The Game of Nations: The Amorality of Power Politics

This book is represented as being written by one of the pioneers of modern intelligence gathering and analysis such as done at the CIA. Like most books, it is finally impossible to conclude its actual origin (or motives); however, it is referenced in Larry J. Kolb's OVERWORLD book in some detail along with a running collaboration with Copeland as his mentor, and many of the overt facts mentioned do square with world history.Copeland, in this book, presents himself as an amoral "player" in the game of nations, meaning specifically that he did play Nasser in simulation games run by intelligence organizations and more generally as his idea of how to think of world politics (as a game). This overall point is driven home numerous times by citing the idea that world political events and differing nations' operational strategies/functions can be best understood by game theory--by analyses of win/loss possibilities as each nation may practice/play (accurately or mistakenly). Copeland crassly presents world leaders, the sane ones, as being driven by the desire to hold onto power, personally, and that the leaders' actions will drive their nations' actions via that overall desire. Copeland does not address those leaders who are guaranteered to be voted out of power such as the U.S. Presidents, although even their shorter term motivations are viewed the same as other non-democratic leaders. Too, the author does not directly reference any "shadow government" possibility inside the U.S.A. which could be seen as continuously desiring retention of power (see COG, Continuity of Government in other sources to understand this reference). The title of the book is the key insight of it.Copeland's achievement to world history is to provide his own insight and activities in playing the game of nations in simulation activities for analyzing intelligence. He describes how each person/player would be an expert on one world leader at the historic moment and expresses how these leaders could be expected to play against or with each other. The result would be one, or usually several, scenarios of geo-political future events. In describing the game, he provides deep insight into how the world events around the several Suez crises worked.In more general terms, Copeland, in an almost Peck's bad boy way, virtually gurgles as he exposes various well-covered secrets in world affairs over the main period of his own activities, the 1950s. Valuable in themselves, his detailed reports of what was generally covered up are also a relevation of the mind-set of a real CIA-type "old hand." What he reveals about the Mid East geo-political situation are acutely relevant in 2013, too.The copy of the book I purchased from one of Amazon.com's two-step vendors (the only source) is missing 60 or more pages (due to repeated pages and numbering errors, it is difficult to determine what exact pages are missing). The missing pages come at the point when Copeland begins to be very specific about Nasser and the Mid East manuevering of nations at that time. I have been unable to obtain a full-text copy. Correspondence with Larry Kolb did not mention possible contents nor explain a possible cause when questioned directly. The signatures of the book are continuous and no tearing out has occurred. My comments herein are based on my copy with missing pages.

Good

this book is a must read especially with the current climate and news!Everyone must know the history before you can judge the present and future!!!!!!Great read!

This book is full of mind-boggling information that exposes the Zionist agenda gives a truer stance on the role played by the USA in the Middle east conflict.

Did everything they said they were going to do.

The book was written in the late sixties of the last century.What Copeland did not mention in his book, though, was the fact that Egypt - during the reign of King Farouk I and three years before Nasser came to power - had invited certain ex-Nazi German Scientists and Military trainers (High ranking officers) to come to Cairo with an important mission. Haidar Pasha (The King's Minister of War!!) - following upon the poor performance of the Egyptian Army in 1948 fighting against Israel - wanted to remodel the Egyptian Army, improve training and upgrade their field capabilities based on German expertise, and he commissioned the ex-Nazis to do the work.But the Americans and the Israelis were not `blind' about this matter.Copeland was CIA cover in Iran and Cairo. When Nasser toppled the King, Copeland was stationed in Cairo to offer USA assistance to Nasser and simultaneously do three main tasks: 1) To identify and oust all ex-Nazi `staff' that was trickling into Cairo as Consultants in chemical plants 2) US was worried that border skirmishes with Israel might disrupt the flow of oil and harm US interests in the region. 3) CIA saw in Nasser a staunch opponent to Communism and by standing by his side USA could end Britain's control of the `Middle East - Gulf' oil resources and forestall any Soviet influence in the region.Based on this rationale the `Wehda' - The Union - between Egypt and Syria was born in 1958, when the Syrian Communist Party had been gaining momentum in the person of Khalid Bakdash.Nasser (then 40) was not to be intimidated nor was Copeland successful in alienating Nasser from the Soviets, because the USA - in a sudden change of its approach towards Egypt - declined to provide any financial assistance on the Aswan Dam and the brothers Dulles (John and Foster) acted independently of field recommendations made by the CIA - Copeland.Copeland strived to keep Egypt in the USA camp, but Dulles had already made up his mind and reversed USA policy. (USA main ally now was Israel)Up to the writing of his book - The Game of Nations - Copeland had figured high during the Iraqi Coup led by Abdul Karim Qassim that massacred King Faisal II.Copeland made contacts with Qassim's regime and when he didn't receive good hearing, he made contacts notably with its new opponents including the Ba'ath Party (and the young Saddam Hussein and other Arab Nationalists). Saddam Hussein was later aided in the first assassination attempt on Qassim, and fled to Cairo when it failed.Qassim had also been a staunch opponent to the UAR (United Arab Republic - Syria and Egypt).Qassim was strongly supported by the Iraqi Communist Party.In 1963, Saddam returned from Cairo to Baghdad and played another major role in the assassination of Qassim (the second) and the consequential purge against the Iraqi Communists (the media was awash with massacres committed in Kirkuk and Musul)Copeland was an admirer of Beirut and his children attended American schools (International College).The Book is a `case study' based on `role playing' interspersed with `scenarios' some of which are excerpts from true conversations made at the time Copeland (a professional writer) hid them in a `play-Game' context.Should it be taken seriously? Can one distinguish between `Fact and Fiction? The answer is YES and NO.Copeland career is much longer than the stout covers binding his book and deserves attention from Hollywood producers. Believe me it can make the best of the best sellers yet offered on these long American chronicles...

Good Book for those who are interested in the Middle East politics ~

Excellent book