No comments about Two Seconds Under the World:Terror Comes to America-The Conspiracy Behind the World Trade Center Bombing.

No comments about Music in the Post-9/11 World.

2 comments about A Time Bomb for Global Trade: Maritime-related Terrorism in an Age of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

1. Terror has broken out on all continents across the world. Inner cities have further decayed. The poor have sunk even deeper. The world's underclass has not risen either socially or materially. How can the ruling group keep the lid on civil unrest?
   
   The controlling power's perspective of its enemy and subsequently, effective defenses have to change. The major barriers against physical and psychological invasion, that oceans historically provided, are now major conduits for insurgent infiltration. Michael Richardson correctly states that along with the new meaning for weapons of mass destruction and subversive ideology ...the threat of terrorism has escalated several-fold since terrorists struck the United States on 11 September 2001 (p vi). The response has been emblematic of the crisis; ... knowledge of terrorist intentions, capabilities, and their opportunities for attack, increased after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. Terrorist training manuals and attack plans specifically targeting naval and commercial maritime shipping in Asia, the Gulf and in the Mediterranean were recovered from the caves of Afghanistan and safe houses in Pakistan. Although Al-Qaeda and its associated groups have suffered somewhat in the past few years, the capacity of violent Islamist groups for adaptation and regeneration has ensured the continuity of the group (p vii).
   
   Richardson examines the causes and solutions to the threatened safety of global maritime trade. As an example, the issue of lax ship regulation reveals that ...terrorists as well as those who smuggle arms, drugs, people and contraband can thrive in the poorly regulated havens which the "flag of convenience" system provides. Today, the main flag of convenience fleets in terms of gross tonnage belong to Panama, Liberia, the Bahamas, Malta, Cyprus, the Marshall Islands in the Pacific, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean. Terrorists see the attractions of opaque ownership in shipping and have often used it to camouflage their activities (p 88-89).
   
   This is a good study of the state of current maritime security affairs.



2. It's a good book. I think it's worth reading, informative and a quick read. Definitely recommend it.

1 comments about El Salvador.

1. It seems like so long ago now, the conflict in Central America of the 1980s. Not only was it viewed as a peripheral Cold War conflict, which encouraged the US to support notoriously corrupt and brutal regimes, but it was also a series of extremely complex dynamics in small sovereign nations that virtually no one knew much about. El Salvador, along with Guatamala and pre-Sandinista Nicaragua, was one of the worst countries "down there."
   
   This book offers an intimate portrait of a gathering revolution, cataloguing the injustices and casual brutalites in a frightening indictment. The bottom line is that a layer of evil people simply must be swept away and the US has no business standing in the way of it. In other words, it is the classic argument for "indiginous revolution," dismissing the claims of cold warriors that the revolutionaries are communists supported by Moscow, etc. While this is only of historical interest, it is a useful case study of misguided policy, which we would do well to study today.
   
   The stories in the book are truly horrible. One young army officer, for example, raped a young aristocrat but was let off from prosecution because he appeared "promising." As scary as they are, I have since discovered that some of them are inaccurate. For example, the future president of El Salvador, whose name I think was Napoleon Duarte, was reported to have been tortured and that the tips of his fingers on one hand were cut off during interrogation. It turns out that he lost them as a construction worker. This diminishes the credibility of the book somewhat, but it is still very powerful.
   
   Recommended for a look at the COld War mentality and as a guide to the self-deception that can go on in Washington DC.

1 comments about Christian in an Age of Terror, The: Sermons for a Time of War.

1. This is a collection of sermons from WWII and the early part of the cold war.
   
   The author started out as a physician and then became a pastor. He has analytical skills seldom found in pastors and theologians.

1 comments about The Colonial Present: Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq.

1. Gregory does a great job of connecting geographical concepts to recent conflicts in the Middle East, and while it is academically geared, The Colonial Present is very accessible for the average reader. While I don't necessarily agree with his argument on Israel, he is very convincing. A must read for anyone interested in the Middle East or geography; really every American should read this.

