Investigating Al-Qaeda
932364
Excellent portrayal of how a committed FBI agent worked to humanly interrogate Al-Qaeda members to  reveal the inner workings of that organization.  Also explains how the Bush administration placed politics before national security in its position on not revealing that Al-Qaeda was behind the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen.  Finally, the author shows how the many claims by the CIA that its torture techniques prevented terrorist attacks in the US are pure nonsense.
327208
In reading the reviews of this book, there is a fair amount of 'he's got it all wrong,' combined with mostly 'a very interesting analysis of the situation as it exists in the world today.' Regardless of which of these you pick, the information provided here is the most reasoned, the most thorough analysis of suicide terrorists I've seen. Perhaps there's more in the innards of the CIA or DIA or whatever, but as an independent outsider (I presume) I hope those folk are talking with Mr. Pape.

Again, regardless of your view of this book, the critical question is the one he asks in the last chapter, 'can we find a lasting solution to suicide terrorism that does not compromise our core interest in maintaining access to one of the world's key oil-producing regions.'

His answer is a qualified yes. The first thing that he mentions we should do is return to a policy of 'offshore balancing' in the Persian Gulf. That is, get our troops off shore and out of sight. Perhaps, but what happens if al-Qaeda appears to actually be taking over the government in Saudi Arabia and our troops go back in. Would moving them off shore have done any good? Do we pull them out completely, back say to the United States? What then happens to the access to oil?

He says that a military victory is unlikely. But he does mention one case where decapitation of a terrorist organization worked. What will happen when we catch Osama bin Laden, or if he dies for some other reason? His financing of al-Qaeda seems a very important part of his leadership. Will it end? Does he have a successor?

If you are doing any thinking about the situation in the middle east at all, this is a book you definitely need to read. The data he presents may not be perfect, his conclusion that occupation troops are the main cause of suicide terrorism may be open to question, but the data he has collected is something that you cannot ignore.
2163415
I always appreciate an insiders perspective and am therefore grateful that the author decided to share his story. I found Visas for Al Qaeda to be one more piece in the corrupt U.S. puzzle. The author lures you in with his personal experiences in the State Department and later outlines and expounds upon the implications of the agenda he discovered. Its required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with current geo-politics.
2972262
Great read, probably the most unique and in-depth book I've read on Al Qaeda. If you're interested in a riveting account of the true workings behind the Saudi government and Al Qaeda -- the behind-the-scenes story that isn't presented in the mainstream media -- this is a fantastic resource.
1969369
Peyman Pejman's experience as a journalist and spokesperson in Afghanistan and the Greater Middle East and Caucasus is evident in this very interesting book that shows how a jihadist can be made and unmade. It also contains some interesting debates between the main character and jihadists, both sides using quotes from the Koran to make their points. Recommended for anyone who wants some insight into the problems faced by U.S. policy makers and individuals who have to execute the policy on the ground.
429601
This is an excellent book.  I was impressed by how well researched it was. I never expected to get so much detail on what went went on leading up to the tragic suicide bombing that killed so many CIA agents, contractors, and a member of the Jordanian Royal family.  It also gives a broader view of "The War On Terror".  It has the feel of a book written by an insider.  Many times books with so much information are hard to get through because there is too much detail.  This book avoids this and does not allow the reader to get bogged down.  After reading the book I feel that I have a much better idea of how the US has gone about hunting Al Qaeda.  I also feel like I have a better understanding of the sacrifices that many in the CIA make in service to our country.  This is a great book.
3297012
Dr. Griffin does an excellent job of asking the real questions that should have been answered by the 9/11 Commission.  Now that they have issued their final report, an in-depth study needs to scrutinize the remaining unanswered and unresolved issues so that follow-up investigations can be initiated.  The search for the truth behind 9/11 is only now beginning.
3223859
"The Enigma of Islamist Violence".  Editors: Amelie Blom, Laetitia Bucaille, & Luis Martinez.  Translated by: John Atherton, Ros Schwartz, & William Snow; 201 pgs. (2007).  From the inside dustjacket: "Are [suicide attacks] perpetrated by Islamists as a matter of belief or do they reflect socio-economic realities?  Is the suicide bomber a pathological case, as the psychologist maintains, or a clever strategist, as those steeped in the geopolitical approach claim?  This book aims to transcend both the culturalist or underdevelopment explanations by focusing on the highly variegated nature of the phenomenon.  For example, suicide attacks are relatively common in Kashmir and Israel/ Palestine but almost non-existent in Algeria and Yemen, both of which have experienced long-running campaigns by violent Islamist groups.  ... These bring us closer to the Islamists' political mindset: a quest for purity in the next world that replaces the justice here on earth of which the militant despairs; the distress caused by the degeneracy of a failing ethno-nationalist rebellion, which encourages a shift in the struggle to the timelessness of death; or the paradoxical desire to assert one's individuality when the wider group is powerless by carrying out an `exemplary' act of war against an enemy that is increasingly imagined rather than real.  These are among the complex motivations of suicide attacks that this book brings to light."  This hardback reprints seven articles on Islamist violence that were originally published in `Critique International' in July 2003 [with some updated revisions].  The articles are: (1) `Does Islam Provide a Theory of Violence?' by Hamadi Redissi & Jan-Erik Lane; (2) `The Impossible Palestinian Martyr Strategy: Victimization and Suicide Attacks' by Laetitia Bucaille; (3) `Kashmiri Suicide Bombers: Martyrs of a Lost Cause' by Amelie Blom; (4) Chechnya: Moving toward Islamic Nationalism?' by Penelope Larzilliere; (5) Violence Against the Self: the Case of a Kurdish Non-Islamist Group' by Olivier Grojean; (6) `The Distinctive Development of Islamist Violence in Algeria' by Luis Martinez; (7) `The State, Political Islam and Violence: the Reconfiguration of Yemeni Politics Since 9/11' by Ludmila du Bouchet.  The writers analyze the ahadith and the Quran for their influences on jihadi thinking, as espoused by Sayyid Qutb.  As Redissi & Lane opined: "In case of [Islamic] victory, non-combatants, women, children...  are considered...  as part of the war booty.  They can be pardoned, reduced to slavery, or sold...." (p. 33).  Regarding the `Armed Islamic Group' of Algeria, writer Martinez noted: "Apart from the view that `the Jews and the Crusaders' must be eliminated, its purpose is also to `clean up' the social order" (p. 125).  To help understand the roots of the jihadist mentality is another book titled: "The Truth About Mohammad"  by Robert Spencer.
2548552
Answering Jihad equipped me with information in place of the questions I had held previously, and gave me tools with which to navigate the conflicting messages of western leaders and radical Islamists. The book not only helped explain why so many Muslims are radicalizing, but also shed light on why so many Muslims are not jihadists. Qureshis organized approach to the issue in itself relieves some of the panicky feelings which recent atrocities in the Middle East have heaped around the idea of jihad, and he fills his organized framework with evidence-based assertions rather than speculation  assertions and evidence which gain more weight from Qureshis having himself been a devout Muslim. Qureshis deep love for his still-Muslim family helps him preserve a respectful, compassionate tone even while exposing ugliness in the roots of Islam. This is no panic-born invective on the evils of Islam, but a rational, compassion-fueled investigation which presents friendship, not phobia, as the appropriate response.

