History of alqaeda and terrorism against the usa 2. Peter bergen takes the reader onto the battlefields of afghanistan as bin laden goes from a shy, quiet teen to a leader. Al qaeda s leading thinkers are steeped in these reformerslong struggle against the establishment. An oral history of al qaedas leader peter bergen on. Alqaeda has been described as many different things, and it includes a federation of different islamist groups, all dedicated to mayhem against the west, christians, jews and muslim regimes that do not conform to its ideas. This organization is considered as a top threat for the world super power united states of america. In the last two years, quite a few books have been published about al qaeda and its leader, osama bin laden. Al qaedas leading thinkers are steeped in these reformerslong struggle against the establishment. This book focuses on the history of al qaeda, the actions and read more. True to its name, syed saleem shahzads inside al qaeda and the taliban goes beyond the common misperception of al qaeda as a static organization serving the whims of osama bin laden. The longest war the enduring conflict between america and al qaeda. It may have only a few thousand members, but seems to have many supporters and sympathizers, some of whom may be. Before september 11, 2001, many americans knew little of al qaeda or its founder, osama bin laden.
We must first look at ourselves before casting blame on others. Psychological and operational techniques, second edition explores the background and history of alqaeda, covers recent developments, and explains how, why, and where the alqaeda network is expanding. Brutal attacks on fellow muslims have tarnished its reputation, its leadership is under siege from the air drone strikes and the ground special operations forces, and the core organization no longer has a safe haven. The secret history of al qaeda s most powerful ally recounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with al qaeda. The author examines the current state of the terrorist network and describes what groups in the network are doing to recruit, plan, and carry out attacks worldwide. Osama bin laden is a terrorist extremist who planned the attacks on the world trade center and is intent on driving western influence from the muslim world. Facts about the terrorist network and its history of attacks. Drawing on frontline experience, on secret documents, and on interviews with intelligence officers, militants, mujahideen commanders and bin laden associates, the author reveals the story of almilitants, mujahidden commanders and bin laden associates, the author reveals the story of alqaeda, and demolishes the myths that underpin the war on terror. But the roots of the militant islamist network, whose name is arabic for the base, date back to the late 1970s and the soviet unions invasion of afghanistan. Al qaeda, arabic for the base, is an international terrorist network founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s.
Atwans outspoken londonbased newspaper al quds al arabi, of which he is editorinchief, has been the vehicle of choice for the release of many al qaeda electronic communiques. Jan 31, 2014 alqaedas affiliates and alqaedism the idea are gradually, inexorably, surrounding israel. Al qaeda has evolved into a significantly different terrorist organisation than the one that perpetrated the september 11 2001 attacks. The rather silly cover of his book on the subject belies what is in fact a thorough, erudite, dispassionate and compelling account of the rise of radical islam, of which al qaeda in its strict sense is really only a small part. While al qaeda conducted one major attack every year prior to 911, al qaeda and its associated groups have conducted one attack every three months since 911. When i read this book i thought it was a really, really important book, because it challenges many of the myths and stereotypes about terrorism in general, and alqaeda and bin laden in particular. Osama bin laden, head of al qaeda, is killed when cia paramilitaries and a navy seal team attack his compound in abbottabad, pakistan. During the 1980s a large number of muslims moved from middle eastern countries to afghanistan to unite with the afghan people in an ongoing war which began in 1979.
Jul 12, 2008 his book becomes the intellectual foundation for alqaedas murderous campaign 1996 bin laden returns to afghanistan, where he forms a close relationship with the leader of the new taliban. What to read on bin laden and al qaeda foreign affairs. An end to al qaeda grounds the reader within a background of how the muslim people globally have greatly changed subsequent to the september 11 attacks. Atwans outspoken londonbased newspaper al quds al arabi, of which he is editorinchief, has been the vehicle of choice for the release of many al qaeda electronic communiqus. Alqaeda and the road to 911 by lawrence wright, the panther by nelson demille, the black banners.
But as head of the bin laden unit, which was set up before the 1998 east african embassy bombings, the crucial thing about this first book is that he viewed alqaeda in a different way. The youngest son of a wealthy yemeniborn businessman, bin laden was trained as a civil engineer grad. The teaching of the reformers has been heterodox and revolutionary from the beginning. Peter bergen, author of the bestselling book holy war, inc. The secret history of al qaeda reveals events in iraq and saudi arabia as watershed moments in the organizations evolution that are making it more dangerous by the day. This pissed off al qaeda s hq, because they were already establishing a separate al qaeda in syria aka al nusra front and wanted it to remain separate. Holy war, inc inside the secret world of osama bin laden. About isis, al qaeda, iran, and the caliphate spycraft. The secret history of the cias spytechs from communism to al qaeda agent storm. According to nance, al qaeda is attempting to capitalize on decreasing united states influence within the region, and utilize information technology to spread its message. Al qaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s. The saudiborn islamic activist had little equipment, few followers and minimal local support. It talks, obviously, mostly about isis, but it does so in a way that incorporates its entire history, including when it.
