Middle East Books

Persian Images, are fascinating to begin with right? However, what brings more interest to this book, is that most of these pictures come from a collection that was purposely destroyed in the early 1900's,by the Iranian government. The stories shared in reference to each photo are as interesting as the pictures themselves. There happens to be a much larger collection both in Iran, and in the states, but sadly they did not make an appearance in this particular book.

If the area of your study or/and interest involves Art,Photography,History of Asia and Near East this is a must have book. Sevruguin went to Iran and stayed there for almost all of his life. This book is a collection of the first photographs from Iran (that of course he took). Through Sevruguin's eyes the reader/viewer is able to discover a new world. Not only this world is new to you if you are a western viewer, but also these photographs reveal yet another angle for a native viewer, such as myself, since many of these photographs have never displayed back in Iran. I think, in a broader sense, as long as one keeps in mind that these are representations of one culture through the eyes of an outsider, this book is useful and interesting.

One of my favorite photo essays on the old middle east. Wonderful collection of photographs and fascinating history.

this is a great collection of some excellent photos of iran at the turn of the last century - it chronicles everyday life, including peasants, and the aristocracy and monarchy - there is a great picture of tehran's bustling main street, with horse-drawn, rail carriages, and the throngs of crowds, some of whom are temporairly mesmerized by the photographer perched on some rooftop. A must-have for iran-history-nastalgic buffs. Only wish there was more...

"Sevruguin and the Persian Image" presents the Smithsonian's collection of one of Qajar Iran's preeminent photographers. In addition to the photographs, the volume contains valuable histories of early photography in Iran, the career of Antoin Sevruguin, and how the collection itself came about. The double entendre of the title refers to how Sevruguin's art was informed by and catered to the Orientalist tastes of a Europe in which he was educated. Yet as an Armenian Christian who was born, lived, died and was buried in Tehran, he presented a different image of Iran than the typical Orientalist photographers of the day. "Sevruguin and the Persian Image" is both a solid examination of a photographer's art as well as a thoughtful analysis of the Western image of Iran in the late nineteenth century.

I read this book over a three day long-weekend. I could not put it down. I think one of the reasons I found it riveting was that some months ago I had read Dennis Ross's book, "The Missing Peace" and the characters and events were all very familiar. In fact, when reading a book like Ross's or Enderlin's, it is quite likely one would forget some facts or events so, by reading a book with very similar detailed subject matter, the understanding is made easier. Ross's book was more polished and personal and Enderlin's book is more in a style of a documentary. In fact, a documentary was indeed made for Frontline and Enderlin's use of the present tense gives the impression that parts of his book would have been used as the verbatim documentary voice-over. E. Rodin's review is excellent (I concur with 90% of it) and suggest it is really worth reading so I won't repeat what he has written. I would simply like to add that I think blame can be apportioned to Arafat for the failure as they did get very close... and Araft could not accept what was a great offer, better than could be secured today. The book makes one realise why, today, having a peace conference as proposed by Bush could well be counter-productive. if agreement is not managed ahead of a summit, at the working level, another intifada could break out when the talks fail. The book has become quite topical as, this very week, Enderlin and FRANCE 2 have come under the spotlight as an Israeli Government offical has claimed again that Enderlin and his colleagues staged a hoax (being the imgage of a Palestinian boy being shot by Israeli soliders); Just Google news "Enderlin Al Dura" for a complete range of views from press etc. (only two articles below which I think are worth taking the time to read);

In essence, if the shooting was a hoax set up by Enderlin and his colleagues, and the boy was killed by Palestinian gunmen, then Odin's claim that Enderlin's views are unbiased do not hold up.

October 03, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Morton A. Klein, 212-481-1500
Top Israeli lawyer:
"Greatest journalistic hoax of the last century"


New York -- Seven years after the alleged killing by Israeli fire of a Palestinian boy, Muhammad Al-Durah, at the Netzarim Junction on September 30, 2000 during the first days of the Palestinian terror wave launched at Israel, the Israeli Government Press Office has officially rejected the France-2 Television report as a staged hoax. The Director of the Israel Government Press Office, Daniel Seaman, has issued a statement saying, "The events of that day were in fact staged by the network's cameraman in Gaza, Mr. Talal Abu Rahma" (Associated Press , October 1). Seaman stated that France-2 fabricated the events surrounding the death of al-Durah and cited in his letter an Israeli investigation that heard testimony from medical and legal experts and which determined that the events as described by France-2 were fabricated and defied the laws of physics ( Jerusalem Post, October 2). Seaman also wrote, "The creation of the myth of Muhammad al-Durah has caused great damage to the State of Israel. This is an explicit blood libel against the state. And just as blood libels in the old days have led to pogroms, this one has also caused damage and dozens of dead" ( Yediot Ahronot, October 2).


Investigations have shown that the angles of the IDF fire could not have hit Al-Durah and that the cameraman can be heard saying the boy is dead while the boy is still seen moving. During the past seven years, Israel has preferred not to confront the most popular television station in France, but following repeated requests by Shurat HaDin, Israel Law Center, Seaman issued his statement denying Israeli responsibility. The denial comes following a ruling in Paris by an Appellate Court Presiding Judge, Laurence Trebucq, in a defamation appeal of French journalist Philippe Karsenty, whom France-2 sued for defamation for questioning the veracity of its report on the events presented by its Jerusalem Bureau Chief, Charles Enderlin. Karsenty maintains that France-2 and Enderlin staged the incident with the active participation of their Gaza cameraman, Abu-Rahma.


Enderlin, who was not actually present on the scene at the time, produced a report which was distributed free to the international media and which alleged that Israeli fire has killed the boy. However, Enderlin's report utilized 55 seconds of selected footage, shot by a Palestinian Arab cameraman, Talal Abu Rahmeh, none of which shows al-Durah actually being killed, let alone by Israeli fire. The full footage has been viewed by three journalists -- Jeambar, Leconte, and Rosenzweig -- who have testified that it consists of 24 minutes of staged scenes, with no images of the al-Durah boy and his father and no trace of the boy's "death throes" that Enderlin claimed to have been filmed but later edited out because it was "unbearable." As former Israeli cabinet minister and Soviet Jewish dissident, Natan Sharansky, observes, " All three [journalists] concluded that it comprised blatantly staged scenes of Palestinians being shot by Israeli forces, and that France 2's Jerusalem Bureau Chief Charles Enderlin had lied to conceal that fact " (Wall Street Journal , October 2). Judge Trebucq has ruled that France-2 must provide the whole, unedited 27 minutes of footage. ( Pajamas Media, September 20).


The impact of this alleged killing has been extensive. It was cited by the murderers of the Wall Street Journal's Daniel Pearl. Postage stamps bearing al-Durah's crouched image have been issued in Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia; a street in Baghdad and a square in Morocco bear his name, while many schools across the Arab world are named after him. His image has even been reproduced on a designer dress in Saudi Arabia. Throughout Europe, and particularly in France, Muslims have used al-Durah as a rallying cry in their attacks against Jews, which broke out shortly after the Durah film was broadcast.


As Sharansky notes, "if, as Mr. Karsenty and others have claimed persuasively, the al-Dura incident is part of the insidious trend in which Western media outlets allow themselves to be manipulated by dishonest and politically motivated sources (recall the Jenin "massacre" that never was, or the doctored Reuters photos from Israel's war against Hezbollah in 2006), then France 2 must be held accountable. It is important to note that the al-Dura news report profoundly influenced Western public opinion. When I served in the Israeli government as minister of Diaspora Affairs from 2003 to 2005, I traveled frequently to North American college campuses. I heard first hand how Mohammed al-Dura had shaped the perceptions of young people just beginning to follow events in the Middle East. For many Jewish students, the incident was a stain of dishonor that called into question their support for Israel. For anti-Israel students, the story reaffirmed their sense of Zionism's innately "racist" nature and became a tool for recruiting campus peers to the cause. "


Shurat HaDin Chairwoman Nitzana Darshan-Leitner said that, "This was perhaps the greatest journalistic hoax perpetrated in the last hundred years " (Israel National News, October 3). She also stated that, "Among other things, we plan to petition the High Court of Justice and demand the journalist certificates and other GPO certificates are revoked from all France-2 crew members in Israel -- reporters, cameramen, produces, etc -- as long as the network does not publicly announce that the al-Dura report was staged and was biased. In addition, Shurat HaDin is considering filing a damages claim for the accumulated damage the report has caused, and specifically for the line of attacks and riots it has led to. This modern-day blood libel has led to the death of hundreds of Arabs and Jews and has ignited hatred" (Israel National News, October 2).


ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, "We welcome the Israeli Government Office making an official statement on the case. We are also pleased that the Israel Defense Forces have called for the release of the full footage of the incident. The absence in the past of official statements harmed the cause of seeking the truth. Indeed, the original judgment of defamation against Philippe Karsenty was in great part due to the absence of official Israeli denial and complaint about the France-2 report, something which was specifically cited in the original judgment. The ZOA has been calling for some time for France-2 to release the full footage surrounding the alleged killing of Muhammad al-Durah, and this statement will help gather momentum for uncovering the whole truth about this episode which has inspired so much hatred and terrorism against Israel and Jews around the world. We call upon France-2 to revoke Enderlin's credentials. This event makes it clear that no-one can ever trust any future allegations of alleged Israeli atrocities stemming from PA officials and Palestinian media, all of which are under the direction and control of the PA or other Palestinian terror organizations."