For anyone facing questions about jihad, Islam, and our Muslim neighbors  and aren't we all facing such questions today?  Answering Jihad provides clear, accessible information, equipping readers to pursue a better way forward, a way that upholds both truth and compassion. I highly recommend it.
4316061
This absorbing new book,"Ghost Wars", written by noted journalist Steve Coll, managing editor of the Washington Post, deftly describes and explains the origins, progress, and consequences of the CIA's ill-fated sponsorship of radical Muslim fundamentalists in a concerted effort to turn the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan in the late 1970s into a Russian version of Vietnam. The devil lies in the details, as they say, and Mr. Coll does a yeoman's job of explaining how the specific actions taken by the United States to influence the long term course of the Soviet aggression against the Afghan people wrought the absolutely catastrophic unintended consequences it did by way of the creation, training and sustenance of the fanatical Arab fringe group that eventually emerged in the early 1990s as Al Queda.
Indeed, it is a tale full of unimaginable arrogance, thoughtless irresponsibility, and ultimate irony that many of the so-called masterminds of the various Arab groups loosely held together by Osama bin Laden's terrorist network were originally recruited, trained, and transported to Afghanistan by the CIA and its front organizations, and many of the most sophisticated of their members learned their tradecraft here in the United States in training courses offered and funded by the CIA.  Operating with the cooperation of a number of other national security organizations such as the KGB, the Saudi General Intelligence Department, and the dreaded Pakistani ISI, the covert agents of the Central Intelligence Agency played a dangerous game in creating an effective and often deadly counterforce to the brunt instrument of the Soviet military machine, and by creating the guerilla forces to do so, gave radical Muslim fundamentalists an object lesson in how to fight quite effectively against superior military forces.
In this fashion, the success enjoyed by the Arab terrorists in fighting against the Soviets encouraged them to think about how they could use their newfound capabilities to engage the forces that be within the orbit of the Middle East itself to effect change towards the creation of a theocratic fundamentalist Muslim state, or even a loose confederation, or Caliphate, of them, by employing such terrorist tactics against both the Western powers and (eventually) the Saudi royal family to accomplish their goals. It took us a while to recognize that the rag-tag confederation of Arab `freedom fighters baptized by combat in Afghanistan were now forming into a most formidable and extremely dangerous enemy, one that could hide at pleasure and strike when it suited them best. Moreover, one of the most interesting aspects to the book is the way in which the author threads the story of the growing and evolving threat of Al Queda into the history of what is also transpiring in Afghanistan over that quarter century of time.
Had we not cut and run, for example, after helping to defeat the Soviets, had we stayed behind to aid them in rebuilding the shattered country the Soviets left in their wake, we might have been able to do much to disarm the radical Muslim movement from gaining traction in the first place. Instead, we abandoned them to their misery and incredible tribal hatreds and animosities, and by so doing provided a haven in which radical Muslim fundamentalists could come to power, and thus creating a perfect setting for all that Al Queda did afterward. In tracing the sordid history of how these so-called ghost wars led to what happened later, eventuating in the attacks of the late 1990s and the events of 911,  Coll argues powerfully for a more informed, logical, and rational foreign policy, one informed by a keen understanding of the world and our place in it. Until such transformation takes place, our country and we will continue to be at great risk. Enjoy!
1791781
From the first pages of his redacted recollections, Gary Bernsten takes us on a whirlwind tour of the Agency's early frustrations with the menace of Al Qaeda - as well as his own for the Washington bureaucracy - giving us our first glimpse of the Panshir Valley prior to the USS Cole tragedy and the 9/11 turning point. Bernsten picks up the momentum of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Jawbreaker-The-Attack-on-Bin-Laden-and-Al-Qaeda-A-Personal-Account-by-the-CIA-s-Key-Field-Commander/dp/B000Y8D5JQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA's Key Field Commander</a>&nbsp;less than a month later as he was preparing to spearhead the hunt for Bin Laden as it had been laid out by the CIA's Counter Terrorism Center [CTC] and the Armed Forces Central Command [CENTCOM], with the initial airstrikes against the Taliban and Al Qaeda targets and the insertion of both military and civilian teams into Afghanistan.

