The Truth about Syria (Hardcover)

~ Barry Rubin (Author) "It is my pleasure to meet with you in the new Middle East," said Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in a speech to the Syrian Journalists'..." (more)
Key Phrases: most unstable country, resistance mentality, terrorist offices, United States, Middle East, Golan Heights (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Syria will play a major role in the years to come both as a player and an issue in world politics. This book, written by a veteran student of Middle East affairs, is the most up-to-date and reliable guide available on this subject."

--Walter Laqueur, Emeritus Professor, Georgetown University, and author of The Road to War

 

"In this book Barry Rubin takes Syria as a model of Arab tyranny. What might look like gratuitous violence, cruelty, or mendacity serves the purpose of shoring up the power of the one-man ruler and his regime, and is completely predictable. There is now no good reason for the West and its leaders to go along with this dynamic, indeed to feed it regularly. Rubin describes with care, and prescribes with caution. The achievement is as informed as it is humane."

--David Pryce-Jones, author of The Closed Circle: An Interpretation of the Arabs

 

"Barry Rubin's book is a much-needed examination that cuts through the delusions and fantasies currently in vogue about the Assad regime. Rubin nails the nature of Syria's rulers and their behavior, explaining why they are--and will always be--hard-line, chronic exporters of instability."

--Tony Badran, Research Fellow (Levant), Foundation for Defense of Democracies

 

"The Truth About Syria . . . is a welcome contribution to the largely unimpressive body of research on modern Syria. Rubin’s well-sourced study provides an unvarnished appraisal of Syrian politics, making no apologies for the brutal internal and destabilizing foreign policies that characterized the 30 year rule of Syrian leader Hafiz Assad and that persist under Hafiz's son and successor Bashar. The Truth About Syria is informative, insightful, and readable, and is an important contribution toward understanding this important but understudied state."

--David Schenker, Senior Fellow in Arab Politics, Washington Institute for Near East Policy

 

"Professor Rubin’s book comes at a time when the debate over Syria and its regime is growing throughout Europe and America. He courageously gathers evidence showing the impossibility of dealing with Syria or changing its behavior. The merit of Rubin’s book lies in the thorough dissection of the regime’s psychological conduct, and of the tools this dictatorship has used in the past and uses now to remain in power. Any approach to the Syrian problem that does not take Professor Rubin’s analysis into consideration will be an incomplete one."

--Elie Fawaz, Lebanese political analyst

 

“Rubin's book is a breath of fresh air, compared with analysis from other Syria 'experts'...[who] stubbornly insist that Syria can be a U.S. ally...The Truth About Syria is relentless and unapologetic. It shows how Syria is backing Palestinian terrorism and the Iraqi insurgency, murdering Lebanese patriots, lying to American diplomats and committing a host of other offenses that Americans should learn about if they are to prevent their elected representatives from further missions of folly."– Jonathan Schanzer, New York Post

 

 

Product Description

Syria has long presented a serious problem for the Middle East region and U.S. policy. With its mix of competing religious and ethnic groups, radical ideologies, and political repression, it is a 72,000-square-mile time bomb waiting to go off. Yet surprisingly, very little is known about this country and the role it has played in shaping the destiny of the Middle East. In The Truth about Syria, Middle East expert Barry Rubin looks at the critical issues that have made the country the powderkeg of the Middle East and offers an insightful analysis of the effects of recent developments.

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Product Details Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st edition (May 29, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 1403982732 ISBN-13: 978-1403982735 Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #740,075 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
"It is my pleasure to meet with you in the new Middle East," said Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in a speech to the Syrian Journalists' Union on August 1 5, 2006.1 Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
most unstable country, resistance mentality, terrorist offices, sponsoring terrorism

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Middle East, Golan Heights, Saudi Arabia, Soviet Union, Saddam Hussein, Muslim Brotherhood, Security Council, Sunni Muslim, West Bank, Islamic Jihad, Gaza Strip, Sunni Arab, Damascus University, Salah Jadid, State Department, Rafiq Hariri, Abu Musa, White House, World War, Ghazi Kanaan, Gulf Arab, Mustafa Tlas, European Union, Republican Guard

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Accidental Empire by Gershom Gorenberg

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Discusses:

• sponsoring terrorism
• Golan Heights
• West Bank

The Accidental Empire by Gershom Gorenberg Discusses: prewar lines Golan Heights West Bank The High Cost of Peace by Yossef Bodansky Discusses: sponsoring terrorism Golan Heights West Bank Loading...

