This was an excellent analysis of Pakistan. Anatol Lieven researched this topic starting in the 1980s and up though post-9/11. This book was publishedThis was an excellent analysis of Pakistan. Anatol Lieven researched this topic starting in the 1980s and up though post-9/11. This book was published in 2011 yet has great information up to that date. The opening was great at starting with the history of the region from the Mughal Empire, the British Empire, breaking away from India, and up to more recent history. Pakistan is a nation that weaves between religious fundamental appeal, conservatism, militancy, and extremism. The author explained unbalanced structures of power, property, patronage, and kinship that dominate Pakistani politics and government have prevented Pakistan from gaining traction in becoming a serious threat.
Pakistan has consistently intrigued and terrified the international stage although its weak political platforms have been typically ousted by military takeover. "General Ayub Khan and Musharraf Pervez, military rulers in 1958-69 and 1999-2008 respectively, took to the great secular modernizing nationalist of the state. Gerenal Zia-ul-Haq, military ruler from 1977 to 1988, took the very different course, trying to unit and develop Pakistan through enforced adherence to a stricter and more puritanical form of Islam mixed with Pakistani nationalism. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistani People's Party and civilian ruler in the 1970s, tried to rally the masses behind him with the program of anti-elitist economic populism and nationalism. They all failed. (pg. 23)".
The following chapters included in-depth explanations of Pakistan's political climate, justice system and national military, and the value of Islam. Lieven explained the religious component:
The Islamic character of the state would be a real issue for the most of the population if that state were to imitate Saudi Arabia or Iran and try to impose one monolithic version of Islam... Pakistan is too weak to achieve this even if it wanted to... pg. 125
Lieven explained the complex intricacies of the ethnic demographic of the state to include the Panjabi, Balochistan, the Sindhi, and the Pashto-speaking Pathan peoples along the border of Afghanistan. The last part explained the Taliban and their involvement in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These areas historically disregard the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan in the recent decades has had tremendous difficulty policing and containing extremist support and recruitment for the Taliban in all regions of the country.
I throughly enjoyed this and learned a great deal. The author gave the information clearly without detail overkill. I would definitely recommend this on learning about Pakistan and Taliban spill over into the region. Thanks!...more
This book was intensive and loaded in details pertaining to David Ben-Gurion and the creation of the State of Israel. He was born and raised in PlonskThis book was intensive and loaded in details pertaining to David Ben-Gurion and the creation of the State of Israel. He was born and raised in Plonsk, Poland, took up Zionism and the Zionist vision, and eventually led Israel to being an international player by the 1950s and 1960s. The book showcased the absolute Zionist and even imperialistic take-over of the Palestinian region. David Ben-Gurion and the preservation of the Jewish people was throughout the book and, frankly so, shows why the Arab-Israeli conflict is deep-rooted in mutual hatred. The Zion movement can be seen in action as early as 1906 when "The purchase of land for Jewish settlements sometimes involved the ejection of Arabs from land that they had cultivated as tenant farmers." pg. 77
The Jewish state-sponsored violence and promotion of Zionism was highlighted by "in the era of Hitler, we are compelled to resort to belligerent Zionism." (pg. 283) and "the world war of 1914-1918 brought us the Balfour Declaration; now we must bring about the Jewish State." pg. 287
Wartime confrontation and expulsion against the enemy of the state was targeted towards the Arabs. "There are too many Arabs in the country." (pg. 452). To drive home the idea of divine intervention on behalf of the state, two Israeli Air Force jets were nicknamed Sa'ar and Sufah, translating from Hebrew to respectively mean "storm" and "tempest." These names were taken from Psalms 83:16 "Pursue them with your tempest, terrify them with your storm." pg. 511
Overall a good book and I learned a lot on the subject. In this book you get lots of historical context, geopolitical information, and ethnocultural information like Sephardic, Ashkenazic, the Haredim, etc. that all relate to David Ben-Gurion and the Zionist vision of creating and maintaining A State At Any Cost. I recommend this to anyone interested in modern Middle Eastern history and politics. Thanks!...more
This read is full of information pertaining to the Shi'a of modern Iraq. The author gives much information about the political and social movements inThis read is full of information pertaining to the Shi'a of modern Iraq. The author gives much information about the political and social movements involved in the Shi'ite sect in Iraqi history. The information can be helped to form your own opinions and views of the sectarian violence in Iraq following the Saddam regime. This book is purely a scholarly and historical work and does not delve into political opinions or religious undertones. Recommended to anyone interested in Middle Eastern history. Thanks! ...more
