Terrorism, armed struggle Books

Book SynopsisIt is, of course, no secret that undercover Special Forces and intelligence agencies operated in Northern Ireland and the Republic throughout the 'troubles', from 1969 to 2001 and beyond. What is less well known is how these units were recruited, how they operated, what their mandate was and what they actually did. This is the first account to reveal much of this hitherto unpublished information, providing a truly unique record of surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, collusion and undercover combat. An astonishing number of agencies were active to combat the IRA murder squads ('the Provos'), among others the Military Reaction Force (MRF) and the Special Reconnaissance Unit, also known as the 14 Field Security and Intelligence Company ('The Det'), as well as MI5, Special Branch, the RUC, the UDR and the Force Research Unit (FRU), later the Joint Support Group (JSG)). It deals with still contentious and challenging issues as shoot-to-kill, murder squads, the Disappeared, and collusion with loyalists. It examines the findings of the Stevens, Cassel and De Silva reports and looks at operations Loughgall, Andersonstown, Gibraltar and others.

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Book SynopsisFrom the best-selling author of The Commando and Born to Fight comes a fascinating investigation of modern warfare that combines methodical research and the fast-paced action of battle with the personal stories of the combatants on both sides of the line. Taking us from the suburbs of western Sydney and Australia''s military army bases, to the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq, this is a remarkable book that reveals the as-yet untold story of the battle for Mosul and the secret involvement of Australians on both sides of the war - both our Commandos and Australian ISIS fighters. Mosul details the rise of ISIS influence in Australia, the Iran and Australia allegiance to fight Daesh and shows what led up to the battle and the ramifications that are still being felt at home - by our soldiers and the victims of that war. Ben Mckelvey has extraordinary access to SOOCOMD/2COMMANDO units - the most decorated modern Australian

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Book SynopsisThe authoritative work on 9/11 and state-sponsored false-flag terrorism. 9/11 Synthetic Terror is the only book to present a working model for the event -- a network of moles, patsies, paramilitary pros, privatised intelligence assets and corrupt media corporations. We see how this enormous provocation was successfully executed and exploited as war propaganda. This fifth edition reveals a whole new dimension of explosive facts for the first time: the enormous array of drills in which the US defence apparatus rehearsed every aspect of the 9/11 operation. Author Webster Tarpley presents the corpus of 9/11 research -- such as the controlled demolition of the three WTC towers -- from the perspective of a veteran intelligence expert and historian. The exploit is placed in the geopolitical context of oligarchy and imperialism -- in the tradition of precedents such as the Gunpowder Plot, the USS Maine, the Strategy of Tension, and other historically decisive state-sponsored terror subterfuges.

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Book SynopsisIn 2014, the declaration of the Islamic State caliphate was hailed as a major victory by the global jihadist movement. But it was short-lived. Three years on, the caliphate was destroyed, leaving its surviving fighters – many of whom were foreign recruits – to retreat and scatter across the globe. So what happens now? Is this the beginning of the end of IS? Or can it adapt and regroup after the physical fall of the caliphate? In this timely analysis, terrorism expert Colin P. Clarke takes stock of IS – its roots, its evolution, and its monumental setbacks – to assess the road ahead. The caliphate, he argues, was an anomaly. The future of the global jihadist movement will look very much like its past – with peripatetic and divided groups of militants dispersing to new battlefields, from North Africa to Southeast Asia, where they will join existing civil wars, establish safe havens and sanctuaries, and seek ways of conducting spectacular attacks in the West that inspire new followers. In this fragmented and atomized form, Clarke cautions, IS could become even more dangerous and challenging for counterterrorism forces, as its splinter groups threaten renewed and heightened violence across the globe.Trade Review“A pioneering work that puts the rise of the Islamic State in perspective and makes compelling arguments about the threats it will pose in the years to come.”Daniel Byman, Georgetown University “Clarke's richly detailed and informative book fills a conspicuous gap in the literature by providing an up-to-date assessment of the IS, its short-lived but enormously consequential proto-state, and the movement's uncertain future."Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown University and author of Inside Terrorism“Authoritative and comprehensive”Foreign AffairsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: The Long Road to the Caliphate Chapter 2: The Inner Workings of IS Chapter 3: The Coming Terrorist Diaspora Chapter 4: From 'Remain and Expand' to Survive and Persist Chapter 5: After the Caliphate: Preventing the Islamic State's Return Notes & Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe long story of Greek terrorism was meant to have ended in the summer of 2002 with the collapse of the country's premier terrorist organisation and one of Europe's longest-running gangs, the notorious 17 November group (17N). However, rather than demoralising and emasculating the country's armed struggle movement, the dismantling of 17N and the imprisonment of its members led to the emergence of new urban guerrilla groups and an upsurge in and intensification of revolutionary violence. Given the sheer longevity of the 17N terrorist experience, George Kassimeris sets out to analyse the life histories of the group's imprisoned members. Their stories, told through their own words, offer us a clearer picture than we have ever had of the political and ideological environment that provided the foundations upon which revolutionary terrorism took root in the mid-1970s. This book also brings up to date the gritty story of Greek terrorism, by analysing the country's post-17N generation of ur- ban guerrilla groups, placing their extremism and violence in a broader political and cultural perspective.Trade Reviewindisputably the most analytic and complete work over Greek terrorism, both in English and in Greek, ever published.' - South East European and Black Sea Studies 'Impressive and timely. -- Richard English, Terrorism and Political ViolenceNo one knows more about Greek terrorism than George Kassimeris. Perfectly timed, 'Inside Greek Terrorism' reflects the author's personal knowledge of key figures, as well as years of careful research. With the recent resurgence of extremism in Greece, this vital book could not be more welcome to experts and general readers alike. -- Audrey Kurth Cronin, Professor, George Mason University and author of 'How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and Demise of Terrorist Campaigns'This is both an important and a timely work, especially given the recent re-emergence of extremist violence in Greece. Kassimeris is without any doubt the leading analyst today on Greek violent extremism and one of the leading younger scholars in the field of terrorism and political violence. -- Bruce Hoffman, Director of the Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign ServiceThe importance of the life histories of individuals and their deep ideological commitment is under-scored in this exceedingly well-informed and thoroughly researched account of terrorism in modern Greece. George Kassimeris convincingly demonstrates that explaining the perspective of the terrorist is essential to answering the question of how terrorism can develop within contemporary Western democracies. -- Martha Crenshaw, Senior Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), Stanford UniversityA fascinating and highly readable account of Greece's most renowned terrorist group that answers the questions we all had: who? and why? The analysis places 17N in context and admirably draws out its key themes. A number of these remain deeply disturbing, especially as they are shown to resonate in the present with a new generation of terrorists. -- Kevin Featherstone, Eleftherios Venizelos Professor of Contemporary Greek Studies and Professor of European Politics, London School of Economics and Political ScienceAn important account of the origins and evolution of terrorism in Greece. * Perspectives on Terrorism *'Inside Greek Terrorism' . . . [by] George Kassimeris, probably the expert on left-wing political violence in Greece . . . is a very good resource on left-wing terrorism in Greece and its ideological underpinnings. It is very detailed and we learn a lot about what has been going on the country for the past decades. * War Studies Publications *No one knows more about Greek terrorism than George Kassimeris. Perfectly timed, 'Inside Greek Terrorism' reflects the author's personal knowledge of key figures, as well as years of careful research. With the recent resurgence of extremism in Greece, this vital book could not be more welcome to experts and general readers alike. -- Audrey Kurth Cronin, Professor, George Mason University and author of 'How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and Demise of Terrorist Campaigns'George Kassimeris is a leading academic analyst of terrorism in Greece through his earlier study of the group 17N, and now brings the story up to date. It is salutary to be reminded that the break up of 17N was not the end. Kassimeris makes good use of court testimony to construct the life stories of Greek terrorists, and their motives for joining, and in some cases leaving, their chosen groups. The book is a timely contribution to the understanding of this ugly and recurrent phenomenon. -- Sir Michael Llewellyn-Smith, Former British Ambassador to GreeceThis concise volume takes a careful look at the evolution of Greek terrorist organisations from the mid-1970s to around 2012. . . . [It] is a well-researched work on an important topic [and] will be of interest to academics, experts and general readers alike. * Political Studies Review *

