5 comments about Understanding Terror Networks.

1. Sageman brings a great deal of insight to his examination of the behavior of individuals and groups within terror networks. The book is very strong as advertised: an empirical examination of how terrorists relate to each other, and a series of logical conclusions given the available data as to how such networks originate and act.
   
   Small weaknesses: some of the more tangential discussions within this book are relatively bereft of citation, and those parts tend to be correspondingly weak arguments (such as the straw man about ISI funding). Additionally (and in conjunction with that), Sageman's analysis of JI's situation is dated and has been proven inaccurate - instead of disappearing, it has tended to adapt in much the same way as the rest of the global jihadists (International Crisis Group has a great report on Noordin Mohamed Top's networks throughout Indonesia, as of Jan 07). Sageman might be able to argue that the jihad has changed to a more local form, despite the bombings of the J.W. Marriott in Jakarta in 03, the Australian Embassy in 04, and the second Bali bombing in 05, all related to Top's network... but the ICG report argues it is merely a more autonomous cell than previously known in Indonesia, and the danger is that more low-level cells will take up the fight (additionally, Ba'asyir was never sentenced for more than a few years, and thus never 'out of play' as Sageman treated him). Several of the ICG reports also list Southeast Asians and their ties. Many of them are not connected heirarchically through Pondok Ngruki or the Malaysian school, as Sageman states, but rather through training in Afghanistan or actions (jihads) in Maluku or Poso.
   
   I wouldn't say that this book is any sort of substitute for a thorough history of global jihadist terrorism (recommend Jason Burke's 'Al Qaeda', though it pays little attention to Southeast Asia, for which you could suppliment with Maria Ressa's more sensational but still illuminating book 'Seeds of Terror'). I would say that it is essential reading for ANY law enforcement, community members, or mosque-goers who might be on the alert for terror suspects.
   
   Overall, it is VERY strong for, as advertised: "Understanding Terror Networks."
   (Just ignore the parts about JI).



2. Understanding Salafist Sunni Muslims Extremists Would be a better title. The author concentrated mainly in Sunni "the enemies of the US" no Shia. While Hizballah is shia. He make some interesting points saing that In - group love is a better way to see terrorism than Out - group Hate. Why not a combination of both?
   We know every individual have his psychological make - up and his own reasons to join a movement. A lot of them goes because indoctrination and they don't know anything beside the cultural doctrine and probably less about Islam, Sayyid Qutb or Hassan Banna, others might go to fill his self vaccum, looking for afilliation with somethng that it's respected - "Inasmuch as I'm not being respected and will be"..., so filing personal security necesities joining. Leftist, racist right movements, and so forth need to be see in difference perspectives. With so many arm groups in the middle east shia and sunni it will be very unwisely name all the same thing. Each one need to be observe in their community inmediate historical context than simply base on Egypts muslim brothehood (HAMAS, Qaeda, Palestinan Islamic Jihad, Egiptian Islamic Jihad and many other inspiration) fascits roots. Almost half of the book is centered in the brotherhood.
   The author relies in a interesting personal statistical analysis. The problem is that statistics don't give psychological explanations neither sociological.



3. A most useful work on terrorism, with a focus on the origins of the Salafi jihad. His method? He examines the biographical data on 172 terrorists to study this "network." He, in essence, debunks a number of theories of terrorists, e.g., psychological theories. His thesis is clearly and simply stated thus (page vii): "[The data] suggest. . .that this form of terrorism is an emergent quality of the social networks formed by alienated young men who become transformed into fanatics yearning for martyrdom and eager to kill."
   
   His study of the linkages among four networks, the Maghreb Arabs, Core Arabs, Southeast Asians, and Central Staff (Osama bin Laden and his core supporters), leads him to describe the actual linkages in a nice diagram on page 138.
   
   He begins the volume with an historical analysis, tracing the roots of what has evolved into, as he puts it, the Salafi jihad. He looks at early figures, such Mohamed ibn Abd al-Wahhab. He describes the emergence of a particular view of jihad. He notes the emergence of groups across a number of countries and how some of these, over time, developed into his putative Salafi jihad network.
   
   Then, to the heart of the matter. Why do some people become jihadists within this movement and others not? He ends up dismissing many standard theories and asserts, instead, that social networks are the key. The basis for this conclusion, again, is the perusal of the biographical data set that he developed (see the appendix listing those about whom he has gathered data on pages 185-189.
   
   In the final chapter, he speaks of how his analysis might assist in attacking the movement and reducing the odds of future terrorist actions from them. Whether or not readers will be convinced will be a matter for each person to judge. Nonetheless, he does make an effort to use his analysis to address strategy and tactics in the campaign against terrorism.
   
   This is a useful book to read, in juxtaposition with others by Bloom, Pape, and so on. As a package, these works help to illuminate the reality of terrorism--not the often simplistic views depicted in the media.



4. An outstanding book that provides the reader not only with the structure of terror networks, but also information as to why and how individuals and groups join the global jihad. Based on extensive research of known terrorists, the author, in my opinion, has drawn the proper conclusions and supports each of his claims in an easily understood manner.
   
   I especially liked the author's attempts to provide feasible actions that the government should consider to better attack these networks and improve the security of our nation. Additionally, I found the author's description of the type of individuals (age, marital status, education level etc.) that join these terrorist networks extremely interesting and surprising.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh look inside the terrorist networks.



5. 2004's "Understanding Terror Networks" is a detailed look at al-Qaeda and its associated networks, the new Mujahedin of radical Islam. Author Marc Sageman is a Doctor of Psychiatry and Sociology, with intelligence and foreign service experience in the effort to expel the Soviets from Afghanistan in the 1980's. Using open source data, he examines a large sampling of information on individual terrorists to determine what makes them tick and how they network. The end result is far more useful than the anecdote-based journalism that fills bookstores.
   
   Sageman documents that the typical Islamic terrorist is a young man from a loving middle class family, often well-educated, who becomes alienated through work or study in a foreign country or even a large city in the Middle East. He reaches out to fellow Muslims, typically some combination of kin and close friends, for a sense of identity and belonging. For those few who become terrorists, a combination of exposure to a radical Islamic message, reinforced by his bonds with fellow radicals, is coupled with access to the Mujahedin for training and direction. The popular image of the poor, uneducated, psychotic suicide bomber does not survive Sageman's analysis.
   
   Sageman also identifies the hubs of the current Mujahedin movement, the Central Staff around Osama bin Laden, the Southeast Asia group, the Magreb group from North Africa, and the Core Arab group from Egypt and the Saudi Peninsula. He traces the nature of the networks that link these groupings and how bin Laden has expertly exploited these connections to carry out his particular jihad. The loose, self-recruiting nature of the various groups and their general lack of a rigid hierarchy makes them hard to find and harder to eliminate. On the other hand, the dependence on communications within the groups and with the major hubs makes them vulnerable to attack, as recent U.S. and allied efforts have succeeded in disrupting or defeating a number of plots since 9/11. Sageman provides some suggestions in his conclusion for more focused intelligence and law enforcement efforts against the terror networks.
   
   "Understanding Terror Networks" is very highly recommended to the intelligence, military, or law enforcement professional seeking a better understanding of our terrorist opponents. Sageman's prose tends to be quite dry, but the persistent reader will be well-rewarded.

1 comments about The Closing of the American Border: Terrorism, Immigration, and Security Since 9/11.

1. I decided to pick up this book after reading very positive write-ups in both the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, and while I don't always agree with either paper on the books they recommend, I must say this one was even better than the printed reviews. The newspaper accounts give the impression that this is merely an important book about an important policy issue...which it is. But it's also an incredibly compelling narrative about infighting within the Bush administration over how to respond to 9/11...and make sure it doesn't happen again. Alden interviews almost all the major players -- Colin Powell, Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff -- and lots of less-senior officials who give a really insider account of the battles within the government in the months and years following the attack. Sort of like a classic Woodward book, except on homeland security rather than wars overseas. Can't recommend it more!

5 comments about Firefight: Inside the Battle to Save the Pentagon on 9/11.

1. Just the title says it all. As book reviewer (http://911sig.blogspot.com/2008/06/firefight-inside-battle-to-save.html), Enver Masud, notes: "FBI photographer Jennifer Combs (formerly Jennifer Farmer) went far out of her way to pull hundreds of photographs from archives and narrate all of them. How did they get access to these photographs, when others have Freedom of Information Act requests pending for these photographs and Pentagon videos?"
   
   But this is even better than the passport allegedly found in the WTC rubble: "The body of the hijacker who had been flying the plane ended up in the D Ring about 107 feet from the point of impact." I keep seeing Wylie Coyote. It must be something Rumsfeld put in.



2. Pilots for 9/11 Truth examined the "Black Boxes"
   They determined that it was Impossible for flight 77 to have hit the Pentagon.
   There are over 50 video cameras that could have caught the airplane,
   we have seen none.
   There was no wreckage.
   There was no airplane
   Rank propaganda,same as the rest of the Governments 9/11 myth
   This should be in the fiction section



3. This book is a good read but probably too much detail for most readers. It is a good book telling how ordinary people made extraordinary decisions to save people's lives that day. It also shows how many firefighters and others worked as quickly as possible to save people, and put out the fire that was raging in the Pentagon while overcoming the confusion that reigned in the first hours after the plane hit the building.