Sometimes his riveting account of this handful of dedicated experts and professionals [some 110 CIA officers and 350 Special Forces soldiers, supported by air power and advanced technology] could be difficult to follow because of the rapid pace of events and the multiple facets of their operations.  Whenever I watch Robert Redford's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Lions-For-Lambs-Widescreen-Edition/dp/B0013FCWUW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Lions For Lambs (Widescreen Edition)</a>, it conjures up the actions of those forces in my mind. But on the whole, his blend of textured characters and harrowing circumstances was fascinating reading, even with the bands of redacted text every few pages. His return to the Panshir from Tajikistan, his efforts with the native commanders, with their intelligence operations and the allied forces, with hostage issues, language problems and cultural conflicts; Gary shared each step of the way with us in vivid detail. His descriptions of Tora Bora gave us edge-of-your-seat panoramas of the execution of our warfare options with a modern enemy, in sharp contrast to how we have failed in Iraq. Being so close to his mission's near-complete success, his obvious frustrations with his recall and the uncertainty of our policies in the area are easy to understand. History may see those events in his favor and be more sympathetic to his feelings.

Bernsten's conclusions offer a longer perspective of our actions during those few critical months that are shared by others and documented elsewhere. Our Afghan war has been described as a flawed masterpiece and may end up as one of the more notable military achievements in the last half century. May it serve as a positive example for future successes, as open societies face the challenges of lethal enemies, and as a call for creative leadership with compassion and understanding for other people and their traditions.

Bob Magnant is the author of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Last-Transition/dp/1599160994/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Last Transition...</a>&nbsp;- a fact-based novel about Iran, Iraq and the Middle East...
4291903
...approach to current affairs in the Middle East.

Professor Gerges' latest effort provides additional information not covered in his earlier works.  His writing style is scholarly, yet accessible, backed up by his vast experience traveling in the Middle East.  Professor Gerges hails from Beruit, Lebanon and currently lives in the United States.  He is objective while demonstrating his incredible knowledge of Middle East affairs, personalities and history.  While reading many sections, I felt the writing "opening" my mind as opposed to "filling" it.

The text goes deeper than the sound bites covered with traditional news reporting.  The reader is given a more thorough understanding of the genesis of the Jihadist movement.  The reader is shown there are layers of Islam that have not been presented to Western Audiences and can do much to affect Western views and prejudices.

The format of the book is much easier to manage than the current offerings available on the subject.  The book is divided into chapters that are easy to read without being superficial.  Throughout the book, he provides embedded "foot notes" to help the reader understand foreign terms such as "Jihad".  In some ways, the book reads more like a novel than work of non-fiction.  Readers should find this approach both interesting and informative.

