KCR: The Much Too Promised Land (non-fiction, memoir, Middle East)

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Aaron David Miller

Aaron David Miller is a career diplomat who had worked over 20 YEARS on the Palestine issue. He was along side every president that worked on the issue until his retirement. He was with Nixon, Carter, Kissinger, and all the other major players. He had met with Arafat, Sharon, and major players from all sides. He was right there in the middle of it all.

His insights in the chaotic situation, where different factions of Palestinians and Israelis vie to international attention, and how the extremists (on both sides) disrupt negotiations with violence, is very sobering.

The characters are real, the situation all too true, full of egos that must be soothed. And the best part... he took NO SIDES. He was tough on both sides, and pointed out the fallacies of having a conflict that lasted decades.

People with their mind made up will find this book infuriating, because the book was "one-sided" when it's not. For people who are willing to keep an open mind, this book is a fascinating peek into the world of diplomacy, and ultimately, Middle East peace.

Rating: Read it (at least once)

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