Customer Reviews

American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Many of the one- and five-star reviews here on this book are obviously linked to the reader's political views. My objective rating is right up the middle, largely for two reasons: there's little here that I didn't already know and frankly the quality of the writing is somewhat lacking. Most of the material in the book will be familiar to anyone who has paid modest attention to the cultural and political landscape since 1980 and even the specifics will be old hat to anyone who might remotely be considered a political junkie. It is, in some ways, a rehash of mainstream political reporting on the American conservative movement of the last 30 years.

That said, American Taliban offers something to a larger audience, those who may not have paid much attention to politics between presidential elections or have for one reason or another avoided immersion into the morass of hypocrisy, duplicity, and deceit that has marked the right since at least the 1972 election. It's all here: the secret organizations, the shady corporate contributions, the legitimate sounding foundations, the suburban churches, and all the wealthy white men who have led such organizations since the 1950s. Markos offers a sometimes compelling critique, arguing that the core values of these men (and sometimes the women) really do parallel those of the Taliban in many ways. This is not surprising, since theocracy and nationalism look fairly similar across time and space. The important thing for those who are unfamiliar with the details is the very clear case he lays out to demonstrate that while American conservatives love to talk about freedom, patriotism, the Constitution, equality of opportunity, and sometimes even social justice they really support none of these things. Instead, they operate within a massive and well funded political structure that was designed to maintain the power of a small, white, male, Christian elite at the expense of everyone else. The fact that they have sold this set of values cloaked in the rhetoric of patriotism and Christianity for so long is only testament to the general lack of critical thinking among the voting population as a whole.

The general problem with the book is its tone. While I can appreciate an Al Franken rejoinder to Rush or even a dryer James Carville memoir, Markos is not that kind of writer. His book reads not unlike a well-edited series of blog entries, chatty, engaging stories, some data, into which the occasional expletive or slang phrase is interjected to "keep it real." This style has its place and may reach an audience with this book. But I would have been personally much happier with a more professional tone and a less partisan presentation of the information-- which, in its own right, is a damning condemnation of American conservatism anyway. Why dumb it down by pushing the style more toward l33t speak than a presidential address? The lack of "seriousness" (if I may) will prevent this book from becoming anything more than another partisan tome; it's easy to reject not on a factual basis but because of how it's written. It will not be taken seriously by the mainstream media or others who actually influence the way the masses think. Granted, we may not need another Richard Hofstadter at this point but one would have wished for a more professional voice if only to make the book sound more credible to those not familiar with its content.

On the balance _American Taliban_ is an interesting compendium of anecdotes and data to support a straight-forward critique of the current state of American conservativism.As such it is damning and depressing. I wish millions would read it but I fear the particular approach taken will limit its influence to a smaller audience, including the kinds of people that are likely responsible for most of the one- and five-star ratings here at Amazon.

Recommended for: young voters, political neophytes, anyone that call themselves conservative and make under $500K/year

Excellent work. Points out the foolish macho nationalism affected by so called conservatives. The kind of "conservatives" who think nothing of running up debt, growing government, declaring illegal pre-emptive wars based on lies, and ruining the environment. barry Goldwater is spinning like a top in his grave that such people call themselves conservatives. The kind who are saps for the wealthