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Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States

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Trita Parsi has written a compelling book, cutting thorough ideological and political propaganda emanating from the three countries he has focused on (US, Israel, and Iran), and going right through the core issues involving geopolitical and regional hegemony aspirations of the three governments. What is fascinating is that Parsi reveals that such political calculations transcend the particular ideology of the governments in these three countries. Whether it is Likud or Labor in Israel, Democrats or Republicans in the US, or The former Shah's regime or the reformists or hardliners of the Islamic government in Iran, the decision making process remarkably follows more or less the same logic, and the same priorities are at play. When a shift in policy takes place, Parsi reveals that again the political faction of the government involved is irrelevant. In fact, amazingly, the very same people who were advocating one set of policies, often advance a diametrically opposite set a few years later. Parsi underlines this point by revealing how Israeli Labor leaders, the late Itzhak Rabin and Shimon Perez were lobbying the Reagan administration to disregard virulent rhetoric from Iran and try to open up channels of communication with them, while just a few years later these two men were warning about the Iranian menace in every domestic and international speech. He points out how the neo-conservatives dominating the Bush administration were the very same people who were advocating supporting Iran in the Iran-Iraq war and opening channels in the eighties in the Reagan administration. And how the former hostage takers in Iran are now mostly leading liberals advocating negotiations and moderation in Iranian policies.

Parsi narrates this story in a linear historical context, starting his book from 1948 when Israel was created all the way to present day (summer of 2007). The central theme of the book is that before 1991, Iran and Israel were natural allies, while afterwards (which was coincident with the fall of Soviet Union and defeat of Iraqi President Saddam Hossein's invasion of Kuwait and his subsequent weakenining) the two countries became rivals and perceived each other as threats.

The main shortcoming of the book as I see it, is that while Parsi underlies the geopolitical underpinnings of the triangular relationship of Iran, Israel and the US, very little is mentioned in terms of economic reasons for these "treacherous" alliances and rivalries. What corporations or industries benefit from continued hostilities between Iran and the US and which ones benefit, and how much influence and clout each has on the direction of the US policies? Who benefits in Iran for continued belligerence towards Israel or towards the US, and who is hurt, and how much influence they have on the Iranian government? Some economic analysis is given for Israel's attitude towards Iran: Oil investments and sales from Iranian side, and military sales and training from the Israeli side when relations were good; and an Arab-Israeli common market in the Middle East (which would exclude Iran) when relations were bad. But these economic incentives are treated as secondary at best. I wish more and deeper economic analysis was presented from Iranian and American, as well as Israeli perspectives.

All in all I recommend this book strongly and advise that anyone, right-wingers who advocate military action against Iran (Israeli or American) or moderates advocating political dialog and negotiated approach should educate themselves by reading this book before further opining on US or Israel policies vis-a-vis Iran.

Based on exclusive interviews, new information, and gritty investigative work, Trita Parsi's book provides the evidence anyone on President George W. Bush's team should look at to rationally understand why confrontation between the US and Iran is NOT inevitable.

This masterpiece demonstrates fresh analysis and keeps up with Dr. Parsi's proven credibility here in Washington for objectively and (at times) unconventionally calling out developments in the US-Iranian relationship, regardless of which neoconservatives or pro-war hawks might cringe.

Treacherous Alliance is tightly written and readable for all levels of the public who are moderately informed and interested in foreign policy. Academics will mine through the numerous exclusive quotes provided and timeless high-level quotes obtained, as well as the many pages of footnotes (and even leaked documents!) for those looking to do spinoff research and analysis.

At a time when drumbeats by DC policy dead-enders persist for a new military confrontation with Iran, finally a credible, air-tight book arrives to preempt their arguments for the next global disaster.

For those who don't read Dr. Parsi's book, fortunately the major American and international news outlets, including CNN, BBC, and al-Jazeera are on to him and host him as a frequent guest expert.

This book deserves a Pulitzer.

Unlike the first reviewer who obviously didn't even skim the book, I would attest that this revealing and insightful book is brimming with historical facts, anecdotes, and analysis that simply can not be found elsewhere. (The author interviewed dozens of high-ranking Israeli, American, and Iranian officials inside Israel and Iran - the analysis never comes across as conjecture)

The basic premise of the book, based on over 130 first-hand interviews with the highest ranking officials in all three countries, is that the basic geo-political and national interest concerns of Iran and Israel have guided their foreign policy from one of convergence to divergence.

It further paints a clear picture of why the conventional wisdom regarding the dominance of an ideological driving force in their bilateral dealings is a false one - and shows how it can and has lead to miscalculations in the United States' foreign policy in the region.

