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وقت للخيانة
قصة حقيقية كما مبهجة كجاسوس تجسس كبير، كما مضطربة كما عناوين اليوم من الشرق الأوسط، 2010 جائزة أفضل الكتب الوطنية الحائز على جائزة الوقت للخيانة يكشف ما لم يكن أي مذكرات سابقة من وكالة المخابرات المركزية السابقة ربما يمكن: الأعمال الداخلية للثوري سيئة السمعة حراس إيران، كما يشهد رجل إيراني داخل صفوفهم يتجسس لصالح الحكومة الأمريكية. إنها قصة إنسانية، وقصة عائلية وصداقات تمزقها نظام إرهابي، وكيف أن خيارات الكبار لثلاثة من زملائهم في مرحلة الطفولة أثناء الجمهورية الإسلامية أسفرت عن مصائر مفجعة ومأساوية. وهذا هو الحساب الشجاع المذهل لالتزام الرجل الذي دام عقدا من الزمان لقيادة حياة مزدوجة مروعة تخبر البلد الحبيب لولاده، وهو المكان الذي عرض في وقت سابق وعد الحرية والتنوير - ولكن بدلا من ذلك يحكمه العنف والروح القاتلان -crushing القمع.
نشأ رضا كاهليلي في طهران محاطا بعائلته المتشابكة واثنين من أصدقاء الصبي الحماسيين. سمحت إيران لشبابه رضا بالتفكير والعمل بحرية، وحتى تنغمس ميلا للمزاح المتمردة في مواجهة الملاليين المحليين. ازدهرت حرياته السياسية والشخصية في حين درس علوم الكمبيوتر في جامعة جنوب كاليفورنيا في 1970s. لكن زمنه اليقظ في أمريكا كان قصيرا مع الموت المفاجئ لأبيه، وعاد رضا إلى ديارهم لإيجاد بلد على أعتاب التغيير. ثورة 1979 سقطت إيران في عصر مظلم من الأصولية الدينية تحت آية الله الخميني، وريزا، متشبثا أملا في عصر النهضة الفارسية، وانضم إلى الحرس الثوري، قوة النخبة في بيك ونداء آية الله. ولكن كما تطغى طغاة الخميني، كما تحولت مواطنيه بعضهم البعض، وبعد الرعب الذي شهده داخل سجن إيفين، عاد رضا وخيبة أمل رضا إلى أمريكا لتصبح خطيرة "والي"، وهو جاسوس لوكالة المخابرات المركزية.
في أعقاب الانتخابات الإيرانية التي أثارت غضبا عالميا، في الوقت الذي يحمل فيه البرنامج النووي الإيراني اهتمام العالم القلق، فإن الكشف داخل الوقت للخيانة لا يمكن أن يكون أكثر قوة أو في الوقت المناسب. استقال الآن من حياته السرية لاستعادة الوقت الثمين مع أحبائه، يوثق رضا كاهليلي مشاهد من التاريخ مع وضوح قلبية القلب، لأنه يوفر معلومات حيوية من الحرب الإيرانية العراقية، والتفجيرات ثكنة البحرية في بيروت، والكوارث من عموم آم فلايت 103، فضيحة قضية إيران كونترا، وأكثر من ذلك. . . سلسلة من الأحداث التي لا تصدق تتوج في معركة الأمة من أجل الحرية التي لا تزال حتى يومنا هذا.
نشأ رضا كاهليلي في طهران محاطا بعائلته المتشابكة واثنين من أصدقاء الصبي الحماسيين. سمحت إيران لشبابه رضا بالتفكير والعمل بحرية، وحتى تنغمس ميلا للمزاح المتمردة في مواجهة الملاليين المحليين. ازدهرت حرياته السياسية والشخصية في حين درس علوم الكمبيوتر في جامعة جنوب كاليفورنيا في 1970s. لكن زمنه اليقظ في أمريكا كان قصيرا مع الموت المفاجئ لأبيه، وعاد رضا إلى ديارهم لإيجاد بلد على أعتاب التغيير. ثورة 1979 سقطت إيران في عصر مظلم من الأصولية الدينية تحت آية الله الخميني، وريزا، متشبثا أملا في عصر النهضة الفارسية، وانضم إلى الحرس الثوري، قوة النخبة في بيك ونداء آية الله. ولكن كما تطغى طغاة الخميني، كما تحولت مواطنيه بعضهم البعض، وبعد الرعب الذي شهده داخل سجن إيفين، عاد رضا وخيبة أمل رضا إلى أمريكا لتصبح خطيرة "والي"، وهو جاسوس لوكالة المخابرات المركزية.
في أعقاب الانتخابات الإيرانية التي أثارت غضبا عالميا، في الوقت الذي يحمل فيه البرنامج النووي الإيراني اهتمام العالم القلق، فإن الكشف داخل الوقت للخيانة لا يمكن أن يكون أكثر قوة أو في الوقت المناسب. استقال الآن من حياته السرية لاستعادة الوقت الثمين مع أحبائه، يوثق رضا كاهليلي مشاهد من التاريخ مع وضوح قلبية القلب، لأنه يوفر معلومات حيوية من الحرب الإيرانية العراقية، والتفجيرات ثكنة البحرية في بيروت، والكوارث من عموم آم فلايت 103، فضيحة قضية إيران كونترا، وأكثر من ذلك. . . سلسلة من الأحداث التي لا تصدق تتوج في معركة الأمة من أجل الحرية التي لا تزال حتى يومنا هذا.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2010
83 people are currently reading
1778 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
January 14, 2013
As an Iranian-American who was born after the revolution but has had chances to visit Iran several times for significant periods of time, I find Mr. Kahlili's book to be both breathtaking and a testament to the horrors and pain inflicting upon the Iranian people to people like my grandfather to my little cousin. Reza Kahlili exemplifies his story as a young man attending USC to becoming a Revolutionary Guards member once the Revolution hit Iran in 1979. Mr. Kahlili allows the reader to understand how good and secular people were washed up into the fervor of the Islamic Revolution in 1979' and how such a madman such as the Ayatollah Khomeini was able to lie and brainwash a people with such a rich culture and ancient history.
Mr. Kahlili's book is wrote in a manner that both the simple reader can easily comprehend along with an elegant prose that the more extensive reader can quickly get through. His story is more of a human story that not only details his spying days, but of his relationships with his family members and friends since childhood that both contributed to both the revolutionary fervor that was able to sweep him up during the revolution along with the values and ideals that his parents and grandparents taught him that allowed him to say "enough is enough, it's a time to betray" in joining the CIA for the sole purpose of helping Iran become free from tyrannical tyrants.
"It's very important to understand this mentality of martyrdom and radical conviction. They truly believe that one day Islam will conquer the world. If we allow the Guards to go unchecked, the consequences could be devastating for the region - and the world."
This quote comes from Mr. Kahlili's book and I think highlights the situation so well with Iran. The Iranian regime is a regime that has occupied and sent Iran back into the stone ages for the past 32+ years in a process I uniquely term "de-evolution". This is a regime that does not think in "this world" but rather makes decisions based on prophecy and world ending messianic beliefs. They go so far as to rape virgins before executing them so that they "don't go to heaven". This is a barbaric and primitive regime that has occupied the once great nation of Iran and the entire international community must understand that negotiating is not an option with these madmen. This regime will not be happy and will not rest until the "return of the hidden imam" and will do everything to facilitate this end-of-the-world prophecy including starting wars and allowing millions of Iranians to die for their fanatical beliefs. The international community must stand by the side of the Iranian people in overthrowing this barbaric regime. It is the right thing and necessary thing to do for not only insuring that Iranians have the opportunities to live in dignity, peace, and freedom but the international community will get rid of itself of a barbaric and dangerous regime that endangers world peace with their nuclear activities and ambitions.
Mr. Kahlili's book is wrote in a manner that both the simple reader can easily comprehend along with an elegant prose that the more extensive reader can quickly get through. His story is more of a human story that not only details his spying days, but of his relationships with his family members and friends since childhood that both contributed to both the revolutionary fervor that was able to sweep him up during the revolution along with the values and ideals that his parents and grandparents taught him that allowed him to say "enough is enough, it's a time to betray" in joining the CIA for the sole purpose of helping Iran become free from tyrannical tyrants.
"It's very important to understand this mentality of martyrdom and radical conviction. They truly believe that one day Islam will conquer the world. If we allow the Guards to go unchecked, the consequences could be devastating for the region - and the world."
