A sober analysis of the policies and diplomacy that created "the world's worst kept secret," which on one hand emphasizes the vision of David Ben Gurion in terms of initiating the program and on the other examines the contingencies that had to occur to allow the vision to come to fruition. The key point probably being the assasination of JFK, as no other person was in a better position and more determined to abort the whole project.

While it's no slight on the book, one does have the feeling that it's already becoming somewhat dated, particularly in light of the current superheated situation in the Middle East. Not to mention that one new, solid piece of information could put Cohen's sequence of events in a different light. ( )