Ropes of Sand: America's Failure in the Middle East

by Wilbur Crane Eveland

نبذة النيل والفرات:
"حبال من رمال" كتاب نادر يحكي قصة فشل أميركا في الشرق الأوسط من ترجمة علي حداد وبقلم "ويلبر كرين إيغلاند" المستشار السابق لدى وكالة الاستخبارات المركزية وعضو سابق في هيئة التخطيط السياسي للبيت الأبيض ووزارة الدفاع الأميركية.

كتب ويلبر كرين إيغلاند كتابه هذا في شهر نيسان عام 1975 أثناء تواجده في بيروت فقرر أن يدوّن حكايته مع الشرق الأوسط بمختلف المراحل التاريخية والانعطافات الحاسمة لسياسة الدول الكبرى وتأثيرها على بلدان الشرق الأوسط. ففي تلك الفترة كانت الدول العربية على الصورة التالية: لبنان في ظل نظام جمهوري بعيد الانتداب الفرنسي، مصر تحدث فيها ثورة 1952 ومع تنحية محمد نجيب يأتي عبد الناصر، العراق والأردن نظامان ملكيان. سوريا تتسابق فيها الانقلابات العسكرية. الجزائر والمغرب ما زالا تحت الحكم الفرنسي وكذلك ليبيا تحت الحكم البريطاني. العربية السعودية وبعد أن وحدها آل سعود أصبحت تحت ملك عبد العزيز بن سعود.

يكشف هذا الكتاب تحول دور المخابرات الأميركية كوكالة مستقلة تبدأ عملها في الشرق الأوسط بجمع المعلومات عن الدول المعادية، إلى دور آخر وهو محاولات تدبير الفتن والمؤامرات والاغتيالات وشراء الزعماء بالجملة بالمال والوعود وقلب نظام أي بلد يحاول أن يكون وطنياً.

في هذه الفترة يجيء إيغلاند مؤلف هذا الكتاب ليبدأ عمله في الشرق الأوسط، وكان جزء من مجموعة كبيرة، عملت في جميع بلدان الشرق أوسطية، وخصوصاً مصر وسوريا ولبنان والعراق والأردن والسعودية. وكانت ذروة عمله تطبيق "مبدأ إيزنهاور" وبناء أحلاف عسكرية، تقف سداً في وجه الحركات الوطنية. يقول: "إن حياتنا اليومية متأثرة جداً بفشلنا في الشرق الأوسط. والشعب الأميركي يبحث عن تفسيرات وإيضاحات عن أسباب تطور تهديد سلامته واقتصاده. موجهين اللوم إلى الشيوعية، والإسلام والعرب وأوبيك وشركات النفط".

تأتي أهمية هذا الكتاب من كونه يساعد في الكشف عن جذور العديد من الصراعات والأزمات التي عصفت بمنطقة الشرق الأوسط ولا تزال حتى وقتنا الراهن. فنشوء الشرق الأوسط تكوّن خلال سنوات العنف والاضطراب التي شهدها النصف الأول من القرن العشرين. وتقسيم دوله بين القوى المتصارعة وما نتج عن ذلك بعد الاستقلال.

يخبرنا هذا الكتاب عن أسماء زعماء عرب اشترتهم وكالة الاستخبارات الأميركية في كثير من البلدان العربية! وكذلك البيت الفلسطيني الذي كان عرضة لاختراق المخابرات الأميركية، وكذلك دور السفارات والعملاء والشركات التي أخذت أسماء وهمية لتغطية أعمالها التجسيسية لقلب الأنظمة الوطنية وسحق كل بادرة استقلال سياسي أو اقتصادي بدأت تلوح بالأفق.

بقي أن نذكر أن هذا الكتاب جاء في ثلاثون فصلاً تبدأ أحداثها منذ العام 1918 حتى أزمة لبنان والعالم العربي في العام 1975.

Genres: History, Middle East, Politics, The United States Of America

382 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1981

Reviews

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

'After 1953, Eveland worked for the CIA as a troubleshooter for its chief, Allen Dulles. He became such an effective player in the Middle East arena that CIA political operative Miles Copeland said in his recent book, The Game Player, "I still think of the period 1957-60 as the Eveland Era of Arab-American politics." He is remembered as well for his informality, style and quick wit.'