This quote comes from Mr. Kahlili's book and I think highlights the situation so well with Iran. The Iranian regime is a regime that has occupied and sent Iran back into the stone ages for the past 32+ years in a process I uniquely term "de-evolution". This is a regime that does not think in "this world" but rather makes decisions based on prophecy and world ending messianic beliefs. They go so far as to rape virgins before executing them so that they "don't go to heaven". This is a barbaric and primitive regime that has occupied the once great nation of Iran and the entire international community must understand that negotiating is not an option with these madmen. This regime will not be happy and will not rest until the "return of the hidden imam" and will do everything to facilitate this end-of-the-world prophecy including starting wars and allowing millions of Iranians to die for their fanatical beliefs. The international community must stand by the side of the Iranian people in overthrowing this barbaric regime. It is the right thing and necessary thing to do for not only insuring that Iranians have the opportunities to live in dignity, peace, and freedom but the international community will get rid of itself of a barbaric and dangerous regime that endangers world peace with their nuclear activities and ambitions.
April 24, 2020
"وطن الطائر الجريح الملوّث جناحه بالدم
وطن الزهرة المتفتّحة المُغطاة بالدم
وطن سهول الشهداء والنور
وطن الدم من الرأس حتى إصبع القدم
وطن الأغنية الحبيسة
وطن القصيدة المُخرّبة"
- كلمات أغنية فارسية
نقرأ في هذا الكتاب قصة شخص يدعى رضا كاهليلي، رأى وطنه يُخنق بسلطة الملالي، كان شاهداً على رحيل الشاه محمد رضا بهولي وكان الأمل يملؤه هو وشعبه بأن يحقق آية الله الخميني وعوده ببناء إيران حرّة وديمقراطية.
لكن ما حدث كان العكس تماماً، القمع والقتل والسجن والتعذيب والاغتيال والكذب. رأى أصدقاءه يُعذّبون ويُعدمون لا لشيء سوى لمعارضتهم النظام السياسي!
فتيات مراهقات يُغتَصبن قبل إعدامهن حتى يذهبن إلى الجحيم رأساً! هذا ما كان يؤمن به النظام الجديد!
حاول رضا أن يفعل شيء لأجل وطنه، ذهب لأمريكا وأصبح جاسوساً لصالح الولايات المتحدة، في محاولة لإنقاذ إيران.
حياة مزدوجة صعبة تملؤها المخاوف والشكوك والعذاب.
كتاب يستحق أن يُقرأ.
May 13, 2019
خیلی خوب بود. هم داستان جذابی داشت، هم تاریخ معاصر انقلاب رو به خوبی روایت کرده بود و جنبه جامعه شناسی قضیه رو خوب تحلیل کرده بود.
ادعا شده که کتاب بر اساس واقعیت نوشته شده، نمیدونم ولی برای من به اندازه کافی واقعی بود، چون میدونم این اتفاقات در ایران افتاده.
ادعا شده که کتاب بر اساس واقعیت نوشته شده، نمیدونم ولی برای من به اندازه کافی واقعی بود، چون میدونم این اتفاقات در ایران افتاده.
April 29, 2013
Reza Kahlili (not his real name) of the Revolutionary Guards became a spy for the CIA when Iran came under the thumb of Ayatollah Khomeini. This is his story.
I read this book primarily because I wanted to know more about the events that occurred before and under Ayatollah Khomeini. As far as that was concerned, the book didn't disappoint.
Kahlili writes very clearly about the events that eventually toppled the Shah and thus made Khomeini the unchallenged leader of Iran. And while people were not totally happy under the Shah, they were at least content as they had some little liberties in their private lives which they cherished. Ayatollah Khomeini changed all that. As USSR became a totalitarian state under the guise of Communism, Iran became a police state under the pretense of religious fanaticism. Iran's rulers interpreted their religion as per their convenience.
After his childhood friend was tortured and shot by the fanatical regime, Kahlili became disillusioned by the Iran government’s promise to build a proper state for its citizens. As a result, he became a CIA spy operating in Iran. I think he took this step more out of obligation to his dead friend, although he states in his book that by being a spy he wanted to let the US know what was happening in Iran which would eventually convince the USA to pressurize the Khomeini regime to mend its ways which would bring peace to his country. If he truly believed that, he was being naïve. And he actually admits that himself in the concluding chapters of the book. International politics has never worked that way. Never has, never will.
His spying didn’t improve the conditions in Iran which he hoped might happen due to the intervention of outside world (Nobody intervened, as anybody might have guessed right from the start even without the benefit of hindsight), but at least Kahlili could have the personal satisfaction that he hurt the repressive regime in some indirect ways which took away his friend and everybody else’s personal freedom in Iran.
I read this book primarily because I wanted to know more about the events that occurred before and under Ayatollah Khomeini. As far as that was concerned, the book didn't disappoint.
Kahlili writes very clearly about the events that eventually toppled the Shah and thus made Khomeini the unchallenged leader of Iran. And while people were not totally happy under the Shah, they were at least content as they had some little liberties in their private lives which they cherished. Ayatollah Khomeini changed all that. As USSR became a totalitarian state under the guise of Communism, Iran became a police state under the pretense of religious fanaticism. Iran's rulers interpreted their religion as per their convenience.
After his childhood friend was tortured and shot by the fanatical regime, Kahlili became disillusioned by the Iran government’s promise to build a proper state for its citizens. As a result, he became a CIA spy operating in Iran. I think he took this step more out of obligation to his dead friend, although he states in his book that by being a spy he wanted to let the US know what was happening in Iran which would eventually convince the USA to pressurize the Khomeini regime to mend its ways which would bring peace to his country. If he truly believed that, he was being naïve. And he actually admits that himself in the concluding chapters of the book. International politics has never worked that way. Never has, never will.
His spying didn’t improve the conditions in Iran which he hoped might happen due to the intervention of outside world (Nobody intervened, as anybody might have guessed right from the start even without the benefit of hindsight), but at least Kahlili could have the personal satisfaction that he hurt the repressive regime in some indirect ways which took away his friend and everybody else’s personal freedom in Iran.
May 21, 2020
لطالما كانت جمهورية إيران واحدة من أكثرِ دول العالم غموضاً ، لا يُعلم عنها الكثير خاصة بعد الثورة وسقوط نظام الشاه.
رضا كاهليلي بطل القصة الذي يروي سيرته ، يكشف الستار عن فظائع نظام الملالي بقيادة "الخميني" ، "رضا كاهليلي" العضو البارز في الحرس الثوري هو نفسه ولي العميل لصالح وكالة الاستخبارات الأمريكية ، لا أحد يختار طوعاً أن يكون جاسوسا ضد وطنه إلا إذا وصل لقناعة مفادها انه مهما كان سوء من يعملُ معهم لن يكون أسوأ ممن يحكمون بلاده الان.
رضا الذي دعم وساند الثورة هو وأصدقائه ، لم يتخيلوا في أسوأ كوابيسهم أن يتسلقها أولئك المتطرفون المتعصبون بقيادة *الخميني" الذي تنكر لكل شعارات الحرية والديموقراطية التي رفعها ، ويحكم الدولة بالحديد والنار ، ويرمي الثوار أنفسهم في المعتقلات وينالوا قسطاً كبيراً من القمع والتنكيل والارهاب بل وصل به الامر للاعدامات والاغتصاب لأتفه الاسباب ، جرائم لا يمكن أن يفعلها من رفع الاسلام شعاراً وإسماً له.
ما يحكيه الكاتب والخزلان الذي شعر به الايرانيين بعد الثورة لم اجد له وصفاً أبلغ من وصف الشاعر أمل دنقل عندما قالت:
ﻻ ﺗﺤﻠﻤﻮﺍ ﺑﻌﺎﻟﻢاً ﺳﻌﻴﺪ
ﻓﺨﻠﻒ ﻛُﻞ ﻗﻴﺼﺮٍ ﻳﻤﻮﺕ : ﻗﻴﺼﺮُ ﺟﺪﻳﺪ !
ﻭﺧﻠﻒ ﻛﻞ ﺛﺎﺋﺮاً ﻳﻤﻮﺕ : ﺃﺣﺰﺍﻥ ﺑﻼ ﺟﺪﻭﻯ ..
ﻭﺩﻣﻌﺔ ﺳﺪﻯ !!
لعن الله سارقي الثورات ، وقاتلي الاحلام ، ومنافقي الشعارات !!
رضا كاهليلي بطل القصة الذي يروي سيرته ، يكشف الستار عن فظائع نظام الملالي بقيادة "الخميني" ، "رضا كاهليلي" العضو البارز في الحرس الثوري هو نفسه ولي العميل لصالح وكالة الاستخبارات الأمريكية ، لا أحد يختار طوعاً أن يكون جاسوسا ضد وطنه إلا إذا وصل لقناعة مفادها انه مهما كان سوء من يعملُ معهم لن يكون أسوأ ممن يحكمون بلاده الان.
رضا الذي دعم وساند الثورة هو وأصدقائه ، لم يتخيلوا في أسوأ كوابيسهم أن يتسلقها أولئك المتطرفون المتعصبون بقيادة *الخميني" الذي تنكر لكل شعارات الحرية والديموقراطية التي رفعها ، ويحكم الدولة بالحديد والنار ، ويرمي الثوار أنفسهم في المعتقلات وينالوا قسطاً كبيراً من القمع والتنكيل والارهاب بل وصل به الامر للاعدامات والاغتصاب لأتفه الاسباب ، جرائم لا يمكن أن يفعلها من رفع الاسلام شعاراً وإسماً له.
