Danger and Opportunity: An American Ambassador's Journey Through the Middle East

by Edward Djerejian

Now in paperback from esteemed diplomat and former ambassador to both Syria and Israel—a captivating and illuminating book addressing the full scope of complex issues and critical challenges that U.S. leaders face in the Middle East.

Djerejian, an American diplomat who served eight presidents, from John F. Kennedy to William Jefferson Clinton, asserts that Americans are facing one of the most important challenges of our the struggle between the forces of extremism and moderation in the Arab and Muslim world. In Danger and Opportunity , he publicly shares for the first time intimate details and colorful anecdotes of his service in the Middle East.

Djerejian explains what has gone wrong with U.S. policy and suggests a way forward for future administrations. The United States must learn to deal with the various religious, ethnic, and cultural factors at play and must not impose its own political structure on the Arab and Muslim world. He maintains that we can help marginalize the radicals and champion a democratic way of life within the cultural context of the region’s own mainstream values and ideals. The only book of its kind to address the wide range of issues that U.S. leaders face in the Middle East, Djerejian outlines specific coherent strategies necessary to respond effectively to the imminent danger and dynamic opportunity presented by the unique struggle within the Islamic world.

Genres: Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2008

Reviews

[Lisa Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book for anyone interested in international relations, and/or the Middle East. It explains the intricacies of relationships between countries, especially Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and the U.S. in depth. As someone interested in a career in diplomacy, it also provided me with insightful advice about what skills future diplomats need and made recommendations on which programs the State Department should prioritize in the coming years to encourage progress in peace negotiations. This book was released in 2009 and the Arab Spring happened in late 2010. Ambassador Djerejian predicted the uprising of extremist groups like ISIS/ISIL and poignantly points out how the vacuum of moderate and pro west media options in the Middle East allows such extremist groups to flourish. I enjoyed learning more about the Iraq Study Group that the Baker Institute organized in 2006. It is unfortunate that many of their research-based recommendations were ignored by the administration at that time and it leaves me wondering how different our world would be now if they had been followed.

[Kirstin M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer - this was written by my boss so I'm only going to say nice things. Read for yourself and determine if it is a good book.

Djerejian was a career diplomat who served as the Ambassador to both Syria and Israel during his career. While at the State Department and his subsequent job as the director of the public policy think tank - the Baker Institute for Public Policy - Djerejian has continued to focus his efforts to determining what the underlining problems are in the region and suggests ways resolution might occur. He stresses from his experiences that peace in the region ultimately requires a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Whether this will occur during our lifetime is the real question.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by a career diplomat who spent most of his career in the Middle East. It has some interesting anecdotes, particularly about his background and experience in the region. Unfortunately, most of the book contains platitudes that have been expressed in almost every book about U.S. relations with the Middle East. It would have benefited from more in depth analysis of the region, and the United States' role in it.

[Ann]

There is some good insight to Syria, Israel, Lebanon's and the USA's current problems.