4 comments about On The Trail Of A Lion: Ahmed Shah Massoud Oil Politics and Terror.

1. The author does an admirable job describing Afghanistan's tortured past, present and future as a pawn of cynical imperialists, most notably the USA. He correctly oppoints out how the Americans supported the Taliban when it was convenient to do so, especially if it meant fattening corporate campaign chests. He also correctly implies that this relationship may still be ongoing, despite the manipulated war on terror which is being used to mask hegemonic capitalism's grand designs for Afghanistan. But the focus of his book is Ahmed Shah Massoud, the legendary Lion of Panjshir, who desperately sought to warn the west of the Taliban's dangers. His murder two days before the diversionary "suicide" attacks on 9-11-2001 prompt speculations about the timing and the source of the hit orders.
   All in all, a delightful introduction to a leader whose death may lie squarely in America's hands. Wait until the Bush impeachment trial to find out.



2. This book was the narcisitic excercise of an American-hating hack. This book contains hardly any real information about Massoud. His name is merely used to sell conspiracy drivel and pat himself on the back. I've seen more supporting evidence in tabloid publications. It is a shame that Amazon does not have the sense of fairness to publish negative reviews of the book. This is my second attempt. Maybe if they cared more about honest opinions rather than sales, their customers would be happier with the products that they "believed" they were purchasing. I seriously doubt this review gets published, either.



3. I bought this book to read about Massoud. As hinted by the title, it seemed like a wise choice. What I found instead were the musings of Rowan, a narrow-minded Canadian-national humanitarian aid-worker, usually making outlandish, anti-American claims. It would be one thing if he was articulate in his thoughts (I contrast this work with Rory Stewart's work about his trek across Afghanistan), but examining the early chapters of this book makes it clear that we are not dealing with a thoughtful, educated individual. Being swindled by locals while exchanging currency, walking up to random people in central asia because they "look like Afghans", and getting turned away at borders gives us some insight into this feeble mind. In fact, Rowan at one point speculates that the Uzbek taxi driver practice of splitting fares with colleagues for long trips is an effort to save gas. It's this type of conjecture that rears its ugly head all too often in this narrative.
   
   Rowan's attack on the United States became obvious to me when he began painting unflattering depictions of US aid-workers, in contrast to his own Canadian colleagues. Individuals are individuals, entitled to their subjective views, but leave it to Rowan to use a chance conversation on an airplane to generalize about an entire country. What bothers me are the factual inaccuracies in the narrative--Rowan should have done his homework to understand that without assistance from America, Massoud could not have risen to the prominence that he achieved.
   
   About 70 percent of Rowan's narrative was set during the 1990s and prior to that, which begs the question why wasn't this book published earlier? Coupled with his choice of title, I have no doubt that Rowan wanted to play on Massoud's death to try and make a few bucks. Sadly, this is hardly the definitive, well-researched account of Afghanistan's national hero we are looking for. Unsourced assertions about the CIA and US leadership quickly stripped any credibility the book had at the start.
   
   In the end, Rowan should stick to the subject he knows best -- humanitarian aid work -- and leave geopolitical, military, and intelligence commentary to others. It's clearly not his lane.



4. A quick read catering to those who admire Ahmed Shah Massoud as the "Che" of the Middle East and the dire situations he has faced in his homeland. Although the quantity of the content in regards to direct relations and general philosophy of Massoud is somewhat lacking, Rowan more than makes up for it in his very concise account of the various allied and enemy factions that make up this richly historic but completely fractured country. Quite frankly, there isn't much available of note on Massoud's life in print (there is a French documentary in DVD "Massoud L'Afgan", which I have not seen)so Rowan's personal account is noteworthy. He also gives some very interesting details in regards to the U.S.'s duplicity in the whole affair. Worth reading!

3 comments about Equal or Greater Force: A Delta Force Veteran Teaches You How to Survive Crime, Terrorism, Natural Disasters and Other Calamities.

