2 comments about The Price of Fear: The Truth behind the Financial War on Terror.

1. Much has been written about the current war on terror that tends to be polemical rather than analytical. Entrenched opposition to one political view or another usually mars most academic or popular writing on the matter. It is thus refreshing to read a book which takes a very strong position but only after careful and dispassionate scrutiny of the facts. Ibrahim Warde is eminently suited to write this monograph on the financial aspects of the war on terror and its ramifications, given his experience in working on business transactions and Islamic finance across the Middle East. Warde is fluent in Arabic, English and French and has worked on this theme for over a decade as a consultant and a researcher at MIT and Tufts. The book shows how well the author can craft a narrative for an academic audience as well as for a business clientele or for the general public. Each chapter is preceded with insightful quotations and the text is peppered with substantiated anecdotes and examples.
   
   The Price of Fear makes a clear case for how policy-makers can very easily be led astray by fear in their scrutiny of financial assets. Money becomes the focus of attention because there is an implicit assumption that war is expensive and numbers give the false allure of accuracy. What the analysts fail to appreciate is that only organized military warfare is expensive and much of the informal militancy that characterizes Al Qaeda is cheap and hence financing is hardly consequential. For example, the London bombings of 2005 that killed 52 civilians cost less than $1,000; the Madrid train bombings that killed almost 200 people cost less than $10,000; and even a devastating attack like September 11, cost less than half a million dollars in total planning and implementation expenditure.
   
   Why then was so much of the attention after this national tragedy focused on Islamic financial networks? Starting with the usually quoted figure for the total assets of Osama bin Laden, the frequently cited estimate of $300 million Warde deconstructs the process by which this estimate was achieved and proves how it is wildly exaggerated. He then lays out a detailed ethnography of how a sense of panic spurred by individual politicians and influential analysts led to so many dead-end trails on the hunt for Al-Qaeda's finances. Warde also holds journalists culpable for this march to no avail. For example, he documents how Washington Post journalist Douglas Farah hypothesized with scant evidence that gold and diamonds were a supposed mechanism for money laundering by Al-Qaeda and the 9/11 commission had to eventually admit that this was a highly unlikely source of revenues for the organization.
   
   Such actions could be exonerated as precautionary strategies if they did not adversely impact community relations or have a major adverse financial impact. But unfortunately the analysis suggests that the financial war on terror met with "catastrophic success" in terms of paralyzing genuine charities, souring relations between the West and the Muslim world and reducing the efficiency of our law enforcement. It is important to note however, that Warde recognizes that the finances of countries such as Iran or Iraq do merit scrutiny because they have the potential to finance much larger scale military expenditures. However, his analysis focuses on the micro-level financial war that was waged after 9/11. As the author concludes: "the formidable array of forces, combined with a near total absence of scrutiny, explains why financial warriors have generally chosen to err on the side of recklessness."



2. After the shock of 9/11, few questioned the string of victories in the "War on Terror" that stemmed from seizing the financial assets of terrorists and their worldwide supporters. But in THE PRICE OF FEAR, Ibrahim Warde reveals the Financial War on Terror to be ineffectual at best. At worst, it is an insidious lie that will make us all less safe.
   
   As Warde reminds us, the Bush Administration once asserted that the Iraq War would "pay for itself;" headline-grabbing strikes against Arab-owned corporations later collapsed in embarrassment and exoneration. We learn that most terrorist attacks cost very little, yet the Financial War on Terror oddly focused on large, multi-national holdings. And, Warde shows how failed attempts to thwart Al Qaeda were quickly jettisoned by convenient claims of "victory" on the financial front. Many of these claims have gone unquestioned, until now.
   
   Warde explains why observers rarely challenge attempts to seize terrorists' finances. And he carefully combs through a rationale for the financial war that borrowed heavily, and inappropriately, from the template of the U.S. war on drugs. Most critically, Warde rejects the accepted causality which asserts that drying up supplies of money will stop terror. As Warde sees it, terror exists not because there is money, but because there is support for terror.
   
   But Warde's comprehensive narrative offers more than just criticism. Noting that money does spur terrorism in some cases, he offers guidelines for pursuing terrorists' financial networks more constructively, and in ways that will not mistake the Financial War on Terror for a war against Islam.
   
   Wry and lucid, Warde makes this complex topic accessible for all readers. Not simply the terrain of financial experts, this excellent and informative book is required reading for anyone concerned about government mismanagement and the threat of global terrorism.

