Osama bin laden, head of alqaeda, is killed when cia paramilitaries and a navy seal team attack his compound in abbottabad, pakistan. Terrorism analyst bergen takes the reader onto the battlefields of afghanistan as bin laden goes from a shy, quiet teen to a leader. 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. The secret history of the cias spytechs, from communism to alqaeda paperback may 26, 2009.
The only westernbased journalist to have spent time with osama bin laden, atwan begins with an engrossing personal record of his 1996 trip to visit al qaedas. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. This book provides the reader with professional translations of zawahiris key statements during his first five years as leader of alqaeda. Most shed light on our understanding of how al qaeda emerged as a potent threat to regimes. A number of authors have written books about the 911 tragedy, but ground realities developed in. 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. Al qaeda was also responsible for the 2,000 strike against the u. Holy war, inc inside the secret world of osama bin laden. One of the most powerful islamic groups in africa with connections to alqaeda. University of michigan history professor juan cole, author of engaging the muslim world and napoleons egypt. The discussion of this tumultuous and critical period is among the most engaging passages in the history of terrorism.
Peter bergen takes the reader onto the battlefields of afghanistan as bin laden goes from a shy, quiet teen to a leader. The best books on alqaeda five books expert recommendations. The inside story of how the war on terror turned into a war on american ideals, by jane mayer, as the book you wish you had. The main argument in the book is that alqaeda was established because of the internal political conflict within islamic countries, and its leaders have understood that in order to be able to fight the arabicmuslim local regimes and become a. This book is very good, i found it extremely entertaining. 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. Which books should i read to understand the history of al. Alqaeda and the road to 911 by lawrence wright, the panther by nelson demille, the black banners. 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. 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.
Al qaedas goal is to drive the west from the muslim world. 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. Discover librarianselected research resources on al qaeda from the questia. Wright details the foundations of alqaeda, and islamic fundamentalism and weaves it with their principles, beliefs, as well as the simultaneous american intelligence investigation. Al qaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s. Apr 16, 2015 06032008 robert wallace and keith melton, coauthors of spycraft. The osama bin laden i know is an unprecedented oral history of osama bin ladens rise to revered leader of al qaeda. 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. Bin laden also was reported to have financed or trained islamic guerrillas operating in kosovo, kashmir, the philippines. You are planning to update your book talking to terrorists because of bin ladens death. This is the first book i have read on the subject of alqaeda and i thought it was a masterful narrative into the history, progression, and actions of alqaeda. The book describes how the september 11 attacks changed the traditional muslim community around the globe. World history archive alamy stock photo when al qaida islamists invaded mali, and then timbuktu in 2012, among their targets were. Draws on interviews from former alshabaab militants and commanders, us relations to the group and the 2006 us invasion of somalia.
Invading the middle east, talks about the birth of alqaida. This authoritative work provides an essential perspective on terrorism by offering a rare opportunity for analysis and reflection at a time of ongoing violence. 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. 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. A short history how the franchise operations of the worlds most infamous terrorist organization became more potent than the mothership. 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. The history of terorism from antiquity to al qaeda offers a cleareyed, unsentimental and comprehensive look at terrorism. Popular al qaeda books meet your next favorite book. Washingtons tell tale of iranianal qaeda alliance based. Its a great introduction for those new to the topic, but its also a landmark work and absolutely required reading for.
World history archive alamy stock photo when alqaida islamists invaded mali, and then timbuktu in 2012, among their targets were. The enduring conflict between america and al qaeda. 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. It talks, obviously, mostly about isis, but it does so in a way that incorporates its entire history, including when it. 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 main argument in the book is that alqaeda was established because of the internal political conflict within islamic countries, and its leaders have understood that in order to be able to fight the arabicmuslim local regimes and become a proper alternative to them, it first has to fight the west, especially the united states. The sunni tribes that rebelled against the al qaeda affiliate then known as the islamic state of.
