Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present by Michael B. Oren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Roughly three quarters of the book is given to American relations wiht the Middle East from 1776 to WWII, about 175 years. Post-WWII to the War on Terror is the final quarter, roughly three quarters of a century. As result, tying in where we are now seems rushed, almost glossed over.
However, the author does succeed in documenting his case that from birth of this nation until know the relationship of America to the Middle East has been a contradictory blend of exotic allure and Islamophobic revulsion.
I found it most interesting that even back in the terms of Thomas Jefferson the nation struggled with waging war or seeking peace, claiming acceptance of all beliefs while reviling the Islamic faith. Over that time, it is sad and disappointing that the Western/Xtian and Muslim civiilzations couldn't get past their own prejudices from that day to this: Muslim lens of "Christian dogs" having Satanic motivations and aspects while powerfully placed extreme right factions in America and beyond seeing a Jewish homeland and war with Islam as a necessary and sought precursor to messianic return.
Also, the narrator has an occasional but distracting habit of putting the wrong syllable emphasis into a word.
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