5 comments about Rainbow Six.

1. If you've read any of Tom's books, you would know that he can sure write a good thriller. In fact, he's considered one of the best thriller novelists in the modern era, often mentioned alongside names such as John Grisham and Michael Crichton.
   
   Rainbow Six is a great testament to that.
   
   Rarely did I stop turning the pages in this one. The prose was flowing, the action was fast and the plot was engaging. Being someone who had served in the army before, I was attracted by the details of the mechanics surrounding the anti-terrorist team named RAINBOW. It's clear Tom knows his stuff. All the facts on the weapons were spot on, and the plot was very believable; with the US government being a part of a bio-terrorism scheme to exterminate the world's population, holocaust style. The multi-national team RAINBOW took center stage in this one, and for much of the book, we learn about their members, their individual roles in the team and their many characteristics. Which is good; having the members of RAINBOW drive the book was a good move by Clancy.
   
   The plot moves on in many threads, much like Ted Bell's SPY where we see many threads moving on in a chronological sequence. It has a very gradual build-up that many thrillers typically employ. RAINBOW started off being formed in the first few chapters to being a serious threat to the main problem (the bio-terrorism problem) in the end. The book moves in and out between the team, the bad guys (Popov and the terrorists), the US government and the many external forces influencing the situation itself. And the plot threads move at a very fast pace, making it very enagaging and urgent.
   
   All in all, I found it a very exciting read. And I recommend it to all looking for a good thriller to plunge into.



2. I'm a 15 year old female, who was assigned to this book by a group of, suprise suprise, 3 males of my same age.
   Now, I'm a big TC fan, I loved Red October, and I'm fairly up-to-date with my techno-jargan, but honestly...
   Without reiterating what many have so eloquently posted, my copy (which I bought used for $1, a bit over-priced if you ask me)now sits half burned, torn to bits in a corner of my room where I flung it against the wall.
   
   *headdesk*
   Really Tom?



3. John Clark, ex-Navy Seal and now a covert operative with a past that is best forgotten, is the commander of a newly formed elite international anti-terrorism group known as the Rainbow Team. As he takes his new assignment, the action begins faster than he could possibly have anticipated when the plane he and his longtime sidekick Domingo Chavez are riding in is hijacked over the Atlantic. The hijackers are overcome and this begins a sequence of terrorist acts that are brutal, yet seem to have no overall purpose. Disparate and dormant groups are suddenly active, yet there appears no reason for it.
   The reasons are far more deadly, an ex-KGB operative is behind the activity and he is the front for a deadly game where a group is plotting to unleash biological entities that would be by orders of magnitude the greatest mass murder of all time. If their biological weapons work as planned, they would kill nearly every person on Earth. The trail finally leads Clark's team to a major installation that the terrorists have created in the jungle.
   As is almost always the case with a Clancy novel, the descriptions of the action are what makes the novel such a dynamic read. For if you were to stop reading for a moment and ponder the events, the improbability of them occurring would no doubt overwhelm you. Once I started reading it, I found it very difficult to put down, losing a lot of sleep before turning the last page.



4. This is the first Clancy book I've read. I really like it. Great story with great attention to detail and knowledge of military specifics.
   
   Though I enjoyed reading it, I knew that in the end the good guys would win but I was hoping that it would have been a little more substantive than it was. I guess, taking out the eco-terrorists was all just a little too easy for my liking. Still, very fun to read. Despite its length, the read is also very fast.



5. This book sticks with you, every now and then, a segment of this book will flash in my mind and I have to stop and think where did i read that from and sometimes it comes from Rainbow Six.
   
   What makes this such a good book is the games that followed it. Rainbow Six Las Vegas is one of my favorite games, and one of the reasons for that is because Rainbow Six was such a good book.
   
   This book is led by John Clark and not by Jack Ryan and Clark delivers this book. The opening of this book is one of the best openers of the Clancy novels. The opening tells and sets the setting of the rest of the book.
   
   John Clark and Ding Chavez are in an airplane that is about to be taken over by terrorist and these two take out the terrorist very easily. It sets the pace of the entire book, one of non-stop action and rescue.
   
   Clancy shows that such people as Clark and Chavez are needed in this world to stop terrorist and terrorism. Clancy's books tend to tell a story that reflects modern day life and in the age of terrorism and before 9/11 this book was somewhat prophetic on what was/is needed to deal with terrorism.
   
