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America's Great Game: The CIA’s Secret Arabists and the Shaping of the Modern Middle East Hardcover – Unabridged, December 3, 2013

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Hugh Wilford (Author)
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4.3 out of 5 stars 34 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Basic Books; 1st edition (December 3, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 046501965X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0465019656
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsImportant, Revelatory Book & Fun to Read!
By Mike Doran on December 12, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Did you know the CIA created an anti-Israel lobby? And that it was the brainchild of Kermit Roosevelt, the architect of the Mosaddeq coup in Iran? Hugh Wilford has the scoop. I am writing a book based on the same sources as Wilford, and I am deeply impressed by his achievement. He wrote a serious book that is also fun to read. Quite the accomplishment. I reviewed it favorably in the Wall Street Journal. To learn more, follow this link: Americas Great Game Arabists Shaping
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5.0 out of 5 starsEXAMINING TODAY'S MIDDLE EAST BY REVIEWING ITS PAST
By KOMET on February 4, 2014
Format: Hardcover
A little more than a week ago, I was watching CSPAN's BookTV, which featured the author Hugh Wilford speaking about this book. The subject matter --- which focused on the efforts of the CIA to shape and influence events in the Middle East from its inception in 1947 to the late 1950s --- I had, until then, knew nothing about. (The 1953 coup in Iran which deposed the popularly elected Mohammed Mossadegh and restored the Shah to power, I did know something about from years ago. But I didn't give it any further thought.) But I was so thoroughly impressed with Wilford's presentation that I bought the book the very next day.

The book begins by providing some background on the history of U.S. involvement in the Middle East, which goes back to the mid-1800s, when a number of Protestant groups travelled there to evangelize and establish cultural and educational institutions, such as the American University of Beirut, which was founded in 1866. Indeed, until the late 1930s, the full extent of American involvement in the Middle East was cultural and of a disinterested nature. Deep links had been established with the Arabs, who, during those years, constituted the majority population of the region.

The coming of the Second World War and - after November 1942 (when U.S. forces embarked upon Operation Torch and landed in North Africa to help defeat Italo-German forces there) - the growing U.S. military and diplomatic presence in the Middle East, inclusive of the CIA's predecessor, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), would fill a postwar vacuum in the region due to the decline of British and French imperial power there.

To illustrate the burgeoning U.S.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsFor geopolitical analysts and enthusiasts who want to know more about American policy towards Middle East
By Helpful Advice TOP 500 REVIEWER on December 16, 2013
Format: Hardcover
"America's Great Game" written by Hugh Wilford is book of an unusual theme that speaks about a little known history of the CIA's pro-Arab operations happened in the 40s and 50s of last century.

Wilford conducted an exhaustive research of historical documents that were meantime declassified by government but also used many private collections and made numerous interviews to learn about influential CIA agents which significantly influenced American foreign policy towards the Arab countries and Israel, and with their activities repeatedly directed not only American activities in region, but also the global policy towards these countries.

The author tells his story through the lives of CIA's three most influential American Arabs who performed a variety of tasks related to Middle East countries.
The first one was Kermit "Kim" Roosevelt who was the grandson of Theodore Roosevelt and lead CIA covert actions in the region, while his cousin Archie Roosevelt was leading the Beirut station. The third member of presented trio is Miles Copeland, who was covert operations specialist that entered the CIA service during the 40s.
They three, led by Kim, advocated moderate path to Arab countries in same time supporting Israel, but not giving them level of support that this country surrounded by the Arab world wanted and expected.

The reader will learn about numerous conflicts that have been led these years inside the CIA in terms of such moderate policy, in the world that during those years began to fully share in the two blocks, almost without allowing nonalignment to one of the sides.
The author also well described the background of the Iranian regime overthrow and the Shah inauguration as the leader of the Iranian government.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsBest place to start learning about the background for the current events in the middle east
By M. Mahoney on January 21, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I am only about half way through reading this, but it has been a real eye opener. The first 30 pages or so are a bit tough to stay interested in, as it's primarily setting the stage, introducing us to the young Roosevelts, and detailing our relationship with the middle east countries. I do wish they'd have devoted half as much time to helping us get to know the Dulles brothers, as they play as big a role as the Roosevelts in the development or the CIA.

Already, at just half way into the book, I have a far better understanding of the development of the middle east, what went right, what went wrong, and how we got to where we are today. It's given me a new perspective on Israel, and opened my eyes to just how much goes on that the general public doesn't know about. I've now got an understanding of why we give money to middle eastern countries, and where it goes. Of course, I'm left with almost as many questions as when I began reading the book. Things like "why, when we realized we were creating a dangerous pattern of military dictatorship, Coupe, new military dictatorship, we did nothing to fix it. According to the book, it all started with Syria. What the book leaves out is, why did we allow this to continue once we saw it was a bad precedent? It seems to me we found what the British and French already knew; that we could get a huge benefit out of manipulating the countries in the middle east. So we replaced their colonial system with our covert manipulation, which is arguably much worse.

Then there's Iran and Mossadegh, and the establishment of Israel, with absolutely no regard for the Palestinians who were already there. No wonder we are still battling with these people who arguably just want to be their own independent countries.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Not a bad read on the initial start up of the CIA in the Middle East (Syria, Egypt, Iran........)

Published 2 months ago by Joseph Talarico
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Super.

Published 3 months ago by kevin Shomo
2.0 out of 5 starsTwo Stars

boring!!!

Published 5 months ago by Frank Collyer
2.0 out of 5 starsI tried to get into this book but it never ...

I tried to get into this book but it never engaged me. It's a bit dry and remote from today's reality.

Published 8 months ago by Jeffrey Sinclair
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

fascinating history of the Middle East in WW@.

Published 10 months ago by Margaret Harrell
5.0 out of 5 starsProvides a nice historical backdrop to today's events and

Well written. Provides a nice historical backdrop to today's events and situation

Published 10 months ago by JM
5.0 out of 5 starsGood history of US involvement in the Middle East

I grew up in the Middle East and have read many books on the region and US involvement in the area, and this is the first one I've read that delves deep into the history of our... Read more

Published 12 months ago by David W. Rugh
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Outstanding heretofore suppressed information, clearly written.

Published 13 months ago by James E. Richards
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

good

Published 15 months ago by carol a conrad
5.0 out of 5 starsFor geopolitical analysts and enthusiasts who want to know more about...

"America's Great Game" written by Hugh Wilford is book of an unusual theme that speaks about a little known history of the CIA's pro-Arab operations happened in the 40s and... Read more

Published 15 months ago by Helpful Advice

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