5 comments about Through Our Enemies' Eyes: Osama Bin Laden, Radical Islam & the Future of America.

1. As this book is re-released, readers should be well aware that Michael Scheuer is the perfect example of the miserable state of American intelligence services - thankfully, he no longer provides analysis for the CIA, now it's the general public that gets to read his "intelligence". A great example of his extraordinary incompetence was provided on March 12, 2006 when he suggested to Ian Masters on KPFK, Los Angeles, that the attack on Samarra's Golden Mosque was more likely carried out by the Israeli military than by al-Qaida. From this text, as with his most recent pronouncements, it is indeed difficult not to conclude that Scheuer is absolutely besotted with bin Laden.



2. I titled this review "Frightening Assessment" because if the author is correct, which I tend to agree he is, the war on terror is going to last a lot longer than any of us have imagined, or else end in quick defeat when the liberals completely sell us out to the enemy.
   
   The author makes the point that Osama Bin Laden, while being a charasmatic leader, is not the real problem. The problem is that we, like it or not, are fighting an ideology that presents itself as a religion, and ideology/religion is absolutely devoted to the destruction of Western society. The problem is like the mythical Hydra: cut off one head and two more will spring into its place. In other words, this war will continue long after Bin Laden is roasting in Hell.
   
   With that said, what will ultimately defeat us is not the enemy directly, but our lack of understanding of who the enemy actually is and why they hate us. Until we recognize that we will be severely, possibly fatally, handicapped.
   
   The one peeve I have with the author, as with so most of the pseudo-journalists today, is that he consistantly referred to the Muslim god "Allah" as "God." Indeed, most of the time you read or hear an English translation of an Arabic source, "Allah" is usually rendered "God." It has to be pointed out that "Allah" is not the same person as "God." All that has to be pointed out to prove that point is that Allah has no son named Jesus Christ, though I could go on and on about the distinctions. Christians and Muslims do NOT worship the same Being.
   
   Why do I make that point? That very issue is at the heart of the misunderstanding that this same author so aptly discusses.



3. One review here states:
   
   "The one peeve I have with the author, as with so most of the pseudo-journalists today, is that he consistantly referred to the Muslim god "Allah" as "God." Indeed, most of the time you read or hear an English translation of an Arabic source, "Allah" is usually rendered "God." It has to be pointed out that "Allah" is not the same person as "God." All that has to be pointed out to prove that point is that Allah has no son named Jesus Christ, though I could go on and on about the distinctions. Christians and Muslims do NOT worship the same Being."
   
   Actually, Muslims DO believe they worship the same god as that revered by those they call the 'people of the book' - just that Mohammad's revelations were the last and final word on matters (superceding all others).
   
   The Muslim call to prayer begins "la allah illa Allah", which means EXACTLY, "There is no god but God". I hear it five times a day from a hundred mosques in this city.



4. Any studying Islamic terrorism and the current war must understand Bin Laden, his movement, and how radical Islam operates. There's no better place to do this than with the latest revised edition THROUGH OUR ENEMIES' EYES: OSAMA BIN LADEN, RADICAL ISLAM AND THE FUTURE OF AMERICA. Here is a treatment which analyzes his ideology, its translation to terrorist activities, and its potential for future conflict. Chapters provide a strong focus on Bin Laden's character traits, various exiles, impact on other nations, and instigation of jihad. A 'must' for any who would understand the roots of Bin Laden's organization and ideas.



5. A professor of mine was once discussing the economic motivation for terrorism in a course designed to look at social ills around the world through the lens of economics. He abruptly stopped, half-way through the middle of a sentence, solemnly looked above his reading glasses at the students in the class, and said one of the most interesting things I remember from the class. "I am an academic," he said. "When speaking of these events, I am not making a moral judgment on them. I am simply looking at them through the lens of an individual trying to understand something for the sake of dealing with it. That does not mean that I condone or am complicit in the action, but it does note my character. I am trying to understand it, and that is something very different from simply labeling it."
   
   Often, when I see that people are attacked for books that delve into such topics, it is usually an ad hominem attack meant to discredit them as unpatriotic or complicit with the enemy. Whatever their reasons, the attackers forget that to conquer your enemy, you must understand him. Only then can you fully realize the most effective tactics in dealing with him. Maybe the rest of us can learn a little bit by people like Michael Scheuer.

No comments about Striking Terror: America's New War.

1 comments about Digital Crime and Digital Terrorism.

1. This book is far superior than many other books on similar topics, and the authors walk the line well between being academic and practical. The thrust of the book is toward an understanding of what criminologists call "emerging crime," and it delivers a well researched baseline of information synthesized with what is known or speculated about emerging trends. The end result is a product suitable for adoption in the academic marketplace, and would even make for fascinating reading by laypersons. Overall, the book is congruent with the scholarly and curricular purposes of higher education, and one shares the sense of urgency that comes across at times, but one also relishes the moments, evident in the writing, when careful and meticulous reflection is done.
   The introductory chapter spares the reader from a boring introduction to the history of the Internet, and the basic typology relied upon is the well-known computer as target and computer as tool (instrument) which comes from some of the earliest distinctions made, as well as the third type, the computer as incidental to crime. The authors wisely stick to a legalistic approach, and educate or orient the reader about theft and fraud law, which is important to do. Gladly, there is not any overemphasis upon news stories. The writing is generalized when it can be, and specific when it has to be.
   The criminological theory chapter is ripe with promise. Twenty-five pages are spent bringing the reader up to par on the mainstream theories in criminology, but then, strain, learning, and control theories are just applied, not really extended, to explain computer crime. Theoretical extensions are left to the reader's imagination.
   There is a well-done analysis of hacker subcultures, but the approach taken is symbolic interactionist, leading to a morally relativistic position that hackers and computer criminals are qualitatively and quantitatively different from other criminals. Likewise with the discussion of virus writers, semantic danger is noted in perceiving virus writers as "technopathic" and I take this as the authors attempting to make the reader more culturally sensitive to the plight of those poor, unfairly-labeled "bad" guys.
   The crimes of embezzlement, economic espionage, money laundering, and fraud are discussed in a straightforward manner, but the approach is quite legalistic, and all the reader will walk away with is a better understanding of the CFA and EEA acts.
   A welcome focus on victimization appears when stalking and obscenity are discussed, but the writing is quite antiseptic, handling very meticulously and tactfully things like child prostitution and sexual predators on the Web. Topics like sex tourism are also discussed, but there's really no "voice" of the victims to be found.
   Towards the middle, the book shifts to what criminal justice agencies are doing, but the discussion is freshman-level, and there's really no coverage of the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, or what the feds are doing. Other topics are missing altogether, like cyber-vigilantism. Computer forensics is the focus.
   Once cyberterrorism is finally gotten around to, four types of it are discussed: infrastructure; information; facilitation; and promotion. The first type brings up the subject of homeland security. The second type brings up web defacement. The third type discusses cryptography and steganography, and the fourth type gets into the topic of propaganda. Issues are only brought up and never fully explored or exploited. An interesting inclusion is what's written on anarchy, eco-terrorism, and Internet cartoons. It seems like certain emerging trends sometimes take precedence over mundane issues.
   All in all, the book grasps what can safely be generalized without losing currency. There are some brave, noble initiatives in this book, and it is creative in many respects, but it tries to deliver all things to all people, and suffers somewhat for it by lacking a perspective or voice.

5 comments about Striking Back: The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and Israel's Deadly Response.

1. This excellent book is by an Israeli journalist who was able to get remarkable access to Mossad. One might think this would result in a one-sided presentation, but Klein has done an excellent job of being extremely objective and analyzing the twin motivations of revenge and deterrence that underlay the strike-back assassinations after Munich. The only point on which he isn't objective (and with good reason) is in his unreserved condemnation of the action, inaction, negligence, and callousness (not to mention stupidity) of the German officials during the 21 hours or so of the hostage crisis. The book is worth reading for his thorough account of that one day in September.
   