4. When American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, local firefighters were the first responders to the inferno. A huge hole marked the point of impact of the jetliner, the building was doused in jet fuel , flames roaring out the hole with the people inside in various stages of awareness of what had just occurred. Within moments ordinary men and women stepped into the breech and began to do whatever needed to be done to try and rescue the building's occupants and to give aid to the injured. People from all walks of life join to do whatever need to be done at the scene.
   
   Fire crews from all over converged on the iconic building and began the work of trying to bring the fire under control. Military personal struggled to aid and rescue their comrades and to recover sensitive military files. Others commandeered materials and staff and set up triage and treatment for the wounded. Despite the possible loss of friends, coworkers and loved ones in the building or in the other terrorist attacks, these people kept working until they could no longer move. As the firefighters tackled the building, they also set in place a very unusual role reversal...the local firefighters were in command and the military took direction from them. Working together, the firefighters aided the military staff in recovery of sensitive files, discs and safes despite the sagging building. Pulled out by rumors of other jets attacks and pushed back by fire, the fire crews continued to battle, despite toxic fumes, falling buildings, personal loss and uncertainty , these crews return and continue the work. It would be easy to focus on the inevitable rivalry between military and civilian crews, between agencies on the scene. While the natural rivalries are mentioned, Patrick Creed and Rick Newman focus instead on the heroic contributions of the men and women on the scene. Step-by-step, minute-by-minute, day-by-day the fight to extinguish the fire and to rescue and recover are detailed in the days following the attack. Following several of the participants, an unforgettable portrait of courage and compassion emerges.
   
   I couldn't put this book down. When I finished I was overwhelmed with memories of that terrible day and the following weeks. I felt as if I had a small understanding of what a firefighter does (my son is a firefighter) and the willingness both firefighters and members of the military have to do whatever is necessary to preserve and protect. This is one of the five best books I have read in the last year. Firefight is an honest and compassionate portrait of ordinary people rising to the horrific challenge of 9/11.



5. As a novice in the area of firefighting yet a subject matter expert on September 11, I picked up this book to learn more about this mostly overlooked piece of American history, and was delighted to find such a well-written, important and fascinating account of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. This book is accurate and insightful - and the research impeccable. It is fast-paced and highly readable, and a great addition to the information of the events of this tragic day in our nation's history. Readers experience the events as if they were there (and yes, it can get graphic, but not gratuitously so), and the authors did an expert job of weaving together the many intricacies and power struggles involved in the battle to fight this fire at our nation's most critical military facility. Military commanders working to protect their own and all of the classified information flying about while firefighters sweat and scramble to contain the monstrous inferno . . . reading this book is like experiencing it first-hand. This book is wonderful, and certain to quiet any naysayers that still refuse to accept that American 77 caused the horrific fire at the Pentagon. Well done!

5 comments about The Final Move Beyond Iraq: The Final Solution While the World Sleeps.

1. "The Final Move Beyond Iraq" by Mike Evans was the best mistake order I ever made. My husband has not put it down. He says it is enlightening and in depth with interviews with dignitaries of other countries,not often seen or heard.



2. My mother-in-law handed this book to my wife to read. I found this book lying in the toilet (which is exactly where it belongs) on the pot because my wife started reading it. So I decided to browse through the introduction section and boy was I "NOT" surprised to find such garbage.
   
   The author's target audience are those Americans who have no prior knowledge of history of US policies abroad. These are the people who are easy targets for such propaganda. Ronald Reagan famously warned that the Nicaraguans were only "2 days from Brownsville, Texas" implying that if we don't take care of the Sandinistas we might face the Nicaraguan army on US soil. Most "informed" public in the US are also aware of the Communist threat and the wars fought over such fear mongering. This book is an extension of such propaganda from the right-wing of this country.
   
   A small example is present right at the beginning of this book in the Introduction:
   
   On December 6, 2006, James Baker and Lee Hamilton released the Iraq Study Group Report on what their bipartisan commission believes should be done in Iraq. In it they recommended that:
   
   - the Golan Heights be returned to Syria (a terrorist state);
   
   - Judea and Samaria be given to a terrorist-led government (the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority);
   
   - Iran and Syria be invited to the negotiating table as a "support group" with no preconditions and UN resolutions against those two nations forgotten;
   
   - right-of-return into Israel be given to Palestinians (terrorists) in Lebanon;
   
   - Israel be required to return to pre-1967 borders (which would mean the dividing of Jerusalem);
   
   - the UN be allowed to determine the destiny of Iran?s nuclear program (which would, in my opinion, guarantee Iran with the bomb in a matter of a few years);
   
   - and amnesty be granted to terrorists (insurgents) who slaughtered American soldiers in Iraq.
   ----
   I will now point out the fallacies and ridiculously disingenuous method of writing of the above points:
   
   1) The author refers to Syria as a "terrorist state" in parentheses which is not from the ISG report in order to reiterate to the reader which side we should be on, on the issue of Golan Heights i.e. Israel's. Obviously an ignorant reader doesn't know the illegal status of Israel's occupation of Golan Heights according to the UN Charter.
   
   2) Judea and Samaria - Typical Biblical propaganda from the American Christian right and the Zionists who depend on them for their occupation of Palestine. The above territory is now known as the "West Bank" but the author tries to stir up religious emotions of the reader by referring to their beloved bible in order to grant silent legitimacy to Israel for their occupation.
   
   The other lie is the fact that this point doesn't feature in the ISG because
   a) It wasn't proposed in such a way
   b) Hamas is in control of Gaza not West Bank
   
   3) Iran and Syria negotiations: What are the authors preconditions? What right do we have to place preconditions on these states for negotiations? Isn't that the purpose of negotiations to make the other side agree to some conditions?
   
   4) Right of return for "terrorists" - This is my favorite. The word "terrorists" is placed next to Palestinians. You don't need to have knowledge of history to know that this is not only illogical but WRONG to label all palestinians as terrorists.
   
   The other aspect of this is those refugees were driven out through systematic deportation in 1948 by Ben-Guiron and gang which is now being found out after Israel opened up its archives in the last 2 decades. So much for a state formed to save a population from persecution!
   
   5) Israel and pre-1967 borders and dividing of Jerusalem: For am American who is well content with the fact that his own country was formed through occupation, it won't be hard to make him digest this idea. Pre-1967 borders means the armistice lines drawn after 1948 war when the UN Security Council determined the rights of State of Israel. Ironically the author fails to bring up the innumerable resolutions passed by UN against Israeli occupation of "Judea and Samaria" like he does for Iran
   
   6) UN be allowed to determine Iran's nukes: Its not as uncommon for right-winged pundits to promote unilateral action circumventing the rules and regulations followed by the International Community through the UN. We are Americans, we don't need to follow rules because they're for everyone else.
   
   Hey Mike, do you want to talk about Israel's 200 nuclear warheads which is a fact admitted by the CIA?
   
   7) Amnesty for insurgents: These insurgents happen to be Iraqi citizens fighting against occupation by a foreign country. They also happen to have the support of the bulk of the population. I don't remember reading the word "amnesty" anywhere in the ISG report but we can't expect anything better from Mike Evans. The ISG report calls for formation of a unity government between Sunnis and Shias which if not done will lead to further violence. That isn't amnesty but a logical approach. However, promoters of the Wild West style democracy want to punish everybody for fighting America who btw lied their way to Baghdad.
   
   The book is full of such ridiculous comments, lop sided reviews and misquoted texts (with parentheses) designed to promote an agenda and brainwash an already ignorant reader. I didn't even want to give this book a star but I clicked on it accidentally.



3. The book is okay, but it is overrated. I also found dozens of copies at my local dollar store shortly after delivery.



4. Here's the concise version of Mike Evans's worldview: Kill all the Muslims because the end of the world is coming. The same bloodsoaked nonsense millenial preachers have been screeching for 1500 years. The world hasn't ended, but that never discourages their fans, so eager are they for the planet to be obliterated.



5. Even though this book is not as current as some others, it gives you a history of how the Middle East evolved into what's happening today. Some of the interviews with top officials explain why current events should not have been a surprise to us, and that the signs were misinterpreted (politically or otherwise) as the situation continued to deterioriate. It also certainly examines how our thinking is so foreign to what Middle East radicals think that, until we were "attacked" (and we have been attacked many times prior to 9/11), we were not going to wake up.

5 comments about Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools.

1. Wow! A real eye opener. What has become of the human race?! This book is very powerful. Written to "capture" you from the first page. We live in a world with so very many differences. Wars have been fought from the beginning of time. Children have lost their lives due to "collateral damage". And now, our school are being targeted. Not to destroy, but to use our children as weapons. This book brings out our need to become aware of the dangers that now exist within our own country. "We're not in Kansas anymore".



2. This story is a tragedy through and through. What happened in Russia cannot be allowed to happen here. It's time to stop being politically correct pandering to fanatics. These people do not understand good will, they only respect ferocity that is greater than their own.
   Mr. Giduck puts you on the ground, at the school. You will hear the children , you will feel the anguish, and you will become angry. You will not be able to put this book down.
   SSG John Tidona
   NYG G3 NCOIC



3. A fantastic book that connects the dots of terrorist acts in Russia to those in the U.S., the Middle East, Africa and Israel. Should be required reading for school administrators, military and law enforcement officers.
   
   The attrocities committed by the terrorists are difficult to read about, but necessary in order to understand. I applaud the author for recognizing the contributions that can be made by the general population. It has been a long time since the public at large have been engaged in the defense of this country, and that needs to change as soon as possible.
   
   I waited a long time to get this book, because it was sold out everywhere I looked, and now I understand why.



