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The Secret History Of Al-Qa'ida
Over the last ten years, journalist and al-Qa'ida expert Abdel Bari Atwan has cultivated uniquely well-placed sources and amassed a wealth of information about al-Qa'ida's origins, masterminds and plans for the future. In this book, Atwan reveals how al-Qa'ida's radical departure from the classic terrorist / guerrilla blueprint has enabled it to outpace less adaptable efforts to neutralise it. The fanaticism of its fighters, and their willingness to kill and be killed, are matched by the leadership's opportunistic recruitment strategies and sophisticated understanding of psychology, media and new technology - including the use of the Internet for training, support and communications. Atwan also argues that current events in the Middle East represent watershed moments in the group's evolution that are making it more dangerous by the day, as it refines and appropriates the concept of jihad and makes the suicide bomber a permanent feature of a global holy war.
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First published April 5, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 21, 2023
A most authentic book to know about the history of Al Qaeda & ISIS.The author of the book had taken the interview of Bin Laden of Himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2014
EXPLAINING AL QA'IDA
Abdel Bari Atwan, a Palestinian exile in London and editor at al-Quds al-Arabi, has written an interesting book on Al-Qa'ida. The book itself is a useful introduction to the Al-Qa'ida movement that in a matter of fact way gives the reader an insight into the grievances that brought Al-Qa'ida into existence, a description of the organisation and how it functions, its strategy and its methods.
It is obvious that the Muslim world in general has many legitimate grievances regarding western interference stretching over a number of decades: the lack of any meaningful intervention with regard to the Israel/Palestine conflict, the support for the dictatorial regimes of a number of states in the area - Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Saudia Arabia, etc, the sanctions (pre 2003) against Iraq and the subsequent invasion of that same country. In the authors opinion they do not hate us for what we are but for what we have done, or at any rate what our governments have done in our name. The grievances in short are real regardless of what you think of the methods of Bin Laden who evidently thinks that the bombings in London, Madrid, Kenya, Tanzania and the attacks of 9/11 are a price worth paying (ala Madeline Albright) in pursuit of his agenda.
The chapter on suicide bombers is probably the strongest piece of writing in the book. Atwan considers this phenomena in a number of places at different times: Sri Lanka, Palestine, Vietnam, Iraq and of course the 9/11 attacks on the United States. A number of myths regarding this practice, which Mike Davis (see "Buda's Wagon: A Brief History of the Car Bomb") calls the "poor mans airforce" are examined, the most widespread of which is that it a method that is particularly "Islamic" which it evidently isn't as a cursory glance at the list of countries where suicide attacks have occurred makes clear. Also covered are the formation of Al-Qa'ida and its roots in the U.S/Saudia Arabian/Pakistan sponsored Jihad in 1980's Afghanistan (Bin Laden being one of Ronald Regans "freedom fighters") and further back. Other chapters cover the interview the author had with Bin Laden and Al-Qa'idas operations in Saudia Arabia, Iraq and Europe. The chapter on "cyber Jihadis" was the least interesting but that might be more a function of this readers ignorance of the technical side of the Internet rather than the any failure on the authors part.
In short the book examines the Al-Qa'ida movement from a perspective that is sympathetic to the grievances that motivate them, not the methods that they use, and is as useful an introduction to the subject as I can think of. The shortcomings of the book are generic to this type of writing as Atwan, a journalist who has covered these issues for many years, on many occasions refers to sources which he is unable to make public. This is understandable given the subject he is reflecting and writing upon, though it always leave room for some doubt. To be fair to the author none of his claims seem dubious and other writers on Al-Qa'ida including Jason Burke (see "Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam") who called it "intelligent and informative".
Abdel Bari Atwan, a Palestinian exile in London and editor at al-Quds al-Arabi, has written an interesting book on Al-Qa'ida. The book itself is a useful introduction to the Al-Qa'ida movement that in a matter of fact way gives the reader an insight into the grievances that brought Al-Qa'ida into existence, a description of the organisation and how it functions, its strategy and its methods.
It is obvious that the Muslim world in general has many legitimate grievances regarding western interference stretching over a number of decades: the lack of any meaningful intervention with regard to the Israel/Palestine conflict, the support for the dictatorial regimes of a number of states in the area - Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Saudia Arabia, etc, the sanctions (pre 2003) against Iraq and the subsequent invasion of that same country. In the authors opinion they do not hate us for what we are but for what we have done, or at any rate what our governments have done in our name. The grievances in short are real regardless of what you think of the methods of Bin Laden who evidently thinks that the bombings in London, Madrid, Kenya, Tanzania and the attacks of 9/11 are a price worth paying (ala Madeline Albright) in pursuit of his agenda.