This is an in-depth review of the rise of the Taliban out of the ashes of the Soviet war and US/CIA intervention. Rashid does a really good job of expThis is an in-depth review of the rise of the Taliban out of the ashes of the Soviet war and US/CIA intervention. Rashid does a really good job of explaining the complexities, religious ideology, and human rights atrocities committed by the Taliban. I would recommend this as well as Ahmed Rashid's Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia. Thanks! ...more
This book made me cringe as I read about the Sharia, or the interpretation and execution of Islamic law in an Islamic society. Very real and very scarThis book made me cringe as I read about the Sharia, or the interpretation and execution of Islamic law in an Islamic society. Very real and very scary....more
This was well-researched about the Federally Administered Tribal Region of Pakistan (FATR). This is the Afghan-Pakistan border that is dominated by thThis was well-researched about the Federally Administered Tribal Region of Pakistan (FATR). This is the Afghan-Pakistan border that is dominated by the Pashtun ethnic tribe. This presents a problem because the Pashtun people do not acknowledge the border: weapons, cash, armed combatants, and other resources travel freely across the border. The region is problematic with extremists, promoters of extreme ideology, suicide bombers, and a hotbed for creating insurgents. This area has been a continuing problem for both US-Coalition forces in Afghanistan and internal security in Pakistan. I would recommend this to anyone interested in Afghan-Pakistan conflicts in tandem with the US-Coalition war on terror. Thanks! ...more
I gained a basic understanding of Pakistan of the 2000s. The author showed the dynamic relationships with the names of Musharraf, Bhutto, and Zia as wI gained a basic understanding of Pakistan of the 2000s. The author showed the dynamic relationships with the names of Musharraf, Bhutto, and Zia as well as the escalation of a terrorist-state. This is a good starting point in learning about Pakistan....more
A really quick read about the current (or the 2010 timeframe) issues within Pakistan. It was informative and this is a good starting point if you wantA really quick read about the current (or the 2010 timeframe) issues within Pakistan. It was informative and this is a good starting point if you want to get into Pakistani state of affairs. Thanks!...more
This book gives detailed information about the Iranian-Shi'ite-theocratic society since the Khomeini revolution. The book opens up with a very good exThis book gives detailed information about the Iranian-Shi'ite-theocratic society since the Khomeini revolution. The book opens up with a very good explanation of what Shi'a Islam is and how it differs with the rest of the Sunni-Muslim world. Overall the author did a great job at explaining the inner workings and cultural complexities to this closed society we know very little about. Though the book only presents information through the Mahmoud Ahmedinejad-era (up until 2009), it is still great. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Middle Eastern affairs and getting further knowledge on the Iranian government. Thanks! ...more
Here I read the intimate personal histories of the first five female bombers who have succeeded in blowing themselves up, as well as the troubling stoHere I read the intimate personal histories of the first five female bombers who have succeeded in blowing themselves up, as well as the troubling stories of some of those who've tried and failed. The author reveals not only the crushing poverty and religious zealotry that one might suspect as motivating factors in their fall, but also a startling emotional component to their death wishes: their broken dreams and blighted inner lives. She writes about, without dismissing or diminishing the horror of their actions, how far a person can be pushed when she is convinced she has nothing to lose. Some heartbreaking stories about these women living in a chaotic world....more
This book explains how the Wahhabi school of thought in Islam rose into existence and came into power in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The author incluThis book explains how the Wahhabi school of thought in Islam rose into existence and came into power in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The author includes an introduction about Islam and then expands on modern issues on a larger scale. The author talks about the historical figure Lawrence of Arabia, oil and cash flow in Saudi Arabia, and the power of Wahhabi interpretation of Islam. Wahhabism came about in the 18th century that took on a more puritanical and orthodox interpretation of Islam that is considered very strict. Recent movements such as al-Qaeda and ISIS have adopted intolerance to other views, religions, and leniencies in Islam itself (the wearing of the hijab, growing a beard, etc).
