Dining With Terrorists, Meetings With The World's Most Wanted Militants

by Phil Rees

"terrorist: n a person or group that refuses to accept American dollars and challenges the United States' right to attack its territory "

When George W. Bush screamed 'You're either with us or you're against us' in the war on terror' he eradicated the right of anyone to question his logic or challenge his new list of 'terrorist' organisations. These included as diverse candidates as Colombian coca farmers, Basque separatists and Kashmiri independence fighters. Lazily bandied around, the emotive, political and inflammatory word 'terrorism' has accompanied everything from ecology, narcotics to nuclear weapons. But one would do well to recall George Orwell and 'new speak' and to treat the headlines, the spin and the political justifications with the objectivity they deserve.

By infiltrating the most inaccessible political resistance groups over the past 25 years, Phil Rees has sought to understand what motivates the 'terrorist' or 'freedom fighter' and to balance this against the context of the current world events and the sweeping power of US military might. Through the sharing of refreshment and discussion with 'terrorists' in such diverse countries as Colombia, Algeria, Kosovo, UK, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Iran, Lebanon, France, Cambodia and Ireland, Rees was able to pierce the headlines, the propaganda and the official government line to discover the human story behind the faceless, hooded caricature. As entertaining and intriguing as it is polemic and timely, this is the only book that challenges our preconceptions of just what the word terrorist actually means and how dangerous a weapon it is.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[J.C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sat on my, "to be read" pile for ten years. Not kidding. So when I got around to it, the topical nature had passed. however, still worth the read. Phil Rees puts himself in situations which explains his multiple international awards. If you are looking for journalism with a punch, read this book.

[Lilly Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The World is in danger of accepting the confused idea of an endless conflict against an undefined enemy’

[Vilis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daudz laba, sakarīgi uzrakstīta materiāla par autora tikšanās reizēm ar cilvēkiem no organizācijām, kas iekļautas ASV terorisma atbalstītāju sarakstā. Sakārtots gan jokaini, piemēram, raksti par Ēģiptes 'teroristiem' ir trīs dažādās vietās. Autora apsēstība ar definīcijas meklēšanu reizēm arī šķiet pārspīlēta. Bet citādi ļoti labs ievads problēmā no abām pusēm.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end I'm not sure where to start. It's a book that takes you beyond the propoganda. Beyond the simplicity of the daily news. But it's also a book that leaves you disparing of humanity. The quote on the front of the book is from Noam Chomsky and it summarises the achievement of the book and the life of Phil Rees, the writer, well: "An Amazing Tour de Force".

[Zouheir Al-najjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very true and realistic ... I've found it as a boat to the real word :)

[Maya Jurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy read, but very thought-provoking