The book does much to help, especially the Western reader, understand the components of history and current events that motivate some followers to choose the paths they walk.  If you're looking for a more thoughtful and well-researched text on the subject of Islamic Extremism and the Jihadist movement, this publication will address your needs.
3097593
Interesting read with a back story that stretched to the earliest days of Osama bin Laden. Details on the actual events in the compound in Pakistan were more limited than I expected, but the full account of all the main players involved in the hunt and decision making was more than I expected.
919983
I picked this book up whilst in Saudi Arabia as the titke caught my eye.

I have just finished reading this book and found it fascinating. It has a wealth of information which shows why suicide bombing and terrorism are open enemies of Islam.

It is true, as noted by a reviewer below, that what some Mulsims do today is contrary to what Islam teaches. This is all the more reason why there needs to be an education crusade to ensure that the correct message of Islam is delivered to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

If you are a reader of Steve Emerson, Daniel Pipes, Walid Phares etc. here is a suggestion. Read Emerson et al's writings, then read this book and another book which I recommend, 'Islam Denounces Terrorism', by Harun Yahya. Then compare notes. Objective, rational analysis will win the day.

Hasan Ali Imam

ex-Parliamentary Candidate

Conservative Party

London

UK
1011971
This book shows the connection between the NAZIS and the Islamic Terrorists of the past and present times.
The Grand Mufti escaped punishment for his evil acts and went on to direct the Islamic Terrorists after the
defeat of the NAZIS. His plan was to rid the Middle-East including Israel of Jews, and he continued to
operate out of Egypt after the defeat of Hitler, along with other Nazi escapees
2733118
Napoleoni argues that Zarqawi was basically some unknown jihadi thug that was in the right place at the right time. But, a better look into Zarqawi as a planner and tactician shows otherwise. In order to understand why Zarqawi has been successful in building a worldwide terrorist network you first have to look at the man himself. Dr. Jaril Post is in the process of profiling Zarqawi and did an interview two days ago where he discussed what makes him sucessful. His personal charisma which is at least equal to that of Bin Laden's and his incredible organizational ability were his two greatest attributes in building his network.

Bob Bare a retired CIA analyst said in 2002 (before most people heard of Zarqawi) on CNN that Bin Laden could die tomorrow and Zarqawi would lead the al-Qaeda movement. He said he believed this because Zarqawi had an uncanny ability to bring together very unlike terrorist groups and most importantly he knew where and how to get massive amounts of money for funding terrorist operations around the world.

In 2001 Zarqawi was already planning attaks on a world stage. Four Zarqawi angents were just got convincted of plotting a 2002 attack on targets across Germany. Zarqawi was already at that time looking global. The Iraq War greatly increased Zarqawi's power, but only because he saw it coming and laid the groundwork to take advantage of the situation. Loretta Napoleoni states that Zarqawi became a major name because Colin Powell linking him to Saddam. But, that is simply false. Zarqawi in the US and on a world stage was still very much an unknown. The US public and the rest of the world first stood up and took notice of Zarqawi in mid 2004 when he released the video of an American being beheaded. At CNN.com they label the most watched video from each year. In 2001 it was Bin Laden in a cave laughing over 911. In 2004 it was Zarqawi beheading an American.

It was Zarqawi's own ingenuity and use of the internet that rocketed him to univeral recognition and infamy around the globle which in turn brought in far more money and men to fill Zarqawi's ranks. Since then he has managed a very brutal campaign linking major attacks on the ground with a well managed internet campaign.

The Iraq War helped Zarqawi by giving him a battlefield to use to bring in much more money and men, but Napoleoni is very much wrong to say the US created Zarqawi. It was Zarqawi himself who came to Iraq a year before the war to prepare the ground work for the looming battle with the US. It was Zarqawi that managed to make a major public enemy of himself in May of 2004 to advance himself worldwide.

Zarqawi made opportunities for himself when he saw them, he wasn't just some jihadi that happened to be in the right place at the right time. Without the Iraq War it would have taken him much longer to gain worldwide infamy, but as long as he continued to target Western nations like Germany and managed to keep from getting a bullet in the head he would have grew in stature over time, especially with Bin Laden out of the action hiding in a cave in the middle of nowhere.

As much as Napoleoni would like to credit Bush for making the monster that is Zarqawi, it simply is not the case. Zarqawi took opportunities when he saw them and was the main person responsable for getting himself to where he is today.
967403
Excellent book covering jihad in the world and treason among the ranks of our American people. Well written in terms easy to understand with such a current and difficult topic. I learned quite a lot and enjoyed the characters, they come to life as one reads on. I read a great number of political thrillers and fiction books and this one ranks way up on my list of good reads.