'Eveland was on a first-name basis with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and CIA top brass cousins Kermit and Archie Roosevelt.'

'He knew Egyptian leader Gamel Abdul Nasser and the Shah of Iran. In his book he recounts involvement in such 1950s CIA covert activities as an attempt to rig elections in Lebanon and overthrow the Syrian government in Damascus.'

'He was in Rome through most of the 1960s where, under cover as vice president of Vinnell Corporation, he carried Vinnell/Defense Department ID with GS-18 status, making him the equivalent of a lieutenant general. In the 1970s, Eveland nearly saw substantial wealth as vice president of the Fluor Corporation, but after tangling with some of the heavyweights in the world of international business and politics, he landed penniless in a Singapore prison in 1976.'

'Eventually, Eveland believed, the CIA leaked documents implying that he had passed secrets to his old friend, double agent and Soviet defector Kim Philby. Eveland was never able to get the government either to charge him with espionage or to pay him his pension.'

'Although the tensions of his work had destroyed his two marriages, and poverty was eating away at his self-respect, one stable thing in his life was his close relationship with a woman he called his wife, Daisy Gellatly. She had helped with Ropes and shared his struggle with the CIA. When she was diagnosed with cancer, he was devastated. She died in 1982. Eveland subsequently charged that her respirator was turned off by a member of the intelligence community, who coolly admitted the murder to Eveland.'

[محمود المسلمي · Rating 4 out of 5]

هكذا هي الإمبراطوريات عبر التاريخ متعرفش تعيش في حالها أبدا . إذا لم تستطع أن تغزوك بالحديد و النار غزتك بالمكيدة و المكر لدرجة تخال أن اللقمة لم تستقر في جوفك و الهواء في رئتيك إلا بموافقة إمبراطورية مسبقه.

[Michael Sommers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows how things can go horribly wrong when "statesmen" imagine that they have the power to control actors in other countries about which they know nothing.

[Brumaire Bodbyl-Mast · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book which has potentially valuable insights that are ultimately curtailed to some extent by its very particular author. Being ex-CIA and depressingly patriotic (as well as a mild Zionist, as much as he pretends to be an Arabist) he ultimately holds back stronger critiques of certain behavior to either clearly intra-department snipes from 70 years ago (at time of the book’s publication, 30 years ago) or bases it on why it is not in the interest in the US. He does sometimes show sympathy for say, Palestinians or even Nasser, but he chooses to frame their behavior (especially in the latter case) too heavily around Cold War power plays, rather than the actions of self interested states and peoples. I am perhaps asking too much of a man whose most tumultuous years were spent in opposition to Nasser on the grounds of him being a bulwark of Soviet influence, rather than an occasional collaborator of the USSR, but he often admits many of the wrong prognoses of his contemporaries, only to completely accept the truth of the Cold War framework. Even though he fully admits some US West Asian allies are dictators (the Shah and Shishakli, most notably) he refuses to accept that perhaps, there is more to the actions of states than their inevitable fall into the arms of Moscow. His analysis is limited to as he was only in active operation in the Truman and Eisenhower years, which were, ironically, a time when Palestine was a lesser concern to the state department. Thus, a lot of his focus is on Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and of course, Egypt. But quite a bit is dedicated to Lebanon of the 1950s, in particular his personal relationship with President Chomoun. Much of the book takes place in Beruit, with misadventures in coup plotting and being caught unawares of American or allied action. Ultimately reminiscent of “The Ugly American,” albeit more critical of some actions of America and its allies.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very good but I wouldn't read it as an introduction to the region you should have knowledge of the events that he is discussing to get more out of the text.

[Christopher Dickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

For many years, "Ropes of Sand" was essential reading for any correspondent covering the Middle East. It still is. I just wish I could find my copy ...

[Richard Marney · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a reckless administration returns to power, I was tempted to re-read this 1980 book on this dangerous and tragic region to remind myself that the pitfalls for US foreign policy remain manifold and the stakes for regional and indeed global stability are high.

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Review to follow later- computer keeps freezing up]