   Clancy delivers in this novel.

2 comments about Toxic Terror: Assessing Terrorist Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (BCSIA Studies in International Security).

1. Tucker's collection brings together analyses of all known historical usages of chemical and biological weapons (including toxins) by terrorists, as well as debunkings of three popular but apocryphal stories of such use. The book is absurdly thorough, and an invaluable historical resource, whether one agrees or not with the conclusions the editor draws from the collection.



2. Tucker's collection of case studies involving the use or attempted use of chemical or biological weapons is truly excellent. It not only gives in-depth histories for each of the cases, but it also presents an analytical approach to their interpretation. The book is concluded by comparing all of the case studies in order to determine potential patterns and characteristics that would be useful in identifying potential terrorists and thwarting their efforts before they could come to fruition. Each case profiles the people that are involved, including the personalities of leaders, technicians, and of the actual cadres. It evaluates where and why successes occurred, and also where failures prevented perfect execution. From this book you will learn what certain groups have targeted, what as led them to violence, and how they attempted to use CBW. The book also examines a few cases where it has been believed that CBW was used, but the evidence has indicated otherwise. This book is perfect for people who desire to study terrorism in-depth, and for the reader who would like to be informed of many cases of terrorism throughout the 20th century.

5 comments about Black Ice: The Invisible Threat of Cyber-Terrorism.

1. This guy is among the best tech journalists out there and this book is proof. Nobody has documented the cyber-terrorist threat like this. And from the negative comments I've seen here on Amazon it is clear that those people didn't read the book or care to acknowledge the compelling nature of the argument.

   If you're blind to the future, you won't be interested in reading this book or giving it any credit, and that's probably par for the course for you.

   But if you are an independent thinker who understands the nature of the terrorist threat, you will want to read this book and you will undoubtedly benefit and learn something from it.




2. Dan Verton, journalist and author of The Hacker Diaries: Confessions of Teenage Hackers, has written a very enlightening book in Black Ice: The Invisible Threat of Cyber-Terrorism.
   
   The book begins with a fictitious attack that is multi-faceted and very well orchestrated. While it is somewhat sensationalist or alarmist, the point of the story is to show what is possible- not probable. Verton illustrates how cyber-attacks against key communications and critical infrastructure sites can be used in conjunction with conventional attacks to maximize the ensuing damage and confusion.
   
   After capturing your attention with the story of what could be, Verton goes on to describe various government and private sector studies and disaster-preparedness exercises that have proven time and time again what a fragile state the infrastructure is in and how the domino effect of one area can cascade to take out entire regions.
   
   One of the main points of the book is to show how the critical infrastructure is inter-dependent. If a main gas pipeline is destroyed, electrical power plants lose their source of energy. Once the electricity is shut down the telephone, cell phone, Internet and many other industries will shut down. Water treatment facilities will not be able to function. The list goes on and on.
   
   This is an enlightening book that everyone should read. It is important for the powers that be to understand this domino effect and take steps to protect against cyber-terrorism of this sort.
   
   (...)



3. I have read this book and the reviews on Amazon.com. The author makes a good argument for enhanced cyber security in the USA. This is an issue that will be ignored by policy makers and the general public until an attack makes people pay attention to the realities of a computer controlled civilization. While other reviewers blast the writing style and hypothetical situations in the book it seems they have missed the point. It is not if a devastating cyber attack will occur, it is when.



4. Before 9-11 This Book might not be looked at the same way it is today. Black Ice :The Invisible Threat of Cyber Terrororism brings around many misconceptions why an attack on our most important infrastructure could be carried out by Terrorists and not an Impossibilty. While This Book deals mostly with What if Scenerios, It also makes you think of things you thought were impossible. Take for example the sophistication of Hacking and Breaking into Our most Vital Systems. Terrorists know you must have training at a very high level and will Train Them at Schools in the U.S. Itself. Sound Familiar?
   That's the sought of future thinking that this book will have you turning page after page and many ways o limit or stop a future attack on the internet. A great book with insightful information.



5. Nutshell review - The writing style is too sensational. Written more to sell books rather than to inform the reader in a useful and level-headed way.

No comments about Sacred Violence: Torture, Terror, and Sovereignty (Law, Meaning, and Violence).

5 comments about Terrorism in the 21st Century (5th Edition).

