Tyranny's Ally: America's Failure to Defeat Saddam Hussein [Paperback]

David Wurmser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

This book argues that current policy, even if invigorated by more aggressive military efforts, will not bring the United States victory over Saddam and his regime.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Wurmser is a resident fellow in Middle East affairs at the American Enterprise Institute.

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Aei Press (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844740748
• ISBN-13: 978-0844740744
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,836,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Blueprint for the War on Iraq by one of its Architects, February 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Tyranny's Ally: America's Failure to Defeat Saddam Hussein (Paperback)

David Wurmser was one of the authors of the notorious 1996 report: "A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm" along with, among others, Richard Perle, Undersecretary of Defense, Douglas Feith, and James Colbert, then of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. In this paper, Wurmser, et. al. characterize Saddam Hussein as a weak leader who should be toppled primarily to hand Iraq over to King Hussein of Jordan, to embarrass and weaken Syria for the benefit of Israel. Here is a quote: "Israel can shape its strategic environment, in cooperation with Turkey and Jordan, by weakening, containing and even rolling back Syria. This effort can focus on removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq--an important Israeli strategic objective in its own right--as a means of foiling Syria's regional ambitions. . . . " Imagine my surprise to see Wurmser now making Saddam Hussein the main show--the embodiment of evil in the region. He and his colleagues have been plotting the overthrow of Saddam now for more than seven years. They are willing to lie, cheat and steal to achieve this end. Consequently the sanctimonious hypocrisy in this book is astonishing. If the American public only knew how badly they are being served by Wurmser, Perle, Feith and their ilk, the warmongering in Washington might stop. Their contempt for the public and for human life is truly astonishing.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The picture as it truly was..., March 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Tyranny's Ally: America's Failure to Defeat Saddam Hussein (Paperback)

David Wurmser writes a brilliant treatise on how regional competitions, an unguided foreign/national security bureaucracy and a distracted White House came to make the situation with Iraq an intractable one. His book requires an appreciation for the technical aspects of government and the politics of the interagency process. Withstanding that, the book speaks to these points without daunting or loosing the reader. While contemplating some of the darkest hours in Washington policy making, it is laced with a contagious optimism for the future of a country and it's people subjugated by Hussein. This book is worth every dime.

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Saddam the key to PLO strength, August 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Tyranny's Ally: America's Failure to Defeat Saddam Hussein (Hardcover)

It is amazing that Mr. Wurmser called it so early. The most significant mention in the book that is probably not noted sufficiently is his statement regarding the fact that so long as Saddam remains in power the PLO has a veto in the peace process.