Perilous Statecraft: An Insider's Account of the Iran-Contra Affair

As a participant in the early stages of Iran- contra , Ledeen offers fresh insight into Oliver North's motivations, Robert McFarlane's psychological crisis, John Poindexter's reasons for providing the president with ``deniability,'' the involvement of Israel in linking the Iran initiative with secret efforts on behalf of the contras , the role of Manucher Ghorbanifar and many other elements of interest to students of the affair. Ledeen views the subsequent congressional hearings as an inquisition that at times resembled a bullfight with an excess of goring. One of those gored was Ledeen, who claims he was slandered by both witnesses and committee members. Defending himself convincingly in these pages, he describes North's campaign to discredit him and answers the charge that he served as an agent for Israel in his role as McFarlane's envoy. Ledeen also wrote Grave New World. (Nov.)