Israeli Official Joins Fight Over Palestinian Image (New York Times, Oct 3, 2007)
There have always been doubts about the authenticity of a video clip showing the shooting death of a Palestinian boy, two days after the second Palestinian uprising began in 2000.
In the Arab world, the original report by a French TV network -- which said that Israeli troops had deliberately shot the boy -- still carries tremendous iconic power. An image taken from the footage, above, has been printed on postage stamps, and the name of the boy, Muhammad al-Dura, has been invoked by suicide bombers and Osama bin Laden.
But the video is dismissed as a hoax in other quarters. In France, a lawsuit continues over the authenticity of the tape, and similar doubts are raised elsewhere. Skeptics argue that artful editing and overreaching reporting obscured the fact that the boy was probably shot by Palestinian gunmen during a street clash with Israeli soldiers.
In Israel, the right-wing Israel Law Center petitioned the Government Press Office to pursue criminal charges against France 2 and revoke the network's press credentials. The petition was rejected recently, but the deliverer of the rejection also happened to be a bold civil servant intent on breaking with the longtime preference of the Israeli government to stay out of the debate.
The official, Daniel Seaman, made clear in his letter denying the petition that he agreed with those who say France 2 "essentially staged" the shooting video to shift blame for the boy's death to Israeli soldiers. Here's one of the emphatic statements, as reported by Ynet, an Israeli news site:
The creation of the myth of Muhammad al-Dura has caused great damage to the State of Israel. This is an explicit blood libel against the state. And just as blood libels in the old days have led to pogroms, this one has also caused damage and dozens of dead.
Another excerpt was published in another account:
This report became the blood libel of modern times that shows that Jewish soldiers kill children in cold blood. This fomented the Arab world and caused many casualties in Israel and the world.
Charles Enderlin, the correspondent who filed the original 2000 video report to France 2, said today that he stood behind it, as does his network. "This is not the first time Daniel Seaman voices these false accusations," Mr. Enderlin told Agence France-Presse. He was not in Gaza that fateful day himself; his report used video images shot by a Palestinian member of his team.
Mr. Seaman's letter prompted Pajamas Media, a right-leaning Web site in the United States that has been closely following the case, to run the headline, "Israel Officially Declares Al Dura Footage Staged." And others were similarly direct.
But Israel has not officially declared anything. The prime minister's office pointedly refused today to endorse Mr. Seaman's letter, according to a statement to AFP:
We were never shown Seaman's letter, we are not familiar with its contents, and have not approved it.
Haaretz added yet another shade of gray to the affair: Mr. Seaman apparently received approval for his letter from the prime minister's legal adviser.
In a phone interview, Mr. Seaman said he's followed this case closely from the beginning, and is completely confident in his conclusion. He said the letter, which was written in Hebrew, supported his argument with information from reports in The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic Monthly, from independent sleuths like Second Draft and from official investigations.
Alas, a final answer of sorts remains elusive, although an official statement from the Israeli government becomes more likely as the Israel Law Center appeals the matter up the Israeli court ladder.
Another holy grail of the controversy is the full, unedited video footage from that day, which a French court has now demanded. In 2005, France 2 showed the original tape to an International Herald Tribune reporter, but did not answer crucial questions:
The footage of the father and son under attack lasts several minutes, but does not clearly show the boy's death. There is a cut in the scene that France 2 executives attribute to the cameraman's efforts to preserve a low battery.
In the 2003 Atlantic Monthly piece cited by Mr. Seaman, James Fallows both rejected the video and acknowledged that the true circumstances hardly mattered.
"Even if evidence that could revise the understanding of this particular death were widely accepted," he wrote, "it would probably have no effect on the underlying hatred and ongoing violence in the region."

Although Enderlin's book was published in 2003 it is important and timely. Its importance resides in the fact that the author, as Bureau Chief of France 2 (the French equivalent of PBS), had direct access to most of the principal actors in the peace-process and his location in Jerusalem as well as his dual French-Israeli citizenship provide for unbiased reporting.
The timeliness of the book results from two aspects. One: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to fester with no end in sight and influences U.S. political decisions in regard to the rest of the Middle East especially: Syria, Iraq and Iran. Two: Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, both former prime Ministers, are again candidates by their respective parties for the Prime Ministership in Israel's next election. Knowing a person's past behavior allows, to a certain extent, a reasonable prediction for the future. Enderlin shows us the character flaws of both individuals and how these have led to the collapse of the peace process.
In contrast to the propaganda Americans are still exposed to in regard to the failure of the Camp David II negotiations, which places the blame exclusively on Yasir Arafat, Enderlin shows that the process was doomed from the start. The confidence building measures namely adherence to the Wye River agreement, which had been negotiated previously by Netanyahu, were not observed by Barak who instead insisted that everything would be solved by this final status agreement. Arafat thought that it would be impossible to do so in a hastily arranged two week meeting for a conflict on which the partners show wide disagreements. The most egregious ones were: the borders of the Palestinian state, the right of return of Palestinian refugees, the fate of the settlements and Jerusalem which both sides regard as their capital. The Jerusalem problem is compounded by the question of sovereignty over the Temple Mount which, as Haram al Sharif, is the third holiest site of the Muslim world. The American failure to understand that Arafat could not single handedly make decisions on this vital topic, without agreement by the other Arab nations, was an important aspect for the failure of the talks.
For these reasons Arafat did not want a meeting which was supposed to be the "end all and be all." He agreed to come only after he had received President Clinton's assurance that he would not be blamed if the talks were to collapse. As we know Clinton did not keep this promise.
There were numerous reasons why the actual talks failed: Barak never negotiated with Arafat personally and even refused to engage in private conversations with him during dinner; there was no fixed agenda and no protocols were kept, everything was negotiated orally; the "American" proposals had to be vetted by the Israelis before they could be presented to the Palestinians; sessions went on throughout all hours of the night rather than on a fixed timetable. As everybody knows, when people are sleep deprived tempers tend to flare and agreements become difficult to achieve. The fact that the American negotiators were for the most part Jewish was also a hindrance. Although Enderlin doesn't mention it Swisher's book The Truth about Camp David, which should also be consulted, pointed out that Hillary Clinton was during that time locked in a race for the vacant New York Senate seat. This was an additional factor which prevented Bill Clinton from "leaning" on the Israelis even if he had wanted to do so.
Under these circumstances it is remarkable that a considerable rapprochement of views was actually accomplished upon which further negotiations could and did in fact proceed. They were however thwarted by the political process. In the U.S. Clinton's term of office was over and the Bush administration was not interested. In Israel Barak ruled with a minority government and had to call for elections against Sharon who was violently opposed to any concessions towards the Palestinians. Within Palestine the people had not seen any improvement in their lives during the prolonged peace process and to the contrary had to watch more of their land being expropriated for settlement building. They had become increasingly furious and the second Intifada erupted which provided the pretext for ending all negotiations.
Since the accuracy of Enderlin's presentation is vouched for by Israeli as well as Palestinian negotiators the book can be highly recommended to anyone who is interested in this vital topic. The book should also be required reading for all presidential office seekers as well as members of Congress.