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Book SynopsisBlood Year is an unsparingly honest, self-critical analysis of the collapse of western counterterrorism strategy and the subsequent rise of Islamic State. As a soldier, counterterrorism official, and Chief Strategist in the US State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism, David Kilcullen was one of the original architects of US and allied counterterrorism policy. Kilcullen's frank assessment - that the strategy he helped design has failed, that it has not made us safer, and has contributed to new threats, including Islamic State - makes this short book mandatory reading for anyone interested in how terrorism is confronted. The most startling part of his analysis is that there may be worse dangers than ISIS incubating in various parts of the world.Trade ReviewSuch an important book...What makes Blood Year particularly valuable is that Kilcullen manages to recount the events of 2014 and 2015 without succumbing to the pull of political correctness or the push of conventional wisdom. * The Sunday Times *This is a lucid story, humanely told and utterly chilling, in which the author wears his experience and erudition lightly. It should be read by those who still cling to the debris of the fences they sat on over Iraq and Syria. * Financial Times *Mr Kilcullen gives an unflinching insider's account of how mistakes and missed opportunities led inexorably to the events of 2014 ... a wise and important book. * The Economist *Kilcullen is a legendary figure in the world of counterterrorism . . . his book is a frank and revealing expose of all the military and political missteps that the West has made since 2001. * Literary Review *Kilcullen explains superbly the multiple paths to jihadism, the numerous ways in which terrorists can strike, the plentiful targets urban societies offer, and antediluvian ISIS' savvy use of the Internet and social media to attract and train acolytes. * The New York Times Book Review *Kilcullen's book is a tour de force. With telling details and personal reminiscences, he seeks to make sense of how the U.S. counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq ultimately fell apart. * Foreign Affairs *'Blood Year' is a scintillating reflection on the rapidly evolving wars in and around the Middle East. Crisply written and forcefully argued, Kilcullen's book challenges all sides in the contentious debate over America's role in the region and the world. -- Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science, George Washington University and author of The New Arab Wars: Uprisings and Anarchy in the Middle EastA dispassionate, discouraging analysis of how the Western counterterrorism effort has gone so terribly wrong. . . . Kilcullen pulls no punches in describing the current security situation. . . . This brief work packs an analytical wallop. . . . Kilcullen's personal familiarity with the territory and many major players adds elements of vivid color to the well-informed discussions of history and policy, and the narrative is refreshingly nonpartisan. . . . Direct, insightful, and frightening, this book will prepare readers to see through the misguided, simplistic solutions to the problems of Middle Eastern policy and Islamic terror so common in this election year. * Kirkus starred review *David Kilcullen is one of the world's leading theorists of counterinsurgency; his comprehensive experience in the field, in Iraq and elsewhere, makes him uniquely qualified to analyse the emergence of ISIS. 'Blood Year' combines elements of memoir, reportage, and trenchant analysis to provide a highly accessible, vividly written account that is a model of both clarity and rigour. -- Peter Bergen, author of 'United States of Jihad', 'Manhunt', and 'The Longest War'David Kilcullen, an Australian military officer and academic, was deeply involved in the US counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq. His engrossing book combines personal reminiscence with non-partisan analysis of what went wrong--and warns of the risk of further deterioration. -- Gideon Rachman * Financial Times Summer Reading *A timely primer to the story of countering asymmetric and terrorist threats across much of the world since 2001 - in this it is one of the best, and most accessible, of its kind. -- Robert Fox * The World Today *