   Klein's analysis of the Mossad reaction is unsparing, especially in the disaster and tragedy at Lilliehammer, when Mossad agents killed an innocent man whom they should have realized was not Ali Hassan Salameh ("The Red Prince"). Six Mossad operatives were actual imprisoned in Norway for this crime, and the fact that "Munich" never makes mention of this incident is sufficient refutation to those who ridiculously claim that Spielberg and Tony Kushner were insufficiently sympathetic to Israel. While he wrote the book in Hebrew, Klein makes it clear this is not an apologia for Mossad. He sternly questions the rightness of the process in which Palestinian terrorists were identified and "prosecuted" in "show trials" before Israeli Prime Ministers who issued death sentences. People identified as "architects" of Munich often had little if any direct connection to the tragedy. He also carefully analyses the deterrence claim. While Black September terror largely faded after the strike-back assassinations, this appears to have had much to do with the PLO's attempt for legitimacy (Arafat addressing the U.S. in 1974, etc.) and reluctance to incur the wrath of potentially friendly European governments by continuing to execute terror strikes in their countries. Klein also explodes the myth of Mossad invincibility, pointing out with great irony that two of the actual Munich terrorists are still alive, and neither of the actual planners of the mission (Abu Daoud and Abu Ehyad) died at Mossad's hands. Abu Daoud is, in fact, still alive, and Abu Ehyad was assassinated by an extremist Abu Nidal follower because Abu Ehyad had become "soft" on the destruction of Israel.
   
   Don't confuse this book with the movie "Munich," however. "Munich" is based on a different book, George Jonas's "Vengeance," based on the recollections of a Mossad agent. There have been some criticisms and questions of "Avner"'s story in "Vengeance." Klein's account, however, shows that the initial 3 assassinations and the Spring of Youth assassinations in Beiruit were generally very accurately portrayed in "Munich." I see "Munich" as more of a philosophical question about the human cost of the eye-for-an-eye approach, and the ultimate futility of translating ideology into direct and violent action, especially when it means undertaking violent action that is dangerously similar to the type of action undertaken by your enemy. Klein's book is more of a thoughtful policy analysis of what Mossad did, and whether it was effective. While Klein claims that moral judgments are far beyond the scope of his book, they are an inevitable consequence of evaluating the remarkable research that he has compiled.



2. Yes, I understand this is not a novel, but it is as dryly written as a computer manual. It's a shame because the story is compelling, true and quite dynamic.



3. I purchased and read this book after having seen Steven Spielberg's movie "Munich" and I am glad I did it in that order. While reading the book I could picture many of the scenes from the movie which helped keep all the names and characters straight. A sad, enthralling story - I could not put it down.



4. This is the second book I bought for my son, and one for myself because my son said that MUNICH was 90% fiction.
   VENGEANCE was the story of one Israeli spy team as told to the author by the leader of that one team. This book, STRIKING BACK is more scholarly, and discusses many teams, the theory behind the teams, the results of their wet work, and also tells us about Israeli policy as it changes through the years. Both books help us understand that the facts and stories as presented are 90% fact, and we can learn a gret deal about how Israel survives using an Old Testament technique ("An Eye for an Eye.". Israel's survival depends on how it responds to attacks and we have a clearer understanding of the reason for desperate measures. It's a good book, a more difficult read than VENGEANCE, but worth the effort.



5. This was a very interesting book describing a very tumultous time in Israel's history. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to understand more about "Munich" and the history of Palestinian and/or Islamic terrorism
   
   The author did a good job of pointing out the pros and cons of Israel's assassination policy, including the bungled job in Lillehammer, Norway that resulted in the death of an (apparently) innocent civilian. It's not a simple issue, by far. Overall, though, the work of the Mossad over time probably did reduce the incidents of terrorism, and I think a reasonable person would come to that conclusion by looking objectively at the evidence. Whether it justifies killing a target in another sovereign nation is another issue, though I lean slightly toward the positive.

5 comments about Americans at Risk: Why We Are Not Prepared for Megadisasters and What We Can Do.

1. Dr. Redlener talks about the following five megadisasters and what can be done to improve our response to them: an outbreak of avian flu in New York City; and earthquake in Seattle and the Puget Sound; the detonation of a nuclear bomb in a major city; an accidental chlorine release in a tornado-risk zone; and, finally, the targeting of American children by terrorists. After the interesting discussion of each megadisaster, Dr. Redlener points out the many things we can do to improve our response to them.
   He very thoughtfully discusses the four barriers that prevent Americans from being in a state of optimal readiness. The first barrier is the lack of goals and accountability assigned to the monies given by the Feds. The second barrier is the failure to imagine the consequences of situations before they happen. In one example of this barrier, he talks about the fact that all nursing homes in New Orleans were required to have an emergency evacuation plan, and they did. However, all the plans called for evacuating residents to other nursing homes. After Katrina 80% of the nursing homes were damaged and the flooding made them inaccessible. The third barrier is the lack of leadership as demonstrated by DHS Secretaries Brown and Chertoff. The fourth and final barrier is what he calls the strange psychology of preparedness. For example, one in three Americans believes a terrorist attack will happen within a year; however, fewer than half Americans have a family emergency preparedness plan. The thinking follows the line of there will be an attack, but it wont happen me.
   
