Epicenter - Joel Rosenberg

[mkafrica]

Has anyone read this yet? I just got it from a friend, and I've heard it was really good. I'm looking forward to reading it, but was curious what y'all think about it.

[mkafrica]

So, I've started reading this book... It seems on some levels to be very insightful, then on others... I'm not sure yet.

Has anyone else read this? I do recommend it.

[Bold_Fighter]

He is a huxster, a fraud, a liar, a deceiver. I haven't seen one come along like this in a long time. The man makes my stomach sick.

[Timberwolf]

Again, provide something to back up what you're saying...not bustin' yer balls or nuthin'. Just want something to verify he is what you claim.

[ThomasMore]

He is a huxster, a fraud, a liar, a deceiver. I haven't seen one come along like this in a long time. The man makes my stomach sick.

Really?

I'd like some evidence for this. As far as I can determine, Rosenberg established his bona fides in that book. The second edition includes transcripts of his interviews with various political leaders including Dore Gold and Binyamin Nentanyahu. From what I can tell, his factual assertions are well-sourced.

The belowmentioned events, some of which occurred just in the last two months, are fully consistent with his writing:

1. Putin's Russia has been actively involved in the development of Iran's nuclear program, and has blocked Europe's and the U.S.'s efforts to stem that program.

2. Putin has consolidated power within Russia, killed those journalists who speak out against him, and has consolidated power in the oil markets. He has also threatened Georgia, Ukraine, Poland and Estonia in an effort to influence Russia's "near abroad."

3. Israel is preparing to strike Iran, to prevent Iran from conducting a nuclear strike on it.

4. Russia controls four of the five oil pipelines running from the central Asian oil fields to Europe; the fifth passes through Georgia. Georgia is also a west-leaning democracy.

5. Israel has trained and supplied the Georgian military. Israel was planning to use Georgia as a staging point for that strike on Iran.

6. Russia infiltrated South Ossetia and Abkhazia, destabilizing those areas, providing phony Russian passports, supporting and arming separatists. Russia installed short range missiles in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

7. Russia's invasion of Georgia achieved several simultaneous goals: Further destabilizing a democratic neighbor, intimidating its remaining neighbors, potentially controlling the fifth oil pipeline providing Europe with oil, and disrupting Israel's plan for a preemptory strike against Iran.

While Rosenberg's book doesn't get to this level of detail, these events are fully consistent with the precursors of events Rosenberg DOES describe.