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Book SynopsisExploring everything from contemporary challenges to ocean security this book offers detailed insights into the increasing activities of state and non-state actors at sea. Chapters revisit the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), highlighting how not all maritime security threats can be addressed by this, and further looking at the ways in which the LOSC may even hinder maritime security. Featuring contributions from both expert academics and practitioners in the field, the book explores new maritime security threats posed by non-state actors, such as piracy and illegal fishing. It analyses how states have had to reconsider their understanding of maritime security and rethink the use and protection of their maritime domain in the face of modern challenges, including the robotics revolution, the rise of unmanned systems and the blue economy agenda. Providing a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between LOSC and maritime security, this is key reading for scholars of maritime law, international relations and security studies. Practitioners working in the shipping industry or fishing sector, as well as maritime law enforcement officials will benefit from the practical advice offered. 'There is increasing agreement maritime security is important, but there is still disagreement about what that implies or even what the term means. This book is a timely intervention in the debate by leading thinkers in the field. Maritime security scholars and practitioners will find it an indispensable reference.' - Douglas Guilfoyle, University of New South Wales Canberra, Australia Contributors include: R. Barnes, C. Bueger, K. Chadwick, T. Edmunds, S. Kopela, A. Murdoch, A. Petrig, V. Roeben, M. Rosello, K. ZouTrade Review‘This book critically raises the visibility of the need for States and international organizations to comply with UNCLOS when addressing their deepening and interconnected maritime security concerns. This book makes a significant contribution to the literature in the process. A worthy addition to any bookshelf, this book should remain relevant for years to come.’ -- Arron N Honniball, Ocean Yearbook'The interplay between maritime security and the law of the sea has emerged as both an important and challenging issue. This volume explores this issue through a series of timely contributions by leading scholars and practitioners in the field and is expected to make a valid contribution to the scholarship on maritime security.' --Efthymios Papastavridis, University of Oxford, UK'Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea: Help or Hindrance? provides important insights into cutting-edge maritime security issues and whether the law of the sea is still fit for purpose. The diverse topics addressed will hold considerable interest for all stakeholders working in maritime security.' --Natalie Klein, University of New South Wales, Australia'This timely and important volume makes a significant contribution to the literature on both maritime security and the 1982 LOS Treaty. The editors and contributors have convincingly demonstrated that issues of maritime security pose serious challenges for the international community and to the legal regime established in the LOS Treaty.' --Robert Beckman, National University of Singapore‘There is increasing agreement maritime security is important, but there is still disagreement about what that implies or even what the term means. This book is a timely intervention in the debate by leading thinkers in the field. Maritime security scholars and practitioners will find it an indispensable reference.’ -- Douglas Guilfoyle, University of New South Wales Canberra, AustraliaTable of ContentsContents: 1 The interplay between maritime security and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: help or hindrance? 1 Sofia Galani and Malcolm D. Evans 2 Beyond seablindness: a new agenda for maritime security studies 25 Christian Bueger and Timothy Edmunds 3 Fisheries and maritime security: understanding and enhancing the connection 48 Richard Barnes and Mercedes Rosello 4 High-end maritime security as legal argumentation 83 Volker Roeben 5 The commission of maritime crimes with unmanned systems: an interpretive challenge for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 104 Anna Petrig 6 Unmanned maritime systems will shape the future of naval operations: is international law ready? 132 Kara Chadwick 7 Ships without nationality: interdiction on the high seas 157 Andrew Murdoch 8 Tackling maritime security threats from a port state’s perspective 180 Sophia Kopela 9 Towards the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea: maritime security dimensions 202 Keyuan Zou Index 218

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Book SynopsisOffers a long perspective and draws on recently opened records to provide an in-depth analysis of the approaches taken by the Clinton and Bush administrations toward terrorism in general and Al-Qaeda in particular. It also delivers arresting new details on the four hijackings and the collapse of the twin towers.Trade ReviewAfter two decades, the dust of 9/11 has settled sufficiently to permit a clear-eyed historical assessment. The Day That Shook America chillingly lays out the reasons why the government agencies responsible for protecting the nation failed catastrophically, and weighs the lasting consequences." - Donald A. Ritchie, US Senate historian emeritus and author of Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932"The Day That Shook America is a chilling account of missed opportunities and overlooked clues that led to the horrors of 9/11. J. Samuel Walker evokes both the folly and the heroism of that day, while at the same time detailing the petty bureaucratic turf battles that crippled the nation’s response to Al-Qaeda. Walker’s judicious account of this horrific event does not preclude him from indicting those he believes might have prevented this ‘day of agony.’" - Stephen F. Knott, author of The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"To read this powerful account of 9/11 is to feel wrenching sadness combined with deep anger: sadness in recalling the terrible toll of lives taken that day, and anger both at those who perpetrated the attack and at the senior US officials who failed to avert it despite the warning signs that were flashing red." - Andrew Bacevich, author of After the Apocalypse: America’s Role in a World Transformed"In this evocative and succinct history, J. Samuel Walker incisively analyzes the efforts to hunt down Osama bin Laden before 9/11 and assesses the actions of the Bush administration in its aftermath. Vividly describing the seizures of the planes by Al-Qaeda terrorists, Walker also eloquently narrates the gruesome circumstances of those entrapped in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. On the twentieth anniversary of that tragic day, we are fortunate to have this well-researched, thoughtful book." - Melvyn P. Leffler, Edward Stettinius Professor of History, emeritus, University of VirginiaTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. “A Complex, Dangerous Threat”: America’s Approach to Terrorism2. “I Tried and I Failed to Get Bin Laden”: Clinton and the Terrorist Threat3. “bin Laden Determined to Strike in US”: Bush and Al-Qaeda4. “Oh My God, the Flight, It’s Going Down”: The Four Hijackings5. “A Day of Agony”: The Effects of the Attacks6. “The Pearl Harbor of the 21st Century”: The White House ResponseConclusion: The Shadow of 9/11NotesEssay on SourcesIndex