Charles Enderlin (a French journalist in Jerusalem) has done a great service not only to Israelis and Palestinians but also to American observers of the conflict. With his inside access to the negotiators, Enderlin gives the reader a vast amount of primary material.

What were the two sides discussing? How did the negotiations work? Why did the summit at Camp David fail? Did either side really want peace? Enderlin has his answers, but he also gives the reader the opportunity to make his/her own judgments.

As Beilin, Sher, Ben-Ami, Ross, and others publish accounts as participants in the process, it is very helpful to have Enderlin's book as a resource. For anyone interested in understanding the failed attempt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Enderlin's book will be essential reading.

This book is most interesting as it shows you how each side ( US, Palestinian, Israel) approached the peace negotiations process and how misunderstandings, political pressures, fundamental policy differences, promises made by one & retracted by another, the lack of preparation and trust lead all contributed to the failure of the Clinton Peace talks.

It is truely a behind the scenes view of the entire process.

It also covers how each side, especially the Israelis, managed the peace process. The management of press reports(pages 215 to 217)is just one aspect that I found most enlightning.

I would make this book required reading for anyone engaged in the study/practice of international negotiations.

As someone who has done alot of research on the middle east, having read countless books on the matter and journals, I can honestly say that no present account is better than Enderlin's account of the failed peace process. The main reason are his sources. Most of his sources are all the people involved, from Shimon Peres, to the european delegation, Palestinian ministers, transcripts between Clinton and the leaders, even transcripts of Syria's Assad! The book is very fair in the sense that it does not place an emotional blame, just describes what happened and who did what. If you want to understand where we are now and how the tragic mistakes of the past can be avoided, read this book. You will not regret it.

As someone who has guided tourists through Istanbul, this is the best book available to provide site seeing advice and a true flavor of the history of this magnificent city. No book prior or since has painted a more comprehensive description of Istanbul.

This is a magnificent book. Not only do you get a great idea of what the sights in Istanbul are, but it helps provide an understanding of the city as a whole, and the culture behind it. If you are going to be in Istanbul more than 1 or 2 days, you need to buy this book!

Strolling through Istanbul is a journey of One Thousand and One Nights in several days. It teaches you literally everything you want to know about this city of two continents. It is very strong in architechural history and yet gives you a personal sense of the city. As a former resident on Istanbul, it is accurate in every sense and conveys the magic of the "jewel of the empire". Each chapter reflects a different tour of the city or, a portion of the city to explore. Whether searching out Byzantium, Constantinople or Istanbul, the reader is never disappointed.

This book goes far beyond the "go here, then there" style of most tour guides, it is the only such book that I find myself dipping into at random just to enjoy the delighful descriptions of one of the world's most fascinating and colorful cities, coupled with amazing historical tidbits that bring the city's ancient history into immediate contemporary focus. Even if you never visit Turkey and never intend to, this book will bring the city to life and perhaps make you anxious to visit. I found this book by accident and was immediately enchanted. It features many walking tours with commentary on what you will see, but I found the most enjoyable way to use the book was to strike out at random and stop whenever I got tired or saw something interesting (which in Istanbul is only about three times per city block). I would then locate myself and find the relevant section of the book and read up on where I was, preferably while sipping Turkish tea and munching on baklava. For those less physically adventurous, I would suggest going to the Galata Bridge, finding a tea shop about halfway across, and then just browsing through this book while observing the Asian and European halves of the city from midway between them. Istanbul is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth and nobody can possibly find all her secrets in one visit, or from one book - or for that matter, within the space of a single lifetime. This is where to start, it will whet your curiosity and expand your sense of wonder.

There are innumerable city-guides to the great metropolis of Istanbul, all of them brimming with practical, touristy information about lodging, exchange rates, transportation, dining, toilet etiquette, etc. Most also have at least a few pages devoted to primary tourist sites and suggested itineraries.

Then there is Strolling Through Istanbul by Hillary Sumner-Boyd and John Freely. For Istanbul, who's few square miles are more steeped in history than the sum of the western world, STI is the only single-volume book small enough to stuff in your fanny pack that entices and enlivens the traveler with detailed descriptions of the city's numerous and fascinating attractions. STI's absorbing anecdotes, vivid histories, and abundant artistic perspectives peel away layer upon layer of the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary character of the city. Everything is covered, from the dizzying heights of the ancient Haghia Sofia and the entrancing mosaics of St. Savior-In-Chora to the incredibly ar

The author makes a very clear case for a change in the United States' approach to Syria, in the context of the rise of fundamentalism and cross-border terrorism. Timely, nuanced, and thought-provoking.

