Summary:
As Israel is constantly being threatened by Iran, they finally decide to take action and defend themselves before their country is taken over. The plan to take out Iran is begun by an inside man named Ashani, who plants bombs, destroying Iran's largest nuclear facility. It is kept a secret how and at whose hands this disaster occurred. The nuclear facility is left in ruins, and now there is toxic waste spreading everywhere. Iran, not knowing who was behind this attack immediately assumes it was the United States who bombed them when it was actually Israel. This is where hero and main character, Mitch, comes into play. He is tasked with gaining intel on both the Iranians and the Israelis in order to help ease the tensions between countries. He soon starts to worry that Israel is not as much of an ally as the United States once knew them to be, because they were hoping to let them take the fall for their bombings.
Mitch is then sidetracked in the middle of his mission to take out a high ranking member of congress that has been causing trouble during the entire situation. Mitch quickly takes care of this inconvenience and rushes back to Iran to help keep the United States out of trouble. The distrust of Israel quickly dissolves as they work together to make Iran's government look foolish. Mitch then becomes locked in a battle with a leader of Hezbollah and has limited time to deal with this problem before they begin bombing Israel and the United States in retalliation.
As Israel is constantly being threatened by Iran, they finally decide to take action and defend themselves before their country is taken over. The plan to take out Iran is begun by an inside man named Ashani, who plants bombs, destroying Iran's largest nuclear facility. It is kept a secret how and at whose hands this disaster occurred. The nuclear facility is left in ruins, and now there is toxic waste spreading everywhere. Iran, not knowing who was behind this attack immediately assumes it was the United States who bombed them when it was actually Israel. This is where hero and main character, Mitch, comes into play. He is tasked with gaining intel on both the Iranians and the Israelis in order to help ease the tensions between countries. He soon starts to worry that Israel is not as much of an ally as the United States once knew them to be, because they were hoping to let them take the fall for their bombings.
Mitch is then sidetracked in the middle of his mission to take out a high ranking member of congress that has been causing trouble during the entire situation. Mitch quickly takes care of this inconvenience and rushes back to Iran to help keep the United States out of trouble. The distrust of Israel quickly dissolves as they work together to make Iran's government look foolish. Mitch then becomes locked in a battle with a leader of Hezbollah and has limited time to deal with this problem before they begin bombing Israel and the United States in retalliation.
Favorite Quote
"The evangelist who spoke of his love of Christ did so not out of adoration for his savior, but out of need for others to hold him in high regard"(27).
Many people act or behave in certain manners that are viewed highly by others, but those actions are committed with the wrong intentions behind them.
This quote stood out to me because it is common for people to act in certain ways hoping people will notice their good deeds, not actually caring how they affect people they may be helping. Many people do not actually have love in their hearts, but wish to appear as if they do in front of others.
Many people act or behave in certain manners that are viewed highly by others, but those actions are committed with the wrong intentions behind them.
This quote stood out to me because it is common for people to act in certain ways hoping people will notice their good deeds, not actually caring how they affect people they may be helping. Many people do not actually have love in their hearts, but wish to appear as if they do in front of others.
Themes
Allies- throughout the novel it is proven vital to have and properly treat trustworthy allies. Having another country that could be relied upon was extremely helpful for Mitch and the nation.
Harming the Innocent- many innocent people are caught in the midst of war. They are killed, but it is seen as an acceptable sacrifice because of the murderers who are also killed.
False Assumptions-Iran is quick to assume that the United States is the root of their problems, when in reality it is Israel. By falsely assuming this, they get an additional country involved in a tense situation and regret doing so.
Harming the Innocent- many innocent people are caught in the midst of war. They are killed, but it is seen as an acceptable sacrifice because of the murderers who are also killed.
False Assumptions-Iran is quick to assume that the United States is the root of their problems, when in reality it is Israel. By falsely assuming this, they get an additional country involved in a tense situation and regret doing so.
Essay
Overview: Tensions between the Middle East and Israel stem directly from their separate religious views, causing hate, deceit, and a power struggle.
Israel and Middle Eastern Tensions
Tensions between nations can be caused from many different situations. Sometimes it is resources, sometimes it is failed leadership, and sometimes it is for the well-being of other countries. In the case of Israel versus the Middle East, in both real-life and the novel Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn, religion is the driving factor of tensions and war. Flynn writes this novel to lay out the mindsets of these nations that are feuding, and how this battle is unlikely to ever end. The difference of religion is not something that can ever be eased or agreed upon, and because of this strong opinions and feelings are formed. It can be easily seen that the nations despise each other through their constant actions of hate, deceit, and the attempt to gain power over one another.
