Governments

Even though this book is emotionally painful to read, I feel it is a must-read book for all Americans who want to understand what our government has been doing -- and continues to do -- in the Middle East (and other parts of the world) in our name and with our tax dollars.

It is a clear, concise, well-documented (30 pages of endnotes) and convincing exposition of U.S. foreign policy, particularly vis-a-vis the Middle East. It is not a difficult read at all. I think anyone of third-year high school (and certainly college) age or older would do fine with this book. You don't need a whole lot of background knowledge on the subject in order to understand what Zunes writes.

If you want to know "why they hate us" (although Zunes points out that most people abroad don't hate Americans per se; they hate the policies of our government), this is the book to read. I highly recommend it.

Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy And The Roots Of Terrorism by Stephen Zunes (Associate Professor of Politics and Chair of the Peace & Justice Studies Program, University of San Francisco) is a informed and informative explanation and analysis of current U.S. policies in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on their political shortcomings with respect to the rise of international terrorism and American national security. Specifically addressed is the critical question of whether or not American political policies with respect to the Middle Eastern nations have diminished or engendered terrorism? With an especial eye upon the September 11 attacks and their root causes, Tinderbox is a sharply worded, insightful, articulate analysis of politics and its deadly outcomes which is a welcome contribution to the national dialogue regarding the current "war on terrorism".

The news and history as read in detail and at a distance from mainstream, from someone who follows the news carefully and meticulously.
What is the character of the world's only superpower? How does it relate to others? How does its actions influence behavior of other nations in the Middle East? How is it viewed by the United Nations' members?
A perspective to bring light on these traumatic and dangerous times. Should be required reading for any college history student and anyone wishing to understand the trends in the news.

I do not profess to be any sort of expert pertaining to the governmental in-fighting, intrigue and conspiracies within the Israeli, Western & International political spheres, but if only one percent of the revelations illustrated in this book by Barry Chamish are correct, then it is more than sufficient to give serious cause for concern in relation to the security of the Jewish State. Especially when so many of the revelations disclosed here relate to the 'peace process'.

At the outset, the author declares that what one will read and access within this book will not be found in the news media. This book will indeed shock many readers. It certainly shocked me.

This is an incredible journal of the scheming, back-stabbing, betrayals, political manipulation & external International interference in matters regarding the present and future status of Israel.

Many International entities are referred to in some detail, including the US & its variety of Governmental Departments, the UK, France & other Western nations, plus numerous Middle Eastern nations including Egypt, Syria, Jordan. Not to mention certain notable elements within Israel's own political arena such as Rabin, Peres, Beilin plus Palestinian figures such as Arafat & his adjutants.

Shortly before writing this review I read in the Jerusalem Post about Shimon Peres' alleged intentions of 'redefining' what constitutes a Jew. Elaborating somewhat, the report assigned to the alleged comments of Peres, further outlined that if the 'definition' was left to Rabbis, then perhaps moves should be taken to actually 'redefine' what constitutes a Rabbi. I was astonished at how someone could even make such a statement. Yet when faced with other revelations such as those so well depicted in this book, surprise should perhaps have been the last sensation to be experienced.

Reading the disclosures here leaves one with a different perception of so many senior Israeli political figures as well as a vast plethora of International figures including US Presidents, Secretaries Of State, UK Prime Ministers & Foreign Secretaries and similar personages from many other senior figures in both the West and Mid-East. I cannot help but ponder on how 'paper-thin' the Mid-East peace agreements between Israel and Egypt/Jordan seem to appear.

I have no previous experience in relation to the actual veracity of these disclosures by the writer. However, I also possess two of his other works entitled "The Last Days Of Israel" and "Who Murdered Yitzhak Rabin". Having browsed through these other two books, they too appear to possess 'mind-blowing' material.

Whilst the disturbing implications of what one reads here can only attract concern about the manipulation of Israel's affairs, as a Christian who has a deep love for the People & Land of Israel, I personally hold to the words included in the Old Testament Psalm 33; 10-11..."The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations."