   We are introduced to Prochaska's "Stages of Change " model to help us better understand how people normally modify their behaviors. By understanding this model we will be better able to create a culture of readiness. We are also introduced to the efforts other countries have undertaken to better prepare and deal with megadisasters. I enjoyed reading about what other countries were and are doing to better prepare for handling megadisasters. I did particularly like the Chinese example that he used. A major earthquake happened in the Qinglong district of China in 1976. It was between a 7.8 and an 8.2 magnitude on the Richter scale. The disaster claimed 240,000 lives and injuring another 165,000 people. The city of Tangshan was virtually destroyed. Qinglong, a community close by, suffered from the same quake, however, the outcome was very different. Two years earlier, Qinglong was warned about the possibilities of an earthquake striking their city. They took the warning seriously and prepared for the day when it might happen. The death toll in Qinglong on July 28th, the day of the quake? ONE --- a man died of a heart attack!! As Dr. Redlener said, "the lesson is overwhelmingly important: mitigation, education, and planning work".
   
   The only megadisaster that could happen now is not getting this book, and the answers it provides, into the hands of our politicians!!!
   
   George Dumigan



2. > This provocative and often disturbing book reveals that Dr. Redlener has certainly acquired an impressive grasp of the potential horrific catastrophic events that
   > > our country may have to face in the future. His experience
   > > as Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness and vast
   > > research on the topic make this book likely the #1 most credible account of
   > > the potential catastrophes our country may confront going forward and insights
   > > into what the government and we as United States citizens can do to help
   > > damper the effects of such an event. Redlener's book, while undoubtedly frightening, is as real as it gets.
   > > Any one of us could be effected by some sort of megadisaster at any given
   > > time and Dr.Redlener at least provides hope that the outcome of such an event
   > > is not completely out of our hands. This book is a must read for anybody
   > > who has any interest in learning real ways to not only protect oneself but
   > > to contribute to a more successful response by our country as a whole in the
   > > wake of such a disaster.
   > > -
   Robert H. Reiner, Ph. D.
   Executive Director
   Behavioral Associates



3. The coming Armageddon is quite realistically covered by author Irwin Redlener, the Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, in a variety of forms in his foreboding tome. In meticulous, sometimes bitingly dramatic detail, he paints five fatalistic scenarios - an avian flu outbreak in New York City; a major earthquake in Seattle; a nuclear attack; a train wreck that causes the release of toxic chemicals; and a terrorist attack that targets elementary schools in Arizona. Within each scenario, we see a chaotic morass of bureaucracy, and Redlener points out real-life examples of such deficient actions that make the aftermath he describes of such disasters feel palpable.
   
   For instance, in mentioning an actual attack on a school in Beslan, Russia, the author brings to light the possibility that terrorists could go after soft targets, specially women and children, since such sacrifices are more typical in Muslim. He also discusses the threat of nuclear detonations. Just as North Korea proved today, terrorists could use newer technology to assemble small nuclear weapons covertly. Moreover, there are liquid explosives and other such low-tech threats that can be used in even more clandestine ways. The variety found in the possible onslaughts is daunting, especially to the reader, and sadly, no one, from Redlener's informed perspective, seems prepared to handle these disasters optimally. Starting with FEMA's lethargic response to Katrina, there is a wellspring of stories about how Homeland Security has mishandled both money and expertise.
   
   In the most prescriptive section of the book, the author describes a nine-point strategy which amounts to validating good common sense and a more disciplined approach to organization by the government. The author is particularly critical of the random nature of American preparations as opposed to the more pivotally positioned and prepared European nations. Redlener begins his recommendations with having the 9/11 Commission reconvene to address preparedness efforts, and including the expansion of the military role in planning for and responding to major disasters. He also discusses the key role played by volunteer organizations in recovering from mega-disasters with little organized support from the government.
   