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Book SynopsisDrawing on groundbreaking personal interviews as well as decades of research from psychologists and others, John Horgan traces the pathways that lead people into violent extremism and explores what happens to them as their involvement deepens.Trade ReviewA masterful exploration of the question of who becomes a terrorist and why, by the world’s leading expert on the psychology of terrorism. Horgan explains how far our understanding has come since 9/11 and provides a blueprint for future studies. An essential primer about the complex mix of social conditions and psychology that lead individuals to turn to terrorist violence, and why and how they leave terrorism behind. -- Jessica Stern, author of Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants KillBoiling down oceans of research into lucid prose, Terrorist Minds represents a major achievement. Horgan surveys what is already known about the psychology of terrorism, and how in the future we might yet see further and clearer. An inspiring book that wears its immense learning lightly. -- T. K. Wilson, author of Killing Strangers: How Political Violence Became ModernTerrorist Minds is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand how and why people become involved with terrorism—and how and why they sometimes quit. Throughout this book, Horgan, one of the most brilliant minds in our field, offers an engaging, masterful blend of research and insights from talking directly with terrorists. This authoritative masterpiece brings invaluable clarity to a profoundly complex topic. -- Randy Borum, coeditor of Violent Extremism: A Handbook of Risk Assessment and ManagementLike a skilled climber, John Horgan ascends the summits, where the air is thin and few dare to travel. Terrorist Minds is an exploratory journey that identifies hazards and illuminates the new trails that have yet to be blazed within terrorism research. -- Mark Fallon, author of Unjustifiable Means: The Inside Story of How the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Government Conspired to TortureTable of ContentsPreface1. What Is Terrorism?2. Who Becomes a Terrorist?3. Motivation4. Mindset5. Reintegration6. Talking to Terrorists7. Chasing StormsAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisAs one of the earliest Arabs to join the Afghan Jihad, the Algerian Islamist Abdullah Anas counted as brothers-in-arms the future icons of al-Qaeda’s global war, from Abdullah Azzam to Osama bin Laden, and befriended key Afghan resistance leaders such as Ahmad Shah Massoud. Brushing shoulders with everyone from Zarqawi to Haqqani, Anas distanced himself from their movements, disagreeing with their narrow interpretations of political Islam. While he remains committed to Jihad, to this day Anas takes issue with the extremist trajectories of his one-time companions. Co-written with investigative journalist Tam Hussein, To the Mountains is an intimate and penetrating portrait of the networks that formed during the Afghan-Soviet war. In this revealing memoir, Anas shatters some of al-Qaeda's foundational myths, and rethinks what it means to be a Jihadist in the modern world.Trade Review'An unusual personal foray into the motives of the jihadis from one of their number. Anas . . . describes vividly for a western audience the human story . . . [a] fascinating book.'‘This important memoir … is a valuable resource that deserves a broad readership.’ -- The New Arab'Specialists and scholars will enjoy the accounts of arguments among different Afghan factions and the personal details related about key figures from the period . . . a valiant attempt to create something accessible and readable.'‘A treasure trove for scholars and historians, ["To The Mountains"] also provides fresh food for thought for all those, Muslim or non-Muslim, trying to understand how to build enduring peace settlements in Muslim-majority countries.’ -- War on the Rocks'Paints a dystopian picture of endless warfare in impoverished cities.' -- New Frame'A fascinating book with new insights and anecdotes in a history which resonates to this day.''No one knows the story of the Afghan Arabs better than Abdullah Anas. His personal story, and his observations of the recent developments in the Arab world, will surely be a revelation.' -- Lawrence Wright, author of 'The Looming Tower''Abdullah Anas has had a ringside seat at the most important moments in the evolution of the Islamist movement from his early involvement in the Afghan War during the mid 1980s where he met and befriended Osama bin Laden to his more recent role as a negotiator with the Taliban as well as his place as a respected Islamist intellectual around the Arab world as it undergoes its present revolutionary upheaval.' -- Peter Bergen, New America / CNN'Abdullah Anas is an Algerian mujahed who can tell the real story of the Afghan jihad and his life as one of those Arabs involved there. He can speak with true and lived knowledge about Abdullah Azzam, Osama bin Laden, Ahmed Shah Massoud, Hekmatyar and Sayyaf. I have no doubt that this book will be useful for future generations to understand this history, to take advantage of his experience and to avoid making the mistakes that many of his generation made.' -- Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi'Abdullah Anas is an essential voice in the debate about jihad, and what it means for our societies. Told with honesty, modesty and clarity, "To the Mountains" deserves to be widely read.' -- Mike Martin, author of 'Why We Fight''"To the Mountains" presents stories from the beating heart of the Afghan jihad. This is essential reading, a first-hand eyewitness account with a message for the next generation.' -- Alex Strick van Linschoten, co-editor of 'The Taliban Reader''Through the mountains of Afghanistan, the killing fields and torture chambers of Algeria, the streets of Londonistan, and the highest diplomatic venues of Kabul, Kandahar, Riyadh and Mecca, Anas traces a journey that ends, despite everything, in unexpected hope.' -- Barnett Rubin, Center on International Communication