4. This book should be be considered "must read" materials for parents with children attending school. The first 3 parts of the book addresses the terror attack itself and what the terrorists hoped to achieve. The last part talks about teaching your child to survive. In these days and times, children are "locked down" in a school when something happens. If I were a terrorists or just a VT or Columbine nutcase I would thank you for teaching your child to sit and wait for me. Please read this book and help keep your children alive. Even if you only read part 4 of the book, it will be worth it.



5. Great story, it was hard to read at times. The brutality of the Chetchen terrorists is unthinkable, EVEN BY TALIBAN STANDARTS !!
   
   The herorism of the Russian soldgers that went all out to save as many children as they could restored some of my faith in humanity.
   
   Great book that is something we should all read because it will happen here sooner or later!!!

5 comments about First In: An Insider's Account of How the CIA Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan.

1. An interesting introduction to the people involved on the ground, just days after 9/11, in the early stages of the war in Afganistan.
   
   The focus is on the interaction between the CIA teams and their Northern Alliance allies. Most of the book covers the inner circle of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assasinated immediately prior to 9/11. Near the end, you get a brief introduction to Hamid Karzai, the current President of Afganistan. The brief mention of Professor Abdul Sayyaff was a suprise to me. I did not realize the namesake of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines was fighting with the Northern Alliance.
   
   Schroen thinks very highly of himself and, although he seems to respect their capabilities, is compelled to point out mistakes made by the Special Forces operators and the military in general. If you have ever read books by the FBI profiler John Douglas, you will recognize the general tone.
   
   Overall a good book about very brave men who were willing to take significant risks for their country.



2. A lot of research went into this publication and the places cited really come to life....I know because I am currently in Afghanistan.



3. First In, is a first person account of the events between the 19th of September until the 10th of November, told mainly from the perspective of Gary Schroen, leader of the JAWBREAKER CIA squad sent to establish relations with the Northern Alliance in the Panjshir Valley, near the stalemated frontlines of the Taliban. Despite being the lead of US forces in Afghanistan (a 7 man crew), his account is very low to the ground, recounting the incessant problems of Diarrhea and relations and the daily interactions with Northern Alliance leaders. The details make the story, such as taking naps on boxes holding $10 million in cash or the simple pleasure of Starbucks coffee brewed in the field.
   
   Schroen still manages to give a picture of how the Afghanistan war unfolded, with ground forces of the Northern Alliance and the Taliban hemmed in to their respective defensive positions. He details how the US military consistently acted ponderously or incompetently. One poignant example is when Schroen was called by the Air Force to confirm coordinates for a Predator UAV strike; he realized that the `thin man wearing western clothing' was not Bin Laden, but his teammate Ed. Schroen combines the personal narrative with sections from other teams across Afghanistan, when they took Mazar-e-Sharif or the perils of Karzai in the south. The timeline ends with the fall of Kabul, with only a small afterward from 2004.
   
   For what it aims to do, the book succeeds with flying colors. Schroen makes his opinions known, but they do not interfere with the story. Mild prose is overwhelmed by the amount of detail and clear description of the conflicts in strategy among the myriad of parties involved, making for a compelling and informative story.



4. I purchased this book because I heard reviews from soldiers who served in Iraq & Afghanistan. All said this book represents the truth & not limited/censored press reports. I bought it because I wanted know the truth about various living conditions & the US progress in addressing the Taliban & Al Queda issue. My rating is based on hear say because I have not read the book yet, but I trust in the words of those who recommended it.



5. After watching an interview with Gary Shroen on FOX TV, I knew this was going to be an interesting read. It is a very good description of the CIA spearhead into the war against Osama Bin Laden. "First In" leaves the reader with an understanding of how the CIA works and doesn't work. The government beauracracy into the operation is unbelievable at times. The reader must read "Jawbreaker" also to get a better understanding of the mission. Both books give a picture of the tribal factions in that part of the world an why this war is different.

5 comments about A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962 (New York Review Books Classics).

1. Wow!!! This almost reads like a playbook for what's currently happening in Iraq. This is highly recommended reading for every person in the country. Whether you are Pro or Anti the Iraq war the events which occured during the Franco - Algerian conflict er war have so many similarities that it's crazy.



2. 
   Alistair Horne provides the reader with an extensive and very detailed narrative of the Algerian War. His familiarity with the subject matter is plainly evident. On the down side, the book can be slow and confusing in certain parts. It is long at 566 pages and is divided into three parts.
   