ما يحكيه الكاتب والخزلان الذي شعر به الايرانيين بعد الثورة لم اجد له وصفاً أبلغ من وصف الشاعر أمل دنقل عندما قالت:
ﻻ ﺗﺤﻠﻤﻮﺍ ﺑﻌﺎﻟﻢاً ﺳﻌﻴﺪ
ﻓﺨﻠﻒ ﻛُﻞ ﻗﻴﺼﺮٍ ﻳﻤﻮﺕ : ﻗﻴﺼﺮُ ﺟﺪﻳﺪ !
ﻭﺧﻠﻒ ﻛﻞ ﺛﺎﺋﺮاً ﻳﻤﻮﺕ : ﺃﺣﺰﺍﻥ ﺑﻼ ﺟﺪﻭﻯ ..
ﻭﺩﻣﻌﺔ ﺳﺪﻯ !!
لعن الله سارقي الثورات ، وقاتلي الاحلام ، ومنافقي الشعارات !!
March 20, 2020
من الجميل القراءة لأشخاص عاشوا ضمن دول لا نعرف شيئًا عنها كإيران
هذا الكتاب عبارة عن مذكرات لشخص إيراني أصبح عميلًا لوكالة المخابرات المركزية الأمريكية نتيجة الفظائع التي شهدها خلال فترة حكم "الملالي" على حد تعبيره
في الحقيقة الكتاب ممتع وفيه العديد من المعلومات التي قد تغيب عن تصورنا كعرب
تعرف على الكتاب من خلال تطبيق ستوريتل. والكتاب من سهل جدًا استماعه عبر التطبيق على الرغم من مدته التي تتجاوز ال 13 ساعة بقليل
هذا الكتاب عبارة عن مذكرات لشخص إيراني أصبح عميلًا لوكالة المخابرات المركزية الأمريكية نتيجة الفظائع التي شهدها خلال فترة حكم "الملالي" على حد تعبيره
في الحقيقة الكتاب ممتع وفيه العديد من المعلومات التي قد تغيب عن تصورنا كعرب
تعرف على الكتاب من خلال تطبيق ستوريتل. والكتاب من سهل جدًا استماعه عبر التطبيق على الرغم من مدته التي تتجاوز ال 13 ساعة بقليل
September 14, 2017
Excellent book to read. Run and don't wait to read it. It will change you forever.
March 9, 2013
Excellent story of a man who lived a double-life, and the stress that doing so placed on him and his family. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the country that Iran has become since their "revolution" in the late 70s / early 80s. Filled with insights from a man who was not only there, but was a first-hand witness to some of these events by virtue of his membership in the "Revolutionary Guard". At the same time, he was a paid agent of the CIA, reporting everything he saw or heard at great risk to himself and his family. It is a true human tragedy, what has become of the people of this once, very westernized and progressive country. More so when we realize how close to returning to some semblance of normalcy Iran was in 2009, during their protests. A small amount of help from the U.S. Government would quickly have tipped the scales in favor of those seeking freedom. Unfortunately, the leader of our government was apparently too busy with his perpetual re-election campaign to give any help to them. Opportunity missed.
As far as the book itself is concerned, the only problem I had with it were a couple of very strong "coincidences" that worked perfectly in the author's favor. I am not suggesting that they did not occur... I just wonder, given the nature of the subject matter, how much is being witheld. It may be that the sequences did not happen as portrayed, but that they worked better they way they were presented, for a book. Particularly suspicious in my mind were the sequence of events around the death of "Reza's" friend and Commander.
As far as the book itself is concerned, the only problem I had with it were a couple of very strong "coincidences" that worked perfectly in the author's favor. I am not suggesting that they did not occur... I just wonder, given the nature of the subject matter, how much is being witheld. It may be that the sequences did not happen as portrayed, but that they worked better they way they were presented, for a book. Particularly suspicious in my mind were the sequence of events around the death of "Reza's" friend and Commander.
September 4, 2020
Espionage is complicated. There are split emotions and thoughts. This is the story of an Iranian Guardsman who, seeing the devastation and terror brought forth by the mullahs, seeks out the CIA and provides invaluable information to them in the hope that the U.S. will help bring freedom to Iran.
November 3, 2018
I enjoy stories of intelligence and espionage combined with real testimonies, and therefore, Sometimes even in the wee hours of the night, I find myself sitting in front of history programs on television and finding it difficult to part from them.
Among other things, I enjoy reading or hearing stories about clandestine and dangerous activity in countries where the chances of success are low, and I expect that the writer will find it necessary to create a happy ending for his story, yet, most times it doesn't come to it.
This book is an excellent example of that. It's the story of an officer in the Revolutionary Guards in Iran who became a spy in the service of the United States.
The book describes the life story of Raza and through his personal story also tells the story of Iran from the time of the Shah to the present day. Through this story, we learn how Iran has evolved from being a liberal and progressive state to a state that is today witness to the day-to-day conduct of the field.
For the most part, this is not a history book by definition. It is a document of human testimony composed of several circles that harmonize together. A history that is closely related to the analysis of the implications of Iran's changes to the world, stories about family relationships, relations of friendship, and how things that are independent of us can influence and transform our lives from one end to the next.
It is a story that shows how our personal history, values, family, friendships and tragedies influence and sometimes define our actions.
It is incredible to read so vividly and modestly how one person can influence and contribute to changes that affect the whole world - thanks to the courage to do the right thing despite the danger.
highly recommend.
Among other things, I enjoy reading or hearing stories about clandestine and dangerous activity in countries where the chances of success are low, and I expect that the writer will find it necessary to create a happy ending for his story, yet, most times it doesn't come to it.
This book is an excellent example of that. It's the story of an officer in the Revolutionary Guards in Iran who became a spy in the service of the United States.
The book describes the life story of Raza and through his personal story also tells the story of Iran from the time of the Shah to the present day. Through this story, we learn how Iran has evolved from being a liberal and progressive state to a state that is today witness to the day-to-day conduct of the field.
For the most part, this is not a history book by definition. It is a document of human testimony composed of several circles that harmonize together. A history that is closely related to the analysis of the implications of Iran's changes to the world, stories about family relationships, relations of friendship, and how things that are independent of us can influence and transform our lives from one end to the next.
It is a story that shows how our personal history, values, family, friendships and tragedies influence and sometimes define our actions.
It is incredible to read so vividly and modestly how one person can influence and contribute to changes that affect the whole world - thanks to the courage to do the right thing despite the danger.
highly recommend.
June 17, 2019
זהו אחד הספרים המרתקים והמרשימים ביותר שקראתי לאחרונה. מאחר שהכותב אינו מזוהה בשמו האמיתי, לכאורה לא ניתן לאמת את סיפורו אבל ממה שאנחנו יודעים על משטר האייטולות ועל הכרונולוגיה ההיסטורית מאז ועד היום, אין סיבה אמיתית לפקפק בחלק ניכר ממה שמתואר שם. זהו ספר מתח לכל דבר כאשר ברקע ניתנים הסברים לתהליכים שעברו על איראן בעת שלטונו של השאה ואת הסיבות שחוללו את המהפיכה האיסלמית בהובלתו של האייטולה חומייני. המספר עצמו הצטרף בהתלהבות למשמרות המהפיכה אולם די מהר התפכח וראה שהעם האיראני נפל מהפח אל הפחת וכל הבטחותיו של חומייני לחיים טובים וחופש התנדפו כלא היו. וכך מצא את עצמו מרגל עבור ארה״ב בתקווה שהמידע שיעביר יציל את עמו משלטון החושך.. בדרך כלל כאשר קוראים ספר ביוגרפי (במקרה זה אוטוביוגרפי) אנו קוראים על מה שהיה בעבר אולם לצערי הרב הקריאה בספר הזה, על אף שמתבססת על אירועי העבר הקרוב, מלמדת אותנו שהסיפור של משטר האייטולות אקטואלי ומסוכן לעולם החופשי יותר מתמיד. זהו ספר מחמיר לב, מעורר מחשבה וטורד מנוחה ואין לי ספק שלאחר קריאתו אני מבין טוב יותר מדוע נתניהו כל כך אובססיבי לנושא האיראני. לדעתי הספר הזה תרם לי ידע ותובנות יותר מכל תכניות הטלביזיה שראיתי עד כה אשר עסקו במשטר האייטולות האיראני. אני גם חושב שזה ספר חובה לכל אדם שוחר חופש ובעיקר לכל אזרח ישראלי. הספר גם אמור להזכיר להרבה אנשים ששכחו את חשיבותו של חופש הביטוי, באיזו קלות ומהירות דבר שלכאורה כה מובן מאליו יכול להילקח מאיתנו, שלא להזכיר דברים נוראים בהרבה המתוארים בספר.
