The secret history of al qaeda, updated edition by abdel bari. Alqaeda and the road to 911 by lawrence wright, the panther by nelson demille, the black banners. On september 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the islamic extremist group al qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in. Alqaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s. The history of the worlds most notorious terrorist organization. Like other totalitarian movements, the movements leaders have rationalized their brutality in a number of published treatises. The book is slim but could have stood to be even slimmer with better editing. The al qaeda franchise asks why al qaeda adopted a branchingout strategy, introducing seven franchises spread over the middle east, africa, and south asia. World history archive alamy stock photo when al qaida islamists invaded mali, and then timbuktu in 2012, among their targets were. Time magazine pronounced it one of the 100 best nonfiction books ever written. Wright is the author of ten books, including the looming tower. The first phase, from 19962001, was the phony war marked by intermittent. The saudiborn islamic activist had little equipment, few followers and minimal local support.
Yet, after nearly six years of concentrated effort by the united states, the dominant power in the international system, al qaeda survives and is still acknowledged as a potent threat. Although 911 was a high point for al qaeda terrorism, it also. The tenyear search for bin ladenfrom 911 to abbottabad. Al qaeda killed over 3,000 us citizens on september 11, 2001, and terrorism leapt to the fore of us strategic and political priorities.
This approach makes for a harder read but allows the different views of bin laden and al qaeda s history to shine forth, helping the reader understand the organizations complexity. Al qaeda responded to the presence of united states armed forces in the gulf and the arrest, conviction and imprisonment in the united states of persons belonging to al qaeda by issuing fatwahs indicating that attacks against u. It began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war and transformed into the active terrorist organization known for carrying out the september 11 attacks of 2001. The attached manual was located by the manchester england. The manual was found in a computer file described as the military series related to the declaration of jihad. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading al qaeda. For a really illuminating account of that loose network of networks generically called al qaeda this is considered by many as the most trustworthy and lucid work. A number of authors have written books about the 911 tragedy, but ground realities developed in. The true story of radical islam shows islamic militancy to be a far broader phenomenon than previously thought, demolishing the myths that underpin the war on terror prizewinning journalist jason burkes al qaeda now updated with new material on iraq, afghanistan and the july 2005 london bombings is acknowledged to be. Atwans outspoken londonbased newspaper alquds alarabi, of which he is editorinchief, has been the vehicle of choice for the release of many al qaeda electronic communiques. The base, the foundation, alternatively spelled alqaida and alqaida is a transnational extremist salafist militant organization founded in 1988 by osama bin laden, abdullah azzam, and several other arab volunteers during the sovietafghan war.
The following excerpts are from a document found by the police in manchester, england, during a search of an al qaeda members home. The al qaeda manual the attached manual was located by the manchester england metropolitan police during a search of an al qaeda members home. Aug 24, 2002 in an important recent book on alqaida, he argues that the name came from political theory, citing the concept of alqaida alsulbah the solid base formulated in an essay by abdullah azzam, bin. It talks, obviously, mostly about isis, but it does so in a way that incorporates its entire history, including when it. Destroying bin ladens jihad and restoring americas honor is a nonfiction book about counterterrorism strategies towards al qaeda, written by u. The rise and fall of alqaeda middle east policy council. The longest war also draws on these interviews and looks at al qaeda after 911, but most of the text focuses on u.
Now, for the first time, the al qaeda reader gathers together the essential texts and documents that trace the origin, history, and evolution of the ideas of al qaeda founders ayman al zawahiri and osama bin laden. The al qaeda mole who infiltrated the cia, joby warrick, new york. Drawing on unparalleled access to osama bin laden and his key associates, journalist abdel bari atwan gives an incisive and timely account, the clearest we have so far, of the rise of the notorious terrorist organization, al qaeda. The first half of the book is very enjoyable, with the author creating a narrative regarding terrorism and the evolution of it. This authoritative work provides an essential perspective on terrorism by offering a rare opportunity for analysis and reflection at a time of ongoing violence. Alqaeda has been at war with the united states for twenty.