In other words, no matter what the politicians/nations conspire or contrive, the Divine Purpose for Israel, it's People & Land, will eventually be fulfilled.

We need more investigative reporters from Israel like Mr. Chamish! It's refreshing to read what's really going on in Israel behind the scenes of the "peace process." Few are courageous enough to expose the self-serving Establishment, but thankfully every generation has flickers of the "eternal flame" of truth. May "Traitors and Carpetbaggers in the Promised Land" serve to stir people up to truly think and question, and come to an independent conclusion, based upon all the facts and not just what we're spoon-fed!

an excellent outlet to understand the source of the present irrationality. while the book may seem overburdened with conspiratorial themes, Cahmish's documented historical behavioral patterns and factual narrations of the 'traitors and carpetbaggers' does fit their public posturing. as such, the book aptly neutralizes the present journalistic facade, while offering a fresh and believable account. highly recommended.

Gurudas died under very suspicious circumstances when he had a followup book for this just about finished on his computer (but not yet sent to the printers -- that is, on his computer and with no copies elsewhere). His computer disappeared at the time of his body being found and magically reappeared a few days later -- with all of his second book erased from it. I knew him, and personally I feel he has gone the way of Tesla. Only into obscurity if people don't read at least what he did get out. Surely what is in this book is what some very dangerous people don't want you to know.

This book will open your eyes. If even a fourth of this book is true--and much of what I have found in other sources validates a lot of what I have read in this one, then we are indeed in a lot of trouble. If you want to know about treason against this country and its people then this book is a good place to start. It was written in 1996, so there was a couple of things that have come out that made a couple of facts questionable, but the vast majority of it seems to be factual. The manipulation of the people into wars, experimentation of them unknowingly, treasonous actions against the country, etc. will curdle your blood. The inhumanity of certain groups is hard to imagine for decent people. I only hope it is not too late for people to wake up and get their acts together. Read this book!

This book examines the who, what, where when of the Crimes of the US government. I have read 200 non-Orwellian History and Political Science Books. I have done 2 Masters theses myself and I can say the research in this book is impecable. Details that Democrats and Republicans work together: we have a one party system: a Bicephalous beast with two heads that snarl and spit at one another to delude the masses into thinking there is a debate... This book traces the origins and the crimes of the ruling elite in near chronological ,PhD quality research and detail. Buy one for everyone you know. Available at [other websites] if not available here.

This story chronicles the survival of small Jewish girls who were hidden in an armoire by their desperate parents in the closing days of the Warsaw ghetto. It easily matches the personal resonance and innocent terror of the far more famous Anne Frank Story.

Even after their final liberation as perhaps the only intact nuclear family to survive that infamous ghetto, the Skorecki family was due one more date with history. Survival, it turns out, was the story within the story. Little Anne Skorecki Levi, the little girl who survived by staying silent inside that armoire struck a blow five decades later for Jewish survival by speaking out against Louisiana's Neo-Nazi gubernatorial candidate David Duke, and helping to engineer his electoral defeat.

This account of Anne's travel along the arc from victim to victor is an inspiration and a reminder that each of us can and must preserve our collective memory, however troubling.

I read books on the Holocaust to try to understand the times, the mileu, the horror, and the suffering. After more than 20 books, I realize that I can only scratch the surface. I will, however, never stop reading because of my fear that someday the deniers and the downgraders might get the upper hand.

Thank you to the the author and Anne Skorecki Levy for relating a story that is very, very moving as well as insightful and timely.

Lawrence Powell set out to write a book about the David Duke phenomenon, about how a KKK leader and Nazi could sit in the Louisiana legislature and run for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. But work on the book took him in another direction after he interviewed Anne Levy, a Holocaust survivor who confronted Duke in the state capital. Captivated by Levy's story, Powell has produced a terrifying, poignant and finally a triumphant book about the Holoaust as witnessed through the life of one of its survisors, Anne Levy.

Troubled Memory is a beautifully written and tender account of a personal story that stands as an intimate history of Hitler's final solution. Powell's prose will carry you into the Warsaw and Lodz ghettos and into the vegetable bin where 6-year-old Anne and her sister hid from the SS. This is a book that makes the Holocaust relevant to every reader. It will fill you with horror and wonder, and it will move you to tears.

