Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present

Michael Oren's POWER, FAITH and FANTASY is an immensely researched (80 pages of notes and a 50 page bibliography) and cohesively written accound of American impact in the middle east from the beginnings of America until the present. The background research and anecdotes provide a firm footing for any interested party who wants to know how the United States and the Middle East arrived to the situations they are in today. Most notably, Oren describes the personalities of the people involved, and reminds us through evidence and quotes, that the policies of countries (whether democracy, autocracy or other) are shaped by the sentiments, education and background of their leaders. Mr. Oren runs through not only the leaders of the Middle Eastern countries in each phase, but goes in depth on the up-bringing and cultural leanings of each U.S. President (i.e., most of them) who had influence to bear on the events in the Middle East. The book is crafted into seven sections, roughly paralleling developments in US History: independence, before the Civil War, during the Civil War, as America becomes a power, WWI, oil and WWII, and a brief skim over the years since WWII. In each section are weaved the three themes of Faith (religeous influences, including Zionist, pro-Arab, anti-Semite, etc.), Power (US ideas of democracy vs. European Imperialism, Soviet Communism, Arab self-rule) and Fantasy (films, impressions). I enjoyed this book because Mr. Oren presented facts, not judgements, difficult to do in history as you can make the facts say what you want. But he convincingly presents as many perspecitves to each issue as he can. His last section on the years from WWII to present was brief, but he acknowleded that it would be a fly-by because of so much material and interest that had already been written on the subject. A long read at 600+ pages, but well worth it. I learned many new things and was reminded of some I had forgotten. Highly recommended.

This book, so it claims, is the only history of America and the Middle East between 1776 and the present(2006). However this is really a detailed history of people and events that shaped Americas understanding and role in the middle east between 1776 and 1945. It is not a comprehensive history of American policy nor is it a dull rendition of all the acts of every American consul in the Middle East. Instead the book explores the themes of power, faith and fantasy and how they helped craft both the Middle East, American perceptions of the region and American influence there. Therefore it concentrates on missionary efforts, economic and political as well as military involvement, the role of explorers and travelers and perceptions of the 'east' in America through such things as the Chicago expo or Mark Twain's writings and translations of '1001 and Arabian nights'. However this means the book suffers to two drawbacks. It doesn't cover the period from 1945-2006 in anything but a cursory matter. This should have been a strength since too many books on U.S relations with the middle east telescope the 'conflict' to the present, making the last 10 years more important than the last 100. However it is also a weakness because the U.S has become increasingly involved in the region in the last 50 years. The great strength of the book is that it shows that the U.S didn't arrive in the middle east due to oil or Israel but rather from a much earlier date. Readers will be surprised to learn that the U.S trained Egypt's first modern army, that America built the Ottoman empires first modern warships and that America established literally hundreds of schools and universities in the region that helped train a middle class elite that led to nationalism. A brilliant account, not encyclopedic but nevertheless very useful and readable, a true accomplishment. The book, in contrast to what has been claimed, has very little to do with 'Zionism' and the author was not a military general in the Lebanon war, but rather a media affairs officer. It may surprise many to learn that it was also America who opposed European colonialism in the region. Seth J. Frantzman

Michael Oren has surpassed his previous historical masterpiece "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" in his new work "Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present." The selection of works covering America's historical involvement in the Middle East is virtually nonexistent and Oren's new book fills that void. Sadly, most books covering America's Middle East involvement only cover recent history. While many books as comprehensive as his can be tiresome to read, Dr. Oren narrates America's journey in such a vivid manner that the reader is excited by every adventure portrayed. This book also brings to light some of America's past failed policies in the Middle East which will cause the reader to draw parallels of their own to failed policies and proposals today. With such statesmen as Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln having Middle East policies of their own, one can also predict how similar policies today will fail or succeed. Our conflicts in the region did not begin with Israel and will not end with peace between Israelis and Palestinians--as reports such as the Iraq Study Group would lend one to believe. The first American conflict in the region began during the Revolution and was the impetus for the creation of the American Navy. By using Oren's book as a historical guide, we can better educate ourselves to make informed opinions about our future Middle East involvement.

Few fields have been as well plowed as that of Middle East studies. Indeed, the ever expanding shelf in the bookstore on the topic groans under the weight of a torrent of new works, many which might be charitably described as derivative of already existing work. What a thrill then when a new book appears covering otherwise undisturbed ground! Michael Oren's excellent "Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present" is such a book. Instead of covering familiar subjects, Mr. Oren offers an insightful study of an area few consider, America's relationship to the Middle East in the 19th Century. Many will surely wonder at how any author can squeeze more than 600 pages - not including footnotes and bibliography -- over a topic that you might suspect could be covered in scant pages. Such is the wonderful surprise that Oren offers. In gripping prose that will be familiar with those who have already read his definitive history of the Six Day War, Oren traces America's involvement in the Middle East and North Africa all the way back to the Revolutionary War period. Philosophically and temperamentally committed to avoiding "old world entanglements" Thomas Jefferson, first as Washington's Secretary of State and then as President, confronts the question of what to do about American shipping seized by the petty north African Berber and Arab kingdoms. The Middle East a lucrative market, European states pay tribute to these states in exchange for "protection" a notion offensive to many early American statesman. Thus, having first resisted the creation of a standing navy, Jefferson reverses course in order to protect American shipping interests. Thus begins US involvement in the region. The study of this period provides much data of interest. To take one example, Oren cites an early treaty with a north African Muslim state, signed when many of the Framers still lived, stating categorically that the United States was "not a Christian nation." Likewise interesting, the American legation in Tangiers stands as the countries oldest. Oren follows the story through the 19th Century and the US involvement with the Ottoman Empire. Through it all, he likewise discusses the concept of "Restorationism," that a Jewish State should be created in the area between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River, an idea with deep roots in American Protestantism. Indeed, readers who think themselves knowledgeable about diplomatic history, Zionism, and the Middle East, will likely find great surprise in learning about American missionary stations built for the very purpose of teaching Jews agricultural skills, well before Theodore Herzl's efforts. Marshalling considerable evidence, Oren argues that the US commitment to the notion of a Jewish state indeed far proceeds Israel's birth in 1948. Time and again one hears that America's relationship with Israel arises out of some nefarious political cabal warping national interest, in contrast Or

Not only is Michael Oren a careful and precise historian but he is also a wonderful writer--his book is a page-turner, difficult to set aside because it is so relevant and the characters he introduces are so intriguing. Most important of all, however, is the history itself. Who on earth was thinking about jihad during the American Revolutionary War? Well, our Founding Fathers were, and for good reason. The parallels between then and now are stunning, and the reality that there's nothing new under the sun--at least not in the Middle East--is inescapable. Oren has not only written a fascinating book, but he has also done a great service to diplomats, policy makers, international business men and women, opinion shapers and, of course, the rest of us who make up our democracy: private citizens who need to better understand our world.