Free Essay. The Book Review on David Farber's Taken Hostage

David Farber is one of the modern history scholars who has played particular roles in developing educative and entertaining historical occurrences that not only took place in the United States of America (USA) but also in other countries of the world (Farber, 2009). The scholar in question has captured many historical incidences and skillfully composing various literary texts about them with the primary intent of imparting practical knowledge about such occurrences. Also to equip all individuals (readers) with essential information that will automatically make them productive members of the society and avoid the past mistakes that were committed by the ancestors maybe due to lack of insight about specific issues in life.

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Taken Hostage is one of the books authored by David Farber which features real events that took place in the soil of the United States of America (USA) therefore, making it the most popular book among readers of all ages since it mentions important issues that happened and to a greater extent. Such issues shaped the current United States (US); for example, the book captures the Iranian Crisis Hostage, which took place on November 4th the year 1979. Approximately 66 American civilians were abducted by the Iranian Militants (Muslim radicals), and it marked the initial hostilities of the USA with the radical Muslims (Farber, 2009). The analysis of David Farber of the Iranian hostage crisis provides moral lessons to the government of the United States on its modern wars on terrorisms and Islam radicals.

From the precarious analysis of the book, the author stresses on some of the mistakes that were conspicuous in The United States of America (USA) during the 1970s particularly the federal governments of the above-mentioned periods. The book expresses the USA of the 1970s as a failed state that was plagued by qualms and apprehensions (Farber, 2009). The level of incompetence exhibited by the leaders of that era made the country unfit to control some of the toxic activities of the mentioned periods, and surprisingly, these issues are affecting the current American societies. The Iran Hostage crisis of the year 1979 happened at a wrong time in that there several items that were affecting the ordinary citizens, for example, President Carter was the president, and therefore he was solely accountable for the abducted American citizens. At the time, the inflation in the USA was approximately 17% per annum (Farber 21) hence it was unable to start the war against the Iranian government, and moreover, USA had huge debts making it unable to fund several activities.

The biggest blunders ever committed by the United States of America in the 1970s was the failure to control the growing popularity of Ayatollah Khomeini and also ill preparation for the fall of Shah of Iran. Ayatollah Khomeini was an ardent supporter of the Islamic radicals, and therefore, he became popular while the USA was in the good position of controlling him. It led to more fears Militant Islamic groups such as Al-Qaida and the Islamic States (IS). From the above analysis, the writer is right because indeed the USA failed in her duty to contain the uprising of the militant Muslims, and it made them strong (radical Muslims) to permanently establish their bases. Currently, these groups are prevalent in that, their activities have led to injuries and death of many innocent individuals and the law enforcement officers moreover, due to their stability, it is technical to heal the world from the atrocities they have caused wholly. Other extremist groups have emerged, for example, the Al-Shabaab and the Boko Haram.

Critically, the Iranian government had harbored anger towards the United States leading to the abduction of the 66 American civilians for example; they accused the USA of interfering with their work in their country (Farber,79). Both states were involved in intense oil conflict (Israeli-Arab Yom Kippur War in 1973), which made the Iranians hate the USA with passion. The above statement explains the possible reason that forced the Iran government to stage an abduction process; the hostages were later released after two years (1979-1981).

David Farber's Taken Hostage is compared to the book titled 99 Nights in Logar composed by Jamil Jan Kochai. Both books provide more information about the effects of terrors in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. The writer presents his first harrowing event with the American War on terror in Afghanistan that is in the year 2001 (Hoffert, 2018). The ideas of David Farber support the book as mentioned earlier, for example, many people have died, and a lot of properties destroyed due to terror and the case is currently critical because the victims of such atrocities are on the rise putting the security of citizens into jeopardy. David Farber's work has a lot of strengths in terms of comprehensiveness for example, it presents an issue that genuinely took place, and all people are aware of that, the case is different on Jamil's work because it cannot be ascertained if indeed he experienced terror because there are no second eyewitnesses in his claims.

In conclusion, David Farber explains in detail the need for history lessons for all members of society. Through his book, both politicians and other humanitarian organizations can employ the teaching to create a peaceful world where an individual is not judged based on his gender, race, and social status in the community. The book also encourages people in various ways; for example; it postulates that hostility can be solved through other peaceful means apart from using force and arms. It is clear that the United States of America interfered into the Iranian business and therefore as a democratic country, it should desist from illegal activities that expose the citizens into the danger of being attacked by other states or terrorist groups.

References

Farber, D., (2009). Taken hostage: The Iran hostage crisis and America's first encounter with radical Islam (Vol. 62). Princeton University Press.

Hoffert, B., (2018). 99 Nights in Logar.