One of the most daunting problems in current world politics is Iran's brazen determination to build a nuclear weapon. Also ominous is the prospect of Israel launching a preemptive strike on Iran, sparking a conflict that could derail America's hopes to foster peace in the region.The Sixth Crisis, exploring the three strands of the Israel-Iran-US crisis, is the first full account of the situation since Obama took office. Authored by two international security experts, including a former senior director in President Bill Clinton's National Security Council staff, this vitallyimportant volume begins with an incisive overview of the technical and political aspects of Iran's nuclear program, and then explains how Israel's panic about Iran's nuclear threat--combined with its policy toward the Palestinians--is complicating its alliance with America. The book also revealshow Tehran is exploiting tensions between Arab regimes fearful of a nuclear Iran and an Arab public that is angry about the plight of the Palestinians and resentful of Israel's nuclear monopoly in the region. Against this volatile backdrop, readers get an up-close look at the intricate diplomacyunderway to rein in Iran's nuclear program, and its ramifications for international security. Finally, The Sixth Crisis emphasizes that President Obama--who understands the catastrophic consequences of maintaining the status quo--is taking a big gamble by staking his legacy on a resolution of theIsrael-Palestine and Iran nuclear crisis.The time bomb of Iran's defiance and Israel's panic has the potential to spark a firestorm that would imperil US interests in the Middle East and engulf Obama's presidency. With the outcome of this unfolding crisis far from certain, The Sixth Crisis is required reading not only for policymakers, butalso for anyone interested in world politics.