Read
April 30, 2019I've been having this dual feeling as to write a review for this book or not. Does writing a review for this book adds up to its validity or undermines its contents by a fair meticulously massaged review. I think taking action has always been better than being passive.
This book, is written by a traitor about humanity, and freedom. How to carry the burden of this paradox on you while reading through the pages is something one has to experience himself. In the begging, the author tries to grab your sympathy by describing the good old childhood days he had with his best friends using it to prove the savageness of the people whom he betrayed them. He didn't betray those people though, he betrayed the country, the people and what he describes as "higher goods".
The sequence and severity of the happenings are a little hard to believe they have actually happened and the author has witnessed them, however one cannot reject all of them. In the best scenario I accept that this book is a historical novel than a true story. It becomes too irritating at some points bringing this up that it tries to relate western delusion to cruel Iranian regime by ANY MEANS.
Talking about positive points, this book is filled with moments that provide you with bursts of strong feelings which may make you cry or smile widely at some points.
To some up, I recommend reading this book to everyone who is interested in Iran's contemporary history.
This book, is written by a traitor about humanity, and freedom. How to carry the burden of this paradox on you while reading through the pages is something one has to experience himself. In the begging, the author tries to grab your sympathy by describing the good old childhood days he had with his best friends using it to prove the savageness of the people whom he betrayed them. He didn't betray those people though, he betrayed the country, the people and what he describes as "higher goods".
The sequence and severity of the happenings are a little hard to believe they have actually happened and the author has witnessed them, however one cannot reject all of them. In the best scenario I accept that this book is a historical novel than a true story. It becomes too irritating at some points bringing this up that it tries to relate western delusion to cruel Iranian regime by ANY MEANS.
Talking about positive points, this book is filled with moments that provide you with bursts of strong feelings which may make you cry or smile widely at some points.
To some up, I recommend reading this book to everyone who is interested in Iran's contemporary history.
June 2, 2016
This is the story of Iranian man in the Revolutionary Guards who becomes a CIA agent during the 1980's. I enjoyed the first few chapters, which discussed what life was like during the reign of the Shah, the rise in popularity of the Ayatollah Khomeini, and how daily life changed after he took over the country. I didn't enjoy the actual "spy" part of the book as much. The author spoke quite a bit about his inner turmoil of leading a double life and having to lie to his family and betray his friends.
July 2, 2017
This book provides much needed insight into the minds of a 'Radical Islamist' and their policies for running a nation. The author was a Spy, an Iranian, whose story can easily be a blockbuster Hollywood movie. Awesome book from the hands of a insider in Radical Islamist regime.
June 9, 2020
بعد قراءة اكثر من نصف الكتاب صرت على ثقة أن هذا الكتاب بلا شك هو كتاب مزور وملفق وهو جزء من البروبوغندا الامريكية ليس إلا وذلك لأسباب منها.
١- كل الاسماء والاشخاص هي اسماء وهمية ومخترعة من الكاتب كما سبق وصرح والاستثناءات هي شخصيات مشهورة فقط.
٢- كثير من الافكار هي مقتبسة بالحرف من كتاب كتبوا عن ايران مثل قكزة ان الشيعة يعتقدون ان العذراء تدخل الجنة ولذلك كان الايرانيون يغاصبون الفتيات قبل الاعدام وهذه الفكرة هي غير صحيحة لان الشيعة لا يعتقدون بان العذراء تدخل الجنة لانها عذراء والذين اوردوا هذه الفكرة في كتبهم اوردوها لتكون خطاب ديماغوجي لاستعطاف البسطاء من الناس ثم ينقلها المؤلف الوهمي بالحرف.
٣- كل ما ورد في الكتاب من معلومات وافكار وادعاءات هي معلومات عادية لا سرية او خطورة فيها يتحصل عليها المرأ من ويكيبيديا.
٤- اغفال حوادث مهمة وامور كثيرة حدثت وشخصيات لم تكن لتمر على شخص عاش الواقعة مثل قصة صادق قطب زادة و شريعتمداري.
٥- القول بان بني صدر كان مرشحاً بصفته ليبرالي يعارض سلطة الامام الخميني لذلك اختاره الناس في الحقيقة ان الامام هو الذي اختار بني صدر ولمح للناس ليختاروه.
٦- يقول المؤلف الوهمي ان نسبة اصوات بني صدر كانت ٨٠٪ في حين ان النسبة كانت حوالي ال٧٥٪ وهذا الرقم لايمكن ان ينساه شخص عارف بالموضوع او يسقط سهواً.
٧- يذهب رجل مجهول الهوية للولايات المتحدة والتي حسب الكاتب لم يكن فيها احد يعرف عن ايران ولا الخميني ولا حتى الحرس الثوري وكانوا يظنون انه يتحدث عن الجيش الاحمر السوفيتي وطبعاً كان الذين يكلمهم مسؤولين كبار وليس مجرد باعة فيخبرهم انه يريد مساعدتهم لتحرير بلده، فتقوم امريكا بتحريك كل اجهزتها وقواتها لتحقيق هدف شخص مجهول الهوية طبعاً الحدث بعد حادثة السفارة الامريكية والرهائن.
٨- يستدل على العقيدة المهدوية بالحديث الذي ينقله على لسان صديقه بان المهدي اسمه اسمي واسم ابيه اسم ابي، في حين هذا الحديث من طرف اهل السنة ولا يعتقد به الشيعة فهم يعتقدون بان المهدي هو محمد ابن الحسن وليس محمد ابن عبد الله وهذا دليل واضح على ان الكتاب ليس لكاتب شيعي ناهيك عن كونه في الحرس الثوري.
٩- يمكن لأي شخص مهتم بالشؤون الايرانية بشكل كبير كتابة كتاب اكثر قيمة من هذا في حين انه يفترض ان الكاتب ذو منصب كبير في الحرس الثوري فالغريب ان يأخذ مهلوماته من ويكيبيديا.
١٠- الكتاب عبارة عن تكرار نفس الاحداث باستمرار دون دليل عليها وهو ببساطة لا يمكن التأكد من اي شيء في الكتاب الا الامور الرئيسية مثل سقوط الشاه وغيرها لأن كل الاسماء ملفقة والاحداث مبهمة.
١١- الكلام واضح انه مجرد خيال ليس بالخصب حتى فالامور والاقوال كلها متوقعة وكانها قصة من قصص الاطفال وليست حياة لجاسوس يفترض انه من اخطر الجواسيس في عصره.
١٢- شخص ذو منصب كبير في الحرس الثوري يترك الحرس ويذهب للحياة في امريكا دون ان يعرف النظام حتى من هو ولذلك يغير اسمه لكي لا يعرفه النظام الايراني لكنه لا يخفي كونه ترك الحرس وانتقل لامريكا.. كم من ضباط الحرس الثوري يا ترى يعيشون في امريكا حتى لا يعوف النظام الايراني شخص ذو منصب رفيع ذهب لها.
١٣- الباسيج هي فرقة متطوعين مدربين وتشمل عدد كبير من البشر واغلبهم من اصحاب الحرف والوظائف وليس مجموعة اطفال دون ال١٣ كما يزعم المؤلف الوهمي وانما هذه النقطة بالذات هي عملية دغدغة المشاعر الامريكية كحوادث النساء المذكورة.
في النهاية هذا الكتاب بلا شك كتاب غير صحيح ولايمكن تصديق ان عميل سري ذو منصب رفيع قد يكتب كتاب بهذه السطحية وخالي من اي قيمة وانما يعتمد على الخطاب الديماغوجي في الترويج للافكار وجلب الاستعطاف يورد الكثير من المغالطات والمعلومات المغلوطة التي يمكن للمدقق ان يكتب كتيب من ١٠٠ صفحة بها ولا يسع المجال لذكرها.
التقييم : ١/٥
Mohamad al-blozi
١- كل الاسماء والاشخاص هي اسماء وهمية ومخترعة من الكاتب كما سبق وصرح والاستثناءات هي شخصيات مشهورة فقط.
٢- كثير من الافكار هي مقتبسة بالحرف من كتاب كتبوا عن ايران مثل قكزة ان الشيعة يعتقدون ان العذراء تدخل الجنة ولذلك كان الايرانيون يغاصبون الفتيات قبل الاعدام وهذه الفكرة هي غير صحيحة لان الشيعة لا يعتقدون بان العذراء تدخل الجنة لانها عذراء والذين اوردوا هذه الفكرة في كتبهم اوردوها لتكون خطاب ديماغوجي لاستعطاف البسطاء من الناس ثم ينقلها المؤلف الوهمي بالحرف.
٣- كل ما ورد في الكتاب من معلومات وافكار وادعاءات هي معلومات عادية لا سرية او خطورة فيها يتحصل عليها المرأ من ويكيبيديا.
٤- اغفال حوادث مهمة وامور كثيرة حدثت وشخصيات لم تكن لتمر على شخص عاش الواقعة مثل قصة صادق قطب زادة و شريعتمداري.
