The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East

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Wonderful, honest and shocking

A Great Book for Civilisation

Detailed and well-written account

A Must Read

grat book, must read if u wanna learn about the middle east

The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East
Robert Fisk
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books
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Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon (Nation Books)

Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy

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ASIN: 1400075173
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Book Description

A sweeping and dramatic history of the last half century of conflict in the Middle East from an award-winning journalist who has covered the region for over thirty years, The Great War for Civilisation unflinchingly chronicles the tragedy of the region from the Algerian Civil War to the Iranian Revolution; from the American hostage crisis in Beirut to the Iran-Iraq War; from the 1991 Gulf War to the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. A book of searing drama as well as lucid, incisive analysis, The Great War for Civilisation is a work of major importance for today's world.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, honest and shocking.......2007-10-07

The book "The great war for civilisation", by Robert Fisk, is wonderful, mostly for its vivid and honest telling of the history the author has lived in thr last 40 years.
Even not having finished its reading (it's a 1,100 pages book!), I can see the author does not leaves "stone on stone" (translated from a Portuguese sentence). He show how ignorant people of developed countries can be (to make a monument in Vincennes, indiana, USA, to USS Vincennes, which blowed up a civil plane, killing 290 people, is terrible!), and how dishonest governments like Reagan's and Thatcher's were. Please, divulge this book!

A Great Book for Civilisation.......2007-10-06

It's hard to exaggerate when trying to accord sufficient praise for this great book. As a pure work of journalistic reportage it seems impossible to beat, let alone come near to its level of sincerity, humanity and scope. I don't know how Mr. Fisk was able to collate and make such sense of so much material, and survive the ordeal.
Whatever one's own proclivities may be in the world of politics and religion, I don't think anyone could quarrel with the author's many observations, which are so clearly animated by an overriding sense of outrage at the callous and sensless brutality which he has so often witnessed in person in the countries where he has been a reporter.
He tries his best to be impartial, and indeed it is virtually impossible to know where the truth lies in a world of spin and manipulation. However, he clearly shows a penchant for the Muslim argument in the Middle East, and certainly there must be a lot to be said in his favour, even if he is not always wholly convincing.
This, however, is but a quibble compared with the might and majesty of this splendid book, which I would recommend anyone who is in any way concerned with the Arab world to read, and learn from.

Detailed and well-written account.......2007-10-03

Fisk's narrative pulls no punches, and does a superb job of recounting events ranging from the Iran-Iraq War to the Armenian genocide the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to the Palestinian Israeli conflict to the current War in Iraq -- as well as many other events relevant to the contemporary Middle East (and U.S. foreign policy in the region).

I found the account to be depressing at times, but for those who are looking for a thought-provoking, and engaging narrative this is a great place to start. No easy answers, and plenty of information to digest. The best kind of reading.

A Must Read.......2007-09-02

I read every word in this book. At first I was skeptical that it could all be true, but on completion I believe it is. I highly recommend this book to all.

It is an excellent way to learn just how big a mistake was made by the US and GB in trying to overthrow the goverment in Iraq and establish a puppet democracy.

grat book, must read if u wanna learn about the middle east.......2007-08-29

here is a writer who lived in the middle east, who walked the streets and breathed the air, who talked to all the big heads and saw all the battles...he is not your typical expert who appear on CNN/Fox News... he has in-depth knowledge, i wish alan dershowitz can learn from him

read this and pitty the nation

Mandated Landscape: British Imperial Rule in Palestine 1929-1948

Average customer rating:

A nice study

Mandated Landscape: British Imperial Rule in Palestine 1929-1948
Roza El-Eini
Manufacturer: Frank Cass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | Urban Planning & Development | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0714654264

Book Description

This work examines the construction of post-Soviet political space, geopolitical discourses and boundaries in Estonia. Making use of innovative methodological solutions such as Q-methodology, its analysis includes in-depth interviews in order to elucidate a variety of issues through human experience and subjective perception, such as Estonian-Russian border disputes of the 1990s, inter-ethnic issues and national integration and security.
As Estonia is one of the frontline EU accession countries and is queuing for membership of NATO, the book raises broad questions of post-Soviet geopolitics in the Baltic region and across Europe. Indeed, the book argues that small states such as Estonia should be understood as active participants in post-Soviet and European geopolitics, and not simply pawns in a superpower environment.

