Review Essay: Top 50 Books on Terrorism

and Counterterrorism
By Joshua Sinai
Terrorist rebellions, in all their configurations, constitute the primary warfare threats
facing the international community. This was especially the case following September
2001, when al-Qaea emonstrate that it ha worl class ambitions to inflict
catastrophic amages on its a!ersaries. "n other conflicts, such as the #alestinian-"sraeli
arena, terrorist targeting is primarily locali$e, although as emonstrate by %i$ballah&s
roc'et an guerrilla warfare against "srael in summer 200(, e!en locali$e conflicts ha!e
regional an international repercussions. Because of the worlwie reach of al-Qaea an
its affiliates, incluing what are referre to as al-Qaea-inspire )self-starter* home-
grown cells in +estern ,urope, -orth .merica, an elsewhere, many nations ha!e been
upgraing their homelan security efenses, an calling on their acaemic communities
to pro!ie analytical unerstaning of the origins, nature an magnitue of the terrorist
threats aroun the worl an how to counteract an resol!e them. "n response, acaemic
courses an research institutes ha!e been proliferating at colleges an uni!ersities
worlwie, with grauate certificates an egrees offere in terrorism stuies. To meet
the great eman for acaemic an public policy resources on this sub/ect, the publishing
inustry has been releasing a plethora of boo's on terrorism in general, the groups that
engage in terrorist warfare, the raical religious mo!ements that ri!e ini!iuals to /oin
terrorist groups an employ terrorist tactics on their behalf, the conflict $ones where such
warfare is being wage, an the types of counteraction that go!ernments are employing
in response.
0espite the great attention being e1pense on terrorism an counterterrorism stuies,
howe!er, the general state of the iscipline is une!en. 2ne problem is that terrorism is
first an foremost a co!ert acti!ity, with go!ernments& intelligence ser!ices, but not
acaemic analysts 3with few e1ceptions4, possessing primary ata about terrorist groups
an their acti!ities, causing terrorism stuies to be less scientifically !ali than the natural
sciences. This is especially the case in compiling ata on terrorist incients, whether
aborte, thwarte, or )successful,* or the si$e an leaership trees of terrorist
organi$ations, since such ata is largely una!ailable in open sources. "n some flagrant
cases, certain writers on terrorism ha!e been foun to fabricate their ata. 5ortunately,
there still are plenty of e1cellent boo's on this sub/ect to merit recommening them to
general an acaemic reaers.
The boo's re!iewe in this essay are i!ie into nine sections, which are not intene to
be mutually e1clusi!e6 te1tboo's on terrorism, using the social sciences to stuy
terrorism, terrorism an the "nternet, raical "slam, suicie terrorism, 7811 an its
aftermath, #alestinian terrorism, terrorism in the 9nite States, an counterterrorism.
This list of :0 boo's is not intene to be final, but will be continuously e1pane with
aitional titles. ;eaers are encourage to nominate aitional boo's for inclusion in
future lists.
Textbooks on Terrorism
0espite its relati!e bre!ity 31<< pages of te1t4, =eonar +einberg&s >lobal Terrorism6 .
Beginner&s >uie ?Secon ,ition@ 32neworl #ublications, 200AB C1D.7:4 succees in
e1plaining the history of terrorism, how to efine terrorism, what is new about al-Qaea&s
type of terrorism, the conitions that gi!e rise to terrorism, the types of ini!iuals that
become terrorists, the nature of go!ernments& responses, an how terrorism ens. The
author is a !eteran acaemic specialist on terrorism an reaers will greatly benefit from
the accumulate wisom that is sprin'le throughout this wonerfully written boo'.
>us Eartin&s 9nerstaning Terrorism6 Fhallenges, #erspecti!es, an "ssues ?Secon
,ition@ 3Thousan 2a's, F.6 Sage #ublications, 200(B (7( pagesB C(<.7:4 is one of the
finest stan-alone, comprehensi!e te1tboo's for uni!ersity courses. "ts (7( pages co!er
the spectrum of all issues in!ol!e in stuying terrorism, ranging from the early history
of terrorism, how terrorism is efine, causes of terrorism, the )morality* of terrorist
!iolence, the ob/ecti!es, tactics an targets of terrorists, the role of the meia, the
phenomenon of religious terrorism, the role of women in terrorism, the ne1us between
terrorism an organi$e crime, terrorism in the 9nite States an internationally, the
components of counterterrorism, an future terrorism trens. ,ach chapter is organi$e
peagogically, with opposing !iewpoints an issues for classroom iscussion.
Since its original publication in 177A, Bruce %offman&s "nsie Terrorism ?Secon
,ition@ 3-ew Gor'6 Folumbia 9ni!ersity #ress, 200(B D:( pagesB C2D.7:4 has become
one of the most wiely rea boo's on terrorism. This re!ise an e1pane eition
incorporates new e!elopments an trens in terrorism, particularly since 7811&s
catastrophic attac's by al-Qaea. The boo'&s chapters iscuss how to efine terrorism,
the origins of contemporary terrorism, the internationali$ation of terrorism, the role of
raical religions in ri!ing terrorism, suicie terrorism, the e1ploitation by terrorist
groups of ol 3e.g., print4 an new 3e.g., internet4 meia, terrorists& ob/ecti!es,
)traecraft,* technological inno!ations in their use of weapons, targeting, an future
trens in terrorist warfare. The author may be faulte for aopting the thesis that a
strategic logic ri!es suicie terrorism 3when, in fact, it is hugely self-estructi!e to their
group&s cause4, but otherwise the boo'&s comprehensi!eness will generate much interest
from general reaers.
