Max Rodenbeck reviews Michael Oren’s “Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present,” finding it full of interesting anecdotes and well-researched but subtly biased in favor of both Israel and “America’s self-image as an innocent among Middle Eastern sharks.”
Some readers may remember that Oren, who holds Israeli citizenship and has served in the Israeli military, has been the subject of some controversy in US academic circles not only for being pro-Israel but also its vocal defender in the public arena. His previous book, “Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East,” was lambasted by Norman Finkelstein for its apologetics.
You just so happened to link to the one negative review of the book I’ve read — everywhere else from Foreign Affairs to the Washington Post seems to have a very positive appraisal of the book. I’ve heard Oren speak, and though he may be unabashedly pro-Israel, he’s one of its most intelligent analysts. And his Six Days of War was pretty universally acclaimed as well — I think it won the Los Angeles Times book of the year award, among other stuff. And I would hardly tout Norman Finkelstein as a reliable judge of academic calibur. Anyway, I’m almost done with Oren’s new book and I’ve been quote impressed. Definitely worth the read.
maybe it’s because you’re a journalist, but it should be caliber (with an “e”).
I think Rodenbeck’s review is overall quite positive, and certainly makes me want to read the book. It was also the first and only review of the book I read – please do pass on the links to the others. As for the 1967 book, I’ll take Stormin’ Norman’s take on things anytime.
I also want to emphasize that Oren’s book was well critically acclaimed and well-accepted in Academic circles as well. He used a tremendous amount of sources in addition to proper historical methods. This is not Norman Finkelstein’s area of expertise and I doubt he gave it a fair reading. I don’t even think it was worth mentioning what Finkelstein said. It doesn’t surprise me or anybody.
It’s true that Oren’s book on the Six-Day war got enormously positive reviews (including from Avi Shlaim, the prominent New Historian) but that doesn’t necessarily invalidate Finkelstein’s criticisms. There’s an article in the spring 2006 Middle East Journal by Roland Popp on the June 1967 war (unfortunately, it’s not available online) which challenges Oren’s book on a number of issues, ranging from supposed Egyptian plans for a first strike against Israel to the military balance of power between Israel and Egypt to the assessments of US military and intelligence officials Popp argues that Oren either ignores or selectively quotes historical documents that undermines his narrative of the events leading up to the Six-Day war.
I am very surprised at Rodenbeck’s statements on the Armenian Genocide. It follows the classic denial mechanism.
yes, but finklestein is a moron. he does the palestinian cause great disservice.