1. I used this textbook for my POS 333, Dynamics of Terrorism class recently and found the book to be thought provoking. However, the latest edition, revised and published in 2000 still is very much out of date. The book reads as if it was written in the late 80s and never was updated except with one or two examples (some of which are wrong). There is very little discussion of the 90s, even though the first edition was published in 1997. I do believe Ms. Combs has some heaving revisiong to do on this text and should make the text more relevant to terrorism, as terrorism is relatively quick changing much like computer technology.



2. The book is a thorough review of the differnet aspects of terrorism, and as such it fits as an undergraduate textbook on the subject. Combs reviews the history of terrorism, different types of terrorism, and how people and governmnets dealt with this phenomenon during the years.
   The book is written is a clear and communicative style, and each chapter ends with several issues for indepth thinking and discussion.
   The relatively small size of the book, the clarity and exhaustiveness of its coverage of terrorism make it attractive to a busy student who wishes to learn about terrorism but has very little time to spend on such study. I truely think the book merits 5 point especially compared to other material written on this subject these days.



3. The book is a thorough review of the differnet aspects of terrorism, and as such it fits as an undergraduate textbook on the subject. Combs reviews the history of terrorism, different types of terrorism, and how people and governmnets dealt with this phenomenon during the years.
   The book is written is a clear and communicative style, and each chapter ends with several issues for indepth thinking and discussion.
   The relatively small size of the book, the clarity and exhaustiveness of its coverage of terrorism make it attractive to a busy student who wishes to learn about terrorism but has very little time to spend on such study. I truely think the book merits 5 point especially compared to other material written on this subject these days.



4. I am a prior student of Cindy Combs and have studied terrorism for over 5 years. I own both a copy of the 3rd and 4th edidtions and can say without a doubt the book provides an excellent introduction to the study of terrorism. I have read reviews concerning the book and must say that the information is outdated, but it is meant as a guideline. The book is best used in conjunction with the Encyclopedia of Terrorism and the Terrorism Readers (aka governement reports on activity and News articles concerning recent actions).



5. This is a good overall introduction to terrorism for those with no knowledge of the subject, and it is composed in an organized fashion without the use of complicated jargon. In short, it's a condensed textbook on terrorism, but not nearly in-depth enough to get into the nitty-gritty issues or trends.

5 comments about America Right or Wrong: An Anatomy of American Nationalism.

1. While not specifically apologizing for the nazis, what this author is essentially doing, is making the incredible argument that it is somehow wrong to make war on, or even interfere with rogue governments engaged in crimes against humanity or serious overt aggression toward your own country. And the people he is doing this at the behest of are the inheritors and old allies of the nazis (communists/socialists, anarchists and islamofascists). These people worked together with the nazis and engage in the same behavior as the nazis. More importantly, part of their techniques involve a propaganda war that attempts to get people behind these sick behaviors and oppose anyone who, in any way, attempts to prevent such evil as genocide. The terms that come to mind that describe this author include apologist, collaborator....traitor. No matter how you slice it, people like this are on the side of EVIL. It is EVIL to try to manipulate people into opposing the US and the rest of the civilized world when it tries to stop countries like Iraq, Iran, Syria, North Korea. Bad people do things like that BECAUSE THEY WANT THESE COUNTRIES TO BE ALLOWED TO DO BAD THINGS. Bad things like blowing up YOUR cities with nukes. Bad things like overthrowing YOUR governments (like is damn close to happening in France, as I write this). Bad things like starting another world war.
   
   This sort of thing is not new. It happened just before world war I and later, just before world war II. And it is happening now. Both times, the major powers in the world had the opportunity to nip things in the bud. Both times, they were tricked into not doing so. The people in those democracies were tricked into worrying their governments had sinister ulterior motives for doing anything. Tricked into doing nothing, while the world burned. The result of that was millions of people dead and many millions more murdered by the fascist governments that rose to power.
   