Fountering Terrorism an "nsurgency in the 21st Fentury6 "nternational #erspecti!es
?Three Holumes@ 3+estport, FT6 #raeger Security "nternational, 200IB 201( pagesB
CD00.004, eite by James J.5. forest, brings together chapters by o$ens of e1perts
3incluing this re!iewer4 to iscuss terrorist threats aroun the worl an how to efeat
them. Holume " co!ers )Strategic an Tactical Fonsierations*, Holume "" e1amines
)Sources an 5acilitators*, an Holume """ iscusses )=essons =earne from Fombating
Terrorism an "nsurgency*. 0r. 5orest is 0irector of Terrorism Stuies at +est #oint&s
Fombating Terrorism Fenter.
Fhristopher F. %armon&s Terrorism Toay ?Secon ,ition@ 3-ew Gor'6 ;outlege,
200IB 2DA pagesB C<7.7:4 is a substantially re!ise an upate eition of the author&s
original eition, publishe in 2000. The te1tboo' is comprehensi!e in scope, co!ering the
history of terrorism, strategies of terrorist groups, terrorist mous operani, technologies
an tactics, counterterrorism, an an analysis of how terrorism ens.
Using the Soia! Sienes to Study Terrorism
0espite the limitations in ata acJuisition ue to the co!ert nature of terrorist acti!ities,
the acaemic stuy of terrorism has greatly benefite from concepts an methoologies
prouce by the social sciences. .s a result, acaemic analysts are able to raw on social
science isciplines to in!estigate characteristics of terrorism such as the unerlying
causes ri!ing terrorist rebellions, the psychological nature of terrorist operati!es, an the
factors ri!ing ini!iuals to become raicali$e an /oin terrorist groups.
Eapping Terrorism ;esearch6 State of the .rt, >aps an 5uture 0irection, eite by
Eagnus ;anstorp 3-ew Gor'6 ;outlege, 200IB <:2 pagesB C<I.7:4, is an attempt to ta'e
in!entory of the strengths an wea'nesses in terrorism research in orer to ientify a set
of priorities for future research. 5ourteen acaemic e1perts 3incluing this re!iewer4
contribute chapters on new trens in terrorism stuies, the impact of 7811 on terrorism
research, responing to the roots of terror, the socio-psychological component of terrorist
moti!ation, al-Qaea&s warfare, recruitment of "slamist terrorists in ,urope, the lanscape
of intelligence analysis an counterterrorism, terrorism in cyberspace, an the
components of terrorism an counterterrorism stuies.
;oot Fauses of Terrorism6 Eyths, ;eality an +ays 5orwar 3-ew Gor'6 ;outlege,
200:B 2AA pagesB CDI.7:4, eite by Tore B/orgo, is the prouct of an e1perts wor'shop
3in which this re!iewer participate4 that was hel in 2slo, -orway, in June 200<. This
was the first time that an acaemic meeting ha e!er been hel to e1plore, in a systematic
manner, concepts an methoologies to conuct analysis on root causes of terrorism.
John %organ&s The #sychology of Terrorism 3-ew Gor'6 ;outlege, 200:B 22D pagesB
CD1.7:4 is one of the best applications of a social science iscipline, in this case,
psychology, to e1plain the ri!ers that moti!ate ini!iuals to become terrorists, function
as terrorists, an, in ieal cases, isengage from terrorism. .lso noteworthy is the
author&s iscussion on how to efine terrorism an conuct acaemic research on
terrorism.
,ly Karmon&s Foalitions Between Terrorist 2rgani$ations6 ;e!olutionaries, -ationalists
an "slamists 3=eien6 Eartinus -i/hoff #ublishers, 200:B D2( pagesB C1I(.004 is an
important an inno!ati!e stuy of how terrorist organi$ations form cooperati!e coalitions
an how they function within the changing international system. 0r. Karmon focuses on
the cooperation between ,uropean left-wing terrorist organi$ations from 17AD to 17AA
an cooperation between ,uropean an #alestinian terrorist organi$ations uring the
perio of 17(A to 1770, in orer to use these finings to e!elop a broaer theory
concerning cooperati!e coalitions between organi$ations in!ol!e in international
terrorism in the 1770s an early 21
st
century. "n a masterful I0-page chapter on the
"slamist terrorist networ's, the hypotheses generate by the pre!ious case stuies are
teste to etermine whether the new terrorist actors who emerge in the 1770s, such as
al-Qaea an other "slamist groups aroun the worl, who are ri!en by religious
moti!ation, act in a similar fashion as their ieological an nationalist preecessors in
forming cooperati!e coalitions.
"n 5orecasting Terrorism6 "nicators an #ro!en .nalytical TechniJues 3=anham, E06
Scarecrow #ress, "nc., 200DB 10< pagesB CD0.004, Sunri Khalsa ientifies (A inicators of
terrorist acti!ity, base on terrorist capability an intention. These inicators, when
applie to actual terrorist group acti!ity, are intene to be use in a warning framewor'
to anticipate terrorist acti!ity that reJuires early warning. . F0-;2E is inclue to
graphically isplay the forecasting system an e1plain the author&s methoology.