Osama bin laden and the al qaeda terrorist network have conducted a sophisticated public relations and media campaign over the last ten years using a series of faxed statements, audio recordings, video appearances, and internet postings. Osama bin laden offers a detailed biography of the saudi terrorist. But important new evidence, including interviews with senior al qaeda members and osama bin ladens family, gathered by the authors over the past five years, tells a surprising history. But in the decade following 911, you switched your focus to alqaeda why was. Al qaeda planned and carried out the september 11, 2001 attacks of the world trade center towers in new york city and the pentagon in washington, d. Al qaeda and other terrorist groups, do not adhere to the rules of war, they do not represent any state or government nor or they party to international treaties or conventions. Safe havens and bases are sprouting up north and south of israel like never before in the history of the global jihad, fulfilling the dreams of osama bin laden and ayman alzawahri. Since 911, al qaeda has suffered a confusing mix of setbacks and advances. When i read this book i thought it was a really, really important book, because it challenges many of the myths and. Most shed light on our understanding of how al qaeda emerged as a potent threat to regimes. It seeks to rid muslim countries of what it sees as the profane influence of.
Isis has since been disavowed by al qaeda, but has become one of the main jihadist groups fighting government forces in iraq and syria. The book describes how the september 11 attacks changed the traditional muslim community around the globe. This authoritative work provides an essential perspective on terrorism by offering a rare opportunity for analysis and reflection at a time of ongoing violence. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The true roots of osama bin ladens al qaeda network stem from the decadelong conflict that plagued afghanistan from 19791989. At one time, he was a highranking official of islamic jihad until he joined with bin laden in the early 1990s. Several years have passed, al qaeda is on decline in contradiction to the authors prediction. Not one criticism of middle east regimes unless it is in the context of u. Atwans outspoken londonbased newspaper alquds alarabi, of which he is editorinchief, has been the vehicle of choice for the release of many al qaeda electronic communiques. Al qaeda responded to the presence of united states armed forces in the gulf and the arrest, conviction and imprisonment in the united states of persons belonging to al qaeda by issuing fatwahs indicating that attacks against u. Alqaida alqaeda background during the 1980s a large number of muslims moved from middle eastern countries to afghanistan to unite with the afghan. Exposing the truth about isis, al qaeda, iran, and the caliphate the control series the looming tower.
Shahzad describes a changing cast of characters, the high. The book was a new york times bestseller and won a number of. Al qaeda is an international terrorist organization, which was formed in august 1988. It began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war and transformed into the active terrorist organization. Psychological and operational techniques, second edition explores the background and history of al qaeda, covers recent developments, and explains how, why, and where the al qaeda network is expanding.
The highly intelligent zawahiri is a former surgeon and a lifelong jihadist. Nov 19, 2014 fallujah redux takes readers through their assessment of the area and the important events in anbar that reverberated all the way back to the white house. The beginnings of alqaeda go back to the 1980s when the soviet union invaded afghanistan. The best books on alqaeda five books expert recommendations. In his book, invisible balance of power, published in 2005, sajjad shaukat has taken present different war as an interaction of state terrorism led by the united states and the group terrorism by the al qaeda or islamic militants. Apr 28, 2020 osama bin laden, founder of the militant islamist organization al qaeda and mastermind of numerous terrorist attacks against the united states and other western powers, including the september 11, 2001, attacks on the world trade center in new york city and the pentagon near washington, d.
The author utilizes facts to support the thesis and does a wonderful job of exploring the roots of terrorism and not being narrowly focused on the current situation of the mideast and the events surrounding sept11. The creation of the group brings together extraordinary saudi wealth, the expertise of a lifetime egyptian militant, and a philosophical foundation for jihad from a cairo intellectual. It was led and financed by osama bin laden, a radical sunni muslim. Al qaeda is now the most overused and misunderstood term in the media. Al qaeda is responsible for many attacks throughout the world with its extensive and effective networks. Buy this book as the ancestral home of osama bin laden and many high. See more ideas about al qaeda, this or that questions and palestine history.