   It's happening again. Same pattern of behavior. Ironically, many of the same players (communists/socialists, anarchists and islamofascists). There is a difference, however, the major power in the world today is the US. And we are a hell of alot tougher to fool than our european friends. We simply will not allow this new form of nazism to rise to power...NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS. As anyone who has bothered to become educated on what actually happened in Iraq (as opposed to listening to communist propaganda), OUR behavior is one of extreme restraint, but overwhelming might when it is needed. Far from being "jingoistic " or "militaristic", the US focuses on the MINIMAL amount of force to get the job done, followed by extreme efforts to replace the twisted and evil regime of someone like Hussein with an enlightened democracy that serves its people....that gives THEM the ability to choose their own destiny. In short, we freed them, with minimal causalties and DAMN few civilian deaths. Our intervention in Iraq wiped out the funding for terrorist organizations (and Hussein WAS the PRIMARY funder of Al-Queda and very much behind the attacks on our country) and wiped a great many of these scum off the face the earth before they could harm any more people. More importantly, it freed millions of people from the yoke of tyranny and has given hope to millions more in the rest of the middle east. That is the truth of Iraq and the truth of the US. We are good people who do good things in the world. And we will NOT stand idle in the face of evil....especially if you are stupid enough to bring it to our shores.
   
   People like Lieven are something....else. Something sinister. Think twice before getting behind his lies. Because the person he wants to hurt....is you.



2. Without playing too much to the author's obvious biases, I can only say he has wrought a finely detailed purse from a sow's ear. But it still remains a sow's ear.
   
   Lieven is anti-American. But, for what good reason? Really none. He has a cultural/historical grudge and axe to grind as he projects much of his own country's history on its long departed sibling, America. This grudge has, of course, been held because America has done so very well without the English. If anyone has an imperialist attitude, it is Lieven and his countrymen. The English have characterized Americans as rude, coarse savages, as were the Australians -- the latter perhaps the preeminent example of land clearing for the imperial cause, if there ever were one. One need only speak to the English about President George W. Bush, and it becomes clear they believe him to be a stupid cowboy in the most stereotypical way.
   
   
   While Lievan poses Americans as Jacksonian oppressors clearing the land of savages, it has historically been the British who have colonized and exploited so-called savage lands they could rape for England's gain. This cannot be entirely said for America, except with respect for the American Indian and African slave.
   
   Clearly, the English colonists were in America to exploit the lands and peoples. But for many other settlers the former problem was, arguably, not so much the conquering of distant lands for personal gain as it was one of ineptitude. Many American settlers did not foresee the hostility of indigenous peoples. Faced with the proposition of life and death, settlers felt compelled to defend their property -- even more, to defend the land that stood breach between sustenance and starvation. Slavery cannot be so explained.
   
   Contrary to Lieven's oversimplified thesis, America has been host to the many masses of people's from distant lands. Rather than clear its land of savages, some observors would surely say America has filled its land with such so-called savages. Indeed, the melting pot never was and never will be. In that respect America is more like France in that through its benificence the door has been opened to a host of problems.
   
   The question now is how America will deal with rapidly encroaching Islamists and Islam itself, the breeding ground from which such extremists spring. The same cannot be said for Christianity. While Islam promotes offensive warfare and the capturing of slaves, Christianity promotes peace and the sane acceptance of one's plight, should it be as slave.
   
   France dealt with the Muslims with a light hand and is now a nation filled with fuming Islamic discontents rioting in the streets and burning thousands upon thousands of vehicles, damaging private property and otherwise undermining the rule of law. One might ask, "Are they savages?" Well, not neccessarilly so. But many hold values that are destructive to the very fabric of a nation. We can trace such failures back to, at least, Algeria. Should America allow itself to become another France? We have opened the floodgates. How should we close them?



3. This is an excellent short survey of America and it's problems with the world. Author notes a more then passing resemblance between us and Germany prior to WWI (powerful nation looking for an excuse to shoot someone, absence of dialogue about national aims and purpose). This isn't the first time America has gone nutty, and in the past it's corrected itself. Author's fear is what happens if it doesn't, particularly given the likelyhood of another 9/11. History suggests a poor fate for countries unwilling to live with everyone else.



4. 
   Once every five or ten years a brilliant synthesis of the published literature comes along and mixes it with profound analyses and insights to describe courageously diplomatic and political realities in such manner that its truth becomes a work of aesthetics and self-sustaining persuasion. Lieven's book bids for this accolade.
   