The secret history of al qaeda, updated edition by abdel bari. 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. From antiquity to al qaeda 2007, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. From antiquity to al qaeda, edited by gerard chaliand and arnaud blin. List of books and articles about al qaeda online research library. Alqaeda in the arabian peninsula, yemenbased militant group, formed in 2009 by the merger of radical networks in saudi arabia and yemen and linked to attacks in yemen, saudi arabia, the united states, and france after a series of deadly alqaeda attacks on u. In the last two years, quite a few books have been published about al qaeda and its leader, osama bin laden. This approach makes for a harder read but allows the different views of bin laden and al qaedas history to shine forth, helping the reader understand the organizations complexity. Facts about the terrorist network and its history of attacks before september 11, 2001, many americans knew little of al qaeda or its founder, osama bin laden. 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 best books on alqaeda recommended by peter taylor. Read the secret history of al qaeda by abdel bari atwan available from rakuten kobo. Osama bin laden holy warrior human bombs and the concept of martyrdom cyberjihad al qaeda in saudi arabia al qaeda in iraq al qaeda in the islamic maghreb al qaeda in europe the future of al qaeda. 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.
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. The first half of the book is very enjoyable, with the author creating a narrative regarding terrorism and the evolution of it. Aug 28, 2007 the discussion of this tumultuous and critical period is among the most engaging passages in the history of terrorism. The longest war also draws on these interviews and looks at al qaeda after 911, but most of the text focuses on u. The main argument in the book is that alqaeda was established because of the internal political conflict within islamic countries, and its leaders have understood that in order to be able to fight the arabicmuslim local regimes and become a proper alternative to. Drawing from interviews with former alshabaab militants, including highranking officials, military commanders, police. 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. The whole history of al qaeda, much of afghanistans history over the past two decades, and even the events of 911 itself, reflect in part the ideological and military struggles between bin laden and the legendary afghan. What to read on bin laden and al qaeda foreign affairs. Alqaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s. The secret history of the cias spytechs from communism to alqaeda, talked about the gadgets used by the central intelligence. Wellwritten, the book will offer a new insight into the organization and recruitment practices. Nov 09, 2011 in december 2009, balawi met sheikh saeed almasri, alqaedas number three, in north waziristan.
The secret history of alqaedas most powerful ally by. 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. The new yorker staff writer and texas native is currently best known as the author of the looming tower. Get the facts and a timeline of the raid on history. Almasri plotted to use a staged video of balawi and zawahiri to lure bin zeid. This book starts well with an interesting interview with bin laden. This book examines the history and the historiography of the organisation of is. The authors embed the groups history into the larger one of political islam in somalia and beyond. Although 911 was a high point for al qaeda terrorism, it also.
Al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, yemenbased militant group, formed in 2009 by the merger of radical networks in saudi arabia and yemen and linked to attacks in yemen, saudi arabia, the united states, and france. 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. Burke writes with admirable lucidity and the benefit of his frontline reporting. The secret history of the cias spytechs from communism to alqaeda robert wallace and h. 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. 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.
The tenyear search for bin ladenfrom 911 to abbottabad. The secret history of al qaeda by abdel bari atwan pdf, ebook. How seal team six took out osama bin laden history. Al qaeda trained terrorists that were linked to the 1996 car bombings of the u. The propaganda operation relied heavily on a shoddily sourced book, the exile. Cole in yemen, which left 17 american sailors dead. Pdf the al qaeda reader download full pdf book download.
They also clearly show alshabaabs relevance within the global jihadist scene. Over the last ten years, journalist and alqaida expert abdel bari atwan has cultivated uniquely wellplaced sources an. Destroying bin ladens jihad and restoring americas honor is a nonfiction book about counterterrorism strategies towards alqaeda, written by u. Tony benn this is a mustread book for anyone interested in understanding our increasingly scary world. The secret history of al qaeda, updated edition by abdel. While the cia had no firsthand experience with balawi, he apparently held tantalizing information about alqaeda. In its 17 chapters plus a prologue, the book by maruf and joseph outlines the emergence of alshabaab. Unfortunately, the author defends too much al qaeda acts without giving any solutions to islamic. The awardwinning bbc documentary maker tells us what hes learned in 10 years investigating al qaeda, and suggests what we should read to understand where the group came from, and what its still trying to do. Aug 02, 2019 seal team six raided an alqaeda compound in abbottabad, pakistan, in may 2011 and killed the worlds most wanted terrorist. As i was gathering interviews and material for this book, i realized one theme had started emerging rather forcibly. Invading the middle east, talks about the birth of al qaida.
These official communications are introduced and contextualised to provide the reader with a comprehensive sourcebook, outlining the alqaeda leaderships stance on the challenges to its existence since. An unprecedented oral history of osama bin ladens rise to revered leader of al qaeda. The secret history of al qaeda by abdelbari atwan, 9780520255616, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Reviewing that history helps us understand both why al qaeda is so troubled and why it may remain a force to be reckoned with.
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