fresh approach to long-debated questions. They write clearly and concisely and without jargon. Ross is back in government now, and I certainly hope that his clear-eyed proposals will hold sway in the Obama administration. I highly recommend this book.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for understanding U.S. Mideast policy, July 12, 2009

By	Repps Hudson "Jazz all the time" (University City, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have followed the Middle East for many years, since the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982. American policy has waxed and waned, and Dennis Ross and David Makovsky review U.S. policy toward the region -- not just the Arab-Israeli conflict -- since the FDR administration.
Their level-headed approach is a useful guide to understanding the key issues, such as respect for sovereignty, what to do about radical Islamists and authoritarian leaders, the Irsaeli-Palestinian conflict and so on.
So many people do not understand the complex politics of the regional players, yet they are quick to blame and condemn one group or another.
Ross and Makovsky say, in effect, "Take a deep breath, count to 10 and make the effort to understand the history and the cultures and the religions of the area."
Good advice. Their lack of dogmatism is somewhat unusual and quite welcome.