   The author does a superb job in describing all aspects of this conflict. The first three chapters are focused on the period of 1830 to 1854. This part provides a good understanding of the problems surrounding French colonialism, the European settlers in Algeria (the pied noirs), and why the F.L.N. began the war. Part two focuses on the actual war years of 1954 - 1958. The detail provided in this part, especially the chapter on the Battle of Algiers, is very informative. Part three covers the period from 1958 to 1962. This includes not only the peace negotiations, but also such events as Barricades Week and the General's putsch. The author not only does an excellent job of describing these events, he also explains why so many high ranking French officers turned against De Gaulle. The author also describes the internal conflicts within the F.L.N. as well as the rise of the O.A.S., the French rebel group that fought against Algerian independence. Of particular interest is the fact that the author interviewed several people who participated, and also survived, the war.
   
   On the down side, the book is slightly difficult to read. Although some parts flow well, other parts seem to drag. One confusing aspect is the author's tendency to use French phrases without providing a translation. In some instances, he will use a French term when an English term would have served equally well. For example, on page 179, he describes the "presence francaise" in Indochina as opposed to simply using "French presence." In other cases, the reader will simply not understand what is being said unless they speak French. For example, the author uses the term "Ce-con-la" in a sentence on page 181. The term is not further explained. Finally, he will add references that do not contribute to the story. Mr. Horne quotes Jean Paul Sartre on page 196 even though it really adds nothing. He also makes references to other people's memoirs and the movie "Battle of Algiers." Such references are indeed useful, albeit at the end of the book, not scattered through the text.
   
   Bottom line: this is an extremely detailed account of the Algerian War. Mr. Horne does a good job of bringing many of the main characters, such as Ben Bella, Ali La Pointe, Generals Massu and Salan to life. The difficulty of reading this book can be found in its writing style and sheer length. That said, any reader who can overcome these minor difficulties, will come away with an excellent understanding of this forgotten conflict.



3. I read Horne's book on Paris and loved it, so I was anxious to read more of his work. This is a comprehensive, straight forward account of the Algerian War. You probably won't find a better book.
   
   However, there are a few problems. First, Horne uses a fair amount of French quotes and expressions in this book, but provides no English translation. I have some knowledge of French, so I was able to comprehend some of them. For someone with no knowledge, they would be left in the dark.
   
   Also, this book needs a listing of major characters. There are just too many people in this book and it is a challenge to keep them all straight, particuarly the Arab names. Some people are mentioned only once and it gets confusing.



4. Alistair Horne is one of the preeminent historians of the 20th Century. I've read several of his books, including the entire trilogy on the three Franco - German wars. I've found each of his books excellent, but this one will always rate as his best - for the complexity of the material that he has mastered. In the preface is an impressive list of the principal actors interviewed. He acknowledged that it is virtually impossible to have seen the "entire picture," and suggests that no one will. He combines the specific information on the war with an overall splendid erudition. He tells the drama lucidly, with irony where appropriate, as it is so often. I first read this book over 30 years ago, and was even more impressed the second time around.
   
   He draws you in immediately with the ironic title to his first chapter; a quote from former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, that Setif was "A Town of No Great Interest." It was in this non-descript town that the native Muslim Algerians revolted against the French at the end of the WW II, and were in turn brutally massacred. And it was near Setif that two young French teachers, "dedicated liberals", bookish and bespectacled, were murdered on All Saint's Day, 1954, in the commencement of Algeria's war of liberation.
   
   Horne uses a wild range of sources for incisive epigraphs at the commencement of each chapter, and perhaps none is better than the one from Jonathan Swift: "In war opinion is nine parts in ten." That opinion was spun and spun again as events repeatedly outraced the expectations of the actors.
   
   France first went to Algeria in 1830, colonizing it under the rubric of a "civilizing mission," (a forerunner of bringing the natives democracy). But they carried the seeds of their own destruction, believing their mission involved the education of the natives, and after a few generations, was it any surprise that the natives were asking: Where are our fraternity, equality and most definitely, liberty? Generations of white French, ironically called "pied noirs," considered the country there own too. Horne's strength in this work is his understanding and depiction of the numerous factions on the two principal sides. After the humiliating French defeat in Indochina, occurring only six months prior to the commencement of this struggle, it was imperative that they not lose again. Furthermore, unlike Indochina, Algeria was considered an integral part of France (though, of course, by in large, the Muslims did not get the vote). The struggle on the French side nearly lead to civil war. It did culminate in the collapse of the Fourth Republic, when tanks surrounded the key government buildings in Paris, in anticipation of an assault by rebel French paratroopers, lead by four French generals who had revolted. De Gaulle rode to the rescue, creating the Fifth Republic, and going to Algiers, where he gave his famous "Je vous ai compris" (I understood you) speech to the pied noirs. He was a master of ambiguity, and would ultimately betray pied noirs aspirations.
   
   As for the political maneuvering and machinations on the side of the FLN (National Liberation Front), Horne is not able to describe as well, fundamentally because so many of the principals did not survive the war, or its immediate aftermath. Like in the French revolution of 1789, the revolution "consumed its children." He does quote some cri de coeurs of Frantz Fanon, one of the giants of the anti-colonial movement.
   
