The Foreign Service Journal, October 2010

56 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0 Iraq, while Iranians will seek to con- solidate the major advantages they gained thanks to the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. These developments complicate Kinzer’s thesis that a “power triangle” can be forged. All three governments are committed to preserving the terri- torial integrity of Iraq, defeating the Taliban and countering Sunni Muslim extremism. But beyond that, Reset does not make a compelling case that they share broad strategic interests. Kinzer may be right that in a post–Cold War world, the U.S. need no longer depend on Israeli intelli- gence and Saudi money to mount covert operations, and should distance itself from both pillars of its Middle East policy. But his idea that Wash- ington can impose a settlement on the Israelis and Palestinians is as unrealis- tic as his belief that the U.S., Iran and Turkey can work together successfully any time soon. Richard K. McKee, a retired Foreign Service officer, served as political coun- selor in Ankara from 1994 to 1997. Reaching Out to Islam A Necessary Engagement: Reinventing America’s Relations with the Muslim World (Prince- ton Studies in Muslim Politics) Emile A. Nakhleh, Princeton Univer- sity Press, 2009, $27.95, hardback, 162 pages. R EVIEWED BY P ATRICIA H. K USHLIS Emile Nakhleh’s A Necessary En- gagement is authoritative, approach- able and right-sized. Nakhleh was a senior intelligence officer and the di- rector of the Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program in the CIA’s Direc- torate of Intelligence until his retire- ment in 2006. The research, analysis and remedies contained in his book— geared both to policymakers and the educated layperson—derive from ex- tensive personal experience and re- flection. Nakhleh’s knowledge of historical Islam and today’s Muslim world are both deep. Using fluent Arabic, he interviewed hundreds of Muslims for this book who come from all walks of life in more than 30 countries: shop- keepers, religious clerics, journalists, university professors and even two Guantanamo prisoners. He has cor- roborated his findings with numerous surveys of Muslim attitudes taken during the past decade. What makes the book stand out is his analysis of the developing political awareness of the world’s 1.4 billion Muslims — many young, under- educated and unemployed — as well as the important and largely construc- tive role played by reformist thinkers and mainstream Islamist political par- ties. The refusal of Israel and the Bush administration to recognize Hamas’ electoral victory in Gaza, even though it came through largely free and fair elections, was perceived as the height of hypocrisy among Muslims. The author usefully emphasizes what a tiny percentage of militants as- pire to turn the multiethnic, multidi- mensional Islamic world into a one-world caliphate governed by the most backward and repressive inter- pretations of religious law. He stresses the many fissures within Islam, as well as the struggles being waged against the corrupt, incompetent and repres- sive elites who took power in the post- B O O K S CHANGE OF ADDRESS Moving? Take AFSA With You! Change your address online at: www.afsa.org/comment.cfm Or Send change of address to: AFSA Membership Department 2101 E Street NW Washington, DC 20037