   Starting with an excellent summary of America's nationalistic mood resulting from 9/11, Lieven summarizes the nature and types of nationalisms and then rapidly connects many of the negative aspects of America's nationalism to the ones pulsating through Europe before World War I. While doing so, he never loses balance and does not neglect the commendable civilizing aspects of America's Creed. Balance and proportion are quite well sustained throughout the book. Weaving smoothly back and forth between current events and the positions of pundits and politicians and historical ones, even beyond Europe, he brilliantly connects disparate events into a meaningful whole and then extracts meaning. As only one of many examples, Jacksonian nationalism and its brutal manifestations of the ethnic cleansing of the Creeks, etc. is presumably derived from the religio-ethnically inspired Scot-Irish "extermination" of the Gaelic-Irish. While there are incontestable civilizing elements to America's nationalism, there are also dangerous and destructive ingredients, a sort of Hegelian thesis and antithesis theme which places a strong question mark in America's historical theme of exceptionalism.
   
   Unlike in other post-World War II nations, America's nationalism is permeated by values and religious elements derived mostly from the South and the Southern Baptists, though the fears and panics of the embittered heartland provide additional fuel.
   
   While discussing "Jacobin Internationalism", "Wolfy Wilsonians", Nativism, racism in the South, Irish Catholics, the Christian Right, Fundamentalists, Millenarians, etc. Lieven expertly brings historical facts and figures into contact with current ones to illuminate and paint the grand tapestry of America's contemporary nationalism.
   
   Lieven's book, among other elements, is also a summation of lots of minor observations--even personal ones he made as a student in the small town of Troy, Alabama--and historical details which reflect the grand evolution of America's nationalism. When he says that "an unwillingness or inability among Americans to question the country's sinlessness feeds a culture of public conformism," then he has the support of Mark Twain who said something to the effect that we are blessed with three things in this country, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience and, thirdly, the common sense to practice neither one! Ditto when he daringly points out America's "hypocrisy," which also is corroborated by other scholars, among them James Hillman in his recent book "A Terrible Love of War" in which he characterizes hypocrisy as quintessentially American.
   
   Lieven continues with the impact of the Cold War on America's nationalism and then, having always expanded the theme of Bush's foreign policy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, examines with commendable perspective the complex and very much unadmitted current aspects of the U.S.'s relationships with the Moslems, the Iraq War and the impact of the pro-Israeli lobby. It is the sort of assessment one rarely finds in the U.S. media. He exposes the alienation the U.S. caused among allies and, in particular, the Arabs and the EU.
   
   Lieven wrote this book with passion and commendable sincerity. Though it comes from a foreigner, its advice would without question serve not only America's interest but also provide a substantial basis for a detached and objective approach to solving the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the satisfaction of all involved before worse deeds and more burdens materialize.



5. The book was wanted for my library as I heard an interview
   with the author on National Public Raido in 2004. His topics
   were quite informative. The book was wanted to keep this information
   close at hand. Very Pleased to have it. Many Thanks, Dana James Young

5 comments about I Am Happier to Know You.

1. This book is written in a easy way to read, entertaining and informative in some parts but the writer was misinformed in some other parts. I am an Egyptian and while was reading some parts I was feeling like she was talking about another country than the one I know. Either she was misinformed as I said or didn't understand some aspects of the culture. Overall, it is a good book. At least she took the time to know another culture. I salute her.



2. Written with humor, honesty and genuine caring, I am Happier to Know You takes the reader into a rich and varied culture with social and political perspectives so necessary to our understanding of today's world. This story of a lone, American woman as she finds personal strength experiencing a totally new life is insightful and compassionate. I felt as if I were in Egypt. Her sense of humor took her through many trying circumstances, but brought with it acceptance and understanding of a country and a people she truly loves. I am Happier to Know You provides both learning and understanding of Middle Eastern customs through non-judgmental eyes and an inspiring, courageous story of personal growth.



3. loved it, loved it, loved it...my kind of book....easy to read, extremely interesting & informative...if you have a desire to learn more about the muslim culture & to have a greater understanding of the people of egypt this is the book you must read. the author with her wit & charm has done a wonderful job at making you feel you are there with her sharing her experiences. will definately order more copies to give to my friends (there not getting my copy)who i know will think twice before critising the muslim culture & hopefully have a harder look at our own culture.



4. I Am Happier to Know You An easy read which highlights the complexities of living with people from a different cultural background. Extremely helpful as I am planning to move to Eygpt next year. A must read for people planning to stay long term.



5. I read this once before traveling to Egypt, and once again after I got home. It was better than any of the "travel books" I had purchased. I recommened it to everyone I traveled with, because it was timely and pertinent for today's travler to Egypt or anywhere else! Ms Eck captures what it really means to open one's self to the flavors and traditions of another country, with humor and tolerance. She definetly helped me get the most from my journey to Egypt.