   Most tangibly, Redlener discusses citizen preparedness and our sometimes surprising history of lapses in this area, even when such efforts were highly publicized during WWII. Despite common belief, little was actually accomplished in this area at the time. The current threat of WMDs is quite different from the A-bombs of yore since they are so focused in devastation, but the need for personal preparedness is still quite evident. While it may come across as prosaic to tell citizens to stay healthy and fit, Redlener knows full well that it comes down to the individual to ensure larger plans can be mobilized. This is a hard read at times but most worthwhile.



4. Certainly the author is an expert in the field but I thought that the book had three shortcomings. The author, as he admits in the preface, rushed the book out the door, relying on others to do much of the work. Political diatribe displaced accurate facts and sound reasoning in several parts. Finally, the author stumbled at the end, which was perhaps the most important part. Despite these flaws it is an important book which should be read, but with some reservations.
   
   It's a fast read for a variety of reasons. I purchased it just prior to a 2-hour flight and was finished before they collected the coffee cups.
   
   What the author does contribute is a variety of scenarios and the consequences.
   
   Redlener's political orientation is left of Hillary and friends and it shows. My guess is that some of his Columbia associates also sprinkled their venom into the text. Some of the many examples where his bias influences the analysis include flu vaccines and New Orleans.
   
   The author concludes that some profit driven scheme is resulted in the flight of vaccine producers from the US to foreign shores and the concentration of the world's production of flu vaccines into two plants. If there is a scheme it is simply one of survival. Flu vaccine production is a low margin product, rushed to production each year just ahead of the flu season to serve an uncertain demand. If the demand is there (and the author is correct that the public does not take responsibility for basic stuff) they make a little money. However, if there is an allegation of a problem, years after the vaccine was produced, the maker is going to get sued. US courts are the preferred venue where the rules of evidence are lax, joint and several liability is common and the juries are generous. Therefore, only high margin drugs whose primary market is to Americans are manufactured in the US. Attempts at tort reform have of course been blocked by Redlener's friends in government, thanks to the abundant cash contributions of the trial attorneys.
   
   Redlener concludes that New Orleans wrote a disaster plan and then forgot about it. He then goes on to place most of the blame at FEMAs doorstep. What he does not share with the reader is that FEMA paid for and sponsored a full-scale exercise involving local government the year before the hurricane hit and which exercise contemplated exactly the scenario that happened.
   
   The author covers the importance of media cooperation in the efforts to prepare and then a few chapters later dismisses the Bush administration's recommendations that people obtain the materials to shelter in place. He says that the flaw in the process was not with the concept of sheltering in place but rather the fact that it was subject to jokes on late night TV. Guess why? His political friends attacked the concept not because it was ineffective, but because they wanted to attack the administration and the press jumped in on the effort. This was the perfect opportunity for one or more of his political pals to have put the country first and reminded the press of the research done by RAND, which concluded that sheltering in place was both effective and important in a number of scenarios. The author does in other sections refer to some of the other work done by RAND on this area and recommends reading it.
   
   The author's scenario of a terrorist attack using children is excellent. However, it misses the propensity of the most threatening terrorist groups to incresase the scope and sophistication of attacks. Redlener does understand that unlike most conventional wars the purpose of the attacks are not to cause strategic damage but rather to create terror and to show the inability of the government to stop them. It is far easier to create terror than to stop terrorists, but the public sees it as a "fair fight" so if terror continues the terrorists must be stronger.
   
   Redlener complains that people refuse to prepare but makes no mention that his friends need to stop conveying the message that the government can do everything.
   
   His analysis of the consequences of a nuclear attack is abbreviated and while valuable does not include some of the more important risks. The chapter leaves the victims long before the full extent of the effects are discussed. Again this is probably the consequence of a rush to publish prior to the elections.
   
   Redlener spends pages describing a Seattle earthquake using the techniques of a newscast where the impacts are personalized. While this focus provides drama it misses the enormous importance of critical factors like the time of the earthquake. Both the San Francisco and Los Angeles earthquakes of the early 90s occurred outside of normal business hours. While the San Francisco earthquake affected commuters it did not occur while people were working in high-rise buildings, factories, warehouses, schools and retail stores.
   