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Book SynopsisJohn F. Kennedy’s fascination with death—particularly his own—and Lee Harvey Oswald’s love of violence and desire for fame made November 22, 1963 practically inevitable.With new details from the very latest documents declassified by the CIA and FBI! The so-called “crime of the century”—the assassination of President John F. Kennedy—was almost preordained to happen. Like all presidents from decades before him, JFK played it loose with security—open cars, Secret Service agents at a distance, and a desire to be seen. Yet conspiracy buffs are certain the security setup on November 22, 1963 was unusual and suspicious. It wasn’t. And what of Lee Harvey Oswald, the drifter, the vicious wife-beating, fame-seeking narcissist? Everything in his background—dating back to his violent, disturbing grade school years, including his stated desire to murder President Dwight Eisenhower—defines the real Lee Oswald. The Oswald that conspiracists rarely talk about—the Oswald who was perched in the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository as JFK drove by—was headed for this moment of infamy years before he pulled the trigger. In Countdown to Dallas, author Paul Brandus tracks the backgrounds of both Kennedy and Oswald, the very different era in which they lived, and the incredible string of circumstances that brought them together for a few fateful moments in Dallas. He reveals: There was indeed a second person on the 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository in the minutes prior to the assassination—but it’s not what you think. How Oswald REALLY got his job at the Depository. The OTHER president that Oswald previously discussed wanting to kill. What Oswald’s favorite TV show and favorite opera reveal about his personality and his willingness to use violence. The sinking of the Titanic—and how we process it more than a century later—is an example of how we continue to process information about the Kennedy assassination. Trade Review“Paul Brandus has produced a gem of a book, a completely up-to-date look at what led up to President Kennedy’s assassination, a comprehensive tick-tock of Lee Oswald’s dismal life, clarifying timelines of the events that awful day in November 1963, and a careful examination of the conspiracy theories and suspects that have been proposed in the six decades since. Brandus has also incorporated the findings from secret documents released in recent years, so if you think you already know all of the story, think again—and read this well-written, fascinating volume.” -- Dr. Larry J. Sabato, Author, The Kennedy Half-Century: The Presidency, Assassination, and Lasting Legacy of John F. Kennedy; Director, Center for Politics, University of Virginia“Paul Brandus is a unique storyteller who seeks the truth. In fact, he is driven to illuminate the truth and protect it from being easily dismissed. His ability to detail dramatic, stunning, and emotional stories makes Paul a one-of-a-kind author. His skills are unleashed in a profound way in his new book, Countdown to Dallas.” -- Michael C. DeAloia, Chief Executive Officer, Evergreen Podcasts“Drawing on recently declassified documents, Brandus characterizes Lee Harvey Oswald as a violent, politically extreme, and mentally disturbed man… Brandus relies heavily on FBI surveillance reports and other postassassination investigations to piece together the year leading up to the murder, showing how financial difficulties, turbulence in the marriage, and mental instability pushed Oswald over the edge… He builds a well-supported and well-reasoned case that Oswald acted alone.” -- Publishers Weekly“You may feel as if you’ve read everything there is to read about this subject, but Brandus takes readers on a different path, showing how the lives of JFK and Lee Harvey Oswald ran parallel to one another in many ways. Brandus shows how Oswald leaned toward violence his entire life and was, in fact, on a collision-course with history—although not initially with Kennedy, in an interesting twist of fact-finding. Readers will be astounded at the wealth of new information included in this book and they’ll be left wondering if, at any point, Oswald's horrible act of assassination could have somehow been stopped. This is the perfect choice for historians, speculative nonfiction readers, and for anyone who still holds a great deal of fascination for what is arguably one of the most world-changing events of the twentieth century.” -- Terri Schlichenmeyer, Price County Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A smart history."---Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times"A very useful primer on an astonishingly complex history." * Foreign Affairs *"Syrian Requiem: The Civil War and Its Aftermath makes a bold claim in its very title. It rests on the idea that something fundamentally Syrian has slid into memory, never to return."---Lazar Berman, Times of Israel"Of all the books I’ve read about the ongoing civil war in Syria, Syrian Requiem: The Civil War and Its Aftermath is the best of the lot. . . . . It is concise yet comprehensive, scholarly yet accessible."---Sheldon Kirshner, Times of Israel"Syrian Requiem is an original and valuable addition to the literature on the Syrian civil war, and is likely to become one of the early standard texts on this subject, specifically with regard to its cogent examination of the diplomatic, strategic, and high policy elements of the war’s trajectory."---Jonathan Spyer, Tel Aviv Review of Books ​​​​​​​"A valuable book for students of geopolitics and the ever turbulent Middle East." * Kirkus Reviews *"Important and impressive. . . . [Syrian Requiem] is an indispensable book for anyone wishing to understand one of the most tragic civil wars in the Middle East." * Survival *"Packed with information, this slick book manages to offer a comprehensive look at the causes and immediate consequences of the civil war, and the way in which peaceful protests staged as part of the Arab Spring rapidly escalated into a civil war with important and far-reaching international ramifications. An engaging reading, Rabinovich and Valensi’s argument will be of interest to academic and non-academic audiences as well as to undergraduate students and faculty alike."---Lavinia Stan, European Legacy

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Book Synopsis#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER * INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Following Chris Wallace’s “riveting” (The New York Times) and “propulsive” (Time) first book Countdown 1945 comes a deeply reported, revelatory, and thrillingly told account of the final months of the hunt for Osama bin Laden.On August 27, 2010, three CIA officers ask for a private meeting with CIA Director Leon Panetta. During that secret session, they tell Panetta that agents have tracked a courier with deep Al Qaeda ties to a three-story house at the end of a dead-end street in Abbottabad, Pakistan. But they say it’s more than a house—it’s a heavily protected fortress. No one in the meeting says the name bin Laden. They don’t have to. Everyone understands that finally, after nearly a decade, maybe, just maybe, they’ve found the world’s most wanted man. In Countdown bin Laden, celebrated journalist and CNN anchor and Max host Chris Wallace delivers a vivid account of the final eight months of intelligence gathering, national security strategizing, and meticulous military planning that leads to the climactic mission when SEAL Team Six closes in on its target. The book delivers new information collected from Wallace’s in-depth interviews with more than a dozen central figures, including Admiral William H. McRaven—leader of the operation in Pakistan—as well as CIA Director Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, and the SEAL Team Six special operator who kills Osama bin Laden. Wallace also brings to life the human elements of this story, talking to families who lost loved ones on 9/11, sharing what relatives of SEAL Team Six went through, and bringing us inside the tense Situation Room during the raid. Countdown bin Laden is a historical thriller filled with intrigue, cinematic action, and fresh reporting about the race to apprehend and bring to justice the mastermind of the most consequential terrorist attack in American history.

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Book SynopsisAnyone who experienced the attacks on September 11 cannot forget the imagery: the smoking, falling towers, the Pentagon smoldering, the Shanksville crash site, the first responders.But there is an invisible story hidden in the wreckage, one that required years of patient investigation and the piecing together of a sequence from many scattered sources. By establishing the most definitive timeline of how that day unfolded, William M. Arkin shows how the US government failed in the face of the unprecedented attack. It is a story of laughable airport security, vulnerable airspace, blind intelligence, poor communications, muddled orders, Pentagon chaos, and presidential isolation. Everything about the emergency procedures of the governments-from White House security to continuity of government to military alerts-went wrong.On That Day is a stunning, nightmare journey through a government reeling in confusion while many civilians performed individual acts of heroism. It is a chilling exposé of government negligence and overreach, and a constitution in crisis.

