Doomed to succeed : the U.S.-Israel relationship from Truman to Obama

Description

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award's Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award in History. A necessary and unprecedented account of America's changing relationship with Israel When it comes to Israel, U.S. policy has always emphasized the unbreakable bond between the two countries and our ironclad commitment to Israel's security. Today our ties to Israel are close―so close that when there are differences, they tend to make the news. But it was not always this way. Dennis Ross has been a direct participant in shaping U.S. policy toward the Middle East, and Israel specifically, for nearly thirty years. He served in senior roles, including as Bill Clinton's envoy for Arab-Israeli peace, and was an active player in the debates over how Israel fit into the region and what should guide our policies. In Doomed to Succeed, he takes us through every administration from Truman to Obama, throwing into dramatic relief each president's attitudes toward Israel and the region, the often tumultuous debates between key advisers, and the events that drove the policies and at times led to a shift in approach. Ross points out how rarely lessons were learned and how distancing the United States from Israel in the Eisenhower, Nixon, Bush, and Obama administrations never yielded any benefits and why that lesson has never been learned. Doomed to Succeed offers compelling advice for how to understand the priorities of Arab leaders and how future administrations might best shape U.S. policy in that light. Content: The evolution of U.S. policy toward Israel -- The Eisenhower Administration and the pursuit of Arab allies -- The Kennedy Administration : breaking taboos and pursuing a new balance -- Lyndon Baines Johnson : emotional ties but constrained by Vietnam -- Nixon and Ford : dysfunction, war, and interim agreements -- The Carter presidency : the pursuit of peace and constant tension with Israel -- The Reagan administration and the policy of duality -- George H.W. Bush and Israel : discord and responsiveness -- The Clinton administration and Israel : strategic partners for peace -- Bush 43 : terror, partnership, and bureaucratic divisions -- Obama and Israel : support for security, little chemistry, and constant challenges -- Lessons from the past and implications for the future.