٥- القول بان بني صدر كان مرشحاً بصفته ليبرالي يعارض سلطة الامام الخميني لذلك اختاره الناس في الحقيقة ان الامام هو الذي اختار بني صدر ولمح للناس ليختاروه.
٦- يقول المؤلف الوهمي ان نسبة اصوات بني صدر كانت ٨٠٪ في حين ان النسبة كانت حوالي ال٧٥٪ وهذا الرقم لايمكن ان ينساه شخص عارف بالموضوع او يسقط سهواً.
٧- يذهب رجل مجهول الهوية للولايات المتحدة والتي حسب الكاتب لم يكن فيها احد يعرف عن ايران ولا الخميني ولا حتى الحرس الثوري وكانوا يظنون انه يتحدث عن الجيش الاحمر السوفيتي وطبعاً كان الذين يكلمهم مسؤولين كبار وليس مجرد باعة فيخبرهم انه يريد مساعدتهم لتحرير بلده، فتقوم امريكا بتحريك كل اجهزتها وقواتها لتحقيق هدف شخص مجهول الهوية طبعاً الحدث بعد حادثة السفارة الامريكية والرهائن.
٨- يستدل على العقيدة المهدوية بالحديث الذي ينقله على لسان صديقه بان المهدي اسمه اسمي واسم ابيه اسم ابي، في حين هذا الحديث من طرف اهل السنة ولا يعتقد به الشيعة فهم يعتقدون بان المهدي هو محمد ابن الحسن وليس محمد ابن عبد الله وهذا دليل واضح على ان الكتاب ليس لكاتب شيعي ناهيك عن كونه في الحرس الثوري.
٩- يمكن لأي شخص مهتم بالشؤون الايرانية بشكل كبير كتابة كتاب اكثر قيمة من هذا في حين انه يفترض ان الكاتب ذو منصب كبير في الحرس الثوري فالغريب ان يأخذ مهلوماته من ويكيبيديا.
١٠- الكتاب عبارة عن تكرار نفس الاحداث باستمرار دون دليل عليها وهو ببساطة لا يمكن التأكد من اي شيء في الكتاب الا الامور الرئيسية مثل سقوط الشاه وغيرها لأن كل الاسماء ملفقة والاحداث مبهمة.
١١- الكلام واضح انه مجرد خيال ليس بالخصب حتى فالامور والاقوال كلها متوقعة وكانها قصة من قصص الاطفال وليست حياة لجاسوس يفترض انه من اخطر الجواسيس في عصره.
١٢- شخص ذو منصب كبير في الحرس الثوري يترك الحرس ويذهب للحياة في امريكا دون ان يعرف النظام حتى من هو ولذلك يغير اسمه لكي لا يعرفه النظام الايراني لكنه لا يخفي كونه ترك الحرس وانتقل لامريكا.. كم من ضباط الحرس الثوري يا ترى يعيشون في امريكا حتى لا يعوف النظام الايراني شخص ذو منصب رفيع ذهب لها.
١٣- الباسيج هي فرقة متطوعين مدربين وتشمل عدد كبير من البشر واغلبهم من اصحاب الحرف والوظائف وليس مجموعة اطفال دون ال١٣ كما يزعم المؤلف الوهمي وانما هذه النقطة بالذات هي عملية دغدغة المشاعر الامريكية كحوادث النساء المذكورة.
في النهاية هذا الكتاب بلا شك كتاب غير صحيح ولايمكن تصديق ان عميل سري ذو منصب رفيع قد يكتب كتاب بهذه السطحية وخالي من اي قيمة وانما يعتمد على الخطاب الديماغوجي في الترويج للافكار وجلب الاستعطاف يورد الكثير من المغالطات والمعلومات المغلوطة التي يمكن للمدقق ان يكتب كتيب من ١٠٠ صفحة بها ولا يسع المجال لذكرها.
التقييم : ١/٥
Mohamad al-blozi
February 25, 2020
I was prepared for this one to be much better than it actually is. Part of me has a hard time believing the story; after all, this could be a great bit of disinformation put in our ken to ward off asking tough questions of our intelligence services, yes? The author goes into some detail to describe how he protects his family and colleagues by use false names, but uses the real names of his Iranian sources. Well, I would think it odd to use dialog for a colleague and a source and hope that the source never stumbles across himself in Kahlili's nook - just one problem. And while the details make for interesting reading, they stop well short of being explosive. I guess I should reading anything where the author begins by asking the reader/listener to buy into his pseudo-reality.
April 8, 2021
Memoir is my least favorite genre. I dislike first-person narrative in any form - fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.
That said, I found this book to be readable, interesting, and straightforward. All the bona fides are in place and the necessary disclaimers stated. The story is outstanding.
It is remarkable to read about the extreme stress of living the great paradox: betraying one's country to save it.
Well done.
That said, I found this book to be readable, interesting, and straightforward. All the bona fides are in place and the necessary disclaimers stated. The story is outstanding.
It is remarkable to read about the extreme stress of living the great paradox: betraying one's country to save it.
Well done.
November 10, 2012
Aside from the fact that it is hard to believe a spy - a professional liar (since we simply signed an unspoken pact of trust with him the moment we purchased the book), the author's motivation for spying, and other actions were simply ridiculous and he volunteers to highlight such ridicule by grave contradictions.
First, he says he's chosen to spy for the CIA so that America would save his country from its regime, something some would believe; but when he's offered a salary, instead of rejecting it defiantly and with hurt dignity, he just accepts. Just like that. But to be honest, he did say that money was not his motivation when he was offered the first bonus payment, that's before accepting it on the CIA agent's encouraging words, "Take it, it's yours, you deserve it." Oh, and he didn't it say it out loud, it was an inner dialogue but the clever agent felt his struggle that he couldn't express with a single dignified word (after all, who knows how those agents take such words? She might have apologized, taken back the money, and thanked him for his free work to save his country. But we, the good readers, wouldn't do so, would we? No, we trust an honest spy working for the Iranian government's guards on one side and the CIA on the other, for a pay.)
Now, what about those who though that the idea of seeking help from the US to bring democracy was a stale joke in the first place - those who know its black history of supporting tyrants, imperialism, and unchangeable own interest-driven policies? Like who? Well, like the author himself. At one point he admits that the "foreign policy of the US 'sent mixed signals'" (now that's one good romantic expression.) Yet, while many people made the conclusion that the US will not really scramble to set things right in Iran, our good spy made a different one which nothing could shake, not covert negotiations and support at least.
I can go on like this listing situations where the author blandly shows his disrespect for the reader's intelligence.
There other nice coincidences as well to entertain. The guard who was suspicious about the author dies on their trip to the front right after the author finds out that he started digging. The other guard, the author's boss, whom he finally confronted of his despise for the regime, gets assassinated by an anti government group, while driving his car with the author riding beside him. Luckily, the author, who works for the same establishment, walks out of this unscathed, although the car stopped and the motorcycle-riding assassins could have just walked to him and shot him there. Phew! That was close.
And no, the author didn't wonder for a second about this, so I guess this means we shouldn't either.
An important point to ponder is that the author is a Shiite Muslim as almost all Iranians. Shiites changed a lot in the original Islamic beliefs and are considered non-Muslims by original Muslim scholars (it's hard to have faith in a religion that speaks of a human being trapped in a tunnel for hundreds of years and built on the foundation that he will return.) The author mentions several of such horrific and bloody beliefs (like raping female prisoners before executing them to prevent them from going to heaven) but it should be understood that this is not Islam. While he keeps saying that this is not true Islam, he means only fanaticism, which is wrong in all religions. But at the same time, he attempts to twist some righteous beliefs, like martyrdom, which is respected even aside from religion, for one's country for instance, to show it as brainwash.
All in all, I found the book to be far from believable and more of a CIA propaganda against Iran, although the foundations for Iran's atrocities are there, but it is hard to discern the truth from the lies with the above contradictions and irrationalities so stark.
Note:
For the audiobook, the narration was fine. The narrator used a heavy accent to impersonate the character and seemed to be a Persian speaker as well.
First, he says he's chosen to spy for the CIA so that America would save his country from its regime, something some would believe; but when he's offered a salary, instead of rejecting it defiantly and with hurt dignity, he just accepts. Just like that. But to be honest, he did say that money was not his motivation when he was offered the first bonus payment, that's before accepting it on the CIA agent's encouraging words, "Take it, it's yours, you deserve it." Oh, and he didn't it say it out loud, it was an inner dialogue but the clever agent felt his struggle that he couldn't express with a single dignified word (after all, who knows how those agents take such words? She might have apologized, taken back the money, and thanked him for his free work to save his country. But we, the good readers, wouldn't do so, would we? No, we trust an honest spy working for the Iranian government's guards on one side and the CIA on the other, for a pay.)
