The Foreigner's Gift: The Americans, the Arabs, and the Iraqis in Iraq

Book Description
The fall of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime brought the first glimpse of freedom for Iraq and unleashed elation, resentment, and chaos. On the one hand, there is hope: the Iraqi people have their first chance at independence. On the other hand, there is despair: the country is exploding with violent sectarian and political power struggles. Through it all, Iraq has remained an enigma to much of the world. What is it about this country that makes for such a seemingly intractable situation? How did Iraq's particular history lead to its present circumstances? And what can we fear or hope for in the coming years?

Fouad Ajami, one of the world's foremost authorities on Middle Eastern politics, offers a brilliant, illuminating, and lyrical portrait of the ongoing struggle for Iraq and of the American encounter with that volatile Arab land. Ajami situates the current unrest within the context of Iraq's recent history of dictatorship and its rich, diverse cultural heritage. He applies his incisive political commentary, his broad and deep historical view, his mastery of the Arabic language and Arabic sources, and his lustrous prose to every aspect of his subject, wresting a coherent, fascinating, and textured picture from the media storm of fragmented information.

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The Foreigner's Gift: The Americans, the Arabs, and the Iraqis in Iraq
Fouad Ajami with Leslie Gelb

Description: Fouad Ajami talks to Council on Foreign Relations president emeritus Leslie Gelb about Professor Ajami's new book, "The Foreigner's Gift." During this event, Prof. Ajami profiles the Kurdish, Shia, and Sunni leaders in Iraq and assesses their strengths. He argues that understanding the biographies and personalities of these people gives more insight into the country than any institutional analysis could. The event was hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations. Includes audience Q&A.

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