The actual an potential resort by terrorist groups to weapons of mass estruction
3+E04 warfare is an issue of great concern to go!ernments that might be targete by
such intentions. 2ne of the best treatments of this sub/ect is The -ew 5ace of Terrorism6
Threats from +eapons of Eass 0estruction 3-ew Gor'6 ".B. Tauris #ublishers, 2002B
<<( pagesB C27.7:4 by -aine >urr an Ben/amin Fole.
Terrorist organi$ations an criminal enterprises, especially narco-traffic'ers, share a
number of characteristics, especially aaptability to changes in go!ernmental law
enforcement responses. "n 5rom #ablo to 2sama6 Traffic'ing an Terrorist -etwor's,
>o!ernment Bureaucracies, an Fompetiti!e .aptation 39ni!ersity #ar', #.6 The
#ennsyl!ania State 9ni!ersity #ress, 200IB <12 pagesB C2D.7:4, Eichael Kenney
e1amines how narcotics traffic'ers an terrorists )learn* to aapt to new countermeasures
against them an the lessons from such )learning* e1periences that can be use for more
effecti!e go!ernmental responses.
Terrorism and the "nternet
.s toayLs generations of terrorists are hunte by counterterrorist organi$ations, they
possess a istinct a!antage that their oler preecessors lac'e6 access to computers, the
worlwie "nternet an cyberspaceLs myria technological benefits in conucting
communications an warfare. .ccoring to >abriel +eimann&s Terror on the "nternet6
The -ew .rena, the -ew Fhallenges 3+ashington, 0F6 9nite States "nstitute of #eace,
200(B <20 pagesB C20.004, which is the first comprehensi!e stuy of this issue, terrorists
ha!e establishe a sophisticate an ynamic presence on the -et, which has completely
transforme the way they communicate, obtain information, conuct propagana an
issue threats. They use it to raicali$e an recruit new members, raise funs an train,
organi$e an carry out warfare, an then broacast such incients on their own websites.
The "nternet has become the Mseucti!e hypermeiaM for raical "slamic terrorists, with
official an unofficial +eb sites, forums an chat-rooms that appeal to supporters
worlwie. Eost +eb sites are intene to a!ance a groupLs propagana to increase
their supporting auience, while some ha!e operational intentions. %ow can we efeat
such terrorism in cyberspaceN %ypermeia Seuction for Terrorist ;ecruiting, eite by
Boa$ >anor, Katharina Hon Knop an Farlos 0uarte 3.msteram6 "2S #ress, 200IB <00
pagesB C1:0.004 is an important collection of papers by an eclectic group of international
e1perts 3in which this re!iewer participate4 in terrorist use of the "nternet, a!ertising
an graphic esign specialists, who ha been con!ene to formulate a comprehensi!e
response campaign. The !olume&s chapters e1amine raical "slamist websites, the use of
symbolism in "slamic funamentalism an Jiha, mining the Jihaist networ' in
cyberspace, the use of the "nternet as a )seucti!e* recruitment technology, an practical
ways to counter the )seucti!e* terrorist web.
Radia! "s!am
;aical "slam has not emerge in a !acuum, but is the prouct of the confluence of
historical an contemporary religious ri!ers an )real worl* factors. To unerstan the
narrati!e that is central to Euslim belief, it is essential for those engage in countering
religiously-inspire raicali$ation an terrorism to first rea the Quran. The following
fi!e boo's pro!ie an e1cellent o!er!iew of the re!i!al of militant "slam, within the
conte1t of the larger Euslim worl, which is largely mainstream.
>lobali$e "slam6 The Search for a -ew 9mmah 3-ew Gor'6 Folumbia 9ni!ersity #ress,
200DB <20 pagesB C17.7:4 by 2li!ier ;oy, iscusses the ri!ing forces behin the re!i!al
of militant "slam in +estern ,urope. Er. ;oy, a leaing 5rench acaemic e1pert on
political "slam, e1plains how many Euslims in +estern ,urope ha!e turne to raical
"slamic ieologies as a way of coping with political an psychological crises in their own
li!es an what they percei!e to be threats against their Euslim brethren aroun the worl.
"n 5unamentalism6 The Search for Eeaning 3-ew Gor'6 21for 9ni!ersity #ress, 200:B
2:D pagesB C1(.7:4, Ealise ;uth!en pro!ies a penetrating analysis of the nature of
funamentalism aroun the worl, incluing "slam. 5unamentalism in other religions,
such as Fhristianity an Juaism, are iscusse, as well. Er. ;uth!en is a British writer
who has taught at se!eral uni!ersities.
Bassam Tibi&s #olitical "slam, +orl #olitics an ,urope6 0emocratic #eace an ,uro-
"slam !ersus >lobal Jiha 3-ew Gor'6 ;outlege, 200IB <2A pagesB CD1.7:4, assesses the
impact an manifestations of political "slam, particularly in ,urope, which faces a
growing conflict between raical segments within its large Euslim minority an the
continent&s emocratic an pluralist institutions an !alues. 0r. Tibi, one of the worl&s
foremost e1perts on political "slam an .rab nationalism, is #rofessor of "nternational
;elations at the 9ni!ersity of >oettingen, in >ermany an a !isiting professor at Fornell
9ni!ersity.
