David Smethurst
Autor/a de Tripoli: The United States' First War on Terror
Obres de David Smethurst
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Estadístiques
- Obres
- 4
- Membres
- 29
- Popularitat
- #460,290
- Valoració
- 3.2
- Ressenyes
- 3
- ISBN
- 4
There’s a lot of “the more things change, the more they stay the same” here. The United States of American is every bit as confused by Middle Eastern politics in 2011 as it was in 1805. Promises get broken by both sides; the rulers of Tripoli just don’t understand why the U.S. doesn’t behave the way they are used to, and vice versa; miscellaneous other world and local powers get involved in the situation, and the U.S. Marines make up in courage what they possibly lack in tactical subtlety. Eaton’s attempt to get cooperation from his Arab “allies” would be funny if it wasn’t so sad; the army he organized had a repeated tendency to wander off in random directions unless frequently bribed. The capture of Derna brought Yusuf to the negotiating table and the negotiations were successful as far as those parties were concerned; however, to Eaton’s disgust the U.S. abandoned Hamet (although he supposedly did get a pension of $200/month for life, he disappeared in 1811). The U.S. had to go back in 1815 and thump the Maghreb again; since Eaton died in 1811 he never knew.
Author Smethurst doesn’t appear to have any qualifications as a historian; his previous writing is for sports magazines. Nevertheless he does credible job; there are good references and a bibliography. This is a pocket paperback and therefore suitable as an emergency backup book to be carried around and read whenever you find yourself waiting in line or riding a bus, etc.… (més)