   Also missing from the book is a serious look at the impotence of government in the face of a widespread disaster. In military terms there are simply not enough boots on the ground. Consider Los Angles where 3.8 million people (plus vast numbers of uncounted illegal aliens) are protected by a thin blue line of less than 10,000 police officers, 90% of whom live outside the city. In the event of a flu pandemic many will be off duty and if the pandemic is national there will not be other community resources to augment the depleted ranks. Citizens are going to need to be responsible for their own protection.
   
   Perhaps the greatest shortfall is the failure to spend a few more days on the last chapter detailing the development of a family disaster plan, preparing and the need to act. Far too much emphasis is given to what government must do and not enough to what people need to do, especially with respect to taking action early. An example of this was the night prior to the Mayors' order to evacuate New Orleans. The bloggers had access to the information that the city employees were fleeing, that it was critical to begin evacuations prior to the Mayor's announcement and that immediate action was required.
   
   To his credit Redlener recognizes that the military is far better prepared to deal with disasters than most government officials. Some of the greatest advantages of the military are that they are mission oriented rather than PR oriented and their culture rewards leadership.
   
   Not a criticism but rather a suggestion for what hopefully will be a revised version is that our entire disaster relief system appears to ignore the fundamental changes which have occured in our capabilities to communicate and react. If there is one element of New Orleans that displays the failure of imagination it is the failure to instantly create an accessable information system/database for affected persons and families. Craigslist, church groups and local papers filled the gap but in a fragmented approach. Here is an example where the government could have asked one group to create and maintain the system overnight.
   
   The author dwells on the problems of refugees without medical records but does not consider the simplicity of a solution - give emergency physicians access to the programs that were paying for the resident's prescriptions and to the major drug store databases. The information is there, instantly accessable but hidden for a lack of imagination.
   
   The failure to use our resources goes far beyond the simple but highly effective database of the missing, lost, family members and folks offering help. The bureaucratic Red Cross wanted to dominate managment of the relief efforts but focused on New Orleans, a tiny fraction of the affected area. In other areas church groups became the focus of relief efforts in many areas. Unlike the Red Cross they operated a peer to peer national organization and were able to identify needed supplies and workers. Operating at no cost to the taxpayer, happy to recieve most any support they were the stars of the recovery.
   
   I was saddened to see the author comment that his daughter probably did not have room in her tiny apartment for the basic emergency kit. Perhaps he would ask himself what would she do if presented with 6 pairs of highly desirable shoes, find a place for them or refuse the gift.
   
   Had Redlener cleansed the manuscript of excess political diatribe, taken the time to more carefully examine the scenarios he developed and finally and most importantly spent a little more time on development and implementation of personal plans and acting on the plans in time of crisis the book would have been a 7 star homerun.
   
   Redlener might pause to measure his attitude and efforts against the Boy Scout philosophy - be prepared, be honorable and do good deeds.



5. I can understand why this movie may have been too violent for mainstream American movie theaters. However, those were violent times and this movie is both complex and dazzling. It is certainly not one that you will ever forget. There are similarities to "Curse of the Golden Flower." Both are visually stunning and full of political intrigue.

1 comments about Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Real War on Terror.

1. "In the time it took 'terrorism' to kill 3,260 Americans... domestic violence killed 21,910 women, child abuse killed 19,800 kids." It's facts like this that do all the convincing in Jeff Ott's powerful second book Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Real War on Terror. It explores the terrorism that exists on our streets and in our homes everyday. Combining well-developed research with personal experience, Ott presents the straight-up facts about issues such as domestic violence, police brutality and sexual abuse, and suggests that a real war on terror would be against the men who oppress, exploit, batter and kill innocent and powerless people daily in our own country.
   Weapons of Mass Destruction addresses many current and controversial social and political issues. It offers practical arguments for legal abortion and same sex marriage, stressing the implications that result from nations that justify legal action based solely on religion. It also provides an original analysis of the significance of the worldwide demonstrations against the US invasion of Iraq and presents the facts behind Bush's deception of our nation.
   In contrast to his earlier work, Ott now uses more statistical data than personal observation to demonstrate his points, however, he still manages to creep into the personal lives of millions of Americans as he looks at conditions, causes and solutions to the familiar problems of alcoholism, teen pregnancy, AIDS and STDs in a way that is particularly effective and relevant.
   With the exception of a six sentence story by his five year old daughter, and a brief description of his experience with illegally downloading his own music, Ott surprisingly keeps almost all 20 chapters of this book focused, direct and sincere.
   Once again, Jeff Ott uses his unique sense of humor and personality, as well as brutal honesty to make Weapons of Mass Destruction a passionate, entertaining and valuable read for anyone who might be interested in creating a safer, healthier, and more constructive life, society, country or world.