Time magazine pronounced it one of the 100 best nonfiction books. This book starts well with an interesting interview with bin laden. A case study william rosenau and alexander powell with contributions from pamela g. In contrast, al qaeda groups have focused more on local populations and local flashpoints. On 30 december 2009, a jordanian physician named humam khalil al balawi arrived to much anticipation, at a cia base near khost, afghanistan. The base, the foundation, alternatively spelled al qaida and al qaida is a transnational extremist salafist militant organization founded in 1988 by osama bin laden, abdullah azzam, and several other arab volunteers during the sovietafghan war. The secret history of al qaeda reveals events in iraq and saudi arabia as watershed moments in the organizations evolution that are making it more dangerous by the day. Al qaeda planned and carried out the september 11, 2001 attacks of the world trade center towers in new york city and the pentagon in washington, d. From antiquity to al qaeda 2007, hardcover at the best online.
Al qaeda is responsible for many attacks throughout the world with its extensive and effective networks. Al qaeda al qaeda training manual inside the terror. The best books on alqaeda five books expert recommendations. In arabic, it is simply an abstract noun, meaning resource, network or base. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alqaeda. The history of the worlds most notorious terrorist organization kindle edition by charles river editors. The secret history of al qaeda reveals events in iraq and saudi arabia as watershed moments in the organizations evolution that are making it more dangerous. However, also like the far enemy, gergess new book has much to recommend. Forming franchises was not an inevitable outgrowth of al qaeda s ideology or its u. The inside story of how the war on terror turned into a war on american ideals, by jane mayer, as the book you wish you had. Most of the world thinks it is a takfiri and terrorist organization members of alqaeda have performed many acts of terrorism. What to read on bin laden and al qaeda foreign affairs. In an important recent book on al qaida, he argues that the name came from political theory, citing the concept of al qaida al sulbah the solid base formulated in an essay by abdullah azzam, bin.
Reviewing that history helps us understand both why al qaeda is so troubled and why it may remain a force to be reckoned with. The alqaeda mole who infiltrated the cia, joby warrick, new york. It provides a fascinating look into the history of spywork in the united states, from the days of the office of strategic services in 1942 to the turn of the century. As i was gathering interviews and material for this book, i realized one theme had started emerging rather forcibly. Burke writes with admirable lucidity and the benefit of his frontline reporting.
The author utilizes facts to support the thesis and does a wonderful job of exploring the roots of terrorism and not being narrowly focused on the current situation of the mideast and the events surrounding sept11. Isis has ruled ruthlessly and killed with few restraints in its syrian holdings. Al qaeda was also responsible for the 2,000 strike against the u. This book is very good, i found it extremely entertaining. Al qaeda is now the most overused and misunderstood term in the media. The enduring conflict between america and al qaeda. The main argument in the book is that alqaeda was established because of the internal political conflict within islamic countries, and its leaders have understood that in order to be able to fight the arabicmuslim local regimes and become a. The main argument in the book is that al qaeda was established because of the internal political conflict within islamic. The only westernbased journalist to have spent time with osama bin laden, atwan begins with an engrossing personal record of his 1996 trip to visit al qaedas.
Yet within five years he had built an organization that was to carry out the most shocking and devastating terrorist attack in history. Al qaeda is an international terrorist organization, which was formed in august 1988. After all, transnational terrorist organizations can expand through other organizational strategies. The whole history of al qaeda, much of afghanistans history over the past two decades, and even the events of 911 itself, reflect in part the ideological and military struggles between bin laden and the legendary afghan. This widely acclaimed book fills this gap with a comprehensive analysis of al qaeda the origins, leadership, ideology, and strategy of the terrorist network that brought. In the west, it symbolises the greatest threat to global security. This organization is considered as a top threat for the world super power united states of america.
Yet most people in the west know very little about it, or their view is clouded by misperceptions and half truths. Soviet war in afghanistan and the beginnings of al qaeda the true roots of osama bin ladens al qaeda network stem from the. History organization ideology by ben simon available from rakuten kobo. Al qaeda and the road to 911, which spent eight weeks on the new york times bestseller list and was awarded the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction.