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.

John Taylor of Caroline's " Tyranny Unmasked" is a brilliant analysis of enonomic and political economy in the early 1820's. Taylor points out the injustice and folly of protective tariffs and their effects. He astutely shows how by " protecting" an industry from competition you effectively raise the price of the product and foster a government- business alliance destructive of liberty. He shows how financial interests use tariffs to unfairly gain advantage over other competitors and also how they
attain dominence over the representatives of the people through
their influence. Taylor recommends a Jeffersonian ideal of free trade, low taxes, and an abolition of protective tariffs. Overall a great Jeffersonian read.

John Taylor of Caroline is one of the most brilliant political philosophers that America has ever produced. This work in particular demonstrates a compelling critique of government interference in economic matters that also demonstrates Taylor's firm grasp of political economy. Above all, this book is an absolute joy to read.

Once upon a time, educated Americans could be presumed to be familiar with the writings of the Greeks and, especially, the Romans. This familiarity prepared them for republican citizenship in a way that today's smorgasbord approach to post-secondary education manifestly does not prepare contemporary Americans. Read _Tyranny Unmasked_ for evidence of the first of these assertions: John Taylor of Caroline, self-consciously provincial Virginia planter, foresaw the following 150 years' course in America with great clarity, and he lamented it the whole way. This is a great book by one of America's all-time great political thinkers.

This is another great Cliffs AP book which will help you get your college credit. It really is a help for reviewing the branches of the government, how a bill becomes a law, the Constitution, the amendments, elections, and civil rights. Those are the main, "must know," topics you need to review to get a 5.

Paul Soifer strikes again with his gorgeous portrait of the US Government, and preparation for the AP exam. I think I met Paul one time, albeit not for long, and he sold me on the book. I then took the book and have studied with it. I am assuming I will get a 5 on the test. Doc, This buds for you!

This book is a great, concise prep for AP US Government. It has a clear well-organized layout and cuts out all the extraneous information so you know exactly what you need to know for the AP Test. I could not recommend it more highly.

Very well written. Great background of the key players involved in Watergate. Wished that it had discussed more about Ford's term as president and less about Nixon and the so called "coverup". It shows Ford as a very honest, hard working public servant.

As a long time fan of Gerald Ford, I was pleased to read this excellent biography written by one who obviously also admires President Ford. Not only was it an interesting biography, but it was also a fascinating political thriller. Mr. Cannon pieced together a frightening, behind-the-scenes look of the Watergate break-in,the cover-up, the resignation of Spiro Agnew, and the machinations of Alexander Haig, during which time certain people (including Agnew) feared for their lives. He paints a picture of a President Nixon that is sinister and borderline mentally ill--who repeatedly used his office to intimidate his enemies and stop the investigation into Watergate. As I was reading the book and its details of Nixon's obstruciton of justice and illegal acts, the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton was ongoing. The issues surrounding the current impeachment appeared laughable in contrast to what I was reading of Nixon. Cannon supports Ford's claim that the pardon of Nixon was not the result of a deal with Nixon, but was Ford's only alternative to get the country moving again, with minute-by-minute accounts of those involved. Cannon makes the pardon seem as honorable as the man who gave it.

I have always been a fan of Gerald Ford's and this book did not disappoint! Cannon, an insider from Rockefeller's tenure as Governor of New York, presents a balanced and objective insight into the historic transfer or power in 1974. Cannon does not hesitate to present Ford in a heroic role and I am refreshed to see such an appraisal.

Steve Schockow, Rochester, NY

An excellent read if you know at least a little about South African History. It's a "who's who" of the inside story of Africa's "Negotiated Revolution" and could count as a "cliff hanger" if we all didn't already know the outcome of the story. But for anyone who would like to know how the worlds most remarkable political transition was pulled off without a bloody coup, who all of the players were, and why one the worlds most brutal and racist governments kept the world's most enigmatic man alive; then this is the read for you.