"n Ba 5aith6 The 0anger of ;eligious ,1tremism 3.mherst, -G6 #rometheus Boo's,
200IB <2I pagesB C2(.004, -eil J. Kressel, a professor of psychology at +illiam #aterson
9ni!ersity, incisi!ely e1plains the nature of religious e1tremism. To 0r. Kressel,
religious e1tremists are Mthose persons who O for reasons they themsel!es eem
religious O commit, promote or support purposely hurtful, !iolent, or estructi!e acts
towar those who onLt practice their faith.M
"t is not only "slam that fosters religious e1tremism, 0r. Kressel points out. Fhristianity
an Juaism ha!e their share of anti-secularists who ele!ate sacre religious te1ts, such
as the Bible or Koran, to a position of supreme authority in a state. +hile 0r. Kressel is
critical of religious e1tremism, this is emphatically not an anti-religion treatise. %e
recommens that once a religiously e1tremist minority within a religion begins to act
!iolently, then mainstream leaers must immeiately ientify an Mself-policeM such
outbrea's. "n this way, constructi!e elements ha!e the best chance of o!erta'ing
estructi!e ones. .ll those in the counterterrorism community who wish to unerstan
an respon to the characteristics of religious e1tremism that lea to terrorism will
greatly benefit from reaing 0r. KresselLs important boo'.
9nmoern Een in the Eoern +orl6 ;aical "slam, Terrorism, an the +ar on
Eoernity 3-ew Gor'6 Fambrige 9ni!ersity #ress, 200IB <0D pagesB C17.774 by
Eichael Ea$arr, is one of the best iagnoses of the resentment by "slamist forces towar
moernity, which has le them to utili$e terrorism to retaliate against the effects of
moernity on traitional life in their respecti!e societies. "n one of his many insightful
passages, 0r. Ea$arr, a professor at the -ational +ar Follege, writes that moerni$ation
challenges the religious an spiritual element of traition by threatening to seculari$e
society Min orer to replace a religious !iew of the worl with a scientific, rationalist
one... moerni$ation an moernity place faith uner stress, call it into greater Juestion,
threaten to trae it out in fa!or of rationalist humanism. .n one result, unsurprisingly, is
a flight bac' to religion, so that the actual effect of moerni$ation in many conte1ts is an
upwelling of e!otion.M
Suiide Terrorism
2ne of the manifestations of raical "slamic terrorism is suicie martyrom bombings, in
which the goal of the perpetrator is to 'ill himself 3or herself4 together with the intene
!ictims. Suicie Bombers6 .llah&s -ew Eartyrs 3=onon6 #luto #ress, 200:B 2AA pagesB
C2I.7:4 by 5arha Khosro'ha!ar, a 5rench social scientist, iscusses the concept of
martyrom in "slam, how it e1presses itself in "ran, #alestine 3!is-P-!is "srael4, an
=ebanon, an al-Qaea&s use of martyrom operations in its worlwie operations.
"n The EartyrLs 2ath6 The .pprenticeship of a %omegrown Terrorist 3John +iley Q
Sons Fanaa, 200:B 2AA pagesB C<(.7:4 Stewart Bell, a Fanaian /ournalist, chronicles
the story of Eohamme Jabarah, a young Fanaian Euslim who became raicali$e an
recruite by al-Qaea for a bombing mission in Singapore in 2001. By in!estigating why
an intelligent young person who grew up in a comfortable mile class family in Fanaa
3although originally from Kuwait4 woul en up as an operati!e in a terrorist
organi$ation in ,ast .sia, Er. Bell searches for answers on how best to counter the
proliferation of similar types of recruits in -orth .merica an ,urope into raical "slamic
terrorism.
#$%% and its &'termath

.ccoring to ,!an 5. Kohlmann&s e1tensi!ely researche .l-Qaia&s Jiha in ,urope6
The .fghan-Bosnian -etwor' 3-ew Gor'6 Berg, 200DB 2:( pagesB C17.7:4, the %amburg
cell that ha carrie out the 7811 attac's across the continent was an outgrowth of the
infiltration of ,urope by al-Qaea&s operati!es an allies beginning in the early 1770s. .s
a fragile state with a Euslim ma/ority, Bosnia affore 2sama bin =aen&s Saui,
,gyptian an Gemeni lieutenants, an their -orth .frican )Jiha foot soliers* with a
safe ha!en to establish the infrastructural sees for the ,uropean an Fanaian )sleeper
cells* that woul threaten +estern ,uropean states an .merica in the succeeing years.
2nce al-Qaea starte its e!astating bombing campaign against .merica in ,ast .frica
in 177A, the worl&s attention began to focus on the group an its leaer, 2sama bin
=aen. 2ne of the best of the first crop of boo's on this topic was #eter Bergen&s %oly
+ar6 "nsie the Secret +orl of 2sama bin =aen 3-ew Gor'6 5ree #ress, 2002B <20
pagesB C1D.7:4, which was base on first-han in!estigati!e reporting an inter!iews with
bin =aen, his associates, an counterterrorism officials. "n 200(, Er. Bergen publishe
The 2sama bin =aen " Know6 .n 2ral %istory of al Qaea&s =eaer 3-ew Gor'6 5ree
#ress, 200(B :2A pagesB C1:.004, which upates his account by rawing on primary
ocuments an inter!iews with more than fifty people who 'new bin =aen personally.
Terry Ec0ermott&s #erfect Soliers6 The %i/ac'ers6 +ho They +ere, +hy They 0i "t
3-ew Gor'6 %arperFollins #ublishers, 200AB <(A pagesB C1D.7:4 is an e1cellent account
of the personal histories of al Qaia&s 7811 hi/ac'ers an the beliefs an moti!ations that
ro!e them to commit such horrenous acts. Ec0ermott, a =os .ngeles Times
corresponent, tra!ele to some 20 countries to conuct research for the boo'.
.lthough primarily focusing on the al-Qaea-le >lobal Salafi Jiha, Earc Sageman&s
9nerstaning Terror -etwor's 3#hilaelphia6 9ni!ersity of #ennsyl!ania #ress, 200DB
2<2 pagesB C27.7:4 is consiere one of the most original an inno!ati!e social science
stuies conucte on how ini!iuals are ri!en to /oin terrorist organi$ations. 9tili$ing
his bac'groun as a forensic psychiatrist, political sociologist an former F". case
officer in #a'istan, 0r. Sageman&s stuy is base on his 'nowlege of raical "slamic
ieologies an compilation of o$ens of biographies of terrorist operati!es which enable
him to generate a myria of finings on trens in recruitment an operational warfare by
toay&s Jihai operati!es.
0r. SagemanLs =eaerless Jiha6 Terror -etwor's in the Twenty 5irst Fentury
3#hilaelphia6 9ni!ersity of #ennsyl!ania #ress, 200AB 20A pagesB C2D.7:4, upates an
e1pans his earlier wor' on what ri!es raical elements of a society to terrorism.
.ccoring to 0r. Sageman, the pre-7811 al-Qaea has become morphe into a social
mo!ement consisting of se!eral thousan members. This ma'es al-Qaea e!en more
angerous because as a social mo!ement it has ramatically grown beyon its
organi$ational origins.
%ow o al-Qaea&s supporters become raicali$eN 0r. Sageman formulates a four
phase process that epens on an ini!iualLs sense of moral outrage in response to
percei!e suffering by fellow Euslims aroun the worlB how he might interpret such
moral outrage within the conte1t of a larger war against "slamB whether or not the sense
of Mmoral outrageM resonates with oneLs own e1perience, for e1ample, iscrimination or
ifficulty in ma'ing it in +estern society an, finally, being mobili$e by networ's that
ta'e one to the ne1t le!el of !iolent raicali$ation in the form of terrorist cells.
To counter the social mo!ement inspire by al-Qaea, 0r. Sageman proposes a strategy
to Mta'e the glory an thrill out of terrorism.M Eilitary operations against them shoul be
conucte swiftly an precisely, with such terrorists consiere Mcommon criminals.M
The sense of Mmoral outrageM by young Euslims can be iminishe by helping to resol!e
local conflicts that al-QaeaLs propagana highlights as in/ustices against the Euslim
worl. The young /ihaists want to become heroes, so they nee to be pro!ie with
alternati!e role moels, such as Euslim soccer stars an other successful community
leaers.
0r. SagemanLs incisi!e obser!ations base on carefully e1amine e!ience, astute
insights an scholarship ma'e M=eaerless JihaM the gol stanar in al-Qaea stuies.
To unerstan how terrorist groups operate, it is crucial to unco!er how they go about
recruiting new operati!es to maintain themsel!es as !iable organi$ational networ's an,
if possible, e1pan their acti!ities. Such insight is pro!ie in The =esser Jiha6 ;ecruits
an the .l-Qaia -etwor' 3=anham, E06 ;owman Q =ittlefiel #ublishers, "nc., 200IB
1ID pagesB C2D.7:4, by ,lena Eastors an .lyssa 0effenbaugh. 5ocusing primarily on
the al-Qaea networ', the authors e1amine )why, how, an where ini!iuals* become
in!ol!e in that networ', which they efine as )financial bac'ers an fun-raisers,
operators, logisticians, recruiters, trainers, an leaers.* "t is important to unco!er such
recruitment patterns to enable counterterrorism agencies to eri!e potential strategies for
ealing with the )entry* points into their networ's. By focusing on the al-Qaea
networ'&s recruitment processes, The =esser Jiha is an important contribution to our
unerstaning of the measures reJuire to counter an efeat such a terrorist networ'.
Bryn/ar =ia&s .rchitect of >lobal Jiha6 The =ife of .l Qaea Strategist .bu EusLab al-
Suri 3-ew Gor'6 Folumbia 9ni!ersity #ress, 200AB 2:( pagesB C2A.7:4, is a biography of
an important al Qaia theoretician. "n aition to writing an influential 1,(00 page boo',
al-Suri ha traine a generation of young /ihaists in the .fghan training camps an
helpe establish the organi$ation&s ,uropean networ's. Syrian-born .l-Suri was capture
in #a'istan in late 200:. =ia is a research professor at the -orwegian 0efence ;esearch
,stablishment 355"4.
