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. 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