Suez 1956 The Inside Story Of The First Oil War

In October 1956, Britain, France and Israel launched an attack on Egypt. For each of the contenders there was much more at stake than the future of the Canal. None of the combatants in the Suez campaign emerged in glory which may be why, in recent years, it has been largely relegated to academic studies. But the events surrounding the invasion, while combining the high drama with elements of political farce that make for a compelling story, had a greater impact on world affairs than many more famous conflicts.

History.

Why did the Suez War ever come to pass? Why did Eden, against public opinion and without sufficient military capability, decide to invade Egypt? When Gamal Abdel Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Canal, Britain and France reacted dramatically, beginning a chain of events that ultimately led to war. But why did Nasser nationalize the canal in the first place? And what part did the United States of America play in sparking the conflict that resulted in war? Paul Johnson skilfully and clearly explains the roots of the war, the many different political factors involved, the resultant invasion and its repercussions. First published in 1957, The Suez War walks us through a conflict that many historians feel should never have taken place, and one that Johnson argues has exposed '[t]he real weakness of Britain – never again can we play our unique and honourable role as keeper of the world's conscience.'

Draws on hundreds of newly declassified documents to present an account of the Suez crisis that reveals the considerable danger it posed as well as the influence of Eisenhower's health problems and the 1956 election campaign.

The Suez War in 1956 marked the end of the British Empire, with the government of Anthony Eden forced into a ceasefire as it tried to seize the Suez Canal and overthrow the Egyptian government. Historians since have tried to understand the causes of the war and the reasons for British failure.

Over sixteen extraordinary days in October and November 1956, the twin crises of Suez and Hungary pushed the world to the brink of a nuclear conflict and what many at the time were calling World War III. Blood and Sand is a revelatory new history of these dramatic events, for the first time setting both crises in the context of the Arab–Israeli conflict, and the treacherous power politics of imperialism and oil. Blood and Sand tells this story hour by hour, with a fascinating cast of characters including Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anthony Eden, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nikita Khrushchev, Christian Pineau, Imre Nagy and David Ben-Gurion. It is a tale of conspiracy and revolutions, spies and terrorists, kidnappings and assassination plots, the fall of the British Empire and the rise of American hegemony. Blood and Sand is essential to our understanding of the modern Middle East and resonates powerfully with the problems of oil control, religious fundamentalism and international unity that face the world today.

An eye-opening account of the event that signified the end of Great Britain's role as a global superpower. Perfect for fans of Michael Dobbs, Max Hastings and Taylor Downing. Along with the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Suez Crisis stands out as one of the moments when the world almost descended into a nuclear holocaust. The Second Arab-Israeli war erupted in 1956 when Britain, France and Israel stood against Gamal Abdel Nasser's seizure of the Canal. Yet, as Egyptian troops retreated in the face of the opposing coalition, the true centre of conflict moved away from Suez to the United Nations building in New York. Terence Robertson's Crisis is the definitive account of this conflict that does not simply shine a light on the abortive military measures, but also uncovers the behind-the-scenes meetings which truly halted the war. Robertson draws information from an impressive array of public sources, but it is further supported through numerous interviews undertaken with many of the key figures involved, from the French Foreign Minister to the United States Undersecretary of State. "truth is indeed stranger than fiction ... Crisis is recommended for the student who desires to understand better the reasons that this unfortunate incident developed. The casual reader will find this account on a par with the best of the popular mystery novels." Naval War College Review "outstandingly good" International Affairs

In a bold reinterpretation of history, Ike's Gamble shows how the 1956 Suez Crisis taught President Eisenhower that Israel, not Egypt, would have to be America's ally in the region. In 1956 President Nasser of Egypt moved to take possession of the Suez Canal, bringing the Middle East to the brink of war. Distinguished Middle East expert Michael Doran shows how Nasser played the United States, invoking America's opposition to European colonialism to his own benefit. At the same time Nasser made weapons deals with the USSR and destabilized other Arab countries that the United States had been courting. In time, Eisenhower would realize that Nasser had duped him and that the Arab countries were too fractious to anchor America's interests in the Middle East. Affording deep insight into Eisenhower and his foreign policy, this fascinating and provocative history provides a rich new understanding of the tangled path by which the United States became the power broker in the Middle East. -- Back cover.