This book gives the reader an understanding of why things are happening in Middle East and the strategy that Washington can take to face this threat

A must read for those of us who want to be current with the Middle East. A lot of information and analysis, this book is very friendly; It is no wonder that Dr. Rabil is an expert in the Middle East, particularly Syria, Lebanon and israel.
Definetely Dr. Rabil is NOT an apologetic for Islam as we are used to see in Academia in the US. He gives a balanced understanding of the current situation, as well as the dangers the West is facing. Certainly a must for students of Political Science and the "mavens in State Department"

Excellent book! Beneficial to both first time Middle East readers and those who already developed passion for this region. This complex political scene is explained with such ease and simplicity that it welcomes all readers.

So much has been made of the Saudi connection to terrorism and 9/11 that Syria's role in influencing events in the Middle East has been somewhat overshadowed. As the cradle of Arab nationalism and the birthplace of the Ba'ath party, Syria has used its ideological and geographic position to influence events throughout the history of the modern Middle East. Given Syria's recent role in sheltering and nurturing Hamas' leadership and the likes of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi and the current allegations by Jordan that Hamas affiliated terrorists captured in the Kingdom were recruited and trained in Syria, this is a book that is both timely and makes a significant contribution to our understanding of today's Middle East. Rabil clearly explains the complex events that have led to the current state of U.S. - Syrian relations and discusses the future consequences of a Syria dominated by Islamic Fundamentalists if our policies do not change.

Rabil is a skillful historian and political analyst who has the rare ability to write at a scholarly level while making his material accessible to a general audience. You don't need to be a Middle East expert to appreciate the material presented here. Meticulously researched and written in a lively and captivating manner, there is much here for everyone from academicians and policy makers to those who just want to learn more about the Middle East. His review of the historical relationship between Syria and the U.S. and its effect on events in the Middle East is both comprehensive and engaging. Rabil brings out the various nuisances in this complex relationship and provides a strong basis for understanding today's (and future) events. If you are looking for partisan political analysis, then this is not the book for you. Rabil displays an evenhandedness that is all the more surprising considering that he served as chief of emergency with the Red Cross in Lebanon's Baabda district during Lebanon's civil war.

If you are interested in the complex currents that have influenced the events in the Middle East today or if you have a particular interest in Syria and its place in today's ongoing conflict then I highly recommend this book. And if you want to delve deeper, let me suggest that you read Rabil's other book - Embattled Neighbors: Syria, Israel, Lebanon.

Moving and extreme reality

This book reviews the aftermath of the Vietnam-U.S. war in a down to earth tone and it's impact on the people who's involvement in the war are explained in detail.Personally i like this book because of its content which voiced out the real opinion of the one involved in the war no matter whether they're the allies or enemies.It's a great book to those who wants to know more about the Vietnam war and its aftermath.

This book is worth reading for anyone interested in the history of the Vietnam War.
It is a collection of forty-eight short recollections from a wide variety of Americans and Vietnamese involved in the war, or the country, from the late 50's to the 80's. It also touches on Cambodia and Laos. Each recollection is from one-half to six pages long, and may cover one short event, or several years' experience in the country.
The book deceptively starts out slowly, and it is only with continued reading that one discovers that within this chosen group of recollections are many of the great truths of politics and military conflict in South Vietnam.
The essays cover the fatal flaws inherent within South Vietnam, which include the long history of being a colony of France, without France taking any steps to prepare the country for independence, such as training civil servants or encouraging the rule of law through local rulers. Once independent, South Vietnam was fragmented on religious lines. The civil leaders were corrupt, engaged in nepotism, and did not relate well to the peasants. South Vietnamese military leaders were promoted not on merit, but by family ties and the size of the bribes they paid to the government. For political reasons, the military zone around Saigon was intentionally unorganized and inefficient.
The geography of South Vietnam -- having all its territory within easy reach of Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam -- made it a very difficult land to defend from an enemy with safe sanctuary so close to crucial areas. This book does not mention the oppressive acts of the South Vietnamese government, which helped alienate its citizens. The book seems to understand, if not almost excuse, wrongful acts by US soldiers.
The US tactics also contributed to defeat: rules of engagement tied the military's hands in senseless ways (a SAM base couldn't be attacked under construction, but pilots had to wait until it was operational); rotating inexperienced officers through Vietnam to "punch their combat ticket" was more important than retaining experienced officers and advisors who often "got it" just before being rotated out; the battle for "hearts and minds" was often ignored; and years were wasted on ineffective strategy, until home protests compelled withdrawal.
And, yes, North Vietnam really was an oppressive regime which used terror and lies to achieve its goals.
Any discussion of Vietnam brings up many "what if's?" What if South Vietnam had a more appealing and legitimate government? What if US politicians hadn't used such ineffective strategy and tactics? Is there ANY scenario which would have resulted in a long-term stable and secure South Vietnam?
If you're at all interested in the field, this is a book well worth searching out.

Al Santoli's book, To Bear Any Burden, is a narrative of stories told by 47 Americans, Vietnamese (both North and South), and Cambodians regarding their experiences before the US involvement, during the US war, and the war's aftermath (after the departure of US troops). Each tale (from two to 10 pages in length) is riveting in itself. The book moves in relative chronilogical order beginning in 1954 and concludes with the present (circa 1985). Each tale is successfully interwoven with the next story such that there is a cohesiveness and a logical flow to the story telling timeline.