Customer Reviews:

A nice study.......2007-03-17

This is a compact and important study of all the aspects of landscape during the Palestine Mandate(1917-1948). It covers agriculture, Land laws, forestry, the land system, the partition plans and there is a special case study of the Shephalah, the Palestine Piedmont area on the Coastal plain. An important contribution to the field of study of Palestine in the 20th century, an excellent and interesting view of the Mandate, one that seperates politics from reality, a welcomed addition therefore to reading on Palestine and the land that became Israel.

Seth J. Frantzman

Great Ideas And Grand Schemes: Ideologies In the 19th and 20th Centuries

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Great Ideas And Grand Schemes: Ideologies In the 19th and 20th Centuries
Paul Schumaker , Dwight Kiel , and Thomas W Heilke
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Theory | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 0070555192

Book Description

This book provides students with a comprehensive and systematic introduction to political theories and ideologies of the 19th and 20th centuries. The text is organized into four parts. Part I describes the leading ideologies of the twentieth century. Part II describes the totalitarian ideologies of the twentieth century. Part III deals with the three ideologies that have dominated the politics of democratic societies in the twentieth century. Part IV examines three nascent ideologies that are becoming increasingly potent political forces. In the concluding chapter entitled "Beyond Ideologies" various versions of "the end of ideology" theory are considered.

Intellectuals in Politics: From the Dreyfus Affair to Salman Rushdie

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Intellectuals in Politics: From the Dreyfus Affair to Salman Rushdie
J. Jennings
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Algeria | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

Israel | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

History of Ideas | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

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History & Theory | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Frequently scorned and reviled, intellectuals have nevertheless played a vital part in shaping our century. They have done this by performing a variety of roles and responding to the diverse national contexts in which they have operated.

Intellectuals in Politics assess the significance of intellectuals in shaping the political landscape. An introductory essay detailing the major issues confronting intellectuals is followed by four sections examining different aspects of the intellectual's role. The first section looks at philosophers and academics who have tried to define the role of the intellectual. The second includes essays on Israel, Algeria, Britain and Ireland and explores how the intellectual assumes the statues of conscience of a nation and the voice of the oppressed. The third section examines the interaction among intellectuals and Marxism especially in Eastern Europe. The final section assesses the place of the intellectuals and their quest for autonomy in American society.

As the epilogue illustrates, the central question raised by this book is: "In whose name and with what authority does the intellectual speak."

Contributors include: Steve Biel, George Cotkin, Davis Schalk

In the Midst of Events The Foreign Office Diaries and Papers of Kenneth G. Younger, February 1950-October 1951 (British Politics and Society)

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In the Midst of Events The Foreign Office Diaries and Papers of Kenneth G. Younger, February 1950-October 1951 (British Politics and Society)
Geoffre Warner
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

War & Peace | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The years 1950 and 1951 were significant in Britain's Post-war foreign policy. The Cold War was at its height, the Korean War was beginning and German rearmament was a contentious issue. At the same time, Britain's ambiguous relations with Europe were becoming apparent during discussions over the Schuman Plan, and the dispute with Iran over oil revenue was becoming increasingly hostile.

During this period, Kenneth Younger was the no. 2 minister at the Foreign Office, meaning his diaries offer a unique insight into world events at a time when Britain could still claim to be an international power. In this book, Younger's papers have been collected for the first time, and his incisive analysis and vivid descriptions of event and personalities make this essential reading for anyone interested in the post-war period. This primary source is also of relevance to present day issues of foreign policy, particularly in its shred evaluations of the pros and cons of the 'special relationship' between Britain and the United States.

The Diana Conspiracy Exposed: The Definitive Account

Average customer rating:

He STILL does not explain!
Interesting book but he sure hates alFayed
Don't waste your money on this one
Very Interesting

The Diana Conspiracy Exposed: The Definitive Account
Martyn Gregory
Manufacturer: Olmstead Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Non-US Legal Systems | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1587540002

Customer Reviews:

He STILL does not explain!.......2005-02-16

Martyn Gregory STILL does not explain why the following happened!
1. Why was a partial embalming done on Princess Diana while she lay in the French hospital.
2. Why did street cleaners come into the tunnel just a few hours after the accident to clean the street where the accident was.
3. Why did they reopen the tunnel just hours after the accident.
4. Why was Henri Paul's blood packed with carbon monoxide.
5. Why wouldn't anyone let Henri Paul's family do an independent study on Henri Paul's blood
6. Why were witnesses that saw certain things eliminated from the investigation. And on and on and on. In my mind, Princess Diana was 'eliminated' by top professionals....and they got away with it. Read 'The Hidden Evidence and 'The Murder of Princess Diana'!

