If you read enough about the Dirty Wars in Central America in the 1980s and the arms trading scheme that became known as 'Iran Contra' you will find Israelis appear many times on the periphery, yet the Congressional report mentioned Israel in less than 5% of the 400+ page report.

The real meat of this book is exploring how the USA responded to political pressure and Congressional bans on support to the South and Central American dictatorships (and also Apartheid South Africa) by employing Israel as a proxy to supply them as well as provide security training for them, which they were all too happy to oblige in order to expand and deepen military and political ties and develop mutual dependency.

Earlier chapters trace through the initially contentious but increasingly friendly relations on intelligence matters, but it is the proxy aid to third parties and the Nuclear weapons development program that are the most important parts.

NB: the book has recently come back into the spotlight because Leslie Cockburn is running for Congress, defenders of Israeli government policy and violence accuse her of being an anti-Semitic 'Israel hater' and cite this book as proof. Yet they don't quote any contentious paragraphs or sentences in it.

The book is good and Cockburn is in general very good, but only three stars because it is so old. ( )