Discusses the causes, military tactics, battles, and effects of the Persian Gulf War.

Reviews the history of Iraq since biblical times, recounts the rise of Saddam Hussein, and discusses the Gulf War, its aftermath, and possible future developments.

Describes how the discovery of oil has affected world history and current events.

Yours"re no idiot, of course. You know that the countries of the Middle East-Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and more-are in the news daily because of failed peace initiatives, suicide bombings, or threats to our security. However, the nations contained within this desert region have fought one another long before it was broadcast on CNN-and even long before the state of Israel existed. Understand the ancient animosities and modern tensions that continue to plague this troubled region. The Complete Idiotrs"s Guidereg; to Middle East Conflict, Second Edition, shows you exactly why the Holy Land continues to remain a war zone despite the efforts of peacemakers. In this newly updated and revised Complete Idiotrs"s Guidereg;, you get: --The birth of the empires established under the Muslim and Christian faiths. --The division of the Middle East into new nations after World War I-including the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. --How the United States became involved in the region-and the many alliances formed and broken over the decades. --The history of terrorism in the Middle East-and the formation of the U.S.led coalition to combat it.

Updated for 2005, this informative edition takes readers to Baghdad and beyond.

The Complete Idiot's GuideR to Understanding Iran , explores the country's origins, from its long and turbulent beginnings as ancient Persia and its transformation into modern Iran. The author covers the rise of the Ayatollahs and Islamic fundamentalism; the 1979 revolution and the subsequent hostage crisis; the Iran-Iraq war; the Iran-Contra scandal during the Reagan administration; Iran's sponsorship of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas; and how evidence of Iran's nuclear weapons program affects its relationship with the world in general - both now and in the years to come. With a younger generation now chafing under the hard-line mullahs' social repression, the situation grows more volatile each day. The Complete Idiot's GuideR to Understanding Iran will be a detailed, comprehensive, and unbiased overview of this complex but often fascinating land.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spies & Espionage is a a fascinating look at spies and espionage of the 20th century. Covers the Zimmerman note in World War I, Pearl Harbor's impact on U.S. intelligence planning, the role of the OSS in World War II, atomic spies and American moles in Washington, McCarthy and the professional anti-Communists, intelligence in the Gulf War, Robert Hanssen and Wen Ho Lee, and intelligence in the War on Terror. Offers a comprehensive look as well as fascinating details, from surveillance techniques and espionage equipment to the myths and realities.