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Book SynopsisBoaz Ganor provides an authoritative analysis of Israel’s approach to counterterrorism throughout its existence. The book features revelatory personal testimony from senior Israeli decision makers who have played pivotal roles in counterterrorism strategy.Trade ReviewIsrael's Counterterrorism Policy is an important contribution to counterterrorism and security literature. Through unparalleled access to decision makers, prime ministers, ministers of defense, and heads of security and intelligence services, Boaz Ganor provides a comprehensive overview of Israel’s counterterrorism policy over the years and analyzes the key dilemmas and challenges. A must-read for leaders, security practitioners, students, and journalists alike. -- Shabtai Shavit, former head of Mossad, 1989–1996In Israel's Counterterrorism Strategy, Boaz Ganor provides a unique viewpoint on Israel’s most critical counterterrorism challenges. Through interviews with the people in charge of devising and implementing Israel’s counterterrorism policy, he presents a remarkable account of the threats that Israel has faced since its independence and how its decision makers have responded. -- Yaakov Perry, former director of the Israeli Security Agency; former minister and member of ParliamentThis book is a tour de force. Boaz Ganor expertly traces the history of Israel’s efforts to protect itself against successive waves of terrorism while seeking to uphold its liberal democratic values. -- Ambassador Nathan Sales, former U.S. undersecretary of state (acting) and coordinator for counterterrorismIn Israel’s Counterterrorism Policy, the scholar-practitioner Boaz Ganor provides a balanced, considered, and meticulous master course on the history of Israeli counterterrorism and the lessons learned. He offers a much-needed strategic perspective on a tactical challenge, making a strong contribution to counterterrorism studies. -- Matthew Levitt, author of Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of GodIsrael’s Counterterrorism Strategy, by the preeminent authority Boaz Ganor, will be viewed as the definitive history of the country’s long and varied experience with a mode of conflict that became the challenge of our age. The revelations of its leaders are fascinating. To understand the policy and ethical complexities of counterterrorism, start here. -- Brian Michael Jenkins, author of Paths to Destruction: A Group Portrait of America’s Jihadists―Comparing Jihadist Travelers with Domestic PlottersGanor’s book will likely become a worthwhile component of the syllabi of courses related to the Arab–Israeli conflict and the peace process. * Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsChronology: Prime Ministers of Israel and Timeline of Major Events, 1948–2018Introduction1. The Israeli Counterterrorism Strategy and Decision-Making Process Conceptual Models2. The “Fedayeen Phenomenon”: The David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett Administrations, 1948–633. Palestinian National Terrorism After the Six-Day War: The Levi Eshkol and Golda Meir Administrations, 1963–734. Cross-Border Terrorism After the Yom Kippur War: The Yitzhak Rabin Administration, 1974–765. Terrorism Against the Backdrop of the Lebanon War: The Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, and Shimon Peres Administrations, 1977–866. The First Intifada and Activities of the Palestinian Islamist Organizations: The Yitzhak Shamir Administration, 1987–917. Countering Terrorism During the Peace Process: The Yitzhak Rabin Administration, 1992–968. A Prime Minister’s Assassination and Shifting Counterterrorism Strategies: The Benjamin Netanyahu Administration, 1996–999. Confronting the al-Aqsa Intifada: The Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon Administrations, 1999–200410. Disengagement from Gaza and Its Ramifications: The End of the Sharon Administration and the Ehud Olmert Administration, 2005–200811. Changes in the Greater Middle East: The Netanyahu Administration, 2009–201812. Israel's Counterterrorism Policy from the Perspective of Israeli Decision MakersConclusion: The Art of Israeli CounterterrorismAppendix: List of Interviewees and Selected NewspapersNotesSelected BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Foreign Affairs' Picks for Best of Books 2018"

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Book SynopsisA gripping true crime account of radicalisation in Britain - and how it can be prevented. Longlisted for the ACLS Gold Dagger Award.'An incredible story, powerfully and beautifully told.' - James O'BrienFive teenage friends leave Brighton to wage jihad in Syria. All except one are killed. This is their untold story.No Return is a unique insight into a hidden Britain, based on true events that so shocked intelligence experts they are now the Home Office's lead case study into youth radicalisation.Drawing on a cache of leaked classified documents and unprecedented access to all the main players, award-winning investigative journalist Mark Townsend reveals the shocking truth behind what drew these young Britons to martyrdom in a foreign land. The end result is a fast-paced and powerfully gripping true crime account of radicalisation - and how it can be prevented.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Well-researched, pointedly argued. . . . A sharp book about how America uses the threat of terrorism as an excuse to indulge its own worst impulses."
 * Kirkus Reviews *Table of ContentsOverview An Introduction without a Beginning 1. Mourning in America 2. Privacy and Security 3. Liberal Torture 4. Extrajudicial Assassination by Drone A Conclusion without an Ending Acknowledgments Notes Glossary Key Figures Selected Bibliography

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Book SynopsisTwo veteran journalists tell the inside story of convicted hate-monger Abu Hamza, his infamous Finsbury Park Mosque and how it turned out a generation of militants willing to die – and kill – for their cause…