The book is also a very easy read for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of international relations yet manages to provide a ton of new facts and anecdotes for even the most ardent student of modern middle eastern political history.

I highly recommend this book to any and all who are curious about Iran and Israel's role in the middle east over the next few decades, particularly with the heightened tensions that seem to point to a military conflict in the near term.

I'm sure some will criticize and dismiss this book, mainly because it does a very fair and objective job of laying out both the positive and negative outcomes of American, Iranian and Israeli actions and decisions.

If you are either in the camp that believes the US and Israel are doing God's work in fighting those evil Muslim terrorists and can therefore do no wrong, you won't like this book. Conversely, if you think Israel is the root of all evil, you won't like this book either.

This book is DEFINITELY a must read if you have an open mind and want to better understand the dynamics of the struggle for dominance in the Middle East.

Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States

I am a registered Republican who supported/s both the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But after reading Trita Parsi's book I find I am opposed to any strike/attack on Iran at this time.

I enjoyed the cultural and geopolitical history of Persia/Iran and their relationship with Persian Jews. I also enjoyed reading about the historical events and dealings between Israel, Iran, and the US during the Shah, Khomanei and current Islamic Theocracy including the Iran/Contra time period.

Most interesting are the sections of the book where he discusses Iran's help to the US during the outbreak of war in Afghanistan in terms of Intel on the Taliban and when we took Baghdad during OIF in terms of their (Iran's) request to open diplomatic talks with Iran who was willing to put "everything" on the table including their ending aid to Hezbollah in southern Lebabnon and Hamas in the West Bank and open monitoring of any and all nuclear/biological/ and/or chemical sites we might be concerned about. Those requests were made to senior current Administration folks through the Swiss Embassy which was ignored.

Essentially this book reveals that war with Iran is not inevitable and how Dipolmacy with Iran could even aid both current wars. Definitely worth a read.

I have written my Congressman and both Senators to ask them or their Staff to read the book.

Anyone who wishes to consider themselves minimally informed about Iran's foreign policy, in particular in regards to Israel and the United States, must read this book.

Parsi argues convincingly that Iran's foreign policy under the theocratic regime, after early ideologically-driven disasters, has been fundamentally rational. The trick is that while their actions have been rational, their rhetoric has often been extreme. This has led to misunderstandings from US leaders in particular.

He relates a history of relations between Iran and Israel that are largely unknown to Americans. Israel and Iran had close--though unofficial--relations with the Shah, which included close military and intelligence cooperation through the 1970s.

Relations went downhill once the ayatollahs took over in the late 1970s. However, the change in Iranian-Israeli relations began well before that, as the Shah saw a need to improve relations with the Arab world. Even so, "underground" relations continued between theocratic Iran and Israel.

Despite being well-informed about world affairs in general, much of this history was new to me. Iran gave the USA substantial aid in deposing the Taliban in Afghanistan after 9/11. Their reward? Being included in the "axis of evil" announced by George Bush a few months later.

A key point Parsi makes is that while Iran wasn't able to avoid being excluded from attempts to set regional power arrangements, or to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they were successful in sabotaging these attempts, in particular their key role in preventing Israeli-Palestinian rapprochement in the 1990s. They are powerful enough to play a role, even when--or especially when--they're not invited.

In the long view of history, considering Iran's size--and history of being a regional power since well before the arrival of the Greeks and Romans--this shouldn't be surprising. They've been a big country for 3,000 years, and once had an empire from Ethiopia to Greece to India. Iranians remember this, so that at times their actions almost seem reminiscent of the Glenn Close character in the movie Fatal Attraction when she says, "I'm not gonna be ignored."

Parsi's recommendation to nudge Iran into the regional and world system is straight from the "realist" balance-of-power foreign policy school of thought that saw Nixon go to China once he recognized that China could not be "contained" forever, and that basing hostile relations on ideology was not productive.

It is worth trying. The one thing Iran needs more than anything in the world is US recognition, so their incentive is high.

The possible rewards? No nuclear bombs from Iran, and help in solving the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The downside? Iran might say no, or still continue bad behavior. The result of this would be their becoming even more of a pariah state than they are now.

That said, there are a few weak points in the book: Parsi notes that in the early 1990s, Israel began a campaign to convince the US that Iran was dangerous, based on Iranian rhetoric calling for the elimination of Israel. Oddly enough, Israel had earlier advised the US not to pay attention to the rhetoric, because Israel and Iran were cooperation. However, Parsi doesn't note that the ongoing Iranian rhetoric allowed Israel an easy opportunity to exercise this option at any time of their choosing, with a very high likelihood of success.

Also, while he notes that the Iranian rhetoric is often a way to play to the Arab street, thus placing pressuring on Arab leaders to not criticize Iran, he doesn't adequately note the catastrophic effect this rhetoric has on the outside world's perception of Iran.

These are minor quibbles, however, in an excellent book.

In what is possibly the most heavily researched and referenced book I've ever read, Trita Parsi has written the diplomatic history of the volatile triangle formed by Israel, Iran, and the U.S. Parsi interviewed a large number of officials from all three countries and in doing so, provides a remarkably detailed account of how these countries worked with and against each other at times from the beginnings of the Cold War, all the way to present day.

At a time when the Middle East seems so volatile, reading Parsi's account shows just how close stability and security actually are. The main theme of the book would have to be that despite what most people would assume from casually observing events, ideology has very little to do with the Israeli-Iranian dispute. Strategic and geopolitical forces are what drive both countries and that as events change, Tel Aviv and Tehran constantly reassess their position via the other. Parsi describes how even immediately after the Iranian revolution, high levels of cooperation between the two countries persisted. Also apparent from Parsi's research is that there is a remarkable amount of consistency in Iran's foreign policy, regardless of the regime. Iran wants to play an important role in the region and is willing to cooperate, but when it's excluded by the U.S. and Israel, it lashes out. The best example of this is Iran's willingness to help the U.S. after 9/11 in Afghanistan, and also its offer in 2003 of a grand compromise with the U.S.

I've read quite a few books on the Middle East over the past several years, many of them phenomenal, but I think I have to place Parsi's book at the top of my list. It is easily the most informed, intelligent, and well-written books about the Middle East I've ever read. I'd be surprised if another book comes along to knock Treacherous Alliance out of the top spot. I always buy books faster than I read them, and I always enjoy looking through my shelves to pick out the book I'll read next, but I would actually take the time to read this book again though, and there are very few books in that category. I make it a point to get through as many books as possible, but this one's worth a second read. I can only hope that Parsi writes more books in the future and that they are widely read. Considering the controversial nature of the subject matter, Parsi remains incredibly detached throughout. At no point does this book come across as polemical, or having an axe to grind, which is also very refreshing.

Trita Parsi's timely and relevant treatise about the turbulent relationship between two important Middle Eastern nations, Israel and Iran, and how this has influenced American policies in the region is a work that needs to be read by both policy makers and inquistive minds alike. The complex and often confusing nature of diplomacy and political dealings are carefully examined and objectively presented in this well researched text that answers many puzzling questions which mainstream media elements tend to overlook. The countries of Israel and Iran both have geopolitical interests that have at times paralleled one another and at other times have been diametrically opposed to one another. Parsi dissects the historical framework that has caused these two nations to have a love-hate relationship over the past 50 years and how this has impacted U.S. foreign policy often with counterproductive results for the Middle East region.

Parsi has done a splendid job in researching factual information. Throughout the book, he pays careful attention to detail and provides continuous thought provoking references and citations obtained through a thorough investigative process. The book is devoid of overwhelming emotionalism and blatant subjectivity, two common attributes that are often apparent in most discussions and presentations of Middle Eastern politics. Parsi does not wish to blame any particular nation or group but wishes to inform the reader that double standards and hidden agendas have come into play in the triangualr relationship among Israel, Iran, and the United States.

TREACHEROUS ALLIANCE is a must read for anyone wishing to better understand the intricacies and complexities of Middle Eastern politics, particularly at this critical juncture in history where global conflicts seem unavoidable. Trita Parsi is a genuine scholar whose work can be a ray of hope in a cloud of despair that hovers over a region mired in conflicts but whose peoples aspire for a brighter tommorow.

I've been reading Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States by Trita Parsi.

The book details how 3 countries have been sparring with each other calling each other names but also dealing with each other for over 30 years. When the US had an embargo Israel was selling Iran $500 million in arms during the 8 year war with their mutual enemy Iraq.

After 9-11 Iran closed its border to Afghanistan and helped set up the Afghan Govt. The Taleban hate Iran. The Iranians made a secret offer to fund the Afghan army with $400 million, recognize Israel, disarm Hamas and Hezbollah, and give the America 290 Al-Qaeda captives. Cheney and Rumsfeld dismissed the offer by saying we don't talk to the Axis of Evil.

Its distrurbing but interesting reading about how the 3 countries are entwined and misunderstoodTreacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States

This is simply the best book in print on Iran and its relationship with Israel and the United States. This is a meticulously researched book that is also quite easy to read.
This book will be particularly useful to those who only get their news from the mainstream media.
I highly recommend this books.