Interesting book but he sure hates alFayed.......2000-10-12

I'm still in the process of reading this book but two things are already apparent to me. 1. Mr. Gregory seems to have a powerful dislike for Mohamed al Fayed. 2.Since the wildest conspiracy theories don't hold up he seems to think that means none of the rumors could be true. I agree that the Princess likely did die in an accident but to absolutely rule out foul play is going too far. Many of Mr. Gregory's debunkings seem very well thought out and informative, even probable, I just have a feeling that something is missing.

Don't waste your money on this one.......2000-08-31

Martyn Gregory's account of the couple's final journey is riddled with inaccuracies, distortions and falsehoods.

Very Interesting.......2000-08-26

It is quite obvious that Mr. Gregory has done his homework here. There were several interesting details which I had not read before. He is very anti Al Fayed. But he did strain his credibility with me when he twice mentioned that JFK was assasinated in Houston. Mr. Gregory must be very young! I enjoyed the book. He argued his "case" very convincingly.

Average customer rating:

a piece of real journalism
Great read
An indispensable account...
Necessary Read for the American Audience
The Dark Side of Ulster

Belfast Diary: War as a Way of Life
John Conroy
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

20th Century | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Terrorism | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0807002178

Book Description

A street-level view of the twenty-five-year conflict in Northern Ireland. "For those puzzled by Northern Ireland, Belfast Diary offers a wellwritten, sympathetic and cleareyed view."

-The New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

a piece of real journalism.......2005-10-14

Conroy rolls around in the grit and dirt of life in sectarian violence-shattered Belfast.
Everythings here-the horror stories,police violence, IRA knee-cappings, the tragic tales of getting involved with paramilitary groups, but what is most haunting is just how shatterd everyday life has become for everyone from Sandy Row to Shankhill.
I wouldn't call Conroy pro-Catholic or pro-nationalist be he does de-BBCize his storytelling for the reader giving them a look into the society and goings on of that large minority.
Conroy.
What the reader is ultimately left with is valuabe albiet painful insight into Western Europe's longest (and dirtiest) civil from an outsider's eye-witness view

Great read.......2004-05-10

I really enjoyed this book. I thought that Conroy did a great job putting the 'Troubles' in Belfast into perspective from an American living in the midst of it all. Having visted the area that he writes of brought back memories. I referred to his map at least 50 times during my reading of the book to recall the streets that I walked in relation to where he wrote the book and spent his time in Belfast. I highly recommend this book.

An indispensable account..........2003-08-27

of what it is like to live, work and experience the turmoil of "The Troubles." Conroy covered the Troubles the right way...he went in and lived among the people in Belfast instead of swooping in for drive-by interviews like too many journalists have done in the past. He also manages to convey what he experienced while maintaining objectivity...this skill when dealing with terrorist and paramilitary violence is something writers covering the "War on Terror" these days could learn from. Required reading for anybody interested in Northern Ireland, its history and how to possibly make a better future in that wartorn nation...

Necessary Read for the American Audience.......2003-06-19

This book was recommended to me as excellent reading about the Troubles, particularly for Americans. I whole-heartedly agree; it is all that and more. Conroy does describe the daily workings of life in Northern Ireland but he also tackles the prejudices and ignorance of Americans (and the U.S. government) when it comes to the political climate in Northern Ireland. He pulls no punches and sugar-coats no issues. He explicates the situation as he sees it and is not afraid to indict those who turn blind eyes. The version I read was older so I have not yet seen the updated book that includes information on semi-recent IRA ceasefires. But I do think many of Conroy's observations are still applicable, changes in administration notwithstanding. He describes the intolerant view towards Sinn Fein taken by the American government in the 80s and the biased, oversimplified treatment of the Troubles by the American media. Indeed as Conroy notes it has not been hard to sell the British point-of-view to American audiences but what of the counterpoint? When do proponents of the other side get a chance? Conroy also concludes that for as long as Northern Ireland remains a British enclave, continued violence is guaranteed. For that reason alone, Americans owe it to themselves to read _Belfast Diary_.