1. After reading Haney's Delta Force book, I wanted to find something that was practical, accessible, and thoughtful. Haney is great about teaching you some pretty practical things in his narrative (e.g. ammonium in a water gun as protection? I would have never thought of that!). As such this book sounded like it was perfect, since Kit Cessna hails from the same distinguished group as Haney, and the tagline of this book implies some level of it being a survival-manual.
   
   Fast-forward 70 pages in, and what I'm reading is a very different book. While the first 50ish pages are certainly thoughtful, they are focused on pretty gruesome details of victims who didn't have a 'survivor' mentality, as well as a history of why America is a nation of sheep that have fallen into mental weakness. The explanation is rife with political commentary and Mr. Cessna is clearly dissatisfied with the state of affairs in America in this 9/11 era.
   
   While I agree with some of his views, I certainly didn't sign up to read a book about them. His political beliefs and his interpretation of our country's social history are pretty strongly a part of the content, and skipping ahead a bit I see that the meat of this book springboards from this and focuses on developing a 'stay-alive' mentality in the general sense.
   
   There are plenty of books that discuss this mentality. I was hoping for something more unique in its content, more specific, more practical. Something like, "moss always grows on the north side of a tree if you get lost" or "if you're trapped in your house during an earthquake, stand in the doorway of the kitchen". Discussing mentality is definitely good too -- I was hoping for mentality advice such as "If you get trapped somewhere in the wilderness, if someone knew your route of travel then focus on staying put and surviving rather than trying to find a way out". With his intelligence and training as a Delta Force operative, I was hoping for this kind of read. Anyway, if no one has written a book like this, someone definitely should.
   
   All in all, I'm not that excited to finish the book, given the content that is mentioned above. While I do respect this man's extensive professional experience serving in the military and police force, I was expecting the subject matter that he focuses on to be more in line with it.



2. This little book really deserves a review because it's just that important a read. The topic is simple. The world can be a dangerous place, get over it. You have two choices in life, either be a victim or deal with it. If problem comes your way, be a man (or woman) about it and give'em hell.
   
   This is a book about mindset and the practicalities of fighting from a man who's "been there and done that." It dispels the myths of Hollywood and puts the facts on the table where you can read them for yourself. What this book is not, is some kind of odd guide showing you how to sucker punch someone. This is an introductory guide that examines the topic of defense by encouraging you to develop your most critical weapon, your mind.
   
   This book came recommended by one of the world's finest firearms instructors and a friend of mine, Bill Jeans. The book is now something I may include in every class I teach. It's real. Hell, it belongs in every police academy as a guide for new recruits. I'm sorry it took me so long to get to this book.
   
   So buy a copy, take what you can use, put it in your range bag, pull it out every once in a while and get a dose of reality. And if anyone ever questions why you train, let them read it. My copy will end up dog eared and toyed with over the years.



3. Equal or Greater Force is a very good book regarding survival and self-sufficiency. I was not sure just what it would cover when I purchased it, but the subtitle A Delta Force Veteran Teaches You How to Survive Crime, Terrorism, Natural Disasters, and Other Calamities seemed to fit well with my studies and teachings. I was not disappointed in the least. I enjoyed the book and added to my knowledge on survival and self-defense.
   
   Cessna's number-one rule for survival is that nobody has as much of a vested interest in keeping you alive as you do. Therefore, the party primarily responsible for your continued existence is you. I don't know how many times I have taught people this same message. I couldn't agree with Cessna more.
   
   This book deals primarily with the attitude and mind-set necessary to survive a violent attack. When it comes down to it, a person's attitude and mind-set are much more important than the physical skills practiced. I'm glad Cessna added this book to the books on self-defense and survival, because I do not think anyone can be too prepared when it comes to mind-set and attitude. You must possess the drive to survive, and that is just what Cessna wrote about in this book.
   
   The stories Cessna uses to illustrate his points are right on and his teachings on how to develop a stay-alive mind-set are invaluable. I also enjoy quotes, and Cessna peppers this book with many quotes that will help you remember important points. While the book is not a book of self-defense techniques, Cessna does include a chapter on weapons that are available. I agree with him that the best weapon to have when defending yourself from an attacker is your ability to think. He also briefly discusses weapons such as chemical sprays, bats, firearms and knives as well as martial arts in general.
   
