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HomeShop at BookSurgeBusiness & EconomicsHuman Resources & Personnel ManagementSamson Blinded:: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 12 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 31 found the following review helpful:
 Politically incorrect; A necessary discussion. May 23, 2006
By C. T. Hunter
"chips_books"
Shoher presents a compelling argument for strengthening Israel's
position in the world through firm and decisive action. While I am
sure that there are relatively few people who will agree with
everything he suggests, he does do an excellent job of reasoning out
his arguments and provides citations and references for all of his
claims. Many parts of this book come off as extreme or racist, but
I think that it is good to get these ideas out in the open and
actually consider them as possibilities for action that could be taken by
Israel. Five stars for this one because I'm glad that someone has
the will to take these "extreme" ideas and put them to paper as well
thought out propositions. This debate has been going on for a long
time, and one way or another, action needs to be taken.. and this
book will surely help people reason out what that action should be.
Among the main premises of the book is that Jews should start
viewing and treating Islamic states as their enemies. This means
that otherwise drastic seeming actions could be carried out and that
Israel shouldn't feel bad about hurting or disabling Arabs. Shoher
proposes taking land by force and then expelling its inhabitants as
well as responding to terrorist attacks by blanket reprisals against
cities and governments. Many very interesting ideas are presented
here, including the selling of Israeli mercenaries to foreign powers
and bribing imams to teach more liberal ideals in order to compete
with Saudi Arabia's promotion of jihad. Also, ideas to promote
conflicts between Muslim states are discussed as well as other ways
to trick and fool the Muslim world into forgetting their common enemy
and focusing on others.
One thing that turned me off about this book personally, was
Shoher's rather European-like cynical view of America and its
reasons for doing things. Claiming that the West basically ignores
the accumulation of WMDs by Muslim states doesn't really hold up
under recent world events. America chose Iraq arbitrarily? I think
not. And it really isn't fair to compare the wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq to proposed takeovers of Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, whereas
America has no interest in claiming lands of the Middle East as
their own and will not displace civilians with their own settlers.
But this book isn't about America, and I can understand Shoher's
misunderstanding of the goals and values of that great nation.
Shoher argues compellingly that the political game in Israel has
resulted in a country that cannot act forcefully one way or
another. When one political party acts, another is quick to follow
and reverse that action. Shoher believes that Israel must have a
debate and decide on what their course will be, isolationism or
aggressiveness towards their neighbors. When it is decided, commit
to that decision. Basically, stick with a plan and don't
vacillate. Fight for a clear objective and don't loose sight of
that goal. Weigh the costs and the benefits of actions, and when a
path is chosen, don't waver.
"Conflicts between states cannot be solved by palliatives but
require the credible threat of force."
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Samson Blinded, the most straight forward look at the Middle East Conflict Feb 26, 2010
By Zachary Z. Grunberg
"Z"
Very balanced and to the point. Looking at the Middle east from a western/humanist perspective misses the real mark. This is a conflict between two eastern cultures, you cannot interject western values. The Western approach will never work.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Samson Blinded Book Sep 03, 2009
By Mair Marty Maayan
"book lover"
The book is very much to the point. Always logical even if it counters you sensibilities and past ideas.
Unfortunately I doubt that these ideas would be followed by the Israeli government.
No doubt though that if they were so followed much prolonged pain and suffering would be resolved much sooner.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
No spin... Feb 28, 2010
By Son of Samson
"No Illusions"
The author weaves an objective, matter-of-fact and bottom line exploration of the realities which confront Israel in its conflict with the surrounding hostile states and "Palestinians", as well as the moral and geopolitical implications relative to history and posterity in the modern world. What more effective and appropriate point of intellectual focus and perspective for this study could he have chosen than Niccolo Machiavelli?
In the context of this approach the author lays an efficient foundation, explaining that "Niccolo Machiavelli affirmed that two ways lead most directly to peace: destroy a people's will to fight by either utter goodness or by utter cruelty..." He explores the nature of the various player's will to fight within their unique context of principles, as well as to bear and inflict suffering. Then he postulates the dilemma (of the modern world), that "the desire for peaceful coexistence runs aground on two problems. First, it accommodates evil alongside merely diverse views... The distinction between justice and mercy blurs in nonexistence. Second, the desire for accommodation is hypocritical..."
If you are not already a committed partisan, as an enemy, or siding with the enemies of Israel, then there is much here to further widen your scope of circumstantial understanding and fundamental perspective. If you are such a committed partisan, reading this book is an honest opportunity to come to grips with the essential and universal intellectual issues intrinsic to the conflict beyond culturally ideological and theological inculcation. Everyone interested in the mideast conflict can grow by reading this book.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
The first time ever, an explanation that makes sense. Aug 29, 2007
By Veet Vivarto
My eyes have opened, against my will. The truth is scary and for the biggest part of my life I lived in wishful illusions. However reality does not confirm to our wishes.
It is not a book to agree or disagree with. It is an in-your-face call to awaken and face the reality.
This book provided me with needed analytical tools. It is the most influential document I've read in the last 10 years.
While I don't agree with much of what Obadiah is saying, his book gave me a new perspective from which to view historical reality.
While the book is mostly about Israel, the the principles of the power politics apply MUCH more to the powerful the United States.
Read this book only if you are ready to leave behind your sweet dreams about morality, compassion, fairness, or humanity in the international relations.
See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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