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Book SynopsisThe first major book on ISIS to be published since the group exploded on the international stage in summer 2014.Drawing on their unusual access to intelligence sources and material, law enforcement, and groundbreaking research into open source intelligence, Stern and Berger outline the origins of ISIS as the formidable terrorist group it has quickly become.State of Terror' delves into the ghoulish pornography' of pro-jihadi videos, the seductive appeal of jihadi chic' and the startling effectiveness of the Islamic State's use of social media as a means of luring and recruiting citizens from countries such as the United States, Great Britain, and Franceusing recent examples such as Douglas McCain, the American citizen from Minnesota who joined ISIS and died in combat fighting on the side of the Islamic State.Although the picture Stern and Berger paint is bleak, State of Terror' also offers well-informed thoughts on potential government responses to ISIS most importantly, emphasizing thTrade Review‘A valuable, rigorous and perceptive guide … Stern and Berger draw on internet-based sources, big-brained research on political violence and some of the most acute thinking about the insurgency that is around today’ Literary Review ‘One of this year’s most useful books on the phenomenon, which showed how the terrorist movement emerged from the mind of a Jordanian criminal, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year ‘Clear and succinct … The book’s achievement is to demonstrate how Isis fits within the spectrum of blood-soaked jihadists’ Daily Telegraph ‘By far the most important contribution yet to our understanding of an organization that remains cloaked in mystery and misunderstanding. Stern and Berger are two of the world’s leading experts on violent extremism and, in this book, they have combined their years of knowledge and expertise into a brisk, readable, and eye opening account of ISIS’s past, present, and future’ Reza Aslan, author of ‘No god but God’ and ‘Zealot’ ‘One can only conclude, with the clarity of recent hindsight, that we should have seen it coming – at least when seen through the lens of ‘ISIS’ … a timely and important history of a movement that now defines the 21st century’ Evening Standard ‘The first serious book to analyse the rise of ISIS, arguably one of history's most successful terrorist groups. Stern and Berger write clearly and persuasively and marshal impressive primary research from ISIS's prodigious propaganda to help explain how ISIS became the dominant jihadi group today. It's a terrific and important read’ Peter Bergen, author of ‘Manhunt’ ‘From two of the world’s leading terrorism experts, this timely and urgent book is absolutely essential reading for analysts and policy makers alike. In what is already a cornerstone contribution, Stern and Berger offer the kind of cold-blooded analysis so desperately needed on the poorly understood phenomenon’ John Horgan, author of ‘The Psychology of Terrorism’

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Book SynopsisAn exquisite and inspiring memoir about one mother's unimaginable choice in the face of oppression and abuse in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.How far would you go to protect yourself? Your dignity? Your family?In the days before Homeira Qaderi gave birth to her son, Siawash, the road to the hospital in Kabul would often be barricaded because of the frequent suicide explosions.With the city and the military on edge,it was not uncommon foran armed soldiertopoint his gun at the pregnant woman's bulging stomach, terrified that she was hiding a bomb. Propelled by the love she held for her soon-to-be-born child, Homeira walked through blood and wreckage to reach the hospital doors. But the joy of her beautiful son's birth was soon overshadowed by other dangers that would threaten her life.No ordinary Afghan woman, Homeira refused to cower under the strictures of a misogynistic social order. Defying the law, at the age of thirteen, she risked her freedom to teach children reading and writingTrade Review‘Page-turning account of the lives of Afghan women … at the heart of this moving memoir is an aching sadness’ Observer ‘How does a girl grow to be a woman in a society that shuts off every opportunity? How does a mother choose between her child and the future, not just her future but that of the women of Afghanistan? Homeira Qaderi answers these impossible questions in her stunning memoir, Dancing in the Mosque – one of the most moving love letters to life itself that you will ever read.’ Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Last Train to London ‘Powerful … an unvarnished, memorable portrayal of a mother’s grief and love’ Kirkus ‘A remarkable story of great strength, perseverance, and personal sacrifice by a woman selflessly working to advance the rights of women in her homeland of Afghanistan, women and girls who yearn to be free … I wept when I read the words, " in this land, it is better to be a stone than a girl." Thank you, Homeira, for telling a story that everyone needs to read.’ Deborah Rodriguez, author of The Kabul Beauty School and The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul

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Book Synopsis''A superb book' ObserverGripping, vivid and compelling' The CriticHumane, absorbing and meticulous' New StatesmanThree Weeks in July is the extraordinary and definitive account of the events of the 7/7 London bombings, publishing on the 20th anniversary of the event.Three Weeks in July delivers the definitive narrative of the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the chaos, confusion and terror that followed.A true-crime investigation interwoven with high-stakes politics and history, it reveals untold accounts of the response to 7/7 by the government and the Metropolitan Police, as well as their efforts to prevent a second wave of attacks. Drawing on insights from key figures like Tony Blair, Peter Clarke (head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch at the Metropolitan Police) and Sir Ian Blair (Metropolitan Police commissioner), as well as victims and first responders, the book chronicles the frenzy of the first hours after the attack and the pivotal three weeks of police work, forensics and political machinations whose repercussions are still being felt to this day.Three Weeks in July is the definitive account of one of the most tumultuous periods in modern British history, and a visceral and propulsive narrative that examines the vulnerabilities of the state and the ethical dilemmas of national security.

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Book SynopsisFew understand the devastation cyber weapons can wreak or how the United States will use them in a crisis. This title explains how cyber weapons work and how vulnerable America is to the world of nearly untraceable cyber criminals and spies. It reveals how successful foreign cyber espionage has penetrated the Pentagon, and the defense industry.Trade Review"Chilling... [A] harrowing - and persuasive - picture of the cyberthreat the United States faces today." -- Michiko Kakutani, New York Times "Clarke and Knake are right to sound the alarm." -- Wall Street Journal "[CYBER WAR] may be the most important book about national-security policy in the last several years." -- Slate "In this chilling and eye-opening book, Clarke and Knake provide a highly detailed yet accessible look at how cyber warfare is being waged and the need to rethink our national security to face this new threat." -- Booklist "Will strengthen Clarke's claims as one of the founding fathers of cybersecurocracy...It is worth buying this book if only for his pithy five-page vision of this coming apocalypse and a return to stone-age conditions within a week, all because of a few pesky hackers and viruses." -- Financial Times

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Book Synopsis“Better and more comprehensive than any prior account. . . . Those of us who lived through those days will find the book cathartic; those rising generations who were too young to remember 9/11, or who weren’t yet born, will find it revelatory.” — John Farmer, senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission and author of The Ground Truth“With his rigorous research and moral clarity, Mitchell Zuckoff has provided us with an invaluable service. He has deepened our understanding of what happened on 9/11 and recorded the voices of the victims and the survivors. What’s more, he has ensured that we never forget.” —David Grann, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower MoonYears in the making, this spellbinding, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting narrative is an unforgettable portrait of 9/11.This is a 9/11 book