(a!estinian Terrorism
+hile the threats pose by al Qaia an its worlwie affiliates occupy the attention of
most boo's, other terrorist conflicts also merit close attention. 5or e1ample, in a stunning
upset, in January 200( %amas&s political arm won the #alestinian parliamentary
elections. %amas6 #olitics, Fharity, an Terrorism in the Ser!ice of Jiha 3-ew %a!en,
FT6 Gale 9ni!ersity #ress, 200IB <<( pagesB C1I.004 by Eatthew =e!itt e1plains how
%amas was able to blen terrorism, political acti!ism, an social welfare ser!ices to
become the ominant force in the #alestinian territories. The boo' is meticulously
ocumente.

.nne Earie 2li!er an #aul Steinberg e1plore the unerpinnings of the cult of
martyrom among the #alestinians in The ;oa to EartyrLs SJuare6 . Journey "nto the
+orl of the Suicie Bomber 3-ew Gor'6 21for 9ni!ersity #ress, 200(B <0D pagesB
C17.7:4. Their boo' is base on their e1tensi!e fiel research in the +est Ban' an >a$a
Strip, which enable them to see first han an collect ocumentation an !ieo materials
to which most outsiers are not pri!y. .ccoring to the authors, suicie bombings ha!e
become so eeply ingraine in #alestinian society as a Lcult of martyromL that Mlengthy
inoctrination an training sessions for suicie bombers were no longer eeme
necessary. "nee, the script was so well 'nown that someone who wante to become a
bomber, it was sai, was simply gi!en a bombB he ecie the coorinates for himself.M
This beautifully written yet isturbing boo' offers a uniJue perspecti!e on the intifaa
an the #alestinian-"sraeli conflict, written by authors who emonstrate great
unerstaning of the #alestiniansL internal an e1ternal struggles.
.nat Ber'oLs The #ath to #araise6 The "nner +orl of Suicie Bombers an Their
0ispatchers 3+estport, FT6 #raeger Security "nternational, 200IB 21( pagesB CD7.7:4 is
an insightful e1amination of #alestinian suicie bombers an the men who ispatch them
on their missions. +hile concrete grie!ances against "srael an its occupation policy O
primarily in the +est Ban' 3since "srael has withrawn from the >a$a Strip4 O ri!e
most #alestinian suicie bombers to attac' "sraelis, the cult of eath through martyrom
is reinforce aily through inoctrination an hate propagana in #alestinian mosJues,
schools, meia an popular music. %ow can suicie bombings be stoppeN The 'ey, 0r.
Ber'o belie!es, rests with Euslim religious leaers, who Mha!e the moral responsibility
to forcefully conemn suicie bombing attac's an to issue uneJui!ocal fatwas ?religious
rulings@ against them.M They must emphatically state that those who carry out such
attac's Mnot only o not automatically go to paraise, but that they automatically go to
hell.M The boo' contains a wealth of information about #alestinian society, such as the
impact of polygamous families an arrange marriages on the sons an aughters who
ecie to become suicie martyrs.
Bernar ;ougier&s ,!eryay Jiha6 The ;ise of Eilitant "slam among #alestinians in
=ebanon 3Fambrige, E.6 %ar!ar 9ni!ersity #ress, 200IB <<< pagesB C2A.7:4 is base
on the author&s intensi!e fiel wor' in the #alestinian refugee camp of .in al-%ilweh, the
countryLs largest concentration of #alestinians. Er. ;ougier is a Eile ,ast scholar
affiliate with Sciences-#o in #aris. .lthough he is chiefly concerne with how militant
pan-"slamism too' hol in .in al-%ilweh, he offers e1tensi!e e!ience of similar
e!elopments in -ahr al-Bare an other refugee camps. %e shows how a growing
number of isaffecte #alestinian refugees now !iew themsel!es as part of the global
geography of raical "slam, pointing out that this is a position that has le them to
ientify with the rhetoric of al-Qaea. Er. ;ougier conclues that militant "slamism
among the #alestinians can be mitigate by re-in!igorating the #alestinian-"sraeli peace
process an offering the #alestinians a !iable state.
Terrorism in the United States

"n %oly +ar on the %ome 5ront6 The Secret "slamic Terror -etwor' in the 9nite States
3-ew Gor'6 Sentinel, 200(B 2:( pagesB C21.004 %ar!ey Kushner 3with Bart 0a!is4 assert
that for more than two ecaes a secret networ' of "slamic e1tremists belonging to al-
Qaea an %amas has been entrenching itself in .merican society, where some of them
function as leaers of local an national "slamic organi$ations an charities, religious
preachers, soliers, rug smugglers, an prison chaplains. Er. Kushner is chairman of the
epartment of criminal /ustice at =ong "slan 9ni!ersity an a well-respecte terrorism
e1pert.
The Terrorist -e1t 0oor6 The Eilitia Eo!ement an the ;aical ;ight 3-ew Gor'6
Thomas 0unne Boo's, 2002B D1( pagesB C2I.7:4 by 0aniel =e!itas cautions us that far-
right e1tremist groups in .merica ha!e always pose a terrorist threat, as e1emplifie by
-eo--a$i groups such as the .ryan -ations an ini!iuals such as Timothy EcHeigh.
,1tensi!ely researche an ocumente, this is the most efiniti!e account e!er written
on .merica&s far-right militia mo!ements.
