Secret Affairs: Britain's Collusion with Radical Islam - Softcover

Curtis, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1846687640 ISBN 13: 9781846687648

Publisher: Serpent's Tail, 2012

Synopsis

The updated edition of Secret Affairs covers the momentous events of the past year in the Middle East. It reveals the unreported attempts by Britain to cultivate relations with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt after the fall of Mubarak, the military intervention on the side of Libyan rebel forces which include pro-al-Qaeda elements, and the ongoing reliance on the region's ultimate fundamentalist state, Saudi Arabia, to safeguard its interest in the Middle East.

In this ground-breaking book, Mark Curtis reveals the covert history of British collusion with radical Islamic and terrorist groups. Secret Affairs shows how governments since the 1940s have connived with militant forces to control oil resources and overthrow governments. The story of how Britain has helped nurture the rise of global terrorism has never been told.

About this title

Review

As much of history is appropriated by the media and we are beckoned into an era of endless war, this superb book could not be more timely. Sensational in the best sense, it examines the darkest corners of the imperial past to reveal the truth behind today's news (John Pilger)

Unearthing this largely hidden history is a contribution of the highest significance, and could hardly be more timely. (Noam Chomsky)

This valuable and important book by Mark Curtis, the result of painstaking and extensive research into declassified files on British policy towards the Islamic world over the last half century, presents a far more accurate and balanced picture than the shallow simplicities fed by Bush?s so-called war on terror.

It shows in extensive detail how Britain and the US have repeatedly sided with radical Islamic forces in the Middle East and elsewhere as counterweights to check the rise of nationalism, as shock troops to bring about pro-Western regime change, and as proxies to fight wars against the West?s enemies. There is no war between civilizations (Bush), no Manichaean struggle between the good and evil forces of Islam (Blair), rather the ever-present serpentine thread of shifting alliances to maintain British control of key energy resources and Britain?s place in a pro-Western global financial order centred on Saudi Arabia.

This is a fascinating account which can change outlooks and deepen comprehension of a hugely misunderstood drama, and it should be compelling reading before any further Middle East wars are set in train.

(Michael Meacher, MP)

Secret Affairs deserves to become a key reference point in the debate over terrorism and Middle East policy (Metro)

a work of great importance and sobering conclusions (Tribune)

enthralling, encyclopedic and damning (Chartist)

Gripping stuff (Sunday Business Post)

From the Author

Acclaimed political writer whose previous book Web of Deceit sold over 10,000 copies|Gives historical background to one of the UK's biggest current concerns|Calls for UK Government to take responsibility for current terrorist threat

About this edition

• Publisher: Serpent's Tail
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1846687640
• ISBN 13: 9781846687648
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480