In this gripping audiobook by Robert Baer, narrated by the captivating Ted Barker, listeners are taken on a harrowing journey through the intricate web of Iran's influence on America's future. For years, the United States has underestimated Iran's power, however, Baer presents a compelling argument that Iran holds just as much sway over America's destiny as traditional superpowers like Russia and China. In fact, Baer goes a step further, asserting that Iran's grasp on America's future is even more constraining.
Baer, a former CIA operative with extensive experience in the Middle East, unveils a shocking reality that challenges our preconceived notions of Iran. While many perceive Iran as a country ruled by religious extremists solely focused on terrorism and theocratic power struggles, the truth is far more unsettling. Iran has managed to manipulate these false beliefs in order to strengthen its political and economic foundations.
Drawing on his on-the-ground investigations and interviews with key figures in the Middle East, Baer presents a starkly different image of Iran. He debunks the notion that President Ahmadinejad represents Iranian foreign policy, revealing that Iran is not fixated on becoming a nuclear power. Instead, Baer uncovers Iran's soft takeover of the Middle East through a proxy method of war-making and co-option. With Hezbollah as their perfect example, Iran has extended its control over Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and is gradually pulling in the Arab Emirates and other Gulf States. In no time, Iran will have a firm grip on the world's oil resources.
Baer's narrative expertly weaves personal anecdotes with clandestine information to demonstrate that Iran is not the irrational, rogue state it is often portrayed as. Instead, it is a rational actor well-versed in the strategic games played by nations. Its ability to counter perceived Western colonialism has even gained the admiration of rival Sunnis, who are willing to fight under Iran's banner.
For U.S. policy makers, the options for dealing with Iran are narrowing. The choice is between relinquishing control of crucial energy corridors to a nation that can match America's military strength with its asymmetric capabilities, including the use of suicide bombers, or engaging with the devil they think they know. By aligning with Iran, Baer argues, the United States could potentially enhance not only its own security but also that of the entire Middle East.
However, the alternative of provoking Iran into establishing hegemony over the Muslim world is too terrifying to even contemplate. Baer expertly lays out the stakes, leaving listeners to grapple with the complex challenges that lie ahead in navigating America's relationship with Iran.