5 comments about Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam.

1. This book is a compilation of really good research (all footnoted), personal interviews, and eyewitness accounts of events that have occurred from 1990 forward. Mr. Burke's analysis is top notch, and accurate for the most part.
   
   That's all jim-dandy, but what sets this book apart from the rest, is Mr.Burke's understanding of the religion of Islam, Muslims, and the extremist mindset. Generally, most authors lack knowledge of Islam, and thus draw incorrect conclusions.
   
   The book is objectively written, with minimal personal opinions or diatribes. (That's a positive). I recommend this book as the definitive guide on Terrorism in the 21st century.
   
   Having said that, the Conclusion chapter is bad, and seems to be written by a PR person. Conclusions that do not line up with what Mr.Burke said in the book...But aside from this, a good read.



2. Jason Burke's book is extremely well researched. His knowledge of various elements within Radical Islam is quite frankly scary. He's met the men responsible for germanating Qtub's ugly apyocalyptic interpretation of Jihad into a full fledged attack against the West. Until the early nineteen nineties Jihad was merely a continental struggle pitting dissaffected military messianic groups against alleged puppet governments. Al Queda changed the course of radical Islam and Burke was within a whiff of Osama for years prior to 9/11. While his time in Afghanistan certainly seems to have created a sense of diluted empathy for militant Sunni groups, Burke's ultimate thesis is a towering reminder that winning the military war against radicals will not be enough to redeem the enlightened path of histroy. The West and particularly America must strive to win the hearts and minds of moderate Muslims. The road to success in any conflict is understanding. In this conflict, like any other, we must know our enemy and Burke's book is a good addition to the said realm of understanding.



3. This book helped me make the philosophical transition from wanting to help my country by fighting in a Global War on Terrorism to accepting the reality that non-military actions will get better results for both the West and Islamic nations in the long run. The caveat is that the US and Western powers need to read, understand and apply the level of knowledge of global jihad that Burke presents.



4. Marginally interesting account of Islamic terrorism, that is too densely populated with indistinguishable people and place names to really explain the history of Al-Qaeda. It is clear, as Burke says repeatedly, that Al-Qaeda is, if still existing, a very loosely-confederated group of Islamic radical leaders, surrounded by a second-tier "network of networks".
   
   The good news is that the war on terrorism in Afghanistan has basically shut down the terrorist training camps there, the bad news is the war has radicalized the Islamic militants into new free-standing terrorists who still have many outlets for violence in the Mid-east and around the world.



5. Fantastic book! What an extraordinary piece of investigative journalism. It's scary to think that there is little anyone can do today about "al-Qaeda." Even if they find and kill the top leaders, that won't do much since, as Burke argues, "al-Qaeda" and the modern Islamic militancy is not a formal group but an idea. More violence only helps the militants in their efforts to radicalize and mobilize more people. It's going to be a long and difficult battle, both physical and mental...

5 comments about Our Own Worst Enemy: Asking the Right Questions About Security to Protect You, Your Family, and America.

1. This guy knows his stuff! I learned more about how we ARE and ARE NOT prepared for terrorism (as a country and as people) from reading this book than I have from about 2,000 hours watching news programs. He obliterates the sense of helplessness so many of us seem to feel about terrorism. I'd seen Larsen on TV and come to respect his sage opinions, so I bought the book. In it, he simplifies complicated political mumbling and sleight-of-hand into real language about what's going on and what we should do. His position makes great sense. His opinion on immigration, on controlling nuclear supplies and personal preparedness are so logical you'll be wondering how the whole topic ever looked overwhelming. He does it all without talking down to people who didn't spend their time at West Point. It's an immensely readable, deeply grounded, reassuring book. It takes a genius to distill a complicated subject so eloquently. I recommend it most highly.



2. "Our Own Worst Enemy is the single best thing that has been written on homeland security and, as Randy Larsen suggests, every American should read it. Straight talking, full of common sense and written in an entertaining style that makes it hard to put down, this book asks the right questions and provides concrete recommendations that government officials, corporate executives and every citizen need to understand and apply."
   
   ADM Steve Abbot, USN (Ret)
   Deputy Homeland Security Advisor to the President
   2001-2003
   
   "Larsen advocates a seldom used tool to fight terrorism--common sense."
   
