Could the United States defeat Al-Qaeda but still lose the broader war on terrorism? In The Stakes , Shibley Telhami, one of America's most in-demand commentators on the Middle East, provides a concise and penetrating analysis that explains Arab and Muslim attitudes toward the United States and shows why there is much reason for concern. In an insightful, passionate, yet balanced analysis, Telhami shows why the Arab-Israeli conflict remains central to the war on terrorism and to international stability, and considers the consequences of a post-war Iraq: its effect on Middle Eastern politics and American foreign policy, the recovery of the region, and its future with the rest of the world. The Stakes provides a well-reasoned, calm analysis that will be essential reading for anyone who wonders where America should go from here, amid the dangers and opportunities in the ever-volatile Middle East. Updated with a new epilogue.

Shibley Telhami is Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Saban centre at the Brookings Institution. A frequent contributor to the nation's television, radio, and print media, he is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Board of Directors of Human Rights Watch.