Confronting Iran: The Failure of American Foreign Policy and the Next Great Crisis in the Middle East (Hardcover)

~ Ali Ansari (Author)
Key Phrases: immunities bill, nuclear negotiations, conservative establishment, United States, Islamic Republic, Saddam Hussein (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Preoccupied by Iraq, America paid little attention to its vastly larger and wealthier neighbor until Iran announced resumption of its nuclear program in the past year. This scholarly but lucid account by a prominent British historian begins with the Persian empire's 19th-century decline, as it lost territory to Russia and economic independence to Britain. Iran-American relations remained friendly until after WWII, when the U.S. aligned with British policy. After Mohammad Mosaddeq nationalized his nation's oil industry, the CIA engineered his 1953 overthrow—an event remembered in Iran as an outrage similar to Pearl Harbor. There followed 25 years of rule by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi, who sent an avalanche of oil money to the U.S. to finance a high-tech military force that proved useless in the revolution that ousted him. Humiliated by the revolutionists' 1979 takeover of our embassy, the U.S. supported Saddam Hussein during the brutal 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq war. As vividly as he portrays American blunders, Ansari does not ignore Iran's tortured politics and its national myth of victimization. American readers may wince at Iran's wildly distorted view of Western culture, but those who persist will realize the enormous barriers to understanding that both nations face. (Aug.)
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Product Description

Iran has resumed its nuclear program, and President Bush is threatening military action. An expert on U.S.-Iranian relations explains the past, present, and possible future of this dangerous standoff

In 2002, George W. Bush famously referred to Iran as a member of the "axis of evil." The fierce rhetoric highlights the persistent antagonism between the two nations. The standoff has taken on renewed urgency with election of hard-line conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's new president and his bold resumption of the country's nuclear program. Will Iran be the next front in America's war on terror?

Iran expert Ali Ansari sets the current crisis in the context of a long history of mutual antagonism. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations, Iran and the U.S. have loomed large in each other's domestic politics for decades. From the overthrow of Mosaddeq in 1953 to the hostage crisis in 1979 and, more recently, the Gulf War and the War in Iraq, both Iranian and American politicians have forged narratives about an "evil empire" lying half a world away. This mutual mistrust has militated against dŽtente between the two nations--and may ultimately lead to war.

An authoritative account of failed foreign policy, this book will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand this explosive region.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (June 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465003508
• ISBN-13: 978-0465003501
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #510,231 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We've Made Some Serious Errors!, July 15, 2006

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

Iran possesses the second-largest reserves of oil in the world, as well as the second largest natural gas reserves. Thus, their importance is hard to overestimate.

U.S. recent involvement in Iran began with our participation in the overthrow of its democratically-elected leader on 8/19/53 because of his decision to nationalize the oil industry - with payment and the intent to retain most/all workers. Subsequently, we further aggravated our relationship by pushing for exempting U.S. citizens from Iranian laws, and our support for land reform as a defense against Communism.

In 1974 the U.S. signed a ten-year agreement to supply Iran with enriched uranium, while Iran planned to order 5 nuclear power plants from France. Meanwhile, the U.S. supported Shah eventually turned the populace against him by stifling dissent, and when the U.S. allowed the deposed Shah into the U.S. for medical treatment (Britain had prohibited), the U.S. began to be viewed as the Great Satan and the Iranian hostage situation followed.

Our alliance with and support of Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War became another problem, while U.S. political support for Iran was undermined by the Iran-Contra affair (weapons and parts to Iran for hostages being released in Lebanon and cash - the cash was then funneled to Nicaraguan Contras). The Vincennes affair (guided missile destroyer that negligently shot down an Iranian airliner), followed by our initial efforts to cover-up the error and Reagan's awarding the Captain a medal further soured our relationship.

Other problems included the Navy ship Stark - hit by an Iraqi missile, the U.S. initially blamed Iran and President Reagan made some very derogatory and inappropriate remarks aimed at Iranians), opposing a pipeline through Iran (made economic sense), refusing to allow Conoco to contract with Iraq because of Israeli lobbying, and the perception that U.S. foreign policy was made in Israel. (Bush I had complained in 1991 about the 1,000 Jews simultaneously lobbying Congress to allow American aid money to be spent enlarging settlements; his remarks punctured their effort, but he heavily lost Jewish counties in the next election. Currently many Christian fundamentalist goups also lobby for Israel.)

Relations improved late in the Clinton Administration when Secretary Albright expressed regret regarding our involvement in the 1953 regime change and supporting Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war. Unfortunately, according to Ansari, the Iranians decided to wait for a Republican president to move forward.

Bush II immediately shifted into reverse by reworking old allegations about Iran's involvement in the '96 Khobar (Saudi Arabia) towers bombing in '96. (Clinton dropped the matter in light of positive developments, his belief that the evidence was weak, and Saudi Arabia's failure to cooperate.)

Nonetheless, after 9/11, Iran's President and others were among the first to offer condolences, and many citizens demonstrated against terrorists. Despite the U.S.'s rude approach, it was agreed to support rescue missions from Iranian soil, and Iran did arrest fleeing Taliban and al Qaeda (though they did refuse to turn them over to the U.S.)

This cooperation was followed by Bush's "Axis of Evil" speech, and Israel's interception of a ship carrying arms from Iran to the Palestinian Authority. The result was that Iranian "hard-liners'" hand was strengthened. The Religious Council banned many Reformists (even incumbents) from running, and hard-liner Ahmedinejad was elected (made economic sense to the general public on the basis of his reform promises).

"Confronting Iran" closes with a summary of the nuclear standoff with the U.S. vs. Iran. Unfortunately the details are not clear; however, what is clear is that Iran was not without fault in this area. Regardless, Ansari makes a good point by stating that the U.S. has very few Iran experts, and rotating them out every three years is not a good idea.

Bottom Line: "Confronting Iran" provides a good understanding of the history of U.S.-Iran relations. However, it is sometimes hard to follow, due to sparse details and/or out-of-order material.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough - if imbalanced - history offers expert background, January 8, 2007

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This slightly convoluted book provides tremendous background to help advanced readers understand the complex motives and machinations that shape U.S.-Iranian relations. Unfortunately, professor Ali Ansari has a definite point of view that affects his presentation about Iran's stated nuclear threats and terrorist financing, even as he chides the "trigger-happy Americans" in Iraq. He may be right that the U.S. missed several opportunities to reduce tensions with Iran, but he admits that Iran's overtures were oblique and unpopular. His baroque interpretations of Iran's motives and the relationships among its factions is dizzying, and open to question - ultimately adding to Iran's mystery. Despite its biases, we consider this important for those seeking a comprehensive overview of Iran and its complex U.S. relations. The book goes well beyond any discussion available in the mass media.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but not much new though, January 10, 2007

By	Jonas Helliesen Haugen (Norway) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As my title imply this book is very interesting - it is a great introduction to Iran and its foregin policy but if you are familiar with middle eastern history and politics it is not much that you probably dont already know.
Whats makes this book this inreresting is the importance of the subject as the tone between Iran and US/Israel is more harsh than ever. I especally enjoyed the last few chapters.
Overall: Must read if you want to understand Iranian foregin relations beyond what the media presents. If you already know a bit there is nothing controverial or new in this book.