   Bob Schieffer, CBS News
   
   "Larsen explains how to ask the right questions---from the Oval Office, to the front office, to your kitchen table."
   
   Bruce vanVoorst,
   former Senior Correspondent for National Security, TIME
   
   "This book should be required reading for all who are concerned about national security--and that is everyone...An all-absorbing, page-by-page tableau, comprised of provocative ideas, eminently rational concepts, and well-skewered current ideas and initiatives."
   
   Donald A. Henderson, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine
   and Public Health, University of Pittsburgh,
   Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Service Professor
   
   "Post 9/11, there are now many experts on homeland security. But Randy Larsen is a pioneer...This is a pragmatic and valuable book for average Americans, not just experts."
   
   John J. Hamre
   President and CEO
   Center for Strategic and International Studies
   
   "This is a must read for at least one member of every American family. Larsen is an unparalleled expert and tells us all what really matters for our security in this age of lethal unpredictability."
   
   Arnaud de Borchgrave, Director of Transnational Threats,
   Center for Strategic and International Studies



3. This was an amazing book which pushes beyond the partisan struggle over policy making in homeland security. He discusses not only the problems, but also the successes and solutions that exist. It will entertain you, enlighten you, scare you, and reassure you. It is a must read for all Americans.



4. I just saw Randall Larsen on C-SPAN's Book TV and I am about to order his book. He puts a healthy emphasis on the fact that the government is not able to help citizens in every situation, nor is it the government's job. To show how far we have come from the self-reliance we need, he told of a well-dressed woman who 36 hours after Katrina was demanding the government supply her with drinking water. She knew Katrina was coming; couldn't she have filled her bathtub, or bought a supply of water?, he asked. How dependent and childish can you get?
   
   He told the story of a sheriff in Texas who is in charge of a county a third the size of Delaware, with 27,000 people. How would he deal with a security emergency? "I'd posse up," he replied. That is, he has all the backup he needs in citizens trained to help in law-enforcement.
   
   Larsen is telling us to "posse up." Become aware of how to keep our families safe, and get training to be a part of law enforcement when the government can't supply enough manpower for our needs. We need to take responsibility for our security and be prepared to act when there is a crisis, instead of expecting the government to take care of us in every situation.



5. One of the better books on dealing with terrorism. I bought the book after seeing the author on one of the interview programs. I was impressed with his vision and ability to simplify portions of the problem. I started the book convinced it was worthy of a 5 star review. However, the loss of a star is the reflection of a persistent bias.
   
   The author does a great job of dividing the threats into those which we must defend against and those which our best defense is preparation to deal with the consequences. The two examples used are bioterrorism and nuclear weapons.
   
   He makes a great case that terrorists are not going to send their one and only , $250 million nuke into the country in a shipping container where they lose control. He misses an opportunity to bolster his argument with concept that the enemy of intelligence gathering is velocity. The time a ship takes to load then cross an ocean at 30 knots and unload ( or detonate in the harbor) is perhaps 20-40 times the time required to deliver the components via private jet. Further argument for an increased focus on aircraft and efforts to increase the care and rate at which intelligence data is analyzed.
   
   To be successful the terrorist organization needs to obtain highly enriched uranium or other materials as they are very unlikely to be able to produce it. Once in possession of the materials the fabrication of a weapon becomes a far lesser challenge.
   
   Bio weapons represent the opposite end of the scale with production well within the capabilities of a small organization using materials commercially available around the globe. Thus the challenge becomes the response to an attack.
   
   Larsen's message that government is not the answer needs to be carried to the four corners of the country. People who would never think of allowing their health, life, car or pet insurance to lapse simply refuse to take the few essential steps which will greatly add to their family security in the event of a natural disaster or attack. He uses the example of people waiting in line for water just a few hours after a hurricane has passed in Florida. They are angry that the government has not yet provided them with water and yet they had 3 days warning of the approaching storm and probably left a home with 5 gallons of clean water in the toilet tanks and another 30 gallons in the water heater.
   
   Larsen does a great job in taking the problem from the strategic issues down to what the individual citizen needs to do to prepare for something that is nearly as certain as death and taxes.
   
   My sole reservation is that his bias shows up clearly in the way he describes problems or effective action, depending on which side of the political spectrum is involved.
   
   With this slight lapse it remains a highly recommended read