The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict

Mitchell Geoffrey Bard

Penguin, 2008 - History - 462 pages

There is, perhaps, no other place in the world fraught with as much turmoil as the Middle East. This updated guide provides readers with an intense look at current events and the ever-changing political and social landscape, as well as the history-ancient and modern-of the region. This latest edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict offers a completely updated view of events in the region through the corrective lens of present-day knowledge, as well as a look at what's going on there right now-

• The rearming of Hezbollah, and what it may mean to Israel and the Lebanese government.
• The increased threat of Iran-despite increased pressure from the United States and Europe, its acquisition of nuclear weapons may only be a matter of time.
• With Hamas controlling Gaza and the Palestinian Authority now divided, can the Palestinians present a united position in peace talks?
• The evacuation from Gaza-has this peace measure only led to a launching pad for a new front in a war against Israel?

Contents

• In the Beginning: 1
• Who Cares About the Middle East?: 3
• The Chosen People: 17
• Religion and Politics Mix: 31
• Welcome to the Empire: 33
• The Crescent Moon: 43
• The Nationalist Wave: 59
• The Great Wars Spoils: 73
• Trouble Brews in Palestine: 75
• This Land Is My Land This Land Is Your Land: 91
• Fighting Hitler and Great Britain: 101
• A State of Their Own: 113
• The Jewish War of Independence: 127
• A State for the Jews: 139
• The Wanted and the Unwanted: 141
• Weve Got a StateNow What?: 153
• War Over Suez: 161
• War and Peace: 173
• Six Days to Victory: 175
• No War No Peace: 189
• Israels Day of Infamy: 199
• Peace at Last: 211
• Israels Vietnam: 229
• Inching Toward Peace: 239
• Sticks and Stones and Breaking Bones: 241
• Saddam Crosses the Line: 251
• Bush Turns the Screws: 267
• Why Cant We All Get Along?: 277
• The Oldest Citys New Rulers: 279
• The Shot Heard Round the World: 289
• O Jerusalem: 299
• Arabia and Beyond: 309
• Shifting Arabian Sands: 329
• Middle East Terrorism and Its Victims: 353
• So Close Yet So Far: 375
• Mapping the Road to Peace: 389
• Waiting for the Messiah: 403
• Timeline of Middle East History: 417
• Bibliography: 429
• Index: 443

About the author

Mitchell G. Bard, Ph.D., is one of the country s foremost experts on U.S.-Middle East policy and the author of 14 books, including The Complete Idiot s Guide to World War II. Dr. Bard has appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, and other television and radio outlets. His work has been published in academic journals, magazines, and newspapers."

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict; Complete Idiot's Guides
• Author: Mitchell Geoffrey Bard
• Edition: revised
• Publisher: Penguin, 2008
• ISBN: 1592577911, 9781592577910
• Length: 462 pages
• Subjects: History / General; History / Middle East / General; History / Wars & Conflicts / Iraq War (2003-2011); Political Science / International Relations / General