The Road to Iraq : The Making of a Neoconservative War

## A rigorous investigation into the socio-political milieu that produced the Iraq war Despite all that has been written on it, the Iraq war – its causes, agency and execution – has been shrouded in an ideological mist. Now, Muhammad Idrees Ahmad dispels the myths surrounding the war, taking a sociological approach to establish the war’s causes, identify its agents and describe how it was sold. Ahmad presents a social history of the war’s leading agents – the neoconservatives – and shows how this ideologically coherent group of determined political agents used the contingency of 9/11 to overwhelm a sceptical foreign policy establishment, military brass and intelligence apparatus, propelling the US into a war that a significant portion of the public opposed. The book includes an historical exploration of American militarism and of the increased post-WWII US role in the Middle East, as well as a reconsideration of the debates that John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt sparked after the publication of The Israel lobby and US Foreign Policy. The Iraq War "e; Its Causes, Agency And Execution "e; Has Been Shrouded In An Ideological Mist. Now, Muhammad Idrees Ahmad Dispels The Myths Surrounding The War, Taking A Sociological Approach To Establish The War's Causes, Identify Its Agents And Describe How It Was Sold. Ahmad Presents A Social History Of The War's Leading Agents "e; The Neoconservatives "e; And Shows How This Ideologically Coherent Group Of Determined Political Agents Used The Contingency Of 9/11 To Overwhelm A Sceptical Foreign Policy Establishment, Military Brass And Intelligence Apparatus, Propelling The Us Into A War That A Significant Portion Of The Public Opposed. The Book Includes An Historical Exploration Of American Militarism And Of The Increased Post-wwii Us Role In The Middle East, As Well As A Reconsideration Of The Debates That John Mearsheimer And Stephen Walt Sparked After The Publication Of 'the Israel Lobby And Us Foreign Policy'. Ahmad Presents A Social History Of The War's Leading Agents - The Neoconservatives - And Shows How This Ideologically Coherent Group Of Determined Political Agents Used The Contingency Of 9/11 To Overwhelm A Sceptical Foreign Policy Establishment, Militar. Title Page; Imprint; Contents; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Part 1 The Argument; Introduction; 1 Black Gold And Red Herrings; Part 2 The Rise Of The Neoconservatives; 2 Origins And Interests; 3 Ideology And Institutions; 4 Setting The Agenda; 5 Selling The War; Part 4 The Debate; Conclusions; Appendix; Notes; Bibliography; Index. Muhammad Idrees Ahmad. Includes Bibliographical References (page 206-319) And Index. What were the causes of the Iraq War? Who were the main players? How was the war sold to the decision makers? Despite all that has been written on the Iraq war the myriad scholarly, journalistic and polemical works the answers to these questions remain shrouded in an ideological mist. The Road to Iraq is an empirical investigation that dispels this fog. Discover how a small but ideologically coherent and socially cohesive group of determined political agents used the contingency of 9/11 to overwhelm a sceptical foreign policy establishment, military brass and intelligence apparatus. Title page 4 Imprint 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 7 Abbreviations 9 Part 1 The Argument 12 Introduction 14 1 Black Gold and Red Herrings 29 Part 2 The Rise of the Neoconservatives 46 2 Origins and Interests 48 3 Ideology and Institutions 81 4 Setting the Agenda 116 5 Selling the War 145 Part 4 The Debate 176 Conclusions 178 Appendix 187 Notes 217 Bibliography 282 Index 331 Ahmad presents a social history of the war's leading agents - the neoconservatives - and shows how this ideologically coherent group of determined political agents used the contingency of 9/11 to overwhelm a sceptical foreign policy establishment, military brass and intelligence apparatus and propelled the US into a war that a significant part of the public opposed