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	77% buy the item featured on this page: The Truth about Syria 3.1 out of 5 stars (18) $16.22
	7% buy Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial by Fire 3.7 out of 5 stars (11) $21.80
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews 5 star:  (8) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (8)           Average Customer Review 3.1 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars non-academic perspective, a simple good start on Syria, June 11, 2009 By  Adsiz Okur - See all my reviews This review is from: The Truth about Syria (Paperback) I don't think we can ever claim that this type of book writing is objective. There may be objective dates and events, but one look at the title "The Truth About..." is enough to suggest that this book is the result of the author's experience of the region. His language is not academic and is filled with expressions that shout "this is my opinion". Therefore, it is pointless to make a judgement about his book based on his ethnic background. In controversial topics like the one this book tackles, it's important to read as many books as possible from different authors, both academic and non-academic. I think that Barry Rubin has written an easy-read account of various events in Syrian and Middle Eastern recent history with this book. What I got out of the book was that Syria has been a rogue state with very self-destructive internal policies. For decades, the regime has been run by elite that have focused on meddling into neighboring countries' affairs instead of addressing their own peoples' plights. Furthermore, this has been- possibly on purpose- largely ignored by the West especially by the US. I would argue that, with this book, Barry Rubin has attempted to call on to Western (particularly) American foreign policymakers to take a more effective and pro-active stance against Syria, instead of running after imaginary missions (a.k.a search for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq). I think the gist of the book is that the West has failed to identify the reasons why Palestine and Israel have not settled there differences for so long. And one real reason is interference from Syria. 15 of 21 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Worst book about Syria ever, November 26, 2008 By  Christopher M. Whitman Jr. "Arab Insider" (Marlborough, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Truth about Syria (Paperback) I study the Middle East extensively and Syria makes up about 80% of my studies. That being said this is by far the worst of them all. Rubin works in Israel and his book was funded with Israeli money and it is exactly that, paid propaganda. His extremely biased assumptions are told as fact and the history of Syria is distorted greatly to the point of recreation just to fit his mold. There are very legitimate complaints about the state of Syria but 99% of the one Rubin bring up are just ridiculous and unfounded. If you would like to read a good book about Syria that is not overly academic in nature I would recommend "Inheriting Syria, Bashar's Trial by Fire." Don't waste your money on this book, it is truly the biggest waste of $10 I have made in a while and I am a college student so you can imagine I waste $10 randomly a lot 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Truth about Syria without visiting Syria?, May 7, 2009 By  Ahmed Salkini (Washington) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Truth about Syria (Paperback) This is yet another guided propaganda campaign hiding behind a specious façade of scholarly inquiry. The author's arguments are as worn-out as his fellow neo-conservative, ultra-Zionist's, doctrine. Such trajectories got their chance for 8 years to launch their wars and wreak their havoc, and now we are left with their carnage to clean-up in the Middle East and else where. After all these years, the world of politics has clearly shunned the likes of Rubin, and so should the world of academia. Moreover, can we really know "the truth about Syria" from a person who has never been to Syria? This book is as objective and valuable as a book entitled, say "The truth about America" by Osama bin Laden.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 1.0 out of 5 stars Needs Many Sessions & Classes to Learn The TRUTH About Syria Being a journalist who worked and covered Syria for more than 8 years, I assure you "The TRUTH About Syria" is a good example of the lack of knowledge on Syria. Read more Published 5 months ago by Kinda Kanbar 1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing book of distortion, bias, and zionist propaganda A total waste of money and time. The book is dangerous in its extreme bias, as the entire thesis is built on a network of assumptions informed by biased, Zionist political... Read more Published 6 months ago by Roving Editor 1.0 out of 5 stars Lamentable Disinformation It will be a grossly mistaken judgment to describe the book as full of errors and half facts. The book was conceived not to inform but to disinform. Read more Published 6 months ago by Imad Moustapha 1.0 out of 5 stars Third Rate Propaganda This book completely lacks Scholarly rigor and in-depth analysis of an important regional player like Syria in one of the most volatile regions globally. Read more Published 6 months ago by Thoughtful Observer 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Work This is a great work about Syria and a must if you want to understand more about the Middle East.This book is a no holds barred kind of account in which the author just tells it... Read more Published 7 months ago by Jorge I. Villanueva 5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Book This is an outstanding examination of a near prefect tyranny. The author does not deal in idealistic hopes and dreams of starry eyed journalists and amateur diplomats (re Hillary... Read more Published 8 months ago by Bob Rothman 5.0 out of 5 stars Must reading about Syria Professor Rubin's book does for Syria what John Gunther did many years for USSR. Shorn of topical references, this is an "Inside Assad's Syria" and can give many people insights... Read more Published 20 months ago by Ami Isseroff 4.0 out of 5 stars informative good book on syria. lots of historical information. gets a little repetitive towards the end. the writer has a little bit of sarcastic irony in his writing which i like. Published 22 months ago by J. Pang 5.0 out of 5 stars as a neighbor of syria Reading this book as an Israeli, living next door to syria here in Israel, has made me feel there is no chance of real peace with syria (as long as the assad family and their... Read more Published 23 months ago by Dr. A. Nahoum 1.0 out of 5 stars One of the Worst Books I've Read on Syrian Politics I was shocked that anyone who read this book would give it a positive review. I am very knowledgeable about Middle East politics and history and can tell you that there is almost... Read more Published on October 20, 2007 by Benjamin Morgan Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st edition (May 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403982732
• ISBN-13: 978-1403982735
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #740,075 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars non-academic perspective, a simple good start on Syria, June 11, 2009