Now, what about those who though that the idea of seeking help from the US to bring democracy was a stale joke in the first place - those who know its black history of supporting tyrants, imperialism, and unchangeable own interest-driven policies? Like who? Well, like the author himself. At one point he admits that the "foreign policy of the US 'sent mixed signals'" (now that's one good romantic expression.) Yet, while many people made the conclusion that the US will not really scramble to set things right in Iran, our good spy made a different one which nothing could shake, not covert negotiations and support at least.
I can go on like this listing situations where the author blandly shows his disrespect for the reader's intelligence.
There other nice coincidences as well to entertain. The guard who was suspicious about the author dies on their trip to the front right after the author finds out that he started digging. The other guard, the author's boss, whom he finally confronted of his despise for the regime, gets assassinated by an anti government group, while driving his car with the author riding beside him. Luckily, the author, who works for the same establishment, walks out of this unscathed, although the car stopped and the motorcycle-riding assassins could have just walked to him and shot him there. Phew! That was close.
And no, the author didn't wonder for a second about this, so I guess this means we shouldn't either.
An important point to ponder is that the author is a Shiite Muslim as almost all Iranians. Shiites changed a lot in the original Islamic beliefs and are considered non-Muslims by original Muslim scholars (it's hard to have faith in a religion that speaks of a human being trapped in a tunnel for hundreds of years and built on the foundation that he will return.) The author mentions several of such horrific and bloody beliefs (like raping female prisoners before executing them to prevent them from going to heaven) but it should be understood that this is not Islam. While he keeps saying that this is not true Islam, he means only fanaticism, which is wrong in all religions. But at the same time, he attempts to twist some righteous beliefs, like martyrdom, which is respected even aside from religion, for one's country for instance, to show it as brainwash.
All in all, I found the book to be far from believable and more of a CIA propaganda against Iran, although the foundations for Iran's atrocities are there, but it is hard to discern the truth from the lies with the above contradictions and irrationalities so stark.
Note:
For the audiobook, the narration was fine. The narrator used a heavy accent to impersonate the character and seemed to be a Persian speaker as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2025
As a millennial, the desert wars of the 2000s are etched into my mind quite permanently at this point. Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan; these are all places we have visited in books and film, games and TV, countless times. Yet in the shadows seems to lurk Iran, something of a puppet master that is not quite like the other usual actors. As such this book intrigued me, even if just to learn more about the country and it's regimes.
Reza Kahlili is a pseudonym for a man growing up in the late 70s in Tehran, among the most turbulent of times in the country. The book presentation, as usual, hypes up the spy movie story. However, by far the most interesting parts of the book are when readers learn about what made Iran the way it is now, and how things changed for ordinary citizens. Reza's childhood friends are seen as taking divergent paths during the revolution, initially supporting the overthrow of the Shah and then seemingly going down separate rabbit holes of thought. It is certainly odd to note how Iranian culture seemed to have gone backwards; the old members of the family are the liberal ones, with the kids getting increasingly conservative as the new regime backtracks on liberal promises, to instead crack down on any western values. The role of Islam as an Arabic export is explored, the extreme versions of it seen by older Iranians as taking over ancient Persian customs and setting the country on a darker path.
Eventually Reza gets a computer nerd job with the military, yet is torn on the changes in the country, especially given his time spent in America. He does some spying, sends some letters, there's some moderately fake tension thrown in for good measure, but its all pretty underwhelming stuff. None of the information he tells the CIA seems to be anything they don't already know, and despite his risks he is never even close to being suspected for any kind of betrayal. It is pretty obvious when the editor had to "sensationalize" some aspects of the job, else readers fall asleep. The author's relationships with his family members are somewhat interesting, but most of them fall into convenient buckets of character types, and rarely affect the plot. His wife, probably one of the most important characters in the book, spends most of the text crying and essentially being an ankle weight to the narrator's actions.
There are good parts to the spy arc of the book, notably the end when Reza moves to England and keeps track of operatives involved in international smuggling. Unfortunately, here the timeline becomes completely fragmented, and what could have rescued the book becomes a hodge podge of omissions and events that don't seem to affect each other. The plot ends with Reza finally moving to America and seeing his family grow in peace, which is a decent enough ending.
Despite some of these points, I think Time to Betray is a good enough book. It certainly makes one think about regime change and the effect of religion, as well as how society can seemingly regress into the clutches of a few bent on fanaticism. The insights into a liberal Iran are also done well. The author would have done a bit better to simply write about that than try to sensationalize his life, though we can imagine the editor had a hand in that.
Reza Kahlili is a pseudonym for a man growing up in the late 70s in Tehran, among the most turbulent of times in the country. The book presentation, as usual, hypes up the spy movie story. However, by far the most interesting parts of the book are when readers learn about what made Iran the way it is now, and how things changed for ordinary citizens. Reza's childhood friends are seen as taking divergent paths during the revolution, initially supporting the overthrow of the Shah and then seemingly going down separate rabbit holes of thought. It is certainly odd to note how Iranian culture seemed to have gone backwards; the old members of the family are the liberal ones, with the kids getting increasingly conservative as the new regime backtracks on liberal promises, to instead crack down on any western values. The role of Islam as an Arabic export is explored, the extreme versions of it seen by older Iranians as taking over ancient Persian customs and setting the country on a darker path.
Eventually Reza gets a computer nerd job with the military, yet is torn on the changes in the country, especially given his time spent in America. He does some spying, sends some letters, there's some moderately fake tension thrown in for good measure, but its all pretty underwhelming stuff. None of the information he tells the CIA seems to be anything they don't already know, and despite his risks he is never even close to being suspected for any kind of betrayal. It is pretty obvious when the editor had to "sensationalize" some aspects of the job, else readers fall asleep. The author's relationships with his family members are somewhat interesting, but most of them fall into convenient buckets of character types, and rarely affect the plot. His wife, probably one of the most important characters in the book, spends most of the text crying and essentially being an ankle weight to the narrator's actions.
There are good parts to the spy arc of the book, notably the end when Reza moves to England and keeps track of operatives involved in international smuggling. Unfortunately, here the timeline becomes completely fragmented, and what could have rescued the book becomes a hodge podge of omissions and events that don't seem to affect each other. The plot ends with Reza finally moving to America and seeing his family grow in peace, which is a decent enough ending.
Despite some of these points, I think Time to Betray is a good enough book. It certainly makes one think about regime change and the effect of religion, as well as how society can seemingly regress into the clutches of a few bent on fanaticism. The insights into a liberal Iran are also done well. The author would have done a bit better to simply write about that than try to sensationalize his life, though we can imagine the editor had a hand in that.
Read
April 26, 2021Some time ago, I read a book called Saddam's Bomb Maker, by an Iraqi defector, which detailed that leader's efforts to gain nuclear weapons. This book reminded me very strongly of that. It's the first person story of an Iraqi man who finds himself recruited into the Republican Guards in post-Islamic-revolution Iran, disturbed by the deeds being committed by the regime, who voluntarily contacts the CIA and becomes an informant. His tales of his double life in Iran are quite interesting, but I'm not sure just how big a grain of salt I should take with it.
Reza grew up with two close friends, Naser and Kazem. Reza and Naser were apparently upper middle class, and lived in a nicer section of Tehran, while Naser's family was poor, and he grew up in the slums, eventually falling into radical Islam. Reza went off to study at UCLA, getting a degree in computer science in the mid 70s. After the revolution took place, and Khomeini returned from exile, Kazem was appointed to the Republican Guards, and found a position for his friend, Reza, in the organization. Naser became involved with the opposition party, and eventually was arrested, along with his younger brother and sister. They were all tortured and executed for treason and apostasy. This event and others like it motivate Reza to return to the U.S. on a purported visit to his aunt, and contact first the FBI and through them the CIA.
According to Kahlili, he fed them information for nearly ten years about all of the nefarious activities of the Guard. Strangely, most of the events he described never made an appearance in the news media, and the U.S. government did nothing to capitalize on his information. They continued to misunderstand the motivations of the mullahs in charge in Iran, thinking that they were reasonable people who could be bargained with, when in actuality the mullahs and their puppet "elected government" were committed to bringing first the Middle East and eventually the world under the domination of radical Islam.
There are some good hair-raising adventures in this one, such as when Reza and Kazem are ordered to the front to supervise the deliver of fresh troops, and come under artillery fire, or when the two of them are driving in Tehran and are attacked by mujahedin. Kahlili lays the responsibility for many of the terrorist attacks in the Middle East at the feet of the Revolutionary Guards and Council, from training terrorists, sending assassins after opposition leaders in Europe, supplying explosives and weapons, and even hints that the Lockerbie bombing was retaliation for the U.S.S. Vincennes downing of an Iranian civilian airliner in the Gulf.
An interesting read, but I'm awaiting corroboration from independent sources.
