Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on TerrorPotomac Books, Inc., 2004 - 309 pagini Access a Comprehensive Bibliography Though U.S. leaders try to convince the world of their success in fighting al Qaeda, one member of the U.S. intelligence community would like to inform the public that we are, in fact, losing the war on terror. Further, until U.S. leaders recognize the errant path they have irresponsibly chosen, he says, our enemies will only grow stronger. According to the author Michael Scheuer, the greatest danger for Americans confronting the Islamist threat is to believe--at the urging of U.S. leaders--that Muslims attack us for what we are and what we think rather than for what we do. Blustering political rhetoric "informs" the public that the Islamists are offended by the Western world's democratic freedoms, civil liberties, inter-mingling of genders, and separation of church and state. However, although aspects of the modern world may offend conservative Muslims, no Islamist leader has fomented jihad to destroy participatory democracy, for example, the national association of credit unions, or coed universities. Instead, a growing segment of the Islamic world strenuously disapproves of specific U.S. policies and their attendant military, political, and economic implications. Capitalizing on growing anti-U.S. animosity, Osama bin Laden's genius lies not simply in calling for jihad, but in articulating a consistent and convincing case that Islam is under attack by America. Al Qaeda's public statements condemn America's protection of corrupt Muslim regimes, unqualified support for Israel, the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and a further litany of real-world grievances. Bin Laden's supporters thus identify their problem and believe their solution lies in war. Scheuer contends they will go to any length, not to destroy our secular, democratic way of life, but to deter what they view as specific attacks on their lands, their communities, and their religion. Unless U.S. leaders recognize this fact and adjust their policies abroad accordingly, even moderate Muslims will join the bin Laden camp. |
Cuprins
1 Some Thoughts on the Power of Focused Principled Hatred | 1 |
2 An Unprepared and Ignorant Lunge to DefeatThe United States in Afghanistan | 21 |
Al Qaedas Resiliency Expansion and Momentum | 59 |
A Muslim Leader and Hero Coming into Focus? | 103 |
Some Old Some New and a Twist | 127 |
Inicting Defeat on OurselvesNonWars Leaks and Missionary Democracy | 163 |
How Americas Stubborn Obtuseness Aids Its Foes | 209 |
A Few Suggestions for Debate | 237 |
An Essay Personal and Substantive | 261 |
Notes | 275 |
Select Bibliography | 298 |
Index | 305 |
The Author | 314 |
Termeni și expresii frecvente
11 September attacks Abu-Ubayd Afghan Afghanistan AJSCT al Qaeda Al-Ansar Al-Ansar Internet al-Fahd Al-Jazirah Al-Neda Internet al-Qurashi al-Zawahiri Allah allies America Arab Army believe Bernard Lewis bomb Bush at War camps Chechnya civil clerics Crusaders December defeat defensive jihad democracy destroy elites enemy example February fight fighters groups hate hatred hubris Ibid intelligence officers Internet version Iraq Iraqi Islamic world Islamist Islamist insurgency Israel Israeli Kabul Karzai killed Ladin leaks March Masood Mohammed mujahideen Mullah Omar Muslim world national security Northern Alliance November October Osama bin Laden Pakistan Palestinian Pashtun political Ralph Peters regime religious Saudi Arabia scholars senior U.S. September 2001 Shaykh Soviet Sunni Taleban Terror terrorist threat tion U.S. actions U.S. forces U.S. government U.S. intelligence U.S. leaders U.S. military U.S. officials U.S. policies ummah United Usama victory waging warning Washington weapons West Western words wrote Yemen York