The Dark Side of Ulster.......2003-02-19

My wife and I returned from a trip to Northern Ireland in SEP02 and purchased a copy of Belfast Diary. Simply, Belfast Diary is a book about a journalist from Chicago who rents a room in a home in Belfast to learn more about the Troubles. As mentioned by the other people who submitted reviews about this book, I couldn't put it down. However, I couldn't give this book five stars because I thought it painted a picture of the Troubles as seen from one side of the street. The author traveled to Belfast from Chicago (where each year they turn the river green on St. Patrick's Day), he worked on this book in a rented room in a home located in a Catholic section of Belfast, and he mentions that he is married to a Catholic woman from Northern Ireland. In my opinion, this book would have been much better had it been balanced. There are two sides to every conflict.

Book Description

Churchill's techniques of government were distinctly unconventional. Energetic, self-confident, and persuasive, he preferred to act outside official civil service channels when the stakes were high. When forming foreign policy, his preferred modus operandi was summit diplomacy-the cultivation of personal contacts to achieve national objectives. At its best his direct intervention could be heroically successful, resulting, for example, in the entry of the United States into the Second World War. At its worst it failed utterly. Either way this was international politics at a level of high drama and high risk.

This book explores Churchill's predilection for direct diplomatic action from his first tentative involvement in 1908 until his retirement as prime minister in 1955. Its principal focus is the period 1945-1955, during which the full force of Churchill's personal diplomacy was directed at sustaining Britain's great power status-in relation to the Soviet Union and the United States-at a time when its own economic power was declining. In particular, after October 1951 Churchill sought to revive with President Eisenhower and with Stalin's successors in Soviet Russia the "Big Three" summitry he saw as the most effective means to forestall a nuclear holocaust and achieve a lasting peace.

Book Description

Leading authorities here analyze the historic special relationship between Britain and the United States since 1945. The opening chapters trace the development of the alliance and discuss the "special relationship within the special relationship" between Churchill and Roosevelt, Eden and
Eisenhower, Macmillan and Kennedy, and Thatcher and Reagan. The contributors go beyond traditional rhetorical appeals to common language and heritage and consider the military, political, and economic links that bind the two countries.

Customer Reviews:

This book explains why it's more myth than reality........1999-11-05

The Special Relationship is romanticized, mythologized and simply assumed by far too many people. There is as much conflict as cooperation in US-UK relations in the twentieth century. The essays in this book cover the progress and the geography of US-UK relations with a sobriety that compels the reader to sit up and recognize that relations with even the closest ally are not permanent or safe from significant divergence.

Cultural Marxism in Postwar Britain: History, the New Left, and the Origins of Cultural Studies (Post-Contemporary Interventions)

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Cultural Marxism in Postwar Britain: History, the New Left, and the Origins of Cultural Studies (Post-Contemporary Interventions)
Dennis Dworkin , and Dennis Dworkin
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0822319144

Book Description

In this intellectual history of British cultural Marxism, Dennis Dworkin explores one of the most influential bodies of contemporary thought. Tracing its development from beginnings in postwar Britain, through its various transformations in the 1960s and 1970s, to the emergence of British cultural studies at Birmingham, and up to the advent of Thatcherism, Dworkin shows this history to be one of a coherent intellectual tradition, a tradition that represents an implicit and explicit theoretical effort to resolve the crisis of the postwar British Left.
Limited to neither a single discipline nor a particular intellectual figure, this book comprehensively views British cultural Marxism in terms of the dialogue between historians and the originators of cultural studies and in its relationship to the new left and feminist movements. From the contributions of Eric Hobsbawm, Christopher Hill, Rodney Hilton, Sheila Rowbotham, Catherine Hall, and E. P. Thompson to those of Perry Anderson, Barbara Taylor, Raymond Williams, Dick Hebdige, and Stuart Hall, Dworkin examines the debates over issues of culture and society, structure and agency, experience and ideology, and theory and practice. The rise, demise, and reorganization of journals such as The Reasoner, The New Reasoner, Universities and Left Review, New Left Review, Past and Present, are also part of the history told in this volume. In every instance, the focus of Dworkin’s attention is the intellectual work seen in its political context. Cultural Marxism in Postwar Britain captures the excitement and commitment that more than one generation of historians, literary critics, art historians, philosophers, and cultural theorists have felt about an unorthodox and critical tradition of Marxist theory.

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