   Complementing Horne's knowledge of the military tactics and strategy, he is equally adept at describing the intellectual struggles, with a principal axis being between Sartre-Beauvoir and Albert Camus. This culminated when the later, a pied noir, made the famous statement upon receiving his Nobel Prize for Literature: "I love justice; but I will fight for my mother before justice."
   
   The book contains some excellent maps, a substantial bibliography, and extensive pictures of the main characters in the drama. Particularly haunting is one of a young boy arrested during a "ratonnade." (literally, a raid against the "rats.")
   
   I strongly feel the book should be read as an excellent, almost certainly the best history of one of the major tragedies of the 20th Century. Inevitably though, the question is asked: What lessons can we learn? This question took on additional relevance when it was reported that George W. Bush was reading the book. As a cautionary counterpoint to projecting these events on other circumstances, after my reading of it 30 years ago, I firmly felt this was how a similar situation, a minority of whites, who considered their country home, ruling over a majority of native blacks, in South Africa, would be resolved - through bloody war. Fortunately the Algerian precedent did not hold, as a few principled persons made decisions that avoided that denouement. The circumstances in Iraq, for the United States, are quite different that France in Algeria. Nonetheless, there may be at least two "takeaways". One from Horne himself, who, in the preface to a recently released reprint, said that no country should adopt the tactic of torture, as the French did in Algeria, primarily for what it does to the values and soul of those who torture. Sadly, a significant minority of Americans follow Dick Cheney's lead in embracing torture. The other takeaway is to decide how we would view Camus's position: Would we adopt injustice on behalf of a false concept of "mother"?



5. Written by a British expert on French history, A Savage War of Peace is the definitive account of the Algerian War of Independence. It is brutal account of a brutal war which militarily resembled in many ways our war against the Sunni insurgency in Iraq, but turned France itself upside down politically in ways Americans can only imagine. Horne's account contains a nice blend of descriptive and analytic history.
   
   Frequent large-scale massacres, political coups, mutiny - the war had it all. Anyone who thinks that the French Army will not fight is in for a huge disapointment. Following embarrassing defeats during World War II and in Indochina they were determined not to repeat the experiences. The FLN, for its part, was an equally ruthless revolutionary movement that was prepared to do nearly anything to win, as well as exact ferocious vengeance in victory.
   
   The only issue I have with Horne is his annoying tendency in all his books to mix his english with french phrases that he assumes the author can understand and parse. A sophisticated skill perhaps, but also a counterproductive one.

5 comments about Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and Their Families.

1. As a disability service provider, I found this book particularly helpful. It is practical and to the point. Veterans can find tips on everything from how to sleep better to how to relax and cope with stressors. The triggers of anxiety are explained well, as are the ways veterans typically handle their pain. At the end of each chapter are helpful tips for family members. After I read it, I ordered ten copies of this book to give away to student veterans and their families.



2. I was skeptical when purchasing this book, but the topics are discussed in such a way that you do not feel like you're reading "self-help". The focus is not on PTSD (although that is one of the topics covered), but more on a healthy transition from a chaotic environment. I would recommend this to any serviceman, spouse, parent, or close friend.



3. It wasn't the war, it was when I returned home and could not function. I applaud this book for it's intent and gratitude that it gives to our young warriors. It is one of the few written for "our" generation. Thank you
   
   -Timothy Kendrick author-PTSD: Pathways Through the Secret Door



4. My son suggested I read this before he comes home from his tour of duty in Iraq. It has been very helpful to understand what he has to deal with in terms of adjusting from daily combat and normal day to day life at home. Most people don't have a clue what these brave men and women have to deal with. They cannot just turn off their emotions just because they are back home.
   Eveyone who has a loved one serving in a war zone should read this book.



5. I purchased this for my boyfriend upon him returning home from Fallujah. He didn't open it once. It's just not a book that a war veteran wants to read, or even be reminded of. He went through enough and all he really needed was professional help. Not a book that reiterates the pain and struggles that families endure.

5 comments about Fahrenheit 451: A Novel.

1. And I highly enjoyed reading this book. The storyline may be a bit complicated but if you stick with it, you will eventually understand Guy Montag's world. I reccomend this book for High School kids and up.



