5/5 stars Robert Ames was a CIA agent who developed the United States' first unofficial contacts with the Palestinian Liberation Organization in the early 1970s. Dealing with PLO was effectively illegal at that time, following a promise made by Nixon and Kissinger to the Israelis that would not recognize any independent Palestinian political actor. Ames pressed ahead regardless, motivated by the sensible belief that the Palestinians were a basic reality of the region who could not simply be wished away. Only by talking to them and developing connections could a negotiated peace to the larger conflict that began with the creation of the State of Israel be achieved. This book is the story of Ames life and career, during a time when the U.S. began to lose in its innocence in the Arab world.
After reading “Rise and Kill First” by Roden Bergman which goes through some of this history it is nice to see a perspective like this. I will check it out for sure.
Got it for my trip to Kerbala Iraq
After reading “Rise and Kill First” by Roden Bergman which goes through some of this history it is nice to see a perspective like this. I will check it out for sure.