By	Adsiz Okur - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Truth about Syria (Paperback)

I don't think we can ever claim that this type of book writing is objective. There may be objective dates and events, but one look at the title "The Truth About..." is enough to suggest that this book is the result of the author's experience of the region. His language is not academic and is filled with expressions that shout "this is my opinion". Therefore, it is pointless to make a judgement about his book based on his ethnic background.

In controversial topics like the one this book tackles, it's important to read as many books as possible from different authors, both academic and non-academic. I think that Barry Rubin has written an easy-read account of various events in Syrian and Middle Eastern recent history with this book.

What I got out of the book was that Syria has been a rogue state with very self-destructive internal policies. For decades, the regime has been run by elite that have focused on meddling into neighboring countries' affairs instead of addressing their own peoples' plights. Furthermore, this has been- possibly on purpose- largely ignored by the West especially by the US. I would argue that, with this book, Barry Rubin has attempted to call on to Western (particularly) American foreign policymakers to take a more effective and pro-active stance against Syria, instead of running after imaginary missions (a.k.a search for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq).

I think the gist of the book is that the West has failed to identify the reasons why Palestine and Israel have not settled there differences for so long. And one real reason is interference from Syria.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst book about Syria ever, November 26, 2008

By	Christopher M. Whitman Jr. "Arab Insider" (Marlborough, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Truth about Syria (Paperback)

I study the Middle East extensively and Syria makes up about 80% of my studies. That being said this is by far the worst of them all. Rubin works in Israel and his book was funded with Israeli money and it is exactly that, paid propaganda. His extremely biased assumptions are told as fact and the history of Syria is distorted greatly to the point of recreation just to fit his mold. There are very legitimate complaints about the state of Syria but 99% of the one Rubin bring up are just ridiculous and unfounded. If you would like to read a good book about Syria that is not overly academic in nature I would recommend "Inheriting Syria, Bashar's Trial by Fire." Don't waste your money on this book, it is truly the biggest waste of $10 I have made in a while and I am a college student so you can imagine I waste $10 randomly a lot

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Truth about Syria without visiting Syria?, May 7, 2009

By	Ahmed Salkini (Washington) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Truth about Syria (Paperback)

This is yet another guided propaganda campaign hiding behind a specious façade of scholarly inquiry. The author's arguments are as worn-out as his fellow neo-conservative, ultra-Zionist's, doctrine. Such trajectories got their chance for 8 years to launch their wars and wreak their havoc, and now we are left with their carnage to clean-up in the Middle East and else where. After all these years, the world of politics has clearly shunned the likes of Rubin, and so should the world of academia. Moreover, can we really know "the truth about Syria" from a person who has never been to Syria? This book is as objective and valuable as a book entitled, say "The truth about America" by Osama bin Laden.