No comments about The Fine Art of Executive Protection: Handbook for the Executive Protection Officer.

5 comments about Why America Slept: The Failure to Prevent 9/11.

1. "9/11 could have been prevented."
   
   A dry read that will leave you frustrated with the failures within our government and around the world. Information is taken from personnel interviews and extensive references. We shut our eyes and ears--willingly ignorant. Were we looked on as a paper tiger?
   
   Posner covers: The ignored Mosques and charities in our own cities, who raise funds for terrorists; the lack of communication within and between our government, CIA, FBI, and law enforcement--division, hindrances, lack of action, ineptness; terrorists cells within; links to iraq; bombings leading up to 9/11; the warnings of the Bin Ladin progression; missed opportunities; the money flow--banks, businesses.
   
   The media reporting on domestic terrorists was overshadowed by the O.J. trial--the later bringing in a more captivated audience. Our priorities lie elsewhere.
   
   Was Zubayday tortured? Who else new and failed to tell us?
   
   Good accompaniment: "9/11 Commission Report"



2. Gerald L. Posner proved his prowess as an investigator in his books covering the murders of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. But it is with this account on the political games & blunders that led to 9/11 which will define his reporting for future generations.
   
   It is not only the 20-plus years of quiet deals, turf wars and unexplainable ignorance, but the powers who hold the puppet strings of the so-called American political leaders that doomed innocent civilians on that September morning.
   
   And the perfection of the reporting has deflected harsh criticism initially aimed at Posner, in particular the threatened legal action from the Saudi ruling family. The truth really stings when it is in a book and cannot be honestly repudiated by the puppeteers.
   
   As the Bush Administration and their lap dogs - Democrats and Repulicans - in Congress and the media prepare the American people to escalate the military quagmire in Iraq and rattle the sabre at Iran and other sovereign nations, Posner's message is as important as ever.
   
   The politcians refused to set an alarm clock of common sense. It is time for the people to wake them up to the truth behind their criminal lies.



3. This is work that goes beyond just the interesting or compelling. If we think we heard all there is to hear about 9/11...then this book proves us wrong. The 2001 tragedy, as Posner documents the history, was far more than just 4 planes, 19 terrorists, three buildings, and a president in a schoolroom. Terrorist planning began years earlier. Funds from Germany were involved. The culprits roamed USA streets, lived in local east-coast apartments, and gathered illegal cash for their 9/11 project years before the event...so we find out.
   
   It's an eye-opening, totally mind-boggling chronology that's something like a spy novel, something like a drama, with built-in intrigue and depth. -Here's the perfect book for anyone confused by the reported "facts" of 9/11...or for who may be searching for the behind-the-scenes truths about CIA, FBI, White House mishaps, bungling and non-cooperation. What did the FBI know pre-9/11, and how many times did the brass there say: "Forget about it. We don't need to deal with it now"? Quite a few times, apparently. So incredible a tale about how our super-sleuth agencies and administration dropped the ball, the read often infuriates and irritates.
   
   It might be added, though Posner explained who was sleeping...and how, when, and where we were asleep at the switch, he didn't much tell us "Why" we slept, perhaps the (politico-?) background of which would be an equally magnetic story to tell. Even so, "Why America Slept" is a superb (if not slightly depressing) work!



4. Unlike Clark's book, this shows a true picture on why America let its guard down. Many people didn't do their jobs. The INS didn't implement a effective student Visa program. Liberals like Barney Frank thought it was OK to let immigrants come into this country with political terrorist backgrounds. Our presidents didn't take the opportunity to review national security concerns. In fact, Clinton didn't even meet with his CIA head for two years. Many people failed, and OBL and his group seized the opportunity. Even our allies like Germany, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia deceived us. There is alot in this short book that makes people angry. The author documents why America slept, while the terrorists planned. In fact, during the election squabble, two of the pilots were training in Florida while this was happening.
   
   This is one of the better books about 9/11. I thought I might be reading a rehash on what happened, but Posner tells his reader audience why this event happened. An interesting read, and one that will shape your perspective.



