GUESTS OF THE AYATOLLAH: THE FIRST BATTLE IN AMERICA'S WAR WITH MILITANT ISLAM

摘要

Mark Bowden's Guests of the Ayatollah is not the first study of this event and with the twenty-seventh anniversary of the hostage crisis approaching, one might wonder why the author chose to revisit an incident that occurred so long ago. The title itself provides that answer—it was America's first battle against militant Islam; a war that continues today. In this first battle, America found itself surprised, unprepared, and naieve in dealing with Iran. As the United States continues to face conflict with Islamic fundamentalism, Guests of the Ayatollah is a vivid documentary of that first battle. Throughout the book, the author provides valuable insight into the mindset of the extreme Islamic fundamentalists responsible for the seizure of the embassy and the difficulties in dealing with militant Islam, either in true battle or in diplomacy. While the book is more journalistic than scholarly and is colored by the author's obvious feelings about the captors and their cause, Guests of the Ayatollah is a compelling chronicle of the hostages' 444 days and the challenges America faced in confronting the crisis. As Iran continues to appear in headlines around the globe, Guests of the Ayatollah is truly a worthwhile and timely read.