The war on terror has created near unanimity on many points, at least within the American press and political leadership. One essential point of ag...
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May 17, 2008
Matthew
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A Muslim, native-Pakistani law professor of mine published an article which paralleled one of the main observations of this book, and it is an observation which I agree with wholeheartedly. As my law professor wrote, America's discourse on Islamic terrorism is couched in language which portrays the terrorists as 'essentialist terrorists.' The language used both explicitly and implicitly denies that the those who use violence in such manners have any reason for doing what they do (whether such
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Jul 31, 2007
Aaron
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This book had me thinking oppressively hard.
The book's author - Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst - argues that The US is losing, and will ultimately be defeated by militant Islam unless a number of dramatic, even catastrophic changes in US policy take place.
The book is monographic in the sense that it does not deviate from explaining why this is happening - it's 263 pages of punishment. This gives the book focus, but not so much as to feel too academic, as the autho More...
The book's author - Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst - argues that The US is losing, and will ultimately be defeated by militant Islam unless a number of dramatic, even catastrophic changes in US policy take place.
The book is monographic in the sense that it does not deviate from explaining why this is happening - it's 263 pages of punishment. This gives the book focus, but not so much as to feel too academic, as the autho More...
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Feb 05, 2009
Anonymous author of 2002's Through Our Enemies' Eyes headed the CIA's bin Laden unit between 1996 and 1999, but has little to say about his experience there. Instead, he's saved his venom for recent CIA leadership and American administrations, whose hubris has blinded themusto increasing threats from the "Islamic insurgency." Despite concealing his sources and lumping all Muslims together, Anonymous offers persuasive reasons for why we're losing the war on terror. He debunks the id
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Aug 05, 2008
Why do I do this to myself? I am a few chapters in, and I am completely frustrated all over again by the things we as a nation are doing around the world. Imperial Hubris is the well-written, slightly angry and fed up book by intelligence official Michael Scheuer that outlines not just the broad strokes of why our Middle East policy is going so wrong, but the subtle cultural and political nuances our leaders completely missed.
More to come when I'm done with it.
More to come when I'm done with it.
Mar 01, 2010
Barrett
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Here’s another depressing (and by way of warning, fairly dense) must-read. Scheuer, CIA analyst and head of the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit in the late 1990s, focuses on what the U.S. intelligence community knew about Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda prior to 9/11 as well as what we continue to know about the Al Qaeda’s purpose and agenda. The short version is 1) we knew a ton and 2) U.S. policymakers and military leaders appear dead-set on ignoring hugely important characteristics – indeed, tenants
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Mar 13, 2008
Brian
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This is one pissed off ex-CIA agent. Apparently, there is a great deal of incompetence and cowardice in governmental and military offices high and low. Hm. This ought to raise some eyebrows.
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May 12, 2009
Heather
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Despite whether or not I agree with this book, the writing was a bit too emotionally charged for me to take it at face value. Thankfully in the new epilogue the author explains his background for the sake of full disclosure, and I can understand why it's hard to separate his personal experiences in the CIA from his analysis of the ineptitude of the Bush administration. That aside, I still wasn't satisfied by the book because every chapter seems to reword the previous chapter. This puppy could ha
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Jan 11, 2010
Jeff
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I'm pretty disappointed. It's not terribly well written (typos galore), and it's long on criticism (some of it bitter) but short on suggestions. Some of the suggestions are pretty fucked up, too (build more minefields in Afghanistan?).
Most troubling is that it seems to dodge the biggest picture. Granted, members of the last 2 administrations have failed to look beyond "they hate us because we're different" and into the bigger picture of "they hate us because our for More...
Most troubling is that it seems to dodge the biggest picture. Granted, members of the last 2 administrations have failed to look beyond "they hate us because we're different" and into the bigger picture of "they hate us because our for More...
Oct 26, 2008
Will
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I found this a bit tough to read at first, but got used to the style in time. the book was originally published as being written by "Anonymous." Later, Michael Sheuer fessed up. Scheuer was head of the special CIA division set up specifically for bin Laden. He provides a heavily sourced and detailed look at what the movement we call “terrorism” is actually all about. He concludes that this is an insurgency, a military action, not mere “terrorism,” a sort of mindless madness aimed solel
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Jan 16, 2009
James
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A solid sequel to the author's first book, Through Our Enemies' Eyes. The author, a retired intelligence officer much of whose career was focused on Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, is eloquent and angry, and makes a persuasive argument that the approach America's leadership has taken to the conflict with Islamic fundamentalists worldwide has been worse than ineffective - as he explains it, coming up with a worse set of responses would have been difficult if they'd set out to do so.
I wa More...
I wa More...
Nov 25, 2008
Naeem
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This is one of those books that has to be read to believed. There are two arguments here that never cross paths, that live parallel lives without any recognition of each other's presence.
Argument 1: Osama Bin Laden (OBL) is a rational human being who has articulated his policies clearly and with rational force.
That the US can meet his demands without much of an effort if it actually listens to him and considers that much of what he asks for is actually in the interests of t More...
Argument 1: Osama Bin Laden (OBL) is a rational human being who has articulated his policies clearly and with rational force.
That the US can meet his demands without much of an effort if it actually listens to him and considers that much of what he asks for is actually in the interests of t More...
Apr 09, 2009
Lumumba
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Being the head of the Bin Ladin Task Force in the CIA, Michael Scheuer's assessment that terrorism has it roots, not in radical religious ideology, but political grievances, many of which are legitimate concerns, the contents and message of this book cannot be dismissed as the ranting of the "radical Left". If you come across anyone thinks the "War on Terror" is about a clash between Islam and Democracy, leave this at their doorstep.
Aug 03, 2011
I buy these and give them away. A MUST-read by everyone concerned and the ill-concerned. If you wonder about 9-11 or about American policy and if it was to blame, this is the book. Some have argued that Michael Scheuer is/has become a bit of a nut-job and his last book is a rant from a disgruntled expert no one s listening to. All that said, this is the book to help you understand it all.
Jun 25, 2008
Chris
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A great book that lays out failures in the West's approach to fighting the War on Terror, specifically the dangers of mischaracterising al Qaeda as crazed, "freedom-hating" religious lunatics. Scheuer correctly defines bin Laden and his allies as an aggressive militant group that are opposed to US policies and actions, rather than vague allusions to American values.
Delivers a suckerpunch when discussing solutions to identified issues: Scheuer suggests a "rivers of bl More...
Delivers a suckerpunch when discussing solutions to identified issues: Scheuer suggests a "rivers of bl More...
Jul 12, 2008
Angel
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I read this at the beginning of 2005, which was a pretty good time given I read a good number of books. This was an interesting book. It discusses the issue with an emphasis on looking at it from Bin Laden's and the Middle East's point of view. It is clear that the author knows his material, which he presents in a thoughtful fashion with various examples to illustrate the arguments. He brings in history, political, cultural and other sources, many unclassified that anyone can read to show Bin La
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Feb 08, 2008
Nate
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When this book was published, the author was "Anonymous" ... Since then though, the author was discovered to be Michael Scheuer, the same former CIA operative who wrote "Through Our Enemies Eyes."
This book was controversial because it was published at the height of the War on Terror and it condemned our engagement in both Iraq and Afghanistan as utterly misguided.
I have a love/hate relationship with the content of this book. I want to believe that w More...
This book was controversial because it was published at the height of the War on Terror and it condemned our engagement in both Iraq and Afghanistan as utterly misguided.
I have a love/hate relationship with the content of this book. I want to believe that w More...
Aug 08, 2011
Hamzah حمزة
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I actually read this sometime in 2003, but the image is still in my head (God how I hate penmanship lessons). At any rate this book provides an insightful look into the thought process of how the American mind looks at both itself and the world.
Oct 06, 2010
wally
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my copy was by "anonymous"...and so it goes.
i know at one point, he states that "they" needed a...thingy...so as to use the nuclear option. a kind of go ahead from some uppy-yuck....i've heard others express the opinion that they haven't found the aforementioned thingy giving the go-ahead to suitcase bomb. does that mean it won't happen?
i know at one point, he states that "they" needed a...thingy...so as to use the nuclear option. a kind of go ahead from some uppy-yuck....i've heard others express the opinion that they haven't found the aforementioned thingy giving the go-ahead to suitcase bomb. does that mean it won't happen?
Dec 29, 2010
Louise
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Read this book in 2004. I will never forget one of the passages in the book. If bin-Liden was on our side and plotted such a sensational attack, our President would have had him over for dinner in the White House. Excellent book.
May 18, 2010
Holly
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This was a really interesting book. Provocative, challenging, offensive at times, and very much an eye opening read, regardless of whether you agree with the author or not. I think he says some things that we would be wise to consider, particularly related to public discourse and political correctness in the US. Fascinating.
Sep 17, 2007
Nathan
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A scathing critique of US foreign policy. Long over due. The book makes a solid case that we are not hated in the Middle East because we are free, or because we have money, or because we watch movies and dance and drink and listen to rock 'n' roll and hip-hop and wear precious few clothes in the summer. They hate us, this book argues, because our foreign policy, specifically our policy toward the Middle East and the ripple effects of our oil policy, has caused immense suffering in that part of t
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Mar 03, 2009
Bruce
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BUSH with our policy makers thinking themselves infallible did much to damage US Foreign Relations abroad. The did not learn from history.
Feb 22, 2011
Jonathan
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Loved it. Simple analysis backed with support. Not an apologist or bleeding heart but a detractor of the manner in which we have conducted the "war on terrorism." Makes a great deal of sense to me. If you fight a war, you fight it to win it.
Jun 30, 2008
John
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I've read this work twice and referenced it a number of times since I first read it four years ago. It's a good work that takes the topic of terrorism and reviews it through an academic approach and the mind of a critical thinker. This work combined with "Through Our Enemies' Eyes" are in my opinion the quintessential works for studying terrorism. Read these and take note of the references (as well as read some of them) and one will find oneself with an amazing amount of knowledge and
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Sep 25, 2008
Jamie
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Michael Scheuer originally wrote this book anonomously which is A)cool and B)cause for intrigue and perhaps leads me to believe that his insight and observations are more matter of fact and honest than others. I tend to agree with his arguments and analysis on why the United States is losing our 'war on terrorism,' and I am therefore rather distressed that in the 4 years since this book's publication, no new strategy seems to have been implemented. For logical, succinct analysis as why we are
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