U)S) Counterterrorism
The political an intelligence failures by the Flinton an Bush aministrations to pre!ent
7811 ha!e resulte in the publication of numerous boo's, of which nine are briefly
re!iewe here. The first was Brea'own6 %ow .merica&s "ntelligence 5ailures =e to
September 11 3+ashington, 0F6 ;egnery #ublishing "nc., 2002B 2:( pagesB C17.7:4 by
+ashington Times& in!estigati!e reporter Bill >ert$, which places the blame on the lac'
of political will by successi!e aministrations an Fongress to !igorously counter al-
Qaea&s growing threat.

"n Terrorism an 9.S. 5oreign #olicy 3+ashington, 0F6 Broo'ings "nstitution #ress,
200<B 2A: pagesB C<(.7: harco!erB C20.7: paper4, #aul #illar pro!ies a framewor' for
unerstaning the history an current posture of 9.S. counterterrorism policy. The
concluing chapter pro!ies recommenations for impro!ing .merica&s counterterrorism
capability. 0r. #illar is a former eputy chief of the F".&s Founterterrorist Fenter, an
currently a !isiting professor at >eorgetown 9ni!ersity.

+ith the benefit of time an a full complement of staff to conuct its research an call on
e1pert witnesses, The 7811 Fommission ;eport6 5inal ;eport of the -ational
Fommission on Terrorist .ttac's 9pon the 9nite States 3-ew Gor'6 +.+. -orton Q
Fompany, 200DB :(A pagesB C10.004 pro!ies the most comprehensi!e critiJue of the
e!ents an policies that le to 7811 3although since its publication Juestions ha!e arisen
o!er its glossing of e!ience that more may ha!e been 'nown than what was inclue in
its report by 9.S. intelligence units about al-Qaea&s pre-7811&s preparatory acti!ities4.
0aniel Ben/amin&s an Ste!en Simon&s The -e1t .ttac'6 The 5ailure of the +ar on
Terror an a Strategy for >etting it ;ight 3-ew Gor'6 Times Boo's, 200:B <:2 pagesB
C1(.004, belie!e that .merica is losing the war on terrorism. 0ue to the Bush
aministrationLs post-September 11 policies, they write, .merica&s strategic position is
wea'eningB increasing numbers of Euslims are /oining the raical "slamists in terrorist
!iolence. Jihaist ieology has become the blooy banner for grie!ances aroun the
worl, Mmerging into a per!asi!e hatre of the 9nite States, its allies, an the
international orer they uphol.M This hatre has loosene Euslim religious an social
inhibitions on !iolence that it now /ustifies an attac' on MinfielsM such as the 9nite
States using weapons of mass estruction. .s a conseJuence of what Eessrs. Ben/amin
an Simon 3but not necessarily others4 consier to be the Bush aministrationLs failure to
unerstan that raical "slam is a transnational problem an the inter!ention in "raJ,
which has turne that country into the Mcentral theater of the /ihaist struggle,M they argue
that M9nwittingly, we are clearing the way for the ne1t attac' O an those that will come
after.M
2ne of the most sweeping an e1tensi!ely researche narrati!e of the e!ents leaing to
al-Qaea&s 7811 attac's is pro!ie by =awrence +right&s The =ooming Tower6 .l-
Qaea an the ;oa to 7811 3-ew Gor'6 Knopf, 200(B DA0 pagesB C2I.7:4. "t also
e1amines al-Qaea&s acti!ities from the perspecti!es of .merican counterterrorism
agencies that ha trie, but ultimately faile, to stop them.

"n The 2ne #ercent 0octrine6 0eep "nsie .merica&s #ursuit of "ts ,nemies Since 7811
3-ew Gor'6 Simon Q Schuster, 200(B <AD pagesB C2I.004 !eteran /ournalist ;on Sus'in
argues that the failure to anticipate 7811 le the Bush .ministration to aopt a new
preempti!e counterterrorism octrine in which e!en the possibility of a one percent
li'elihoo of a nuclear etonation.
The Terrorist +atch6 "nsie the 0esperate ;ace to Stop the -e1t .ttac' 3-ew Gor'6
Frown 5orum, 200IB 2I2 pagesB C2(.7:4 by ;on Kessler is an insightful an re!ealing
loo' at how 9.S. counterterrorism agencies an their top players conucte .mericaLs
attac's on al-Qaea an its affiliates prior to an following September 11. Kessler is a
!eteran +ashington-base in!estigati!e /ournalist on national security an the author of
1( boo's. %is unparallele access to top players in .mericaLs counterterrorism campaign
allowe him a rare glimpse into their traecraft, ma'ing The Terrorist +atch a ri!eting
account.
,!olution of 9.S. Founterterrorism #olicy ?Three Holumes@, eite by Gonah .le1aner
an Eichael B. Kraft 3+estport, FT6 #raeger Security "nternational, 200IB 1D:( pagesB
C277.004, is a comprehensi!e collection of 'ey ocuments, statements, an testimony on
9.S. go!ernment counterterrorism policies, laws an programs as they e!ol!e prior to
an following 7811. 2ne of the co-authors, Er. Kraft, is a former high le!el State
0epartment official, so the !olume greatly benefits from his e1tensi!e 'nowlege of
these issues.