The author then attempted to show how Wahhabism has infiltrated the American public. These doctrines have been delivered under the guise of outreach and bolstering the muslim communities to include a large percentage of American mosques, Islamic centers, and even inside the US prison system. I would recommend this for government or military personnel looking to expand their knowledge on the ongoing issues in the Middle East. Thanks!...more
I thought the author did a decent job of explaining the intricacies of this political front-terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. Hamas operates similar I thought the author did a decent job of explaining the intricacies of this political front-terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. Hamas operates similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon, but is a Sunni group with a nationalist and fundamentalist mission. They also combine politics, civic outreach, and terrorism inside the Palestinian territory. This was a good intro into politics of the Israeli-Arab problem. Recommended for anyone interested in the Palestinian-Israeli debacle. Thanks!...more
The author presented the information clearly about the Shi'ite minority political-militant group of Lebanon. Hezbollah (which translates into Party ofThe author presented the information clearly about the Shi'ite minority political-militant group of Lebanon. Hezbollah (which translates into Party of God) is probably best known for the attacks/war between Israel back in 2006 and again in 2008. The author gave a brief background on Lebanese history and the political scene in connection with Hezbollah up to the 2007-8 timeframe. Similar to Hamas and Fatah with their political outreach, Hezbollah simultaneously acts in the political capacity and even holds seats in the Lebanese parliament. The information is outdated but this still a decent start into Lebanese politics and Middle Eastern studies. Thanks!...more
This book was a very well-researched analysis of Somalia's piracy-terrorism at sea during the 2000's. The author showed how piracy was a result of yeaThis book was a very well-researched analysis of Somalia's piracy-terrorism at sea during the 2000's. The author showed how piracy was a result of years of corruption, internal war within the country's warring clans, and profitable results of modern day piracy. The author explained in detail piracy infrastructure from that starts on land and eventually works its way to sea.
As for the book itself, it was well written and not boring at all. The material is fast paced and interesting. No dull information or monotony. I would recommend this informative read. Thanks! ...more
Vali Nasr presented relevant and important information on the Shi'ite-Sunni issue from both the historical context and well as modern problems. The boVali Nasr presented relevant and important information on the Shi'ite-Sunni issue from both the historical context and well as modern problems. The book was written in 2007 (and that's when I read it) but the information can still be used to help the Western world understand the Shia and their community. A worthy read at helping get a glimpse into the Middle Eastern current affairs. Recommended for anyone interested in Middle Eastern affairs. Thanks! ...more
I feel this is an important and relevant book about today's Western dealings into the Middle East and Central Asia. Ahmed Rashid delivers the informatI feel this is an important and relevant book about today's Western dealings into the Middle East and Central Asia. Ahmed Rashid delivers the information clearly and concisely without drowning the reader with detail. The book starts with the rich history of the Silk Road and transitioned into Soviet/post-Soviet times of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. Rashid gave the backstory of Islam and how it was restricted during Soviet times. The first decade after these states gained independence gave rise of the jihadi-Wahhabi ideology that has influenced this region. A very important book about an overlooked region and how it continues to affect us even by today's standards. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this region and the war on terror. Thanks! ...more
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