Goode’s short book focuses on understanding U.S. politics during and after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. This was a time of political instability in the United States during the Watergate scandal, leading to President Nixon’s resignation in August 1974.

He analyzes the complexities of U.S.-Turkish relations at that time in light of Cold War politics: Turkey’s involvement in the opium trade which fed drug addiction in the United States; and Ankara’s unsuccessful efforts to influence U.S. politics in pursuit of its own aggressive plans in the Eastern Mediterranean, which eventually led to the invasion and partition of Cyprus.

Goode highlights the ethnic lobbies and personalities that played critical roles during that period of crisis. Archbishop Iakovos took the lead in organizing the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) as the principal Greek-American lobby to persuade Congress to vote for the Turkish arms embargo of 1975-78. At the time, the U.S. administration faced Soviet penetration into the Middle East as well as an embittered NATO member, Turkey, which leaned toward Moscow because of the U.S. arms embargo.

He then analyzes the Carter administration’s position on lifting the Turkish arms embargo, which caused the Greek government of Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis much political discomfort as it struggled to stabilize Greece after the abrupt fall of the military junta. Despite lifting the embargo on Turkey decades ago, the U.S. Congress finally lifted the 33-year-long Cyprus arms embargo only in December 2019, enraging Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Goode’s book is a lesson for U.S.-Turkish relations and a timely warning to U.S. leaders to try and understand Turkish leaders and their motives better if Washington hopes to benefit U.S. interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and the stability and peace of the whole region.