The al qaeda network today also comprises semiautonomous or self radicalized actors, who often have only peripheral or ephemeral ties to either the core cadre in pakistan or affiliated groups elsewhere. Osama bin laden biography, alqaeda, terrorist attacks. It is led and financed by osama bin laden, a radical sunni muslim. The secret history of al qaeda, updated edition abdel bari atwan on amazon. Read download the secret history of al qaeda pdf pdf. The author of the book, lawrence wright, is a famous writer and for his work, al qaeda the road to 911 won him a pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. Although it is the most hunted terrorist group in history, the campaign of holy war unleashed by al qaeda is likely to outlive itself and the current generation of islamists. His book becomes the intellectual foundation for alqaeda s murderous campaign 1996 bin laden returns to afghanistan, where he forms a close relationship with the leader of the new taliban.
This book is very good, i found it extremely entertaining. This book explores the history of the somalia based al harakat al shabaab from 2005 to 2012, offering the first indetail history of one of the most important alqaeda affiliates today and the first to conquer large territories. The sunni tribes that rebelled against the al qaeda affiliate then known as the islamic state of iraq did not do so out of any love of the united states. You are planning to update your book talking to terrorists because of bin ladens death. Apr 29, 2015 yet even in its early days the group bickered with the al qaeda leadership. Yet within five years he had built an organisation that was to carry out the most shocking and devastating terrorist attack in history. This book focuses on the history of al qaeda, the actions and. Cole in yemen, which left 17 american sailors dead. History organization ideology by ben simon this book poses several questions including the following.
Exiled by the saudi regime, and later stripped of his citizenship in 1994, bin laden left afghanistan and set up operations in sudan, with the united states in his sights as. Dec 16, 2019 the author of the book, lawrence wright, is a famous writer and for his work, al qaeda the road to 911 won him a pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. Al qaeda was headquartered in the sudan from approximately 1991 until approximately 1996 but still maintained offices in various parts of the world. In certain parts book managed to draw romanticised parallels between fbi agent oneil and osama to the point that i was confused if this was a history of alqaeda or a cliche nemesis cop vs bad guy b movie script. Alqaeda is a transnational extremist salafist militant organization founded in 1988 by osama. Reviewing that history helps us understand both why al qaeda is so troubled and why it may remain a force to be reckoned with.
The secret history of al qaeda, updated edition by abdel. Which books should i read to understand the history of al. Writing history is a matter of placing points in time as bookends or markers for significant events that have occurred around the world. My life inside al qaeda and the cia it is about islam. Al qaeda was also responsible for the 2,000 strike against the u. Although it is the most hunted terrorist group in history, the campaign of holy war unleashed by alqaeda is likely to outlive itself and the current generation of islamists. Burke has spent a number of years in various islamic hot spots saudi, afghanistan. The osama bin laden i know is an unprecedented oral history of osama bin ladens rise to revered leader of al qaeda. Alqaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s. Just like me, he was trying to understand the nature of the organisation, the kind of people involved, their background and motivation, and critically why they were doing what they were doing. The enduring conflict between america and al qaeda. The book largely focuses on the persons involved in the attack. It began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war and transformed into the active terrorist organization known for.
The author examines the current state of the terrorist network and describes what groups in the network are doing to recruit. To help situate the book and justify its focus, the introduction also poses a number of important questions, such as what is al qaeda, why study the bbcs news at tens. The secret history of the cias spytechs from communism to al qaeda, talked about the. The tenyear search for bin ladenfrom 911 to abbottabad. Although 911 was a high point for al qaeda terrorism, it also. A short history how the franchise operations of the worlds most infamous terrorist organization became more potent than the mothership. Al qaeda background al qaeda inside the terror network. It is a stateless meaning without a country terrorist organization. Alqaeda has rebuilt itselfwith irans help the atlantic. Destroying bin ladens jihad and restoring americas honor is a nonfiction book about counterterrorism strategies towards al qaeda, written by u.
Yemen, alqaeda and americas war in arabia gregory d. Wright examines the origins of the militant organization alqaeda, the background for various terrorist attacks and how they were investigated, and the events that led to the september 11 attacks. The first half of the book is very enjoyable, with the author creating a narrative regarding terrorism and the evolution of it. Sep 11, 2019 on september 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the islamic extremist group al qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the united states. The base, the foundation, alternatively spelled alqaida and alqaida is a transnational extremist salafist militant organization founded in 1988 by osama bin laden, abdullah azzam, and several other arab volunteers during the sovietafghan war. Soviet war in afghanistan and the beginnings of al qaeda the true roots of osama bin ladens al qaeda network stem from the decadelong conflict that plagued. Osama bin laden, founder of the militant islamist organization al qaeda and mastermind of numerous terrorist attacks against the united states and other western powers, including the september 11, 2001, attacks on the world trade center in new york city and the pentagon near washington, d. It began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war and transformed into the active terrorist organization known for carrying out the september 11 attacks of 2001. While alqaeda conducted one major attack every year prior to 911, alqaeda and its associated groups have conducted one attack every three months since 911.
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