Some of the stories are quite stunning: from the description of US soldiers being called baby-killers and spat on after they returned to the US [difficult to comprehend in this patriotic post 9/11 world] to the horror stories of the Communist regimes in Cambodia and in North/South Vietnam after the fall of Saigon [after reading theses stories, one should question why the US would want to establish ties to Vietnam].

This "straight from the hip" narrative is recommended to anyone wishing to learn more about the scenes from a participant's point of view.

I first read To Bear Any Burden when it was originally released in 1985. This has been a 'must-read' classic of American involvement in Southeast Asia since it was published. For it, Santoli interviewed, in depth, 47 individuals representative of that involvement from 1945 into the 1980s--Americans, Viet-Namese (communists and anti-communists), Cambodians and Laotians. The book is so artfully compiled as to flow like a single narration; yet the 'cast of characters' are separate in time, space, culture and social rank--an entire spectrum from ambassadors to villagers, soldiers to politicians, in one volume. No ones education about the Viet-Nam War is complete unless they've read this book.

Like its companion, The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib, Torture and Truth is an essential resource for scholars or researchers on this subject. However, because of its length (500+ pages)and scope it is an excellent choice for the more general reader. It is a compilation of reports and letters, mostly from the Bush Administration, on the Iraq War and torture issues. Because of its primary source components, it is invaluable for anyone doing research on the subject. It is well-organized, and will find a place in many dissertations in the years to come.

This book offers a chilling rendition of the events that occured at Abu Gharib. It fairly reviews the events through official reports, which are quite chilling! A must read!!

This is by far the best journalistic account of the torture of suspects at Abu Ghraib. This is also the best book to read after reading the books of documents, which give you the vital context for understanding Danner's book. Read them first and then this one - you will then be able to understand what really happened and why. British and US troops really did commit terribe acts against their prisoners, with tragic consequences for the reputation of both nations in the Middle East. Read Danner and the documents books to discove why. Christopher Catherwood (author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ: Carroll and Graf, hardcover 2004, paperback 2005)

The author strongly makes the case that the Abu Ghraib torture scandal was not caused by a few rotten apples on the night shift, but was systematic torture as policy. The Red Cross report and other valid reports are in the book so that the reader can see for himself that the torture at Abu Ghraib was certainly far more than a few rotten apples that were military police serving in the reserves that were sent to Abu Ghraib.

There was sadism at Abu Ghraib. There was a breakdown in law and order at Abu Ghraib. There was a breakdown in discipline at Abu Ghraib. This, of course, puts our entire Country and our entire military at risk.

Not only is the torture wrong, but, beyond that, torture is ineffective and many of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib had no intelligence value in the first place. Torture is very harmful to our Country politically speaking. It is certainly the case that any information that was obtained by torture would be overshadowed by the political damage caused by the activities.

I bought Mark Danner's TORTURE AND TRUTH several months ago from Amazon, and find it ever more relevant to current events. For the numbers of people detained and tortured in the War on Terror-- many of them believed by reputable individuals and organizations to be innocent-- continues to rise, and extends far beyond Abu Ghraib. The very fact that the majority of these people have never been formally charged with involvement in terrorist activity nor tried seems to prove their innocence, for it would be very easy to keep someone in jail these days if one could present solid evidence of their involvment in terrorism. Those who object that the tortures inflicted on these detaninees is not as bad as that which some totalitarian governments inflict upon their victims ignore the fact that the "soft torture" techniques in development since the end of World War II have been found to be more effective in "breaking" victims than simple brutality (see Alfred McCoy, A QUESTION OF TORTURE: CIA INTERROGATION FROM THE COLD WAR TO THE WAR ON TERROR). The suffering of these wretched detainees keeps me awake at night, yet to this day most people seem unconcerned about their plight. Danner's comment from the Introduction to his book still holds true: "Like other scandals that have erupted during the Iraq War and the war on terror, it is not about revelation or disclosure but about the failure, once wrongdoing is disclosed, of politicians, officials, the press, and, ultimately, citizens to act."

I totally recommend this book to anyone interested in the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is a great work of fiction but it is rooted in reality. The potential for the political-military scenario to occur is great in the current international political climate. I give this book 5 stars for its gripping, page turning story.

Rozenman has written a taut, gripping story about a bleak period in world history which may be around the corner -- let's hope not.

Everyone should read this book and then listen to the news from the Middle East. It's coming............

I really enjoyed Total Jihad. It was full of interesting characters, historical and contemporary information, action, and suspense. A great story well told.

Total Jihad by Eric Rozenman is a timely, confronting and thrilling work of fiction which, we all pray, won't become fact.

Apart from it's being a gripping narrative, Total Jihad should stand as a warning to the world about how events can play out, and how short is our memory of what happens when the world uses Jews as scapegoats. Yet for all its dire warnings of underestimating militant Islam, and the urgent need for moderate Islam to confront the terrorists who are causing it and the rest of the world such mayhem, the novel confronts Europe and the West with the shame of its own recent past.
Rozenman shows that only sixty years after the greatest crime in all of history, western governments are still blind to the dangers of antisemitism as a precursor to global catastrophy.

Alan Gold
...

Rozenman has written an exciting and timely "what if" novel. In this book, events in the Middle East have advanced well beyond today's headlines: the State of Israel no longer exists except as a few scraps of land grudgingly granted autonomy by the Islamic Republic of Greater Palestine. Warfare has left Israel on its knees.
Out of this new world order has stepped a self-declared warrior of Islam who wants to push events farther along toward Israel's total destruction. He has kidnapped an American woman rabbi, and forces her to debate him over Israel's right to exist before the world via an internationally televised satellite broadcast. Her failure to prevail in this will trigger an act of final destruction.
Israel's allies and enemies, as in the real world, are of all persuasions and stripes. Ultimately, another war comes, and this time there can only be one victor.

We only spent two days hiking in Wadi Rum. We ended up going guided because we didn't want to waste time searching. Good thing we did - the trail was completely unmarked and we would have never found our way. Still this book offered great information that supplemented our guide who spoke very little English.

I hiked for 3 days in the Jordanian Dead Sea Rift using a guide and this book. If I had known about this book (the guide loaned it to me), I would not have needed the guide. It is excellent and unlocks to all readers this amazing hiking area. My favorite hikes be far were the ones up the "wadis" (Canyons) -- cool narrow canyons where the trail is a clear, cool stream. I am eager to return to Jordan to hike many more of the described hikes. Best for the hikes along the Dead Sea Rift. Also has hikes near Petra and two at Wadi Rum. Wonderful book despite its steep price.

Most of the exploration literature about this amazing stretch of land was written in the 19th and early 20th century, and was devoted mainly to biblical archaeology and to geographic descriptions of desert expanses. It is only recently that numerous beauty spots are beginning to be revealed hidden in the darkness of the gorges amidst the spray of waterfalls, springs and hanging gardens - all exciting, but vulnerable places. If they were destined to be revealed, let it be in the way of Itai Haviv. The book's accurate route descriptions are accompanied by detailed maps, there is valuable practical and regional information and last but not least - dignity and love for humans, plants, animals and lands of the desert. Excerpts from early explorers literature flavor the text in appropriate locations and useful decorative sketches illustrate it. The book's layout is carefully planed creating an atmosphere which contributes to its content. Pleasant to browse through, it feels right in your hand, and you can definitely count on its reliability. (Eli Raz former manager of the Judean Desert field school in Ein Gedi and a BMC guide)

I recomend this book based on three routes I treked with my wife. The best one (as well as the longest one) was wadi Hassa (route 21 in the book), it is a wet and full of surprises two days walk.

The pictures in the book are definitely encourage you to try more and more routes, and after two trips to Jordan, 5 day a time, we are only waiting to try the next wadis we did'nt walk through yet.

The only real full traveling book - Accurate and detailed route descriptions and information, topographical maps, satellite maps, colored photos and all in one, compact and very "user friendly" book. An absolute must for anyone traveling the region and the best guidebook that exists of Jordan.

Turkey is known with its peaceful Islamic movements and among them is the Nurcu movement to which Gulen belongs. Although the Turkish political establishment views Gulen's educational activities with suspicion, he preaches tolerance and co-existence in a pluralistic cultural environment. The book appears to be the first study, a compilation of good articles on the movement he leads. Some of the articles concentrate more on his ideas and views than analyzing the movement itself. Particularly noteworthy are pieces by Hakan Yavuz, Yasin Aktay, Elisabeth Ozdalga, Ahmet Kuru, John Voll and Hasan Kosebalaban. Overall the book is a timely study particularly in the context of strong anti-islamic movements around the world, with the rhetoric that Islam breeds violence. The book shows that this accusation is largely false using the empirical case of Gulen movement. It reminds the readers that Islam like any other religion is interpreted in a particular context shaped by political, social and economic conditions.

This academic work is of a high standard. It Brings out of the mist the work and thoughts of Gulen. He is a remarkable individual who serves others through different activities, particularly in these difficult times where Muslims and Islam are so misunderstood. Of speacial interest to me was the paper by Thomas Michel. I look forward to a greater analysis and research into his interfaith activities.

As a first in this kind of academic attempt, this book is very successfull. The articles especially took my attention are ones from Elisabeth Ozdalga, Ahmet T. Kuru, and Zeki Saritoprak. Elisabeth Ozdalga's research subject is an interesting one which should be expanded in the future. Ahmet T. Kuru's article is compact and very well organized. I liked the conclusion part clever. 4 points explained in detail needs further detailing -which might be a subject for a whole new book-

Thank you to all the authors who contributed to such an excellent guidebook about the Gulen movement. This education-centered modernization is no doubt being watched by many people all around the world with an increasing curiosity. I would hope to see more books on this issue in the future.

Being the first academic book on Gulen, I think this book serves a very important purpose. The articles cover variety of his and his movement's aspects, neverthless there seems to be a lot of room for new studies to cover all of them. The most interesting articles are the ones written by Ahmet Kuru, Thomas Michel and Zeki Saritoprak. I congrulate all the authors and the editors of the book for their nice work. It is also very nice to have the book with this affordable price.

Originally intended for those taking a trip to Israel, Tom Wright dramatically and skillfully points out that the true Holy Land is wherever believers are. He points out that a trip to the Holy Land may be of some value but not as a matter of 'earning points' with the Lord. An example of how he relates his "tour" to personal life is when he is talking of visiting Jerusalem. Located at 3000 feet above sea level, It doesn't take much of a journey on either side of Jerusalem to find oneself in a wilderness. Just as one may feel 'on top of the world'
one moment and the next find oneself in a physical or emotional wilderness. We have all been there.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Once again Tom Wright proves he is one of the top theologians in the world, regardless of denomination or location.

The Way of the Lord. Christian Pilgrimage Today. Tom Wright. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999.

On the face of it, pilgrimage would seem to be a venerable, natural practice. It is, in fact, highly controversial. To be sure, it has its advocates in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Torah required three pilgrimages a year, one on Passover, one during the Feast of Weeks, and one during the Feast of Tabernacles (De 16.16). And St. Jerome even interpreted some of the Psalms to be a command to make a pilgrimage. By contrast, however, Gregory of Nyssa went out of his way to criticize the practice, arguing that it is important to be close to God and one's neighbors and that pilgrimage made no contribution to accomplishing either imperative. And in more recent times, C. S. Lewis asserted, "The significance of the incarnation is not that God is a god of one place to the exclusion of others; it is that he is a god of all places, active in his world . . . God is to be found especially in people; namely those in need and in the gathered community of the Church . . . It follows that to set off on a journey to grow nearer to Christ is at best a complex matter. It might be that the true search is among those in need . . ." For the ardent pilgrim, Lewis commends the words of Matthew 28.6: "He is not here; he is risen." There is a certain logic to Lewis's position, but at the same time, it misses an important point. Pilgrimage is not about going to a particular place to find God. It is about putting ourselves in a particular place so that God can find us. For people who struggle with the concept of pilgrimage and who are inclined to side with Gregory or Lewis, Tom Wright's brief, readable work on pilgrimage will be a welcome guide. Former Dean of Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire, England, and the new Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey, Wright grew up in the evangelical tradition. He heard little or nothing about pilgrimage early in his life and his first exposure to the practice left him with doubts not unlike those expressed by Lewis. But much to his surprise, he discovered that "one can learn to discover the presence of God not only in the world, but through the world." This growing realization prompted him to write this sage little work that not only serves as an introduction to the practice of pilgrimage but is also, by design, "a refresher course, from an unusual angle, on what might be called `Christian basics'." Using locations in the Holy Land where Jesus walked, talked, and healed, Wright takes the reader on a virtual pilgrimage, combining biblical scholarship with catechesis and inspirational challenge. But Wright is never facile or dogmatic. His closing paragraph provides a taste of the rest: "We do not go on pilgrimage, then, because we have the answers and want to impose them. That would make us crusaders, not pilgrims; the world has had enough of that, and I dare say God has had enough of that. We go on the pilgrim way, we follow the way of the Lord, because he himself is the way - and, as he said himself, the truth and the life as well. We go to meet him afresh, to share his agony, and to pray and work for the victory he won on the cross to be implemented, and for his way to be followed, in Israel and Palestine, in our own countries and in the whole world."

This book starts out good and then just gets better and better with each new Pilgrimage. Wright takes the reader on a journey with such descriptive writing that one wonders if his degree is in literature, instead of theology and history. Wright deals with the idea of Pilgimage on the road to Damascus, at the Jordan, in the Wilderness, in Galilee where most of Jesus minsitry took place, in Jerusalem, on the mountain where God is experienced in transfigurative ways, Gethsemene, where the agony of purpose takes place, the Cross (the best chapter), the empty tomb and then reflections on current day Israel. This book will take you away and cause you to feel like you were on the mountain, at the Jordan and was a witness of the cross. Wright's reflections are insightful, powerful and moving. Get this book.

This will be brief. It is simply a statement about my "hero" in a sphere for which he is often not known, especially in the States. This book is the heart of Tom Wright, the pastor. Written as a pastor to part of his flock going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, it breathes the spirit of pastoral concern. At the same time it reveals a real knowledge of the Land - its history, geography, culture, and current struggles. For those who think that they know NT Wright, whether as friend or foe, it reveals what I like about him most - an academic who left the daily world of academia for pastoral ministry. And what a pastor he must be to his flock - now in the diocese of Durham. I have been to the "Holy Land" forty times and have read dozens of books on Israel, past and present. I will treasure this one more than any of them. I am in the process of buying up all of the copies I can, since it appears to be out of print.
Read it as preparation for your physical and spiritual pilgrimages. It is a wonderful guide to both.

As N.T. Wright notes, "It can happen to anyone. It can happen to you."

Wright's "It" is an unexpected encounter with Jesus Christ. Rarely do we see it coming. Wright makes this clear in the very first chapter of his wonderful book, "The Way of the Lord." He cites Saul of Tarsus' journey from Jerusalem to Damascus. It was no intentional pilgrimage. Yet by the time Paul reached the gates of Damascus, he was already embarked on a journey that would see him travel the world in service of his God.

And so it is for all who follow Christ. As Wright says: "One sort of pilgrimage ends, therefore, and a new sort of pilgrimage begins, with the empty tomb of Jesus." Though we may never travel further than ten miles from home, life in Christ is a pilgrimage. Wright's book illustrates this by comparing different facets of the spiritual journey with different areas Jesus traveled through in his sojourn here.

Each chapter Focuses on an individual area/spiritual facet of life. They are meant to be read sequentially, but I have gone back to several chapters since first reading them and each has its own lesson and can validly stand on its own. This makes this book an invaluable companion for anyone seeking to follow Jesus.

Life in Christ is a wonderful journey--it is truly life "to the full." "The Way of the Lord" is like a tour book of sorts. I give it my highest recommendation