   This is an excellent book on the topic of mind-set for self-defense. Cessna ends by saying that no one can see the future, we can only try and be ready for it when it comes. I sincerely hope you never have to face any of the violent things Cessna wrote about. But if you do, having read this book, Cessna's advice may just be what enables you to survive.
   
   Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker
   Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series

4 comments about Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism: 10 Things to Do to Survive.

1. With the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, being prepared for calamity is much on everyone's minds, Rebeccasreads recommends RESILIENCY IN THE FACE OF DISASTER & TERRORISM as a no flourishes guidebook of information on preparing yourself & surviving.
   
   In 10 fast & succinct chapters you will learn how to determine what might happen in your life: injury - heart attack - wildfire - car crashes - earthquakes - domestic violence - rape - illness - storms - tornadoes - shooting - flash floods - robbery - terrorism - poverty, among many...
   - what to expect
   - how to prevent
   - how to prepare
   - how we react
   - when to get help
   - help yourself
   - help others
   
   National & personal Armaggedons can come at any time -- life is dangerous, no matter where we live nor how poor/rich we are -- learning from this book & getting you & your family prepared will help you sleep at night.



2. Resiliancy is well written, well organized, easy to understand and complete in every sense. Thus far, it is the premier individual and family guide to preparing for a personal and family crises of any kind. It is literally "a how to" manual on how to prepare yourself and on how to be resiliant in the face of disaster and terroism. The book's references are spectacular. In short, when the book doesn't have the answer it tells you where to go to get the answer. In the post 9/11 world we live in, it's a must own.



3. This book was obviously very well researched and clearly written with loads of pratical information. Covers a wide range of issues, how to be prepared and what to do after. Presented in an easy to read format with lots of reference material. Also has the unique combination of medical and psychological information that everyone can benefit from in some way. Truly a needed "handbook" in todays world. A bargain for all the information this book contains. It would take many hours to research this on your own. The authors are to be commended on their work. Money well invested.



4. All traumatic events spawn the good and the bad, the unique and the clueless. The Post 9/11 world has been no exception. Following the single biggest loss of Aerican blood on American soil since the Civil War battle of Antietam, there have been scores of hucksters, self-proclaimed experts, and scare-mongers alike purporting to have the Final Fix It to deal with the world following the horrors of that fateful day.
   
   There have been several works of political and journalistic types that have been well written, moving, accurately evocative of that terrible day, and contributed something unique to our permanent discussion about what it means to live insecurely in an increasingly insecure world. It's not just 9/11. Katrina. Rita. Earthquakes. Tornadoes galore. Tsunamis. The list is seemingly endless.
   
   At LAST there is a book that concisely yet capably brings in more data than I ever thought possible to pre-brief the average person about how to deal with disaster---and most important of all, how to be: RESILIENT.
   
   I really down't know how Kehayan and Napoli did it. Those of us who write for a living are constantly faced with what I call the '10 poounds of gold that must fit in a five pound bag' conundrum. In short, what do you exclude? How do you summarize without weakening the work? Most of us cannot do this adequately. Kehayan and Napoli have succeeded, in spades.
   
   In one small, highly readable, well organized, graphically lucid and linguistically 'Just The Facts, Ma'am' style, these two mental health professionals weave in the basic How-To's with the whys and wherefores of REALLY surviving. The authors were able to get Mary Ellen Salamone, the courageous and singular President of FAMILIES OF SEPTEMBER 11, to write a forward that will move you to tears without mawkishness.
   
   The ten things---and you must read the book to know what they are---to deal with disaster with resiliency are worth the price of admission.
   
   I , who spent years working in the heart of the U.S. Congress, learned a few things about how federal laws work for disaster relief. As a father, I learned a few valuable things to help me better protect my kids. As a husband, I have more skills to help aid my wife if disaster strikes. And as an American who knew people who perished on 9/11, I have come away a well focused, better armed, more thoughtful, sensitive and RESLIENT man able to face disasters after having read this book.
   
