America's Great Game

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From the 9/11 attacks to drone strikes, U.S.-Middle East relations have been in decline, often exacerbated by the Central Intelligence Agency. However, this crisis was not inevitable. The CIA's earliest operatives were once the region's staunchest allies. Celebrated intelligence historian Hugh Wilford uncovers the surprising history of the CIA's pro-Arab operations in the 1940s and 50s, focusing on three influential officers: Kermit "Kim" Roosevelt, Archie Roosevelt, and Miles Copeland. Kermit, grandson of Theodore Roosevelt, led covert actions in the region, while Archie served as a Middle East scholar and chief of the Beirut station. Copeland, a maverick who joined the intelligence community during World War II, completed this trio. With a deep understanding of Middle Eastern affairs, they inherited an American missionary tradition that engaged Arabs and Muslims with respect. Yet, their fascination with imperial intrigue led them to engage in a modern rematch of the "Great Game," the 19th-century struggle for control over Central Asia. Despite their good intentions, these "Arabists" supported authoritarian regimes, manipulated public opinion against Israel, and staged destabilizing coups. Their efforts and failures would significantly influence U.S.-Middle Eastern relations for decades. Drawing from declassified records, private papers, and interviews, this narrative reveals how these CIA officers' actions reshaped U.S. fore