Israel and the Middle East are constantly displaying anger towards each other, and have a deep-rooted hatred for one another. From the time they are born, they are trained to despise those enemies and it leads to never ending violence. When asked what he wishes upon Israel, Iran's Amatullah in Protect and Defend says, ”We will push Israel into the sea. We will vaporize their entire country. We will wipe them from the map. We will make them beg for forgiveness”(152). These are extremely strong and vivid descriptions of how Iran feels about Israel. The Amatullah is explosive with anger towards Israel and would be delighted to see their demise. He could hope for peace and honesty, but peace would not bring an end to a nation of opposite views and beliefs.
The separate nations are also quick to deceive each other by bending or forgoing the truth if it brings great gains to their own nations. They leave out the truth to both deceive their enemies and their own people in an attempt to rally people against each other. In Flynn's novel Israel is angered with Iran’s lies. Israel’s government says, ”These guys never let the truth get in the way of their own message. I say it’s time we give them a taste of their own medicine”(124). They are upset that the truth has not come first and instead lying in order for people to buy into their message has come first. Far too often countries don’t put the truth over their own agendas. They feel it is better for their message to listeners if it includes what is wanted to be heard instead of truth and facts. The truth doesn’t always fit narratives though, so it is not the focus of debate and war.
The lying and hatred between nations, in the end, is all an attempt to gain power over the other. These countries feel there should not be beliefs that are not their own and they will fight to the death over it. They also have a government that holds power over its own people. Throughout Flynn’s novel Iran’s government displays its governing tactics of using fear on its own citizens. The Iranian government “has held onto their power by strangling all dissent. There is no free thought, no free speech, and no freedom of faith in Islam”(175). The people are controlled and brainwashed by their leaders, causing them to have such strong feelings towards other nations such as Israel. Holding on to power often requires taking power from those who pose a threat. Once someone is in power it makes it that much easier for them to have control of thought, speech, and religion.
Due to these differences of views on religion, these nations will continue to battle and have tensions with each other. The nations hate one another and will not hesitate to lie or kill in order to harm the other. They want the other to be in peril so that they can gain power and eliminate opposing beliefs. There may never be an end to this culture of hatred between these nations as is shown in Protect and Defend. Until one nation is brave enough to use something as crazy as nuclear power on the other, the fighting will continue on.
Israel and Middle Eastern Tensions
Tensions between nations can be caused from many different situations. Sometimes it is resources, sometimes it is failed leadership, and sometimes it is for the well-being of other countries. In the case of Israel versus the Middle East, in both real-life and the novel Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn, religion is the driving factor of tensions and war. Flynn writes this novel to lay out the mindsets of these nations that are feuding, and how this battle is unlikely to ever end. The difference of religion is not something that can ever be eased or agreed upon, and because of this strong opinions and feelings are formed. It can be easily seen that the nations despise each other through their constant actions of hate, deceit, and the attempt to gain power over one another.
Israel and the Middle East are constantly displaying anger towards each other, and have a deep-rooted hatred for one another. From the time they are born, they are trained to despise those enemies and it leads to never ending violence. When asked what he wishes upon Israel, Iran's Amatullah in Protect and Defend says, ”We will push Israel into the sea. We will vaporize their entire country. We will wipe them from the map. We will make them beg for forgiveness”(152). These are extremely strong and vivid descriptions of how Iran feels about Israel. The Amatullah is explosive with anger towards Israel and would be delighted to see their demise. He could hope for peace and honesty, but peace would not bring an end to a nation of opposite views and beliefs.
The separate nations are also quick to deceive each other by bending or forgoing the truth if it brings great gains to their own nations. They leave out the truth to both deceive their enemies and their own people in an attempt to rally people against each other. In Flynn's novel Israel is angered with Iran’s lies. Israel’s government says, ”These guys never let the truth get in the way of their own message. I say it’s time we give them a taste of their own medicine”(124). They are upset that the truth has not come first and instead lying in order for people to buy into their message has come first. Far too often countries don’t put the truth over their own agendas. They feel it is better for their message to listeners if it includes what is wanted to be heard instead of truth and facts. The truth doesn’t always fit narratives though, so it is not the focus of debate and war.
The lying and hatred between nations, in the end, is all an attempt to gain power over the other. These countries feel there should not be beliefs that are not their own and they will fight to the death over it. They also have a government that holds power over its own people. Throughout Flynn’s novel Iran’s government displays its governing tactics of using fear on its own citizens. The Iranian government “has held onto their power by strangling all dissent. There is no free thought, no free speech, and no freedom of faith in Islam”(175). The people are controlled and brainwashed by their leaders, causing them to have such strong feelings towards other nations such as Israel. Holding on to power often requires taking power from those who pose a threat. Once someone is in power it makes it that much easier for them to have control of thought, speech, and religion.
Due to these differences of views on religion, these nations will continue to battle and have tensions with each other. The nations hate one another and will not hesitate to lie or kill in order to harm the other. They want the other to be in peril so that they can gain power and eliminate opposing beliefs. There may never be an end to this culture of hatred between these nations as is shown in Protect and Defend. Until one nation is brave enough to use something as crazy as nuclear power on the other, the fighting will continue on.