   Amazon only allows ratings up to five stars worth. I would throw in several more if I could. What I can and will do is to urge you to: BUY THIS BOOK!
   
   Challenge: Name me two other books besides this one that will save your life? I won.

5 comments about Thinking Like a Terrorist: Insights of a Former FBI Undercover Agent.

1. THINKING LIKE A TERRORIST: INSIGHTS OF A FORMER FBI UNDERCOVER AGENT covers the latest war on global terror - thought the eyes of one fighting it. Mike German was a former FBI counterterrorism agent who here contends that despite all American efforts, there's a basic failure to understand the terrorists' wants and how they intend to get it. Our policies are driven by misunderstanding: THINKING LIKE A TERRORIST seeks to define and analyze the thinking of terrorism and is essential for any collection strong in terrorist studies, whether it be high school, college or public lending library.



2. Thinking Like a Terrorist: Insights of a Former FBI Undercover Agent
   I am about three quarters through with the book and I can't say that this book is one that you can't put down, but I don't think it was written as a novel. I have enjoyed the book as an educational document. I would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to understand a little more of what is going on behind the scenes of today's terrorists; what motivates them to carry out their attacks and what philosophies they adhere to. Great Job



3. Considering 9/11 and current events regarding Al-Qaeda, this book should be on everyone's nightstand.
   
   Mr. German has written a very enlightening and informative book on not just how to get into the mind of a terrorist but also to understand their motivations. Though he discusses primarily the KKK and the IRA, he does mention Al-Qaeda occassionally. In essence, all terrorist groups are motivated by the pursuit of legitimacy, regardless of if this means losing every physical battle with auhtorities. As he says in the book, when they lose, they win. For terrorists it is not about military victory; it is about legitimacy.
   
   This book has helped make it very clear to me that the USA is losing its battle against Al-Qaeda in the same way it lost against the Viet Cong, in the same way the French lost against the Algerians and in the same way the British lost against the IRA; by not understanding how terrorists think and what motivates them and by treating their actions (regarding Al-Qaeda) as military acts and not the criminal acts they truly are.
   
   I truly hope many in our government at all levels read this book.



4. A far left view of the war on terror.
   
   The author believes we should arrest bin laden and haul him before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
   
   The author refers to the Founding Fathers as terrorists.
   
   Do you really need to hear anything else?
   
   Zero stars...



5. This was a very good book, but was not what I expected. The author was an undercover agent with the FBI and infiltrated the White Supremacist movement. I got the idea that basically terrorists are fascists. I thought that the definition of the term fascist was especially interesting.
   
   The following ideas are the necessary ideas to being a fascist government:
   
   1. A Cult of Tradition.
   2. The rejection of modernism.
   3. A compulsion to action for action's sake.
   4. The inability to withstand analytical criticism.
   5. An exploitation of the fear of difference.
   6. An appeal to a frustrated middle class.
   7. The obsession with a plot.
   8. Humiliation at the wealth and force of the enemy, yet conviction the enemy can be defeated.
   9. An acceptance of life as permanent warfare, for pacifism is considered trafficking with the enemy.
   10. Popular elitism exhibiting contempt for the weak.
   11. The possibility that everybody can become a hero.
   12. A machismo ethic implying both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality.
   13. A selective populism that disdains parliamentary government.
   14. U-Fascism speaks Newsspeak (a reference to Orwell's 1984.).
   
   The author states that the methods that have worked in defeating terrorism have been to treat them as criminals. Bobby Sands and 9 others starved to death because the British quite treating them as political prisoners and started treating them like the "other criminals". Getting rid of Habeas Corpus and rounding up civilians didn't make them mad; in fact that was part of the plan. The author further states that the government should always follow the rule of law, mentioning that when torture has been used, it works to the advantage of the enemy. I picked this up at the Wichita Public Library.