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Confronting Iran
Book

Confronting Iran

The Failure Of American Foreign Policy And The Next Great Conflict In The Middle East

Basic Books, 2006 plus...

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Comprehensive
  • Overview

Recommendation

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, getAbstract considers 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.

Take-Aways

  • Iran sits on the world's second largest oil and natural gas reserves.
  • Iran asked U.S. financial experts for banking help in 1911, but when the financial delegation came, Russia threw it out.
  • Premier Mohammad Mosaddeq nationalized oil and expelled the British in 1951.

About the Author

Ali M. Ansari, Ph.D., teaches modern history at Scotland's University of St. Andrews. He has written numerous books and articles on Middle Eastern history and politics. He is a commentator on Iran on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX and National Public Radio, and has written for the Financial Times, the Independent (London), and many other periodicals.