Terrorism Books - Page 4

American Heroes: In the Fight Against Radical Islam (War Stories)

Oliver North

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

What is a Hero? New York Times best-selling author Oliver North says, “Real heroes are selfless. Those who serve America in harm’s way in the war against radical Islam have that quality in abundance. And so do their families and loved ones at home. Yet, they rarely get the attention or coverage they deserve.

“Despite the way they are presented by too many in the press and politics, the men and women in uniform today are overwhelmingly good. I never cease to be amazed at the self-discipline of these brave young Americans. They can endure the adrenaline-pumping violence of an enemy engagement, and then, just minutes later, help school children get safely to their classes . . . No nation—ours included—has ever had a military force better than the one we have today. I’m proud of them. You should be too.”

 

In American Heroes (a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post best seller), North offers an inspiring, first-hand account of the extraordinary men and women defending America against radical Islamic terror from his perspective as a forty year member of the United States military, a member of the National Security Council staff and serving as the U.S. government’s counter-terrorism coordinator from 1983-1986. This patriotic book also pulls in new reports and exclusive full-color photographs from War Stories, the award-winning FOX News Channel series hosted by North.

 

Endorsements

 

"Oliver North has spent his life among America’s heroes. This book with its moving words and powerful images will inspire patriots, reassure the faint of heart, and infuriate our nation’s adversaries. These are our heroes, they deserve to have their story told, and no one is better to tell it than Col. North, because when it comes to heroes, it takes one to know one. This book is a treasure."

—Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and New York Times bestselling author of Real Change

"Ollie North has ‘been there—done that’ with the American heroes who are winning the war against radical Islamic terror. This book is a magnificent tribute to the warriors who defend us all."

—Sean Hannity, host of The Sean Hannity Show and FOX News Channel’s Hannity & Colmes

 

Night Fall

Nelson DeMille

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 349 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Fantastic book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My husband and I both read this book and neither of us could put it down. My husband actually started reading it late at night when I finished and then he read for the entire night not stopping until it was time to leave for work in the morning. I have recommended this book to so many people and all of them have been just as impressed with it. Definitely one of the best books I have ever read.

Editorial Review:

Five years after the horrific crash of TWA Flight 800 over Long Island which killed 230 people, John Corey is inadvertently caught up in the now closed case by his FBI lawyer wife, Kate, who believes the government's findings of mechanical failure is wrong. The FBI don't take kindly to the case being looked into again and, as John Corey's instincts and investigations clearly show anomalies, he and Kate are sent off to the Yemen and Tanzania for a month or so each as punishment. On his return, John is not put off - he has ten days' leave. Ten days in which to avoid the FBI and to find that elusive video tape taken by two adulterous lovers on the beach which may - or may not - show a sea-to-air missile racing up to hit the TWA Flight 800...An exciting, edge-of-the-seat thriller - Nelson DeMille's best to date. * www nelsondemille.net

All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror

Stephen Kinzer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 137 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Sometimes the truth has a liberal bias 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

To write a good history book like this one an author needs to do well in three separate areas. He needs to research the topic at hand, write a readable account and finally analyze the events. Kinzer performs exceptionally well in all three areas. First, the book is meticulously researched. He discusses appropriate history without going into unnecessary or boring details to give the reader an appropriate context and background leading up to the 1953 coup. He also uses a diverse set of resources which leaves no holes in the story.

Second, Kinzer's writing is engaging and at times suspenseful. In fact at the end of many chapters, I was unable to put the book aside and take a break from reading due to the suspense Kinzer created. The story is very easy to follow and the reader needs practically no background to follow the events. This is particularly impressive given the relative short length of the book. My only criticism is that I wished he had summarized the cast of characters in an appendix or in the beginning as many similar books do.

