It can be argued that the Middle East during the World War II has been regarded as that conflict's most overlooked theater of operations. Though the threat of direct Axis invasion never materialized beyond the Egyptian Western Desert with Rommel's Afrika Korps, this did not limit the Axis from probing the Middle East and cultivating potential collaborators and sympathizers. These actions left an indelible mark in the socio-political evolution of the modern states of the Middle East. This book explores the infusion of the political language of anti-Semitism, nationalism, fascism, and Marxism that were among the ideological byproducts of Axis and Allied intervention in the Arab world. The status of British-dominated Middle East was tailor-made for exploitation by Axis intelligence and propaganda. German and Italian intelligence efforts fueled anti-British resentments; their influence shaped the course of Arab nationalist sentiments throughout the Middle East. A relevant parallel to the pan-Arab cause was Hitler's attempt to bring ethnic Germans into the fold of a greater German state. In theory, as the Sudeten German stood on par with the Carpathian German, so too, according to doctrinal theory, did the Yemeni stand in union with the Syrian in the imagination of those espousing pan-Arabism. As historic evidence demonstrates, this very commonality proved to be a major factor in the development of relations between Arab and Fascist leaders. The Arab nationalist movement amounted to nothing more than a shapeless, fragmented, counter position to British imperialism, imported to the Arab East via Berlin for Nazi aspirations.

The United States no doubt will be involved in the Middle East for many decades. To be sure, settling the Israeli-Palestinian dispute or alleviating poverty could help to stem the tides of Islamic radicalism and anti-American sentiment. But on an ideological level, we must confront a specific interpretation of Islamic law, history, and scripture that is a danger to both the United States and its allies. To win that ideological war, we must understand the sources of both Islamic radicalism and liberalism. We need to comprehend more thoroughly the ways in which militants misinterpret and pervert Islamic scripture. Al-Qaeda has produced its own group of spokespersons who attempt to provide religious legitimacy to the nihilism they preach. Many frequently quote from the Quran and hadith (the Prophet Muhammad's sayings and deeds) in a biased manner to draw justification for their cause.

The work answers 101 essential questions on the Middle East Islam the Arab Spring al-Qaida and ISIS. It is for those wanting to begin an intellectual immersion into the complexities of the region from pre-biblical times to the post-Arab Spring that have impacted our lives today. The authors have focused on thinking carefully about what the deploying Soldier Sailor Marine or Airman needed to know BEFORE they arrive in the Middle East such as the nuances inherent in a region that is the crossroads of three continents (Europe Asia and Africa) and how previous global powers interacted and left their mark on the region. This guide while developed and written for America's men and women about to deploy to combat zones and areas of operation is also of use to a wider audience of Americans serious about the challenges of the region.

In offering a comprehensive explanation of how militant Islamists have hijacked the Islamic religion, Aboul-Enein provides a realistic description of the militant threat, which is far different and distinct from Islamist political discourse and the wider religion of Islam. A key adviser at the Joint Intelligence Task Force for Combating Terrorism, he argues that winning the war against Militant Islamists requires a more complete understanding of their ideology. Clearly defining the differences between Islam, Islamist, and military Islamist, he highlights how militant Islamist ideology takes selected fragments of Islamic history and theology and weaves them into a narrow, pseudo-intellectual ideology to justify their violence against Muslims and non-Muslims alike.