by Daniel Benjamin, Steven Simon
|
| List Price: | $26.00 |
| Amazon Price: | $7.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
| You Save: | $18.01 (69%) |
| Average Rating: |  |
| Lowest New Price: | $6.69 |
| Availablitiy: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
|
 |
|
Product Description
The authors of the bestseller The Age of Sacred Terror show how the United States is losing the war on terror and what we need to do if we're serious about winning it. We are losing. Four years and two wars after September 11, 2001, the United States is no closer to victory in the “war on terror.” In fact, we are unwittingly clearing the way for the next attack.
In this provocative new book, Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon show how the terrorist threat is evolving, with a broadening array of tactics, an army of new fighters and, most ominously, a widening base of support in the global Muslim community. The jihadist movement has been galvanized by the example of 9/11 and the missteps of the U.S. government, which has consistently failed to understand the nature of the new terror. Left on this trajectory, much worse faces us in the near future.
It doesn't have to be this way. The Next Attack makes the case that America has the capacity to stem the tide of Islamic terrorism, but Benjamin and Simon caution that this will require a far-reaching and creative new strategy, one that recognizes that the struggle has been over-militarized and that a campaign for reform must be more than rhetoric and less than bayonets. And they point out how America’s increasing tendency to frame the conflict in religious terms has undermined our ability to advance our interests.
Is America is truly equipped to do what is necessary to combat Islamist terrorism, or are we too blinded by our own ideology? The answer to that question will determine how secure we will truly be, in the years and decades to come.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Terrible, 2007-12-07
The writers try to build a convincing case, and do that with lots of references. But adding lots of references doesn't make a good book.
It's very easy to point out what is wrong from the sidelines, which is exactly what the writers do. No real alternatives are given, and those that are suggested are extremely expensive. If an air attack would cause 50 billion worth in damages, spending 40 billion is okay according to the writers.
If you would want a book telling the Bush administration finds it difficult to tie their own shoes, look no further. This is the book you want.
What decided me to trash this book was the opinion of the writers that not only Turkey should join the EU, but joining Egypt wouldn't be a bad idea either. A clear proof the writers have absolutely no idea whatsoever about Europe. I rarely throw away a brand new book (bought this last week), but this goes in the rubbish bin. Pathetic.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
What went wrong, 2007-10-05
I will be short and succinct in this review. The authors contend in this book that U.S. military interventions are jeopardizing the war against radical Islamists. They describe terrorists' use of the Internet to spread their ideology, the role of Christian evangelism in foreign policy, and the influence of Muslims in America.
The authors also share their opinion that there have been no more attacks in the U.S.A. because of the easier targets given to the terrorist in Iraq. But believe that they will strike America again as they share the many failures in Homeland Security. This lack of security in the U.S.A. may be sobering, but sadly not surprising.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
 our foreign policy failures, 2007-01-17
In their bestseller The Age of Sacred Terror; Radical Islam's War Against America (2002), a widely hailed book that won the Arthur Ross Book Prize given by the Council on Foreign Relations, Benjamin and Simon warned about the threat of terrorism to the United States, a threat which they insisted we did not understand and failed to counter. Then came the September 11 attacks which made them prophets. In their new book the authors warn that more than four years later we still persist in misunderstanding our adversary, and that we face grievous consequences unless we change our thinking, our strategies, and our policies.
Not quite half way through their book the authors summarize: "It is simply no longer possible to maintain that the United States is winning the war on terror" (p. 126). Despite some limited successes, and the authors are careful to acknowledge these, we have failed at almost every critical juncture. First, in a failure of vision we have linked terrorism to rogue states, or almost exclusively to Al Qaeda, instead of understanding the dynamic of numerous independent non-state actors that function alone. Terrorism is more like a "deadly mold," to quote one analyst, rather than like a "deadly snake" that the administration claims it will behead. In a failure of strategy, we have militarized the problem and what we think is the solution, thinking that sheer force can annihilate the enemy. In their view we have already lost the even more important war of Muslim public opinion. Third, the Iraq war has been a monumental disaster in the authors's opinion. We have played right into the hands of the jihadists, confirmed their view of world history that infidels from the west want to occupy and control their land, created a recruiting bonanza for terrorists around the world, and with Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib we have caused Muslims to view us not only as infidels but as hypocrites who do not honor human rights, rule of law, or democracy. Fourth, the internet revolution has fueled jihadist rage and sense of epic heroism, much like television brought the Vietnam war into the living rooms of Americans. The video of the beheading of Nicholas Berg, to mention one gruesome example, was downloaded at least 15 million times. Technical know-how for bomb-making on the internet makes terrorist training camps almost obsolete. Finally, Benjamin and Simon point to trends in American culture at large that go beyond any single administration. In particular they point to conservative Protestants who have supported Bush en masse, supported Israel uncritically to the detriment of Palestinians, and made despicable and inexcusably disparaging remarks about Islam (cf. James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson, Charles Colson, and many others), all of which has reinforced the radical jihadists' stereotypes of America and their view of global history that the pagan infidels of the west want to destroy them. The Madrid bombings on March 11, 2004, in which rogue jihadists detonated ten bombs simultaneously, show how vulnerable we have made ourselves with these multiple failures.
Why have we not been attacked since September 11? The authors give credit where it is due, but go on to argue that terrorists have no need to attack hard targets in America when they have a field day in Iraq and limitless soft targets in places like Madrid, London, Bali, and Chechnya. But, more ominous still, they believe they will strike here again, with their trademarks of patience and perfectionism, which makes their long section on our many failures in Homeland Security sobering reading. Our preoccupation with a military offensive has shorted the need for pre-emptive defense. Let us pray that Benjamin and Simon are wrong, but they were right in their first book, so let us pray that people listen to them more carefully this time.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
 Perceptions and Reality, 2006-04-17
The central core of this book is that the United States is 'losing' the War on Terror because, in a nutshell, the Bush Administration has no concept of either the enemy or the war that the US is actually involved in. The War that the US is fighting is actually aiding and abetting the real foe - Militant Islam.
Bush and his administration are fighting 'states' so the US invades Iraq and Afghanistan - set piece battles that the US excels at. But Militant Islam is basically everywhere now in enemy states (Iran and Sudan) friendly states (Pakistan and Egypt) and even old alles (Great Britain and Germany). So who does the US invade now?
In Iraq itself the US had simply provided a 'terror school' for equipment and methods (the book is very good here) - the Militants are learning quickly and spreading the information back to their home countries. Attacks in Spain, Great Britain, Indoesnia show they are spreading the information very well.
The book also does a good job on Homeland Security - it is very disquieting to read that the US is probably less safe now. Intradepartmental squabbles, unclear priorities (and old boy cronyism)and wasted time and money leave the US vulnerable to the next 'big event' that Bin Laden and Al Queda is plotting.
The book is harshly critical of Bush and his chief advisors ( I imagine that explains the 'one star' reviews). But the book is far closer to the harsh reality of the war on terror that the US is presently engaged in.
3 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
The Next Attack, 2006-02-18
This is another book about the war, were have all these people come from,I have never seen so many books about bin laden, where were all these so called experts before 9/11. Just another newpaper man jumping on the bandwagon, and trying to make a fast buck.
We need the truth about what is going on, not speculation and spin,is there anyone with the TRUE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
|
Store Categories
|