Finally, his analysis, while many have called too liberal, is even handed. He makes a leap by implying that 9/11 events may have not happened if it weren't for the 1953 CIA led coup. Of course we will never know for sure. He supports his claims convincingly that the coup led to the eventual 1979 hostage crisis and the anti-American feelings in the Middle East. Liberal bias? The facts speak for themselves. The CIA using American tax payer money to overthrow a popular and democratically elected government. We, in the USA, would not appreciate if foreigners overthrew our government so why have a double standard? Perhaps Mossadegh is being glorified too much and ultimately he would have led Iran towards the wrong path, but the point remains that we will never know thanks to the coup. Kinzer does entertain the possibilities that Mossadegh would have been terrible for Iran and the West so I reject the idea that he has a strong liberal bias.

If you, like me, find the "Death to USA" chants and hostage taking barbaric and puzzling, this book will offer you fresh insights and help you understand the roots of these actions. You will become a lot smarter and more knowledgeable about the Middle East after reading it. I highly recommend this book.

Editorial Review:

This is the first full-length account of the CIA's coup d'etat in Iran in 1953—a covert operation whose consequences are still with us today. Written by a noted New York Times journalist, this book is based on documents about the coup (including some lengthy internal CIA reports) that have now been declassified. Stephen Kinzer's compelling narrative is at once a vital piece of history, a cautionary tale, and a real-life espionage thriller.

America's Secret War: Inside the Hidden Worldwide Struggle Between the United States and Its Enemies

George Friedman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 68 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Dubbed by Barron’s as “The Shadow CIA,” George Friedman’s global intelligence company, Stratfor, has provided analysis to Fortune 500 companies, news outlets, and even the U.S. government. Now Friedman delivers the geopolitical story that the mainstream media has been unable to uncover — the startling truth behind America’s foreign policy and war effort in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond.

Stratfor, one of the world’s most respected private global intelligence firms, has an unmatched ability to provide clear perspective on the current geopolitical map. In America's Secret War, George Friedman identifies the United States’ most dangerous enemies, delves into presidential strategies of the last quarter century, and reveals the real reasons behind the attack of 9/11—and the Bush administration’s motivation for the war in Iraq. It describes in eye-opening detail America’s covert and overt efforts in the global war against terrorism: Not only are U.S. armies in combat on every continent, but since 9/11 the intelligence services of dozens of nations have been operating in close partnership with the CIA.

Drawing on Stratfor’s vast information-gathering network, Friedman presents an insightful picture of today’s world that goes far beyond what is reported on television and in other news media.

Al Qaeda’s war plans and how they led to 9/11

The threat of a suitcase nuclear bomb in New York and how that changed the course of the war.

The deal the U.S. made with Russia and Iran which made the invasion of Afghanistan possible – and how those deals affect the United States today.

How fear and suspicion of the Saudis after 9-11 tore apart the Bush-Saudi relationship and why Saudi Arabia’s closest friends in the administration became the Saudi’s worst enemies.

The real reasons behind George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq and how WMD became the cover for a much deeper game.

How the CIA miscalculated about Saddam Hussein’s and Iran’s real plans, leaving the U.S. bogged down in the war.

How the war in Iraq began with a ruse, pretending that a “target of opportunity” attack on Saddam Hussein had presented itself.

The real story about why the U.S. raises and lowers its alert status and why the United States can’t find and destroy al Qaeda.

The strategic successes that are slowly leading the United States to victory

America's Secret War is an unprecedented look at the new world war being waged behind-the-scenes today. It is sure to stir debate and capture headlines around the world.

Lost Light

Michael Connelly

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 166 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Lost Light 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I received my book within the alloted time given to me and it was and is in excellent condition. I am very satisfied.

Fantastic read from Connelly 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As I work my way back through some of Connelly's previous works, I recently had an opportunity to read Lost Light, one of the Harry Bosch stories. With Bosch, Connelly has a great character around whom to build a great story. In Lost Light, Bosch, a recently-retired police detective from Los Angeles, is drawn back to an unsolved murder case from his active duty days. Connelly presents a compelling story, demonstrating the sharp wit and keen analytical insight of the Bosch character , while simultaneously providing solid insights into Bosch's underlying motivations and emotions. As the story unfolds, Connelly pulls the reader forward with twists and turns in the plot as Bosch solves the mystery. Lost Light is a without question a page turner from start to finish.

Editorial Review:

Fed up with the hypocrisy and bureaucracy of the LAPD, Harry Bosch has retired.But the life of a retiree doesn't suit him.He has devoted himself to law enforcement out of a deep drive to see justice done equally for all.On his own, he is still drawn toward the abyss. And when he rediscovers a startling, unsolved murder among the old case files he's been poring over, he knows he can't rest until he finds the killer, with or without a badge. Moving ever further inside the remarkable character of Harry Bosch, whom the New York Post calls 'the quintessential mystery book hero,' Michael Connelly takes another step closer to the classic novels of Raymond Chandler in this breakneck, relentless, and potent new novel.

The Lion's Game

Nelson DeMille

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 472 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Lion's Game Goes Into Overtime! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Lion's Game is a great, but long read with a double narrative. At first, I was concerned about whether or not I would get lost in this approach, but DeMille took careful steps to avoid a spaghetti bowl of words.

The Lion's Game follows former NYC Det. John Corey, now a member of an elite anti-terrorist unit for the government. Don't worry, he's still the same old Corey, only this time his showdown is with a meaner than a snake terrorist from Lybia.

Although I enjoyed The Lions' Game, I did have a problem with the inability for some characters to see what the Lion's game was all about. Key things happen and are revealed to the task force that should have made them go "Oh yeah! That's what he is up to!" Because of my love for the character John Corey, I wrote off his inability due to his over stimulated libido. However, at times, he turned into a knucklehead.

I agree with one of the reviews written here. The best way to read a DeMille book is to go in without having an idea of plot. However, that will not make a difference with The Lion's Game. You'll know what the bad guy is out to do way before the good guys get close to figuring it out. The disappointing thing is that you get the information to help you figure it out when the good guys get it.

Overall, a fun read that could have used some great editing. DeMille could have shaved 100-200 pages of this bad boy. Still, I recommend it, if you have the time.

Editorial Review:

When Asad was just 16, an American bomb killed his mother and four siblings. Twelve years later he is in New York City, determined to avenge their deaths by killing all five of the surviving pilots. John Corey, now working for the Anti-Terrorist Task Force, must find and stop him.

Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Units

Aaron Cohen, Douglas Century

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

At the age of eighteen, Aaron Cohen left Beverly Hills to prove himself in the crucible of the armed forces. He was determined to be a part of Israel's most elite security cadre, akin to the American Green Berets and Navy SEALs. After fifteen months of grueling training designed to break down each individual man and to rebuild him as a warrior, Cohen was offered the only post a non-Israeli can hold in the special forces. In 1996 he joined a top-secret, highly controversial unit that dispatches operatives disguised as Arabs into the Palestinian-controlled West Bank to abduct terrorist leaders and bring them to Israel for interrogation and trial.

Between 1996 and 1998, Aaron Cohen would learn Hebrew and Arabic; become an expert in urban counterterror warfare, the martial art of Krav Maga, and undercover operations; and participate in dozens of life-or-death missions. He would infiltrate a Hamas wedding to seize a wanted terrorist and pose as an American journalist to set a trap for one of the financiers behind the Dizengoff Massacre, taking him down in a brutal, hand-to-hand struggle. A propulsive, gripping read, Cohen's story is a rare, fly-on-the-wall view into the shadowy world of "black ops" that redefines invincible strength, true danger, and inviolable security.

Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama That Unfolded in the Skies Over America on 9/11

Lynn Spencer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

On the azure blue morning of 9/11 the skies were pronounced "severe clear," in the parlance of airline pilots; a gorgeous day for flying. Nearly 5,000 flights were cruising the skies over America when FAA Operations Manager Ben Sliney arrived at the Command Center for his first day on that job. He could never have anticipated the historic drama that was about to unfold as Americans who found themselves on the front lines of a totally unprecedented attack on our homeland sprang into action to defend our country and save lives.

In this gripping moment-to-moment narrative, based on groundbreaking reporting, Lynn Spencer brings the inspiring true drama of their unflinching and heroic response vividly to life for the first time, taking us right inside the airliner cockpits and control towers, the fighter jets and the military battle cabs. She makes vital corrections to the findings of the 9/11 Commission Report, and reveals many startling, utterly unknown elements of the story.

As a commercial pilot herself, for whom the attacks hit terribly close to home, she knew that the true scope and nature of the response so brilliantly improvised that morning by those in the thick of the action -- with so little guidance from those at the highest levels -- had not at all been captured by the news coverage or the 9/11 Commission. To get to the truth, she went on a three-year quest, interviewing hundreds of key players, listening to untold hours of tapes and pouring through voluminous transcripts to re-create each heart-stopping moment as it happened through their eyes and in their words as the drama unfolded.

From the shocking moment at 7:59 a.m. that American 11 fails to respond to a controller's call, until the last commercial flight has safely landed and military jets rule the skies, all Americans will find themselves deeply moved and amazed by the grace and fierce determination of these steely men and women as they draw on all of their exquisite training to grasp, through the fog of war, what is happening, put their lives on the line, and mount an astonishing response.

This beautifully crafted and deeply affecting account of the full story of their courageous actions is a vital addition to the country's understanding of a day that has forever changed our nation.

The Mind of Jihad

Laurent Murawiec

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Their own words 5 out of 5 stars.
41 of 41 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer should focus on the book, not celebrate his own prejudices and bigotry--as the previous reviewer of this book has done. Has he even read it? This valuable, cooly rational work is not a rant of any sort, but a careful historical analysis, based upon decades of studying the background material. Author Murawiec does not impose his own pre-formed views; instead, he does exactly what a serious researcher should do: He allows terrorists and the extremist thinkers who formed their beliefs to speak in their own words. Upon hundreds of occasion in this book, we hear the chilling, to-the-point (of the sword) writings, pronouncements and sermons of radical Islamist thinkers over the centuries. The author does, in my view, a brilliant, pithy job of describing how certain streams within Islam (not Islam as a whole) have constructed their own deviant theologies of death. Does the previous reviewer object to we, the people, hearing what our enemies have said for themselves? If we are ever to get beyond the totalitarian prejudices on both the extreme political left and right in our own country, it will be because concerned citizens read and think about serious works such as this (no mind develops if fed only comfortable, unchallenging food). And let us remember: Over the centuries and unto this day, the all-or-nothing fanatics who have afflicted Islam have killed far, far more Muslims than they have killed non-Muslims. The problem isn't faith, but fanaticism that corrupts faith. On a lesser level, unfair reviews scribbled down in a fit of political pique only make things worse. If we are unwilling to hear that which is uncomfortable, it will be far more difficult for us to do what is right. I strongly recommend this book for serious readers.

Editorial Review:

This book examines contemporary jihad as a cult of violence and power. All jihadi groups, whether Shiite or Sunni, Arab or not, are characterized by a similar bloodlust. Murawiec characterizes this belief structure as identical to that of Europe's medieval millenarians and apocalyptics, arguing that both jihadis and their European cousins shared in a Gnostic ideology: a God-given mission endowed the Elect with supernatural powers and placed them above the common law of mankind. Although the ideology of jihad is essentially Islamic, Murawiec traces the political technologies used by modern jihad to the Bolsheviks. Their doctrines of terror as a system of rule were appropriated by radical Islam through multiple lines of communication. This book brings history, anthropology, and theology to bear to understand the mind of jihad that has declared war on the West and the world.