The chapter on suicide bombers is probably the strongest piece of writing in the book. Atwan considers this phenomena in a number of places at different times: Sri Lanka, Palestine, Vietnam, Iraq and of course the 9/11 attacks on the United States. A number of myths regarding this practice, which Mike Davis (see "Buda's Wagon: A Brief History of the Car Bomb") calls the "poor mans airforce" are examined, the most widespread of which is that it a method that is particularly "Islamic" which it evidently isn't as a cursory glance at the list of countries where suicide attacks have occurred makes clear. Also covered are the formation of Al-Qa'ida and its roots in the U.S/Saudia Arabian/Pakistan sponsored Jihad in 1980's Afghanistan (Bin Laden being one of Ronald Regans "freedom fighters") and further back. Other chapters cover the interview the author had with Bin Laden and Al-Qa'idas operations in Saudia Arabia, Iraq and Europe. The chapter on "cyber Jihadis" was the least interesting but that might be more a function of this readers ignorance of the technical side of the Internet rather than the any failure on the authors part.
In short the book examines the Al-Qa'ida movement from a perspective that is sympathetic to the grievances that motivate them, not the methods that they use, and is as useful an introduction to the subject as I can think of. The shortcomings of the book are generic to this type of writing as Atwan, a journalist who has covered these issues for many years, on many occasions refers to sources which he is unable to make public. This is understandable given the subject he is reflecting and writing upon, though it always leave room for some doubt. To be fair to the author none of his claims seem dubious and other writers on Al-Qa'ida including Jason Burke (see "Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam") who called it "intelligent and informative".
May 18, 2017
This might seem a slightly odd choice of reading, since recent media attention has shifted from the Al Qa'ida to other interests, such as ISIS but I found it interesting and relevant to current affairs in a few ways:
First, it is a major terrorist organisation that is still continuing even though Osma bin Laden is out of the picture. Second, Australia has recently had a few shake ups with citizens going overseas to participate in jihad military organisations and third, there is the issue of ISIS in Syria.
This book talks about the genesis of Bin Ladens organisation, the back cover calls it ‘chilling’ and it delivers on that promise the most chilling part however is the tacit support of the authors for some of the horrific tactics and goals of this terrorist organisation.
I knew this would be difficult reading; part of the allure of this book is that the author had interviewed Osama in person and that would never have happened if he was not sympathetic to radical, terrorist Islamic causes. Knowing that, parts of the book were bound to be challenging and at times I had to put it down for a while. The writing style however is intelligent and very accomplished, for the most part the passive voice proved exceptionally unobtrusive as the author describes radical terrorist objectives, but with discretion and for the most part non-judgemental in tone.
Osama, his history and cause, the organisation he fronted, these are all accounted for in the early chapters. Later we get a very erudite, detailed description of the different radical organisations and their relationship with the different Islamic states in the middle east. This is especially interesting since the book was published in **** and yet the descriptions are very relevant to current middle eastern turmoil and events.
The book then progresses through the effects of the internet on radical Islamic groups and their genesis, the worldwide calls to jihad and a small but well organised section on terrorist activities and suicide bombing.
The truly chilling part of this book is in small things; after having described a number of atrocities in a totally passive voice the author will suddenly insert a word such as ‘reprehensible’ about a bombing incident. The word hovers in the text, isolated and almost unemotional, the doubt I, the reader, have about the motivation behind this word being inserted in the text... yes, that is chilling. I feel sympathetic to the need of the author to describe the philosophical basis of Islamic radicalism and yet present this text in a way civilised people can relate to. It is a tightrope that the author walks very well but it does still send a small, subtle, chill up the spine.
The author is English but of Palestinian background, I also found the tacit agreement that all Jews should be gotten rid of... scary because ‘got rid of’ in this context is a euphemism for genocide. The passive agreement with the radical assertion that ALL Non Muslims should be eradicated from the Middle East is sickening and the tacit approval of suicide bombing is scary.
This is a very good book; well written, scholarly, well informed and able to inform the reader. The author has done a good job of walking the literary tightrope between presenting terrorism in such a way that first world readers may cope with the subject matter. But the subject is still terror and horror without end, unless that end be the establishment of total slavery on earth to radical Islam, and though I appreciate the book and despite the three stars I cannot say I actually enjoyed it.
First, it is a major terrorist organisation that is still continuing even though Osma bin Laden is out of the picture. Second, Australia has recently had a few shake ups with citizens going overseas to participate in jihad military organisations and third, there is the issue of ISIS in Syria.
This book talks about the genesis of Bin Ladens organisation, the back cover calls it ‘chilling’ and it delivers on that promise the most chilling part however is the tacit support of the authors for some of the horrific tactics and goals of this terrorist organisation.
I knew this would be difficult reading; part of the allure of this book is that the author had interviewed Osama in person and that would never have happened if he was not sympathetic to radical, terrorist Islamic causes. Knowing that, parts of the book were bound to be challenging and at times I had to put it down for a while. The writing style however is intelligent and very accomplished, for the most part the passive voice proved exceptionally unobtrusive as the author describes radical terrorist objectives, but with discretion and for the most part non-judgemental in tone.
Osama, his history and cause, the organisation he fronted, these are all accounted for in the early chapters. Later we get a very erudite, detailed description of the different radical organisations and their relationship with the different Islamic states in the middle east. This is especially interesting since the book was published in **** and yet the descriptions are very relevant to current middle eastern turmoil and events.
The book then progresses through the effects of the internet on radical Islamic groups and their genesis, the worldwide calls to jihad and a small but well organised section on terrorist activities and suicide bombing.
The truly chilling part of this book is in small things; after having described a number of atrocities in a totally passive voice the author will suddenly insert a word such as ‘reprehensible’ about a bombing incident. The word hovers in the text, isolated and almost unemotional, the doubt I, the reader, have about the motivation behind this word being inserted in the text... yes, that is chilling. I feel sympathetic to the need of the author to describe the philosophical basis of Islamic radicalism and yet present this text in a way civilised people can relate to. It is a tightrope that the author walks very well but it does still send a small, subtle, chill up the spine.
The author is English but of Palestinian background, I also found the tacit agreement that all Jews should be gotten rid of... scary because ‘got rid of’ in this context is a euphemism for genocide. The passive agreement with the radical assertion that ALL Non Muslims should be eradicated from the Middle East is sickening and the tacit approval of suicide bombing is scary.
This is a very good book; well written, scholarly, well informed and able to inform the reader. The author has done a good job of walking the literary tightrope between presenting terrorism in such a way that first world readers may cope with the subject matter. But the subject is still terror and horror without end, unless that end be the establishment of total slavery on earth to radical Islam, and though I appreciate the book and despite the three stars I cannot say I actually enjoyed it.
May 19, 2016
How frightening it is to read the history of an extremist group and learn that despite the casualties, the destructions and the terror they have caused; their condemned actions have a good underlying reason.
As one of only a handful of journalists who have interviewed Osama Bin Laden in person, Abdel-Bari Atwan wrote this book based on his first-hand knowledge from visiting Al Qaeda camps and interviewing key players, among other in-depth researches. And his findings are intriguing.
What begins as a fight against the corrupt oil-rich Saudi government, the Zionist state of Israel and US foreign policy to control the Middle East; Al Qaeda has evolved from a regional radical organization fighting for oppressed Muslims, to become a global ideological umbrella with many small cells all over the world, conducting complex financing and mastery over the cyber world. The growth and violence are inevitable, especially after the US-led coalition invade Iraq with no legitimate reason, killing hundred of thousands of civilians and destroying the country into a total mess.
What struck me most with this book is the psychology of suicide bombing. How the worst socio-economic and political conditions leave many people with no other option whatsoever in their lives other than to fight against the regime that have killed their family and friends, and destroyed their home and country; by becoming a suicide bomber.
As one of only a handful of journalists who have interviewed Osama Bin Laden in person, Abdel-Bari Atwan wrote this book based on his first-hand knowledge from visiting Al Qaeda camps and interviewing key players, among other in-depth researches. And his findings are intriguing.
What begins as a fight against the corrupt oil-rich Saudi government, the Zionist state of Israel and US foreign policy to control the Middle East; Al Qaeda has evolved from a regional radical organization fighting for oppressed Muslims, to become a global ideological umbrella with many small cells all over the world, conducting complex financing and mastery over the cyber world. The growth and violence are inevitable, especially after the US-led coalition invade Iraq with no legitimate reason, killing hundred of thousands of civilians and destroying the country into a total mess.
What struck me most with this book is the psychology of suicide bombing. How the worst socio-economic and political conditions leave many people with no other option whatsoever in their lives other than to fight against the regime that have killed their family and friends, and destroyed their home and country; by becoming a suicide bomber.
February 20, 2016
1CThe Secret History of Al-Qa'ida 1D by Abdel Bari Atwan is not just a book, it is a reference for anyone who wants to know about Al-Qaida, their history, dynamics and ideology.
Written by a distinguished senior journalist, Abdel Bari is not talking about the things he think or not quoting books he read about the group but he is presenting his own experience with them. He spent three days with Osama Bin Laden in Tora-bora and met some of the senior Al-Qadiah operatives in elsewhere, he is presenting us the group 19s foundations, their strategies and future plans.
The book examines American foreign policies and other European countries (e.g. Britan) towards Muslim countries in the world and how those policies assisted the group to expand its operations more than expected.
Anyone who wants to know about this issue should use the book as a reference.
Rooble Mohamed
Hargeisa, Somaliland
Written by a distinguished senior journalist, Abdel Bari is not talking about the things he think or not quoting books he read about the group but he is presenting his own experience with them. He spent three days with Osama Bin Laden in Tora-bora and met some of the senior Al-Qadiah operatives in elsewhere, he is presenting us the group 19s foundations, their strategies and future plans.
The book examines American foreign policies and other European countries (e.g. Britan) towards Muslim countries in the world and how those policies assisted the group to expand its operations more than expected.
Anyone who wants to know about this issue should use the book as a reference.
Rooble Mohamed
Hargeisa, Somaliland
October 11, 2014
Great introduction for what is happening now in the Middle east with the rise of ISIS
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews