Andrew's Reviews > The Age of Jihad: Islamic State and the Great War for the Middle East

A devastating criticism of Western interventions in Islamic countries, and the failure of Western governments to learn from previous mistakes. Based on Patrick Cockburn's contemporary notes and diaries, this book covers the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, and the brutally suppressed Shia uprising in Bahrain. There are also mentions of Somalia and Chechnya for good measure. During the period covered by this book Patrick Cockburn (son of Claud, who older readers might remember!) was the award-winning Middle East correspondent for The Independent newspaper, and spent a lot of time in the region, close enough to the hot spots to report accurately, whilst somehow avoiding personal injury! An essential read for all those interested in the contemporary Jslamic world.