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] heart-felt, moving ... examination of a greatly changed Middle East and the groups that benefited from their hostage taking and other terrorist activities, but are far from atoning for them." -- Rod Nordland, international correspondent at large, The New York Times and author of The Lovers "Deeply personal and brutally frank ... powerfully demonstrates that suffering need not destroy." -- Terry Waite CBE, President of Hostage UK and author of Taken on Trust "A gutsy coming-of-age memoir, beautifully written, and always provocative. From wounded adolescence to fearless investigative reporter, Sulome Anderson confronts her father's kidnappers-and along the way, she shines a harsh light on the murky world of intelligence in a distraught Middle East. A poignant and astonishing mystery story." -- Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames A remarkable personal story as well as penetrating insight into the adamantine world of the Middle East, where truth and politics are irreconcilable. -- Brian Keenan, former hostage and author of An Evil Cradling "An excellent piece of reportage from someone who clearly has an intimate understanding of the Middle East, interwoven with an equally gripping and emotional account of one woman's quest for reason and forgiveness. This is the story that few journalists have the bravery to write about others, let alone themselves." -- Reza Azlan, author of Zealot [Sulome's] brutally candid, fiercely intelligent, and beautifully crafted memoir is both a fascinating introduction to the shadow world of Middle East intrigue and an inspiring story of resilience and recovery." -- Stephen M. Walt, coauthor of The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy "There are times when you want to look away. This book is that personal. By telling the story of the author-and her famous family-it also traces the story of terrorism in the modern era, in gripping and intimate ways." -- Brian Williams, MSNBC "A perilous and riveting spiral into Middle Eastern politics, exploring the dawn of the terrorist era in Beirut ... Anderson creates a compelling depiction of the collateral damage of terrorism and a remarkable piece of investigative journalism with a surprise twist." -- Publishers Weekly "Anderson is at her best when she teases apart the narrative's many threads, which number not just Hezbollah, but also the broader community of Shiite Islam, to say nothing of Israeli intelligence, the CIA, Iran, and other actors in set pieces such as the Beirut embassy bombing." -- Kirkus

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisDiscover this lyrical, sweeping and powerful book on the Bhutto family, an extraordinary, Kennedy-esque dynasty that is central to the story of modern Pakistan.In September 1996, a fourteen-year-old Fatima Bhutto hid in a windowless dressing room, shielding her baby brother while shots rang out in the streets outside the family home in Karachi. This was the evening that her father Murtaza was murdered, along with six of his associates. In December 2007, Benazir Bhutto, Fatima''s aunt, and the woman she had publically accused of ordering her father''s murder, was assassinated in Rawalpindi. It was the latest in a long line of tragedies for one of the world''s best known political dynasties. Songs of Blood and Sword tells the story of a family of rich feudal landlords - the proud descendents of a warrior caste - who became powerbrokers in the newly created state of Pakistan. The history of this extraordinary family mirrors the tumultuous events of PakistaTrade ReviewPowerful * Telegraph magazine *Fascinating -- Eithne Farry * Marie Claire *She is a compassionate and brave campaigner who ought to be heard -- Sebastian Shakespeare * Tatler *The purpose of this painful biography is admirable and touching -- Brenda Maddox * The Times *A story with dazzling twists and turns told by a true-blue member of the Bhutto fold, with its family history of idealism, political betrayal, murder, hubris and paranaoia -- Arifa Akbar * Independent *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2005 Pulitzer PrizeThe explosive, New York Times bestselling first-hand account of America''s secret history in AfghanistanPrize-winning journalist Steve Coll has spent years reporting from the Middle East, accessed previously classified government files and interviewed senior US officials and foreign spymasters. Here he gives the full inside story of the CIA''s covert funding of an Islamic jihad against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, explores how this sowed the seeds of bn Laden''s rise, traces how he built his global network and brings to life the dramatic battles within the US government over national security. Above all, he lays bare American intelligence''s continual failure to grasp the rising threat of terrrorism in the years leading to 9/11 - and its devastating consequences.''Riveting ... the finest historical narrative so far on the origins of al Qaeda in the post-Soviet rubble of Afghanistan ... provides fresh details

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Book SynopsisEd Moloney has been Northern Ireland Editor of both the Irish Times and the Sunday Tribune. He has written for a wide range of newspapers and magazines in Ireland, the UK and the USA. In 1999 he was Irish Journalist of the Year. He currently lives in New York.

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Book Synopsis20 November 1979: as morning prayers began, hundreds of hardline Islamist gunmen, armed with rifles smuggled in coffins, stormed the Grand Mosque in Mecca. With thousands of terrified worshippers trapped inside, the result was a bloody siege that lasted two weeks, caused hundreds of deaths, prompted an international diplomatic crisis and unleashed forces that would eventually lead to the rise of al Qaeda.Journalist Yaroslav Trofimov takes us day-by-day through one of the most momentous and heavily censored events in recent history, interviewing many direct participants in the siege and drawing on secret documents to reveal the truth about the first operation of modern global jihad.Trade ReviewRiveting * Sunday Times *A thriller-like account of an event largely hushed up * The Times *A gripping, highly informed narrative * Financial Times *The first detailed account of the event … brilliantly researched and eye-opening … this is undoubtedly a book of international significance * Herald *A gripping and revealing account of this brutal uprising … The Siege of Mecca is a marvel of investigative journalism … Trofimov's viciously gory account unfolds with a sharp eye for detail and accuracy -- Ziauddin Sardar * New Statesman *Trofimov tells this tale with considerable verve and authority. He has interviewed many of the surviving witnesses and participants in a country suffused with fear and paranoia, and sets the siege within a wider historical context -- Michael Burleigh * Literary Review *A thriller-like account of an event largely hushed up * The Times *

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