Eichael .. Sheehan&s Frush the Fell6 %ow to 0efeat Terrorism +ithout 0efeating
2ursel!es 3;anom %ouse, 200AB <20 pagesB C2D.7:4, recommens using )offensi!e
operational intelligence* to ientify an efeat terrorist cells, some of which are loosely
affiliate )wannabes*. Er. Sheehan is a former 0eputy Fommissioner for
Founterterrorism in the -ew Gor' Fity #olice 0epartment an .mbassaor at =arge for
Founterterrorism at the State 0epartment.
Counterterrorism * +enera!
"n The Founter-Terrorism #u$$le6 . >uie for 0ecision Ea'ers 3-ew Brunswic', -J6
Transaction #ublishers, 200:B <<D pagesB C<7.7:4 Boa$ >anor, one of "srael&s top
counterterrorism acaemic e1perts, ientifies terrorist threats an elineates ways in
which go!ernments can most successfully counteract them. The Mpu$$leM of the boo'Ls
title hints at the myria ways a response to a terrorist threat can ta'e shape in the form of
policy ma'ing, intelligence collection an analysis, eterrence, an offensi!e an
efensi!e countermeasures 3an how to a!oi the Mboomerang effectM4.
,manuel >ross&s The Struggle of 0emocracy .gainst Terrorism6 =essons from the
9nite States, the 9nite Kingom, an "srael 3Fharlottes!ille, H.6 9ni!ersity of
Hirginia #ress, 200(B <20 pagesB C<:.004 is one of the best stuies on the legal challenges
an moral ilemmas face by emocracies in balancing security against ci!il liberties,
human rights an the rule of law in countering the threats pose by terrorists. Er. >ross
co!ers the spectrum of rele!ant topics incluing efining terrorism, the laws of war in
countering terrorism, interrogating terrorists, the powers of military commaners in
aministering areas where terrorists operate 3such as in "raJ or the +est Ban'4,
aministrati!e etention, the right to pri!acy by citi$ens uring emergency perios, the
use of ci!ilians by terrorists or armies as human shiels, an thwarting terrorist acts
through targete 'illings of terrorist leaers an operati!es.
Ea'ing the -ation Safer6 The ;ole of Science an Technology in Fountering Terrorism,
by the -ational ;esearch Founcil of the -ational .caemies 3+ashington, 0F6 The
-ational .caemies #ress, 2002B DD0 pagesB CD1.<(4, is consiere one of the )classic*
stuies in homelan security. Fomprehensi!e in scope an authoritati!e in its technical
e1pertise, the !olume&s chapters iscuss scientific an technical approaches to mitigate
!ulnerabilities in 'ey infrastructural sectors, such as transportation, information an
telecommunications systems, health systems, the electric power gri, foo an water
supplies, an others that may be susceptible to terrorist attac's. "t also iscusses nuclear
an raiological threats, bioterrorism, to1ic chemicals an e1plosi!e materials,
cyberterrorism, an potential threats to energy systems, such as the electrical power gri
an oil an gas. 5or each of the critical infrastructure sectors iscusse, the !olume
pro!ies recommenations on how to apply 'nowlege an technology to ma'e the
nation safer, as well as the research an e!elopment programs that are reJuire to
prouce inno!ations to protect the nation against future threats.
%omelan Security6 . Fomplete >uie to 9nerstaning, #re!enting, an Sur!i!ing
Terrorism 3-ew Gor'6 Ec>raw-%ill, 200:B ::( pagesB CI:.004 by Ear' .. Sauter an
James Jay Farafano is a theoretical an practical treatment of terrorism, counter-terrorism
an homelan security. The boo' is i!ie into three sections6 the emergence of
homelan security as a moern concern, how to unerstan terrorism an an o!er!iew of
.mericaLs homelan-security system. .lthough primarily written as a te1tboo' for the
acaemic mar'etOwith each chapter beginning with an o!er!iew an learning ob/ecti!es
an ening with a chapter summary, iscussion topics, notes on sources an e!en a Jui$
O)%omelan SecurityM is much more than a te1tboo'. "t is an inispensable reference
resource for those see'ing to unerstan how terrorists operate an the structures an
mechanisms that ha!e been e!elope to respon to the magnitue of the terrorist threats
confronting us.
Fountering Terrorism an +E06 Freating a >lobal Founter-Terrorism -etwor' 3-ew
Gor'6 ;outlege, 200(B <00 pagesB CD:.7:4, eite by #eter Katona, Eichael 0.
"ntriligator an John #. Sulli!an, brings together e1perts from a range of isciplines to
iscuss the components necessary for comprehensi!e counter-terrorism. +hat sets this
boo' apart from other initiati!es are the authors& speciali$ations in clinical meicine,
public health, economics, political science an public policy, law enforcement, military
an intelligence.
0aniel Byman&s The 5i!e 5ront +ar6 The Better +ay to 5ight >lobal Jiha 3+iley,
200IB <20 pagesB C2:.7:4 proposes a comprehensi!e approach to countering terrorism,
in!ol!ing the use of intelligence, law enforcement, a counter narrati!e to al-Qaea&s
ieology, reforms in the targete countries, an strong alliances among go!ernments. 0r.
Byman irects >eorgetown 9ni!ersity&s Security Stuies #rogram an the Fenter for
#eace an Security Stuies.
Joshua Sinai is a program manager for counterterrorism studies, The Analysis
Corporation (www.theanalysiscorp.com), USA.