Michael J. Totten

April 2, 2010

A Time to Betray

I have just spent an hour speaking with Reza Kahlili, an Iranian man who joined Khomeini's Revolutionary Guards in 1979 and later worked as an agent for the CIA to bring them down from within. He was kind enough to send me an advance copy of his extraordinary book A Time to Betray: The Astonishing Double Life of a CIA Agent Inside the Revolutionary Guards of Iran.

This is one of those rare books that grabs you from the very first page—from the very first sentence, in fact—and will not let you go until it is over. And it's your required reading this month. It won't be published until Tuesday, but you can pre-order it now .

Set aside a day so you can read it in one sitting.

The book even comes with a trailer, which makes sense because it was written cinematically and easily could be—and should be—made into a movie. Somebody in Hollywood should take a serious look at this.

I will publish my interview with him Tuesday, the day his book is released. Stay tuned, because you will not want to miss it.

Posted by Michael J. Totten at April 2, 2010 7:15 PM

Comments

I tend to read for recreation these days, and I've only bought a few politically-oriented books in recent years. I may buy this one, though. Seems like the author has a unique perspective :)

Posted by: Craig at April 3, 2010 10:56 am

Craig, this one is written like a novel. It's his life story, and he's led one hell of a life. Get it. Trust me.

Posted by: Michael J. Totten at April 3, 2010 11:03 am

The trailer seems to absolve 'the holy man' Khomeini regarding 'the horrors that followed'. Is that how the book presents it also?

Posted by: Joe at April 3, 2010 1:24 pm

Joe: The trailer seems to absolve 'the holy man' Khomeini regarding 'the horrors that followed'. Is that how the book presents it also?

What? No. Of course not. That would be absolutely ridiculous.

Posted by: Michael J. Totten at April 3, 2010 1:30 pm

I am only asking because there is a school of thought that Khomeini was a well-meaning liberator but things went off the track later on. I am glad this isn't one of those books. Thanks.

Posted by: Joe at April 3, 2010 1:48 pm

Definitely not one of those books, although I can see from reading it why some people would believe that.

There is no way I'd recommend a book that absolved Khomeini.

Posted by: Michael J. Totten at April 3, 2010 1:49 pm

Movie? Only if the terrorists win.

Then Cameron will buy the rights...

Posted by: TmjUtah at April 3, 2010 8:22 pm

I would have loved to see Khomeini's face when he woke up and found himself in hell. This does look like an interesting book - I will make a point of picking it up.

Posted by: Victor at April 3, 2010 9:29 pm

Ah, Holywood. Somehow they'll find a way to make it look like a white man's fault. Book ordered.

Posted by: Eva at April 3, 2010 10:04 pm

Curveball?

Posted by: Microraptor at April 5, 2010 5:37 am

I just ordered it through Amazon. It looks like a good read. I also recommend "Comrade J" by Pete Earley, which is about a former KGB and later FSB agent.

Posted by: Lindsey Abelard at April 5, 2010 8:39 am

Michael,

How does a journalist such as yourself go about establishing the bona fides of a guys such as Reza? I served two tours as an advisor in ITO and and everybody had a story.

Regards,

MarcH

Posted by: MarcH at April 7, 2010 6:59 am

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