Inside the Middle East: Making Sense of the Most Dangerous and Complicated Region on Earth
Medium Used: Audible (11 hrs 29 min)
Rating: 4 stars
Released: November 29, 2016
Publisher: Tantor Audio
This is an extremely detailed view of the formulation of attitudes and conflicts in the Middle East in the past 100 years. It touches on the insidious conflicts between the protagonists in the region and does bring out the complicated multi-sided character of the Political and religious issues that define or fail to allow definition of the Middle East. The author provides an unvarnished view from his perspective as an Intelligence analyst of the relationships and beliefs held. There will likely not be a single book or paper that can be read to provide what could be considered ground truth as to the current positions and appropriate actions for the future, but this book provides a view that should be reviewed and added to the considerations in deciding what has been and could be. It is impossible to digest the content in a single reading or listen for the novice on Middle East Affairs, but it DOES provide a tremendous appreciation for the complexity as this volatile region continues to be a center of attention and conflict for world Politics! This will urge the reader to learn more and obtain a more fully rounded view of the area!
Author: Avi Melamed
Reviewer: Bob Whitkop, CAPT USN (Ret)