Tomorrow is Another Country is the sequel to the Mind of South Africa. It described the transition from apartheid state to the Rainbow Nation. Allister Sparks is a South African journalist (and is currently teaching at Duke University) who sought to get "the real story" before the actors started to forget. He found collaboration from all sides so everyone would know the sacrifices made by both sides to form the new South Africa.

An excellent balance between being comprehensive and being readable, Tomorrow is Another Country is not a difficult read but not nearly as inspiring as Nelson Mandela's book, Long Walk to Freedom. It does however capture more of the Afrikaaner experience, something Long Walk to Freedom often fails on doing.

This is an outstanding book with many original and personal accounts of what brought South Africa to a negotiated abandonment of minority rule. Objective and beautifully written.

I have to admit it, I was surprised by Clinton McKinzle. I picked up his first book, The Edge of Justice, thinking it was another lawyer turned writer yarn, when I realized it was just another cop novel, with the added twist of this cop being an avid mountain climber, I was kind of disappointed. I am not much of an outdoorsy type, I'm happy if I find a way to climb into my pants everyday, and didn't think I would enjoy stories about a cop chasing people around a mountain. Then I read the book and he hooked me in (I guess that's a pun). McKinzle has created a great character in Wyoming Special DCI Agent Antonio Burns. In his latest novel, Trial by Ice and Fire, McKinzle continues to develop his hard luck protagonist. With his reputation being picked apart by an unscrupulous defense attorney and his girlfriend becoming distant, Burns takes on a case involving the stalking of a beautiful actress's daughter, who also happens to be a local prosecutor. While the twist and turns aren't particularly surprising, McKinzle whips together a highly readable and exciting tale ending with a true trial by fire.
While enjoyed this book, it was the weakest of the three Burns novels, specifically for one reason. The first book had some truely hate-able, despicable, obvious bad guys that just had you salivating for the page where they finally get there just deserts. Here McKinzle trades off some of this blunt evil for an attempt to make a more surprising ending. He took the risk, but the payoff just wasn't there. I really don't need to be surprised if I hate the bad guy enough. McKinzle even missed a few opportunities to develop some peripheral bad guy characters, especially the Hollywood hotshot Danny Gorgon character, who had the potential to be a real pest.

McKinzie's first book on SA Antonio Burns was enough to get me hooked, then the second was still good but not as good as the first, and this third book is the best yet. You like Antonio as he is an adventurous but grounded 30-yr old cop who is reevaluating his life and work after a series of mishaps that erroneously puts his reputation in a bad light. He fights for what he believes in but he's no superhero. Anton is given the task of protecting a prosecutor who is being stalked, and he is also dealing with his own personal issues: trying to figure out why his girlfriend has been cold and distant lately plus worrying about his drug-addicted fugitive brother. The prosecutor, the daughter of a famous movie star, is being stalked by someone, possibly her cop ex-boyfriend. The adventure starts with an icy mountain ascent and ends with a dangerous rescue operation on a mountain being consumed by a raging fire. I love reading about Antonio and his brother Roberto's climbing adventures, and I really like the romantic sub-plot. I look forward to seeing Clinton McKinzie's name in the spotlight again.

Trial by Ice and Fire hooks you from the very first page and doesn't really let you go till you finish. I tried to slow down my reading, savor the time I was spending with these characters but couldn't---I had to finish it and then go back and reread it again. This was an outstanding follow-up to last year's The Edge of Justice. Anton and his brother Roberto are back as are Anton's boss, McGee Ross and his lover, Rebecca. In this installment, Anton is bodyguarding a prosecuter from a stalker who seems to want to hurt her very badly. There are other subplots including his brother 'Berto who shows up to offer escape the only way the Burns brothers know how: climbing. Also, there is the trouble between Rebecca and Anton that in end seems a bit rushed to me;everything between them resolved a little too quickly. McKinzie will go very far with his writing and I look forward to his next novel. Run to get this book. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll love the second one. I read this book in a day if that says anything---wonderful page-turner. Highly recommend and my grade would be A-. New fans, the book does stand alone quite well but do read the first one, The Edge of Justice when you get the chance. It was a great debut.