5. Sometimes you read a non-fiction book and begin to find yourself wishing it was a fictionalized account. This is a horror story that keeps being played out each day during this administration. Time for a change to the better and finally to wake up from the true horror.

2 comments about Winning the Right War: The Path to Security for America and the World.

1. This book which outlines the way the "Cold War" was won, now offers readers a blueprint for winning the war against terrorism that we are currently engaged in. It should be read by every candidate for President of the United States, and by all members of the House and Senate. It offers a number of options the U.S. can and should employ in the battle against terrorism.



2. Following the tragic attacks of 9/11, the President George W. Bush administration unilaterally declared a "Global War on Terrorism" (GWOT). This `war' as it turned out was based on a very flawed strategy that saw terrorism as a monolithic threat that could best be countered only by spreading American Style Democracy over the Near East. As this book makes clear the advocates of this strategy were monumentally ill-informed about the nature of the enemy, the geo-political realities of the Near East, and, most fundamentally, the nature of Islam.
   
   The GWOT as prosecuted by the Bush Administration is what Gordon calls the "wrong war" by which he also means the wrong strategy. He offers an alternative strategy based on his analysis of the Cold War. His premise is that although the former USSR and the U.S. were the principal protagonists of the Cold War, it was really about a struggle between two opposing ideologies: the Soviet Model of Communism; and the Western Model of Democratic Capitalism. Gordon maintains that the GWOT is analogous to the Cold War because it is also about two opposing ideologies: the Shari'a based theocracy advocated by Sunni fundamentalists and adopted by the violent fringe group, al Qaeda; and Western secular Democracy. In his opinion many of the same tactics that were successful in the ideological combat of the cold war would be applicable to the current ideological struggle. This is what he means by the "right war" and by implication right strategy. The problem is of course is that terrorism is not monolithic and al Qaeda is only one of many terrorist ideologies around the world. What of such diverse groups as Hezbollah and Hamas?
   
   Further, the West won the Cold War in Europe, but not in the Far East. The Asian nations such as China with a different set of cultural values never succumbed to Western ideology and although moving towards Western style capitalism today, China is doing so in a uniquely indigenous fashion. One would suspect that Western secular ideology would have a similar lack of appeal to many of Muslims who adhere to uniquely Islamic values.
   
   A perennial Amazon.com best seller is "The Art of War" by the Chinese classical philosopher, Sun Tzu. In Washington D.C. many own the book, but few have apparently actually read it. Had they done so they would know that one of the cornerstones of this book is the dictum, know your enemy (Sun Tzu, "know the other and know yourself"). Gordon would be well advised to dust off his copy of this classic and consider its advice.

1 comments about Middle Eastern Terrorism: From Black September to September 11.

1. In one sense, terrorism has been employed as a weapon of both civil and international warfare since the earliest recorded events of human conflicts from the fertile crescent of Ur and Babylonia, to the kingdoms of ancient Egypt. The current expression of terrorism arising in and stemming from the middle east is largely focused on an internecine conflict between competing branches of Islam (principally between the Sunni and the Shia), and the conflict between a fundamentalist Islam and the Western cultural and political influences from the democracies of North American and the former colonial powers of Europe. The terrorism-based warfare that began against the United States and its allies (in both Europe and the Middle East) in the 1970s and evolved into the war against fundamentalist Islamic forces such as those that have attacked Americans at home and abroad directly is the subject and focus of "Middle Eastern Terrorism: From Black September to September 11" by academician and historian Mark Ensalaco (holder of the Raymond A Roesch Chair in the Social Sciences, University of Dayton) and is a vital contribution of the history of the violence that has ensued between hostile Islamic forces against the West, including its origins in American support for dictatorial suppressive governments of Middle Eastern countries as part of the Cold War confrontation between American and the Soviet Union, the Palestinian/Israel conflict, and the American/European corporate exploitation of Middle Eastern resources. Professor Ensalaco offers cogent insights and a coherent history that is as timely as it is necessary in light of the continuing and expanding terrorist-based violence seen today on the international stage. Also very highly recommended for both academic and community library collections from the University of Pennsylvania Press is "Leaderless Jihad: Terror Networks In The Twenty-First Century" (9780812240658) by forensic psychiatrist and government counter-terrorism consultant Marc Sageman.