Reza grew up with two close friends, Naser and Kazem. Reza and Naser were apparently upper middle class, and lived in a nicer section of Tehran, while Naser's family was poor, and he grew up in the slums, eventually falling into radical Islam. Reza went off to study at UCLA, getting a degree in computer science in the mid 70s. After the revolution took place, and Khomeini returned from exile, Kazem was appointed to the Republican Guards, and found a position for his friend, Reza, in the organization. Naser became involved with the opposition party, and eventually was arrested, along with his younger brother and sister. They were all tortured and executed for treason and apostasy. This event and others like it motivate Reza to return to the U.S. on a purported visit to his aunt, and contact first the FBI and through them the CIA.
According to Kahlili, he fed them information for nearly ten years about all of the nefarious activities of the Guard. Strangely, most of the events he described never made an appearance in the news media, and the U.S. government did nothing to capitalize on his information. They continued to misunderstand the motivations of the mullahs in charge in Iran, thinking that they were reasonable people who could be bargained with, when in actuality the mullahs and their puppet "elected government" were committed to bringing first the Middle East and eventually the world under the domination of radical Islam.
There are some good hair-raising adventures in this one, such as when Reza and Kazem are ordered to the front to supervise the deliver of fresh troops, and come under artillery fire, or when the two of them are driving in Tehran and are attacked by mujahedin. Kahlili lays the responsibility for many of the terrorist attacks in the Middle East at the feet of the Revolutionary Guards and Council, from training terrorists, sending assassins after opposition leaders in Europe, supplying explosives and weapons, and even hints that the Lockerbie bombing was retaliation for the U.S.S. Vincennes downing of an Iranian civilian airliner in the Gulf.
An interesting read, but I'm awaiting corroboration from independent sources.
October 9, 2012
In movies spies have a debonair confidence that belies the risk. In real life, as told by the person called Reza, it is nerve wracking, grinding, compromising, difficult work.
Through Reza's life we can get a picture of pre and post revolutionary Iran. Reza and his childhood friend Naser were "haves". Besides having free time and access to cars, Reza was able to study computer science in the US. Reza and Naser led primarily secular lives and their other friend, Kazem, was from a poor family, influenced by Islamic fundamentalism, and had to work while the other boys played. Naser was among the first to be tortured and killed. Kazem became a willing, and very naïve soldier for the revolution.
Reza shows the huge "bait and switch" of the Ayatollah Khomeini's early rhetoric and his rule. Iranian students in the US were inspired by his calls for freedom and for using oil revenues for electricity and basic services. As the revolutionary government became lethal, Kazem, a true believer, rose and with him his western educated computer knowledgeable childhood friend.
Reza tells how he sought out access to the CIA and how he obtained and communicated significant information. Almost as soon as the Khomeini's regime banned women's hair from public viewing, it began supporting terrorism around the world. (So much for spending the oil revenues for the public good.)
Over many years Reza, at great risk to his family and himself, worked with the CIA. He reported links to the Beirut Marine Barracks bombing along with names, weapons and troop movements, and terrorism plans. What did the US do with this information? It was hard to tell other than one instance of checking for weapons on flights to Saudi Arabia such that a major incident was avoided. I cannot imagine how Reza felt, after all he had risked, to learn that President Reagan sent envoys to Iran not to avenge the Beirut bombing, but to sell arms to the mullahs in order to arm the Contras in Nicaragua.
You see how the revolutionary government drained its opposition. Its initial round ups were for any of those who spotted the disconnect between the rhetoric and the action. Later, anyone who might stray from their strict interpretation of Islam could be shot. One of Reza's most emotional stories involved attending a stoning, which his "mentor" Kazem made a point of attending in order to see "justice" done.
Not only is this an important story to be told. It is a page turner. I read in 2 sittings because I was so involved and wanted to see the author get out of his dangerous situation.
Through Reza's life we can get a picture of pre and post revolutionary Iran. Reza and his childhood friend Naser were "haves". Besides having free time and access to cars, Reza was able to study computer science in the US. Reza and Naser led primarily secular lives and their other friend, Kazem, was from a poor family, influenced by Islamic fundamentalism, and had to work while the other boys played. Naser was among the first to be tortured and killed. Kazem became a willing, and very naïve soldier for the revolution.
Reza shows the huge "bait and switch" of the Ayatollah Khomeini's early rhetoric and his rule. Iranian students in the US were inspired by his calls for freedom and for using oil revenues for electricity and basic services. As the revolutionary government became lethal, Kazem, a true believer, rose and with him his western educated computer knowledgeable childhood friend.
Reza tells how he sought out access to the CIA and how he obtained and communicated significant information. Almost as soon as the Khomeini's regime banned women's hair from public viewing, it began supporting terrorism around the world. (So much for spending the oil revenues for the public good.)
Over many years Reza, at great risk to his family and himself, worked with the CIA. He reported links to the Beirut Marine Barracks bombing along with names, weapons and troop movements, and terrorism plans. What did the US do with this information? It was hard to tell other than one instance of checking for weapons on flights to Saudi Arabia such that a major incident was avoided. I cannot imagine how Reza felt, after all he had risked, to learn that President Reagan sent envoys to Iran not to avenge the Beirut bombing, but to sell arms to the mullahs in order to arm the Contras in Nicaragua.
You see how the revolutionary government drained its opposition. Its initial round ups were for any of those who spotted the disconnect between the rhetoric and the action. Later, anyone who might stray from their strict interpretation of Islam could be shot. One of Reza's most emotional stories involved attending a stoning, which his "mentor" Kazem made a point of attending in order to see "justice" done.
Not only is this an important story to be told. It is a page turner. I read in 2 sittings because I was so involved and wanted to see the author get out of his dangerous situation.
December 17, 2020
As a thriller novel, putting aside an impulse to fact-check the author's numerous claims in his stories, the book is startling.
He tells how life in Iran was in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution, how Iranians were fighting in 3 completely different battlefields: the Iran-Iraq war, terrorist activities of Mujahedin, and dealing with the radical shifts in the implementation of religion.
Meanwhile, we hear the story of 3 best childhood friends growing up with different ideologies. The ideologies which caused them to drift apart along different paths. Causing one to face torture and execution, another who was a devoted Revolutionist to be assassinated, and the author himself who became an asset to the CIA.
Nevertheless, for criticizing the book, not as a novel, I think it's clear that the author was an audacious young man who did what he did mainly out of emotional reactions to some wicked crimes committed by radicals who had been unleashed after the Revolution.
But as an educated person studied in America, he should have had a better reason to betray his nation at war with Iraq, which has the full support of America and in the meantime was raining thousand of ballistic missiles and chemical weapons at civil regions. He even at some point wondered why does the U.S. still support Sadam after he had told the CIA about the usage of chemical weapons by the Iraq army! Another indicator of naivetes of the young man back then.
Besides, solving the problems the Revolution had spawned, by spying for the nation responsible for the overthrow of democratically elected Mosadegh, installing a puppet regime which its removal was the aim of all young men back then, including the author himself, is pointless enough to not think about this option while contemplating to take actions out of patriotisms.
Finally, he confessed later that his actions were futile and didn't have the slightest impact on bringing justice.
But I think this is the book every person who wants to understand how Iran became Iran today and the confusing era after Revolution, should read this fascinating book.
He tells how life in Iran was in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution, how Iranians were fighting in 3 completely different battlefields: the Iran-Iraq war, terrorist activities of Mujahedin, and dealing with the radical shifts in the implementation of religion.
Meanwhile, we hear the story of 3 best childhood friends growing up with different ideologies. The ideologies which caused them to drift apart along different paths. Causing one to face torture and execution, another who was a devoted Revolutionist to be assassinated, and the author himself who became an asset to the CIA.
Nevertheless, for criticizing the book, not as a novel, I think it's clear that the author was an audacious young man who did what he did mainly out of emotional reactions to some wicked crimes committed by radicals who had been unleashed after the Revolution.
But as an educated person studied in America, he should have had a better reason to betray his nation at war with Iraq, which has the full support of America and in the meantime was raining thousand of ballistic missiles and chemical weapons at civil regions. He even at some point wondered why does the U.S. still support Sadam after he had told the CIA about the usage of chemical weapons by the Iraq army! Another indicator of naivetes of the young man back then.
Besides, solving the problems the Revolution had spawned, by spying for the nation responsible for the overthrow of democratically elected Mosadegh, installing a puppet regime which its removal was the aim of all young men back then, including the author himself, is pointless enough to not think about this option while contemplating to take actions out of patriotisms.
Finally, he confessed later that his actions were futile and didn't have the slightest impact on bringing justice.
But I think this is the book every person who wants to understand how Iran became Iran today and the confusing era after Revolution, should read this fascinating book.
Read
July 3, 2011This is the second book I've read recently about the state of affairs in Iran. This one was written by a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, who came to the CIA offering inside information after he became disgusted by what happening inside his country. He saw the torture and death of his best friend and that friend's siblings, and was unable to do anything to stop it, and much, much more. He describes in detail not only what he saw, but also what contributions the world made to the growth of power within Iran. We were not blameless; sadly, this seems to be a recurrent theme in world history.
