Originally published by anonymous, the author is now known to be Michael Scheuer, a CIA official who once headed the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.
In this book, Mr. Scheuer is highly critical of the US administration and in particular of the administration's disregard for the intelligence material gathered by the CIA.
His thesis is that Al Queda is not trying to harm the US because they hate freedom, democracy or Hollywood. Their real animosity stems from US policy in the Middle East. It's not what the US believes, it's what it does, which is the issue.
The main problems are:
- support for Israel, (about which he says: "Surely there can be no other historical example of a faraway, theocracy-in-all-but-name of only six million people that ultimately controls the extent and even the occurrence of an important portion of political discourse and national security debate in a country of 270-plus million people that prides itself on religious toleration, separation of church and state, and freedom of speech")
- support for corrupt regimes in the Middle East
- occupation of Afghanistan
- occupation of Iraq
The result is the that Al Queda views the West as an aggressive enemy of Islam and has sworn to protect itself.
Mr. Scheuer believes that it's a shame that the press generally doesn't accurately report Osama Bin Laden's statements, as he believes that he's a man who says precisely what he means. He also reminds us that in the Middle East, clerics are highly regarded and their opinions are listened to. In a similar manner, the comments of Western fundamentalist, evangelical Christians - which we may dismiss as hysterical preaching - are taken seriously and literally.
If you're in Canada, you can buy it HERE, or at your favourite bookstore.
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