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U.S. As Baer points out in his book; "Saudi Arabia would be over-run by Iranian forces in less then 18 hours" were it not for the presence of the 5th Fleet in the Gulf. If you watched Syriana with George Clooney then you have and idea who Robert Baer is. Robert Baer has reveled so much that is never openly discussed on these shores.
Baer's well written book walks you through the mistakes of the past and helps the reader understand a completely different perspective on Middle East affairs.This book has been adequately analyzed in other reviews so I will not venture down that path, I can only speak as a retire Air Force Fighter Pilot who spent more then enough time prosecuting battle in various Middle Eastern venues to tell you that we as a nation can not financially afford the price of a continued presence in a region where we are not making a difference. I started this book while I was in the middle of Ronen Bergman's "Thirty Year Secret War With Iran" and what a contrast between perspectives. mainstream media is incapable of covering such possibilities as Silk Worm missiles virtually shutting down all oil traffic, mainstream media is incapable of revealing the financial consequences of a Iranian retaliation in the context of oil pricing i.e. Bergman's book while informative rings with the tone of an Israeli lobbyist and Baer's book screams the need to reform our conventional thinking. Bahrain is an island that use to be under Persian control, the vast majority of the inhabitants are Shia.
$200 a barrel. There is more to be learned from retired spooks who have the perspective and hindsight to finally offer solutions that are not part of the Langley Company line. While Berman's book gives an excellent Israeli perspective on Iran and its evolution from the Shah thru the mutation of Hezbollah up to now as seen through the eyes of the Israeli intelligence apparatus. The epilogue contains a series of recommendations that are brilliant.i.e. These and many other factual tidbits spark critical thinking and help a western reader to under stand that the U.S.
strategizes on 4 year election cycles and the Iranians/Persians strategize on thousand year epochs.Robert Baer's analysis of a retaliation by Iran should Israel attack the nuclear sites is very disturbing yet thought provoking. capture the Pakistan nuclear weapons and let the Iranians deal with the region of Afghanistan and the sad excuse for a country that is Pakistan. This is an excellent book.
It is safe to say that I have read more about Iran than the average citizen. Baer, a career CIA official has spent the better part of his professional life in the Middle East, has seen first what most of us can only imagine and he's talked with players of all rank throughout the Persian Gulf region. Of course millions have read more about Kenya than I have. I'm not boasting, just setting the stage for what I want to say next.As far as this average American is concerned Robert Baer has described a culture in a way that puts some of the puzzle pieces together in an understandable way. I know no one more qualified to highten our awareness about a very secretive, very religious and very powerful nation. I will keep my copy handy as I watch the developments in that part of the world.Marvin Wiebener author ofThe MarginThe Moriah Ruse[.].
All we have to do is trust Iran. Baer in his final pro Iranian conclusion.
It is an extremely informative and well written book. Baer puts the differences between the Shiites and Sunnis into sharp focus and pleads that the US should ally itself with Iran which has supposedly sworn off terrorism (except when used in the context of a military operation)and ditch its support for the ramshackle and corrupt Al Saud family of Saudi Arabia.
Robert Baer gives a thought provoking alternative account of the situation in the Middle East. But I cannot follow Mr.
It is the only way to peace in the Middle East. The US might as well go this route because Iran will dominate the Gulf area and its oilfields anyhow.I found the book hugely interesting and better understand some of the religious aspects in the Islamic world.
Trust Iran, don't listen to what they say but what they do and grant them their demands,(enforcement of UN ruling 242 against Israel, US to stop of calling for the overthrow of the Iranian government, having a part of managing the holy sites in Mecca and Medina and US acceptance of Iranian interest in southern Iraq, northern Iraq and Baghdad)of which none is too excessive. Can we really do that.
Chalabi had ties to Iran. US should guarantee internal security, joint patrolling of Gulf, stop embargo, let UN supervise nukes both with Iran and Israel, let Iran partition Iraq, force Israel to adhere to UN 242, let Iran control Mecca, let Hezbollah integrate with Lebanese army, let UN supervise nukes with Iran and Israel, and let an international group set oil prices.Even if the US can't meet everything, there is plenty of room for negotiation to partner with Iran in the Mideast. Iran is not totalitarian - has checks and balances. Azerbaijan is mostly Shia.12. Iran will use the Lebanon model to win over the Shia south which has control of only Iraqi Gulf port. In 1992, Israel stupidly expelled 415 Hamas leaders to Lebanon who were tutored by Nasrallah/Hezbollah.16. Hezbollah are guerrillas not terrorists - use social programs and a military.8. We broke down army so can't be put back together.
Over the last 30 years Iran has evolved, modernized, abandoned terrorism, now very rational in pursuing its destiny to build an empire and patient - thinks in centuries, eras not like US. Zoroasterism is the root of Iran - worship fire - Kalashnikov not the Koran. Wants empire, but based on fairness and justice.11. Tarqiyah - can lie to protect the faith.7. It is a nation with nuance - has pleasure marriages -formalized prostitution, fans of Oprah, Ipods, flat panel TVs but not of bikinis, R-rated films, most sacred martyr is an American missionary teacher.
The book is a well-presented analysis of, and advice for what the US should do about Iran, especially since the author is a credible expert on the region. Xenophobic- thinks foreigners are spies.2. Therefore, history big.18. Pakistan fears Iran next to India.10. Iran's revolutionary guards are a state within a state - own more than 100 companies. The Sunnis lost 4 wars with Israel, Iran thru Hezbollah won two, 2000 and 2006.
There is good and evil, dualism exists.5. Oppressed Arabs will work with Iran.3. Tehran's Martyr Museum has Sunnis, Zoroastrians, Jews from the Iran/Iraq war. Have sophisticated tools - secrecy, code cracking, hiding explosives like disguised as olives, shaped/platter charges, secure communications, car/truck bombs.9. Dubai has lots of Iranians, plus has a history with Iran.14. Saudis have never fought a war, Iran is battle-hardened.13. Key to Iraq.4. Iran wants internal security, influence in Iraq, higher oil prices, empire, control of Mecca, recognition, enforcement of UN resolution 242.19.
Syria helped the US after 9/11 with al Qaeda Hamburg cell - they and Iran hate al Qaeda. Key points worth remembering:1. Arabs look at Nasrallah as a sovereign leader, not just a cleric but a field commander. Iranian embassy in Kabul just has a simple wall plus picnics nearby, not like well-fortified US embassy.15.
Have rockets underground to avoid satellite detection, plus have perfected hiding in plain site among civilians. Ijthad - Shia use a cleric to interpret Koran using reason and precedent.17. 2002, Iran had simulated war games using swarms of many small, fast boats. Iraq was an army not a country. Alexander the Great's wife who bore him his only son was Iranian.
Iran has harnessed the oppressed, no palaces, plus like Napoleon ideology is won on the battlefield.6. Iran's 2008 mock attack on the US in the Gulf was a warning. Once all major central Asian cities spoke Iranian. An excellent book for understanding Iran.
Before I read this book I knew nothing about Iran, Israel, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East. I've always had an interest in the politics and events in the Middle East. Especially now with current events it is more important than ever to be informed. What better way and source to learn about these topics than from an ex-CIA officer who actually spent some twenty years in the area and has an insider's view of the politics and goings on in these countries. Great book with practical insights and views on the situation over there and what the US and the world can do to better understand these countries and come to a peaceful conclusion.Totally recommend it.
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