This approach makes for a harder read but allows the different views of bin laden and al qaedas history to shine forth, helping the reader understand the organizations complexity. His book becomes the intellectual foundation for alqaeda s murderous campaign 1996 bin laden returns to afghanistan, where he forms. The secret history of the cias spytechs from communism to al qaeda, talked about the gadgets used by the central intelligence. The awardwinning bbc documentary maker tells us what hes learned in 10 years investigating al qaeda, and suggests what we should read to understand where the group came from, and what its still trying to do. Invading the middle east, talks about the birth of al qaida. Unfortunately, the author defends too much al qaeda acts without giving any solutions to islamic. Terrorism, failed states, and the case for american empire. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The al qaeda network today also comprises semiautonomous or self radicalized actors, who often have only peripheral or ephemeral ties to either the core cadre in pakistan or affiliated groups elsewhere. Lawrence wrights chilling new book explores roots of terrorism. The youngest son of a wealthy yemeniborn businessman, bin laden was trained as a civil engineer grad. On a hot summers day in 1996 a plane carrying osama bin laden and a few friends and family landed just outside the eastern afghan city of jalalabad. Al qaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s. When i read this book i thought it was a really, really important book, because it challenges many of the myths and stereotypes about terrorism in general, and alqaeda and bin laden in particular. In his book, invisible balance of power, published in 2005, sajjad shaukat has taken present different war as an interaction of state terrorism led by the united states and the group terrorism by the al qaeda or islamic militants.
Al qaeda is the most dangerous terrorist movement in history. Destroying bin ladens jihad and restoring americas honor is a nonfiction book about counterterrorism strategies towards alqaeda, written by u. Osama bin laden and the al qaeda terrorist network have conducted a sophisticated public relations and media campaign over the last ten years using a series of faxed statements, audio recordings, video appearances, and internet postings. Holy war, inc inside the secret world of osama bin laden. The book describes how the september 11 attacks changed the traditional muslim community around the globe. University of michigan history professor juan cole, author of engaging the muslim world and napoleons egypt. Unfortunately, the rise and fall of al qaeda suffers from a great deal of repetition. This is the first book i have read on the subject of alqaeda and i thought it was a masterful narrative into the history, progression, and actions of alqaeda.
Gerges repeats dozens of times his contention that the terrorist threat is overblown and al qaeda is dead. From antiquity to al qaeda 2007, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The secret history of al qaeda, updated edition by abdel. This book poses several questions including the following. Jul 12, 2008 his book becomes the intellectual foundation for alqaedas murderous campaign 1996 bin laden returns to afghanistan, where he forms a close relationship with the leader of the new taliban. Written in an engaging prose, this history of the emergence and evolution of present day islamic radicalism is really unputdownable. Wright details the foundations of alqaeda, and islamic fundamentalism and weaves it with their principles, beliefs, as well as the simultaneous american intelligence investigation.
True to its name, syed saleem shahzads inside alqaeda and the taliban goes beyond the common misperception of alqaeda as a static organization serving the whims of osama bin laden. You are planning to update your book talking to terrorists because of bin ladens death. Al qaeda central and five major regional affiliates or franchises. Aug 31, 2016 few american writers understand the phenomenon of islambased terrorism better than writer lawrence wright, whose 2006 book the looming tower comprehensively detailed the rise of alqaeda from its. The best books on alqaeda recommended by peter taylor. Soviet war in afghanistan and the beginnings of al qaeda the true roots of osama bin ladens al qaeda network stem from the decadelong conflict that plagued. And so began the twenty years war between alqaeda and the united states, which has had five distinct eras to date.
1285 1043 1219 1140 1325 1070 887 1256 388 1168 843 622 787 250 228 1474 114 154 1262 91 818 957 14 1241 684 1484 1040 1278 1058 168 1280 987 787 168 502 618