Kahlili hoped that by coming to our government that they we would intervene and help stop the torture and killing of the Iranian people. That has not happened. He also hoped that the flow of money and arms to the mullahs who were recruiting outside of Iran could be halted. That also has not happened. Interestingly, as I finished this book today, I read this headline:
Official: Militias using Iranian weapons to target U.S. in Iraq
It was not a surprising headline at all, and after reading this book, and also "And Then They Came for Me", I suspect that our refusal to deal with Iran when we first learned of the problems, now 30 years ago, will make the issues much more complex and dangerous. It seems that we just do not learn.
Perhaps the biggest issue for us as a nation is that our government changes hands every 4-8 years, and the entire State Department with it. The only branch of government with any continuity is the Legislative Branch, and it would seem that we need some serious History Scholars who are non-partisan, not driven by greed (oil), and who could advise the President, whatever his party. I'm dreaming, again...
Kahlili hoped that by coming to our government that they we would intervene and help stop the torture and killing of the Iranian people. That has not happened. He also hoped that the flow of money and arms to the mullahs who were recruiting outside of Iran could be halted. That also has not happened. Interestingly, as I finished this book today, I read this headline:
Official: Militias using Iranian weapons to target U.S. in Iraq
It was not a surprising headline at all, and after reading this book, and also "And Then They Came for Me", I suspect that our refusal to deal with Iran when we first learned of the problems, now 30 years ago, will make the issues much more complex and dangerous. It seems that we just do not learn.
Perhaps the biggest issue for us as a nation is that our government changes hands every 4-8 years, and the entire State Department with it. The only branch of government with any continuity is the Legislative Branch, and it would seem that we need some serious History Scholars who are non-partisan, not driven by greed (oil), and who could advise the President, whatever his party. I'm dreaming, again...
December 22, 2016
This book is a good read ! It is a page turner. The author beautifully captures the relationships, culture and the environment he grew up in Teheran. The book is a memoir rather then a spy thriller. There is a lot of focus on the tensions the authors spying creates with his family , his sense of guilt and describing the life of normal Iranians under the Ayatollah. He talks about the information he shared with the CIA but does not go into much detail on how he collects that information. There are a few moments of suspense & thrill , some clandestine meetings but not many details on his spying activities . I think some of it is driven by his desire to protect the people who are still in Iran as well as his handlers in the CIA.
As with most memoirs, facts and perspectives get skewed. The authors message is that the radical Islamic State in Iran is responsible for perpetrating unimaginable atrocities against the people of Iran as well as funding radical activities in other countries in the Middle East. I don’t know how true his descriptions are but the happenings in modern day Iraq and Syria seem to mirror his descriptions of Iran in 1980. There is definitely an element of embellishment and a decent amount of hearsay. I have a hard time believing that he could get authoritative information on Iran's nuclear program or that the program existed at all. By his own admission he was not very high up in the Revolutionary Guard totem pole. I have always been fascinated by the Middle East. It is the cradle of civilization. It is sad to see how long that entire region has been mired in conflicts of every kind.
Overall I like the book. Its a well written perspective of one man. It also resonates with the current times. We have our own mini-Khomeini going in Trump :)
As with most memoirs, facts and perspectives get skewed. The authors message is that the radical Islamic State in Iran is responsible for perpetrating unimaginable atrocities against the people of Iran as well as funding radical activities in other countries in the Middle East. I don’t know how true his descriptions are but the happenings in modern day Iraq and Syria seem to mirror his descriptions of Iran in 1980. There is definitely an element of embellishment and a decent amount of hearsay. I have a hard time believing that he could get authoritative information on Iran's nuclear program or that the program existed at all. By his own admission he was not very high up in the Revolutionary Guard totem pole. I have always been fascinated by the Middle East. It is the cradle of civilization. It is sad to see how long that entire region has been mired in conflicts of every kind.
Overall I like the book. Its a well written perspective of one man. It also resonates with the current times. We have our own mini-Khomeini going in Trump :)
February 1, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, thought it was well written, and gave it five stars. A timely read (early 2020) as the people of Iran are dealing with some of the same issues today the author detailed when he wrote this book in 2010. Many Iranians want freedom from the Islamic religious zealots/mullahs.
July 4, 2010
This was a hard book to read, and i have read a goodly amount about Evin prison, and a man who was Persian born, and a hostage, along with the other American hostage, but the extra one, asked me to write his book. I was too knew of a writer to do so. He has since passed.
Most people know there are 7 Baha'is in Evin right now, and much has been written of them. In fact the journalist who was freed writes about them also in her book. This book was hard, because the suffering was immense, the brutality so real, and his mission so gripping and I as a reader was always worried for his safety.
the hand of fate will simply visit those who torture others, and we in this generation cannot know when or how, and it isn't with vengeance I comment so; it's just that nothing we do goes unknown in a higher dimension.
I think the book it a must in that it gives tremendous insights into the suffering of the ordinary citizens of Iran and yet the heroic acts of some. My heart goes out to all who suffer.
Most people know there are 7 Baha'is in Evin right now, and much has been written of them. In fact the journalist who was freed writes about them also in her book. This book was hard, because the suffering was immense, the brutality so real, and his mission so gripping and I as a reader was always worried for his safety.
the hand of fate will simply visit those who torture others, and we in this generation cannot know when or how, and it isn't with vengeance I comment so; it's just that nothing we do goes unknown in a higher dimension.
I think the book it a must in that it gives tremendous insights into the suffering of the ordinary citizens of Iran and yet the heroic acts of some. My heart goes out to all who suffer.
September 2, 2010
This book is a page-turner, hard to put down, nicely written, great balance between personal and work life; you get a real sense of this man's anguish between his love for his country and his fear of betrayal. I have to say that I had a hard time understanding his fear of disloyalty and unfaithfulness. The way I see it as an outsider is that his country has been stolen. There is no Iran of yesterday; it has been hijacked. His fight was and is to create a free Iran, for his people and by his people. Sadly, while people continue to need oil as they do oxygen, it will not be won back any time soon. The West will continue to appease the mullahs, with one eye on the oil and one eye on God. But may God bless the author for trying. I admire him with the utmost love and respect. He is a true hero in every sense of the word.
December 16, 2012
It started slow for me. I didn't understand there was great significance to his childhood stories until I got farther in the book. So don't yawn your way through that part. There is relevance. This book was an eye opener to me and brought me to have sympathy for an enslaved people who I didn't know lived under such horrible atrocities. I think I thought Iranians liked Sharia and they stayed because they wanted to. I had no idea the people live under such tyranny and were not free. Thank you Reza for bringing this information to light. I no longer associate that evil, misguided dictator, Ahmadinnejhad, with the people of Iran. They are clearly not the same. I also understand a little more history on the difference to an Arab vs a Persian. I can see why if you are Persian, why you don't want to be lumped in with these Arab fanaticals and extremists that run the government.
January 2, 2015
Absolutely a must read!!Highly highly recommended!!
This is one of my 'One night stands' like this book kept me awake all the night to the next day!And the result was a very tired but ultimately triumphant me,as I read the boo literary in one sitting!!This book was THAT good:)
It is a tale of Reza Kaheli,a double agent who worked for both Iran and CIA!Due to 1979 coup/revolution and US embassy hostage crisis in the aftermath,CIA didnt have boots on the ground' of course,so the author was one of the very very few American spy on Iranian soil!The danger was real and stakes were very high for him!What a brave man!
The story is like super fast paced,I couldn't put the book downyou won't either!Even these days he lives in anonymity and does interviews without showing his face time to time,the danger on his life being very real!
5 stars
This is one of my 'One night stands' like this book kept me awake all the night to the next day!And the result was a very tired but ultimately triumphant me,as I read the boo literary in one sitting!!This book was THAT good:)
It is a tale of Reza Kaheli,a double agent who worked for both Iran and CIA!Due to 1979 coup/revolution and US embassy hostage crisis in the aftermath,CIA didnt have boots on the ground' of course,so the author was one of the very very few American spy on Iranian soil!The danger was real and stakes were very high for him!What a brave man!
The story is like super fast paced,I couldn't put the book downyou won't either!Even these days he lives in anonymity and does interviews without showing his face time to time,the danger on his life being very real!
5 stars
April 17, 2013
Pedantic but interesting true story. Writing is bland, unemotional but as a true spy story is somewhat compelling as it illustrates and puts to life aspects of the Iranian regime that are not well known, for example: direct Iranian involvement in the Lockerbie bombing ('an eye for an eye'), direct Iranian involvement in the Marine Barracks and US Embassy bombings in Beirut in 1983, direct Iranian involvement in the American hostage taking there (William Buckley), just to name a few. Also interesting insight with respect to the change in culture from the Shah's regime to the Mullah's regime. Anyway, this book isn't for all reader's but for those interested in a true spy story of today with relevance to current events I would suggest taking a look at this.
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