e-Book The Rise of Nuclear Iran: How Tehran Defies the West (Library Edition) download

I found this book to be very informative, along with others, I used this book as resource material on a research paper for a graduate course on Iran's nuclear ambitions.

This could not be more timely. It is certainly commentary and analysis you will never see on the so-called mainstream media. It puts any negotiations with Iran into perspective and discounts any sincere attempts to improve relations with Iran through the United Nations. Instead of dealing with the current situation solely from a political standpoint, it provides keen insights into the strategies being deployed by a theocratic driven regime to launch the country into the nuclear band of countries capable of annihilating their arch enemy, Israel. All for their intent of hastening the 12th Imam. Whether or not you agree with everything written in the book, you will come away with a new perspective and an appreciation for the history of Iran over the last three decades.

Great author

This is a very timely written book on the Iranian dilema we all face, not just little Israel. As time progresses and the western powers dither and talk, Iran laughs and works overtime on preparedness for war. Given the hostile character and nature of the ruling Islamic theocratic religious system, manifested by open proclaimation, we have no excuse to be ignorant; we must not be found sleeping at the watch. Only a handfull of people recognized the terrible gravity of the Nazi beast in 1936 when they were showing their true colours to the world. How many in this present hour, especially leaders, recognize the deadly nature of the Iranian threat poised to be unleashed upon the world if it is not soon stopped!

This book has opened my eyes further about the shocking history of the US and Iranian relations over the past twenty plus years. I never realized how evil men could be so deceptive in such a way as to sideslip all our "modern" intelligence agencies we have. They appear to continue to this day. I was glad to see that the book runs right up to current events happening this past summer (2009). It will curdle your blood and make you want to strangle some diplomatic necks for sure! Our current administration needs to read this finely researched book and take some lessons.

A must in near-East geopolitical turmoil

Nothing new here. Another Israeli beating the drum for war with Iran, as they have for at least the last 15 years. If you are looking for a balanced view of Iran's role in the Middle East and the world, you won't get it from this book. It is a polemic whose purpose is to paint as dark a picture of Iran as possible. The author has not one positive thing to say about the country.

It is essentially the Israeli view of Iran. He is trying to persuade the rest of the world and especially the US (as if it needed any more persuading) to adopt the Israeli view, which is that Iran is still a member of the "axis of evil," intent on "wiping Israel off the map" and so on. In fact, it is reminiscent of Bush's remarks in the buildup to the war with Iraq. Demonize the enemy. Iran, most dangerous country on the planet. Missile shield in Europe to protect against Iranian missiles. Imminent threat to Tel Aviv and Dubuque, Iowa.

The truth is that every charge he makes against Iran can be made equally against Israel and US, since the US supports Israel in everything it does. I will give some examples.

1) The author is outraged that Iran would ignore assorted UN sanctions and resolutions concerning its nuclear program. Israel, with the backing of the US, has ignored more than 100 UN resolutions--especially Resolution 242, the return to the 1967 borders--relating to humanitarian concerns for the Palestinians. The hypocrisy here is staggering.

2)Dore Gold is obsessed with Iran's connection to Hezbollah. Even if everything he writes about Hezbollah is true--and there are many authorities who doubt Hezbollah's direct involvement in many acts of terrorism--it would be very difficult fo surpass Israel's record for killing civilians. It the latest Gaza episode, Israel killed 320 children and 109 women, according to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem.

3)As for Iran's nuclear program, in spite of all the misinformation and hysteria in the media, everything that Iran is doing with its nuclear program is legal. As a signatory to the NNPT, Iran is monitored by the IAEA and has the right to enrich uranium. Nobody can say the same for Israel. How about a nuclear-weapons-free Middle East? Would Israel agree to that? Not only are they not signatories to the NNPT, but Israel will not admit to having any nuclear weapons. It is common knowledge that they have about 200. To see how Israel used theft, secrecy and deceit to develop ITS nuclear weapons, see THE SAMSON OPTION BY Seymour Hersh.

There are other areas where substituting Israel for Iran puts Dore Gold's argument in perspective, but the above gives the reader an idea of the double standard he applies throughout the book.

Another major issue (according to him) he goes into in his book is the nature of negotiating with the Iranians. In his opinion, they can't be trusted.

Anyone who is familiar with the history of Iran and the West, and especially the US, knows that the Iranians have good reason to suspicious of OUR motives and intentions. Since the 1950's, we have been meddling in their country, spying on them, supporting their enemies, shooting down one of their commercial airliners, and attempting to strangle them economically.

I have space to give only two examples. First, in 1953, the Iranians elected Mohammad Mosaddeq as prime minister. He was a populist who nationalized the oil industry. The US and Britain didn't like it, so the CIA overthrew him in a coup. The whole story is told admirably in the bestseller ALL THE SHAH'S MEN by Stephen Kinzer, a book not referred to once by Gold. He blames Mosaddeq for his own downfall.

Second, during the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88, started by Iraq, the US supported Iraq in every possible way. We gave them intelligence and war material even though Iraq used chemical weapons against the Iranians. The Iranians never used such weapons. The CIA estimated Saddam Hussein's Iraq to be the lesser of two evils--until 2003, of course. Incredible.

Israel has a problem with every country in the Middle East, but especially Iran. Read Robert Baer's (ex-CIA) book THE DEVIL WE KNOW to see that it is inevitable that Iran will become the region's superpower. Israel and the US will just have to deal with it. In fact, according to Baer, Israel and Iran could have a lot in common.

But the first step is for Israel to do the right thing by the Palestinians. Khomeini declared in 1975 that "the matter of Palestine is an Islamic issue." It would definitely defuse the tensions in the Middle East. The second step is to admit to its nuclear arsenal and join the NNPT.

As Dore Gold sizes up the Middle East, Iran is the source of all the trouble. Maybe for Israel. But not for the US. People like Dore Gold, Michael Ledeen, Dennis Ross and other neocons all want the US involved. After all the beating around the bush, they want the US to attack Iran. Just like Iraq. Another proxy war for Israel (see THE ISRAEL LOBBY, Chapter 8).

Maybe the US could stay out of this one. We are not the world's policeman, and we are not Israel's protector, no matter what it does or wants. We are not Saudi Arabia's protector, either.

Haven't we learned anything from the disaster in Iraq? Where is the outrage? Where is the media?