2. A must read for people of all ages, Fahrenheit 451 is an enthralling novel written by Ray Bradbury. It is set in a futuristic society where books are illegal and the totalitarian government controls almost every aspect of people's lives. The story centers around Guy Montag, a fireman who doesnt put fires out, but starts them. Guy enjoys his job but a seventeen-year-old girl's recanting of the past and Guy's conscience gets the better of him and send him on a perilious journey filled with tough decisions and challenges that will forever change his life, and his world. Fahrenheit 451 is a fascinating look at a society gone wrong. It is frightening how in many ways Bradbury's world parallel's our own. Fahrenheit 451 is definately an eye opening book that everyone should experience



3. I remember seeing the movie based on this book with Oskar Werner and Julie Christie when I was a teenager and discussing it with my teachers. As you read the book many similarities can be seen today, such as large billboards, people not talking to each other, a society dependent on drugs and entertainment and reality TV shows and of course the rushing around in a rat race.
   Whats amazing is that Ray Bradbury wrote this book in 1953 some 50 plus years ago and unlike the book 1984 written by George Orwell this book is ignored by the media and pessimists of todays society and our future.
   For those you like science fiction with a large dose of reality please read this book before you die from drinking the Kool-Aid.



4. In Ray Bradbury's classic, Farenheit 451, he describes a terrifying but all-too-real world of sensory overload and thought-depravity. Guy Montag is a fireman, but this fire brigade doesn't put out fires (for houses are fire proofed with plastic coatings), but instead starts them, burning houses (and often people) where books are found. And people, for the most part, don't question the way of things; in fact, most people simply contributed to them, reading less and less, being less and less interested in dissenting views and complex views of reality. Instead people opt for graphic novels filled with sex, and talking "parlors," living rooms with televisions on three (and sometimes four) walls that surround the viewer in a virtual reality that becomes family, friends, entertainment, and knowledge. There is no taking walks, no late evening chats on the front porch; in short, little or no thought. But Guy slowly emerges from the haze of this contrived reality, as he first encounters a strange girl who doesn't seem to be charmed by the way things are, and then comes to see his own duties as a fireman as brutal and senseless. Didn't firemen used to actually put out fires? he wonders.
   
   Montag, now repulsed by his occupation, starts looking for a way out. And on the way, he begins slipping books into his coat as he is burning houses, one here, one there, until he's got his own little library. But soon his captain, Beatty, is on to him, and the mechanical hound, the instrument of doom and seeker of people and books, finds him out. Montag is left with the choice, burn his own house or admit guilt. He starts his house ablaze, but then turns the flame thrower on Beatty and on the mechanical hound and makes a break for it. He is now a man on the run, but a free man for the first time. He finds himself among a group of run-aways along a deserted railroad track, and discovers they are former professors and preachers, and each one holds inside him a chapter or a book. One is Thoreau, one is Marcus Aurelius, one is Plato's Repulic, and so on. Montag is the book of Ecclesiastes. And as their civilization seems to be spiraling toward an end in a huge and destructive war, the wisdom of that great book, that everything has a time and a season, seems a pointer to the possibility of a new reality, a fresh start.
   
   Bradbury's Farenheit 451 is a prophetic novel that bears freightening resemblance to our world today. Our culture resembles the reality he paints in its obsession with virtual reality (think "reality TV" and our obsession with this fictive family or friend network, as just one examle), media saturation, and shallowness. Our politics are driven by sound bites and media experts more than they are driven by policy positions and reasoned debates. Marketing is more important than product quality. And this is just the beginning. Reading Bradbury's classic is like a wake-up call to appreciate the wisdom of the ages, the beauty of friendships, the value of family, and the wonder that is a quiet walk in the woods. It is truly a treasure trove of reality, all tinged with the hope redemption.



5. This book was a journey through the future of what our world turned in to. Guy Montag was a firefighter, but instead of putting out fires, they started them. In their world books were illegal and anyone who had them in their home would be removed and their house would be burned. Montag has burned many houses, but this one burning really struck him and he took a good look at reality. He never noticed the importance of books and goes through many, many adventures you'll just have to read for yourself.
   
   I personally don't like science fiction, but this book really grabbed my attention. At the beginning it was a little difficult to understand what was going on and it was hard getting into the story, but as you read on everything starts to fall into place and make sense. The thing about this book that I found the most interesting was I read it and almost felt as if things in that book were true. It seemed like our world would end up like that in their century, this book was very believable and made me want to read more. Everyone should read "Fahrenheit 451" at least once in their life because it is very well written and a truly wonderful book.

5 comments about Terrorism and Homeland Security: An Introduction.

1. Dr. White, an international expert in the field of international terrorism has put together a great book to help the average reader who may be inundated with the "war on terrorism" put the problem in perspective. The book is presented in terms comprehensible to the average reader and is not a doomsday approach that many terrorism authors have today. This is a great read and allows a reader to fully comprehend the global problem we face without the rhetoric. Thanks Dr. White.



2. To understand what terrorism is, you have to know how it has evolved. This book shows you! Interesting reading!



3. Excellent book to use as a resource. Good quality and very fast to ship.



4. This product showed up on time and was exactly what I ordered. I've had problems in the past with other books showing up in conditions that were not listed. This company did a great job.



5. This a great book on terrorism. It covers the history of terrorism from all over the world. It is also very easy to understand.
   
   
   Jorge