Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The secret history of the cias spytechs from communism to alqaeda book discussion 06032008 robert wallace and keith melton, coauthors of spycraft. Discover librarianselected research resources on al qaeda from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The best books on alqaeda recommended by peter taylor. 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. Since 911, al qaeda has suffered a confusing mix of setbacks and advances.
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. In 20 alqaedas chief in yemen, qassim alrimi, in an audio message urged muslims to defend their holy religion by blowing up more american targets. History of alqaeda and terrorism against the usa 2. The history of terorism from antiquity to al qaeda offers a cleareyed, unsentimental and comprehensive look at terrorism.
The true story of radical islam by burke, jason isbn. Which books should i read to understand the history of al. List of books about alqaeda ahmed, nafeez mosaddeq 2005. In the aftermath of the september 11th attacks, alqaeda has become the most infamous terrorist organization in history. His writing has appeared in the new york times, washington post, wall street journal, foreign. Al qaeda killed over 3,000 us citizens on september 11, 2001, and terrorism leapt to the fore of us strategic and political priorities.
Alqaeda and the road to 911, is one of the few must read books of 2006. Alqaeda was started by osama bin laden in afghanistan in 1988 brief history of al qaeda. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, the looming tower is the definitive history of the long road to september 11. In 2009 yemeni alqaeda leader qassim qasm alrimi appeared with two former gitmo terrorists in an islamist video promising attacks on the west. History organization ideology by ben simon available from rakuten kobo. Alqaeda began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read inside isi. It was led and financed by osama bin laden, a radical sunni muslim.
Compiled by paul cruickshank, a new yorkbased investigative journalist and. A short history of al qaeda in iraq aqi isi sofrep. The secret history of the cias spytechs from communism to. Counterstrike is a glowing portrayal of the american intelligence community, though the authors concede that it suffered a setback in 2009, when an al. Books about the pursuit of al qaeda the new york times. The story and involvement of the isi, afghan jihad. Bin ladens former bodyguard delivers a breathtaking account tele et vous 15 september 2011. This is an incomplete list of books about alqaeda ahmed, nafeez mosaddeq 2005. Startling and scandalous, this is an intimate insiders story of osama bin ladens retinue in the ten years after 911, a family in flight and at war. Most shed light on our understanding of how al qaeda emerged as a potent threat to regimes world wide.
After the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001, alqaeda or alqaida, pronounced alkyeda became the worlds most infamous terrorist organization. From september 11, 2001 to may 2, 2011, osama bin laden evaded intelligence services and special forces units, drones and hunter killer squads. The history of the worlds most notorious terrorist organization chronicles the birth and growth of alqaeda, including the key figures and events that impacted its formation, as well as the ideology of alqaeda and the historical context and environment that strengthened it. While their actions are deplorable, it remains a populist and idealist movementand one that continues to spread. Al qaeda is responsible for many attacks throughout the world with its extensive and effective networks. 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. He follows fbi counterterrorism chief john oneill as he uncovers the emerging danger from alqaeda in the 1990s and struggles to track this new threat. Although 911 was a high point for al qaeda terrorism, it also. The story and involvement of the isi, afghan jihad, taliban, alqaeda, 911, osama bin laden, 2611 and the future of alqaeda ebook written by s k datta. Like other totalitarian movements, the movements leaders have rationalized their brutality in a number of published treatises. First, the 911 commission underplayed how much the intelligence services were to blame for allowing 911 criminally so, if wrights evidence is true. Now, for the first time, the al qaeda reader gathers together the essential texts and documents that trace the origin, history, and evolution of the ideas of alqaeda founders ayman alzawahiri and osama bin laden.
Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for. 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. An absorbing history of al qaeda s ideological roots and development through 911. It is a stateless meaning without a country terrorist organization. The main argument in the book is that alqaeda was established because of the. 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. Yet, after nearly six years of concentrated effort by the united states, the dominant power in the international system, al qaeda survives.
The secret history of al qaeda by abdel bari atwan, anna. The editors, gerard chaliand and arnaud blin, are also the major contributors to a series of wellwritten essays that trace the historical roots and the modern usage of terrorism. Al qaeda in iraq got its start in 2003, originally called jamaat al tawhid wal jihad the group for monotheism and jihad. Yet within five years he had built an organisation that was to carry out the most shocking and devastating terrorist attack in history. The best books on alqaeda five books expert recommendations. Bin laden, born in 1957 was the seventh son of muhammad awad bin laden. The best books on alqaeda recommended by peter taylor the awardwinning bbc documentary maker tells us what hes learned in 10 years investigating alqaeda, and suggests what we should read to understand where the group came from, and what its still trying to do. Alqaeda is now the most overused and misunderstood term in the media. The secret history of alqaedas most powerful ally recounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with alqaeda. Two books explore the pursuit of al qaeda and one of its most notorious leaders, khalid shaikh mohammed.
He is a contributing editor at the new republic and has worked as a correspondent for national geographic television, discovery, and cnn. Inside alshabaab is the definitive history of the somali militant group, rich with newly disclosed details about the groups genesis and its ties to alqaeda. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001 2nd ed. This book is very good, i found it extremely entertaining. The saudiborn islamic activist had little equipment, few followers and minimal local support. The architects of alqaeda and isis, by iakovos alhadef. Alqaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s.
In the last two years, quite a few books have been published about al qaeda and its leader, osama bin laden. 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. Book description html a brief summary of the soviet invasion of afghanistan in 1979, of the us invasion of iraq in 2003, and how these historic events were related to terrorism, and more specifically to alqaeda and the islamic state. Peter bergen takes the reader onto the battlefields of afghanistan as bin laden goes from a shy, quiet teen to a leader. About what does al qaeda want in the aftermath of the september 11th attacks, alqaeda has become the most infamous terrorist organization in history. Most shed light on our understanding of how al qaeda emerged as a potent threat to regimes. Alqaedathe base in arabicis the network of extremists organized by osama bin laden the death of bin laden, who was killed in a joint operation by u. Alqaeda and the road to 911 by lawrence wright, the panther by nelson demille, the black banners. It talks, obviously, mostly about isis, but it does so in a way that incorporates its entire history, including when it. The secret history of al qaeda, updated edition by abdel. When the soviets withdrew from afghanistan in 1989, the organization dispersed but continued to oppose what its leaders considered corrupt islamic regimes and foreign i. The osama bin laden i know is an unprecedented oral history of osama bin ladens rise to revered leader of al qaeda. Communism to al qaeda robert wallace spycraft the secret history of the cias spytechs from communis spycraft. Drawing from interviews with former alshabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police.
Bin laden came from a wealthy family, as his father was a successful construction man with close ties to the saudi royal family. Of all the books released this year, lawrence wrights exhaustively researched and extraordinarily wellwritten the looming tower. The awardwinning bbc documentary maker tells us what hes learned in 10 years investigating alqaeda, and suggests what we should read to understand where the group came from, and what its still trying to do. Reviewing that history helps us understand both why al qaeda is so troubled and why it may remain a force to be reckoned with. 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.
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