Book Recommendation Request

[xpanda]

I'm in need of a thorough book on Israel, including conflicts with Palestine, their role in the broader MidEast, but especially their relationship with the US. What I'm NOT looking for is a book on bible prophecy (though I understand the subject may arise.) Something non-partisan, factual, and as void of op-eds as possible. Darryl, Phaedrus, Eek and Shotgun: I'm hoping you guys can recommend one for me. I don't have the time to delve too far into the subject, so I'm hoping to learn what I need to know in the pages of a single book -- two if I absolutely have to.

Thanks!

(My latest book pimping is The Anatomy of Fascism by Robert O. Paxton, if anyone's interested in the subject matter. Just trying to be reciprocal.)

 

[eek.]

Sorry Honey but I aint got a clue.
My stuff was newpapers and articles over the decades.

I would recommend some kind of decent concise history book as one of your reference points to try and give you perspective without bias.
There have been a surprising number of fingers in the Palestinian/Israeli pie over the last 50 years and major changes in perspective.
The cold war played its part too.
The Russkies started giving lots of kit to the Arabs, so the West gave kit to the Israelis.


Israel hung on for years by its fingernails with second hand military stuff from wherever they could scrounge it up. Like British tanks.
French military aid, especially aircraft, played a prominent role in its survival until after the 6 day war.
The US had an arms embargo on Israel around this time.(50's/60's)

The French pulled the plug after the 6 day war and Uncle Sam filled the void. since then the Israelis have never looked back.(late 60's)

35 years ago Israel was a teeny country hanging on to life, nowadays it is a major international pain in the ass.
The US gave the Israelis the kind of offensive military capability to fúck up entire countries.

US vetos in the UN have played a crucial role too, something like 50% of all UN vetos by the US, relate to Israel.

happy hunting

BTW my own conclusion is that both sides are assclowns.

 

[JinnRikki]

So, you lost the bet with patriot did you xpanda? How long does that bit of humiliation last?

 

[xpanda]

So, you lost the bet with patriot did you xpanda? How long does that bit of humiliation last?

Thirty days. It could've been much worse. Dammit, I wish I'd won, tho ... his tagline would've read "I'd give my left nut to not have voted for Bush."

Is anyone in here going to the Rx Bash in August? I'm thinking about it, but only want to go if I'm going to 'know' some of you guys, as I'd be travelling alone, and I've never been to Vegas. Also, Shotgun, am I still playing host to you this summer and when was that again?

 

[Lawrence]

for what it's worth i'll be going, and it wll be my first time in Vegas..as I have posted before, I have many friends from the other side of the political aisle, and I would like to meet all of you..

 

[HiloBoy]

Enjoy the weekend and I think it would be a good time to put insults aside and have fun at the party.

 

[JudgeWapner]

I hope everyone from the political forum attends the bash. Would be less animosity here.

 

[JDeuce]

Is anyone in here going to the Rx Bash in August?


Is that when its gonna be this time around? I've never been to one, but would sure as hell dig hanging with some of you here. Vegas isn't too bad of a drive from LA...

Can someone gimme more specifics?

(now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to jamming to my hometown buddy's band who's starting to make some noise on the music scene...no pun intended...anyone here heard of Chimaira, by chance?)

 

[lander]

Which genre, Dunce?

 

[JDeuce]

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/Chimaira/showVideo.aspx?fileID=432


There you go, lander.

If this is too 'heavy' for you, maybe you'll need to pick up your skirt and see if your balls are still attached....

 

[docmercer--banned]

Judge:

Thats funny!

I can picture me, Hilo, Lander, Gamefarce & Bblight Coulter all at the same table ....

 

[lander]

Dunce,
They sounds like a crackhead version of Slayer.

 

[lander]

Judge:

Thats funny!

I can picture me, Hilo, Lander, Gamefarce & Bblight Coulter all at the same table ....

Doc,
Those two fruitcakes would be trying to play footsie under the table. There's a better chance of Bush telling the truth than there is of sitting at that table without those two butt pirates hitting on us.

 

[xpanda]

Is anyone in here going to the Rx Bash in August?


Is that when its gonna be this time around? I've never been to one, but would sure as hell dig hanging with some of you here. Vegas isn't too bad of a drive from LA...

Can someone gimme more specifics?

They're talking about it in Offshore. I think they're aiming for the second weekend in August, Friday and Saturday night. Pretty sure it's going to be at the Golden Nugget.

 

[Shotgun]

I'm in need of a thorough book on Israel, including conflicts with Palestine, their role in the broader MidEast, but especially their relationship with the US. What I'm NOT looking for is a book on bible prophecy (though I understand the subject may arise.) Something non-partisan, factual, and as void of op-eds as possible. Darryl, Phaedrus, Eek and Shotgun: I'm hoping you guys can recommend one for me. I don't have the time to delve too far into the subject, so I'm hoping to learn what I need to know in the pages of a single book -- two if I absolutely have to.

I don't know if you are going to find a good non-partisan book out there X...it is probably hard to find someone that can be objective enough to write a book. I have an old book by Mitchell Bard called Myths and Facts about the Arab-Israeli Conflicts; I believe there is an updated version of it at jewishvirtuallibrary.org. I love the book, but it looks at Israel from the Israeli side.

 

[DarrylParsons]

Sorry XP, I'm in the same boat as Eek...Phaedrus is probably your man on this one. GL!

 

[DarrylParsons]

As for the bash, I'd definitely go if both Phaedrus and Eek were there -- just one or the other wouldn't be enough because we'd probably run out of things to squabble about too quickly. :>Grin>

 

[eek.]

I would love to visit Vegas but it won't be this year unless I get a winning lottery ticket.
(The thing is, you would have to drag me away from the Videopoker and Blackjack...)

Its one of those places thats on my 'must see before u go' list.

 

[xpanda]

Its one of those places thats on my 'must see before u go' list.

Ditto that. I have two others: Glasgow and Amsterdam.

So nobody around here, for all the discussions of Israel and the ME, can recommmend a freakin' book for me? Well.

 

[DarrylParsons]

I can't imagine there being a subject that Phaedrus couldn't recommend a book about...he probably hasn't seen the thread yet.

Eek, how about if I could arrange for free room and board for you at the Horseshoe (across the street from the Nugget) or the Plaza (just down the street)? You'd only have to pay your airfare and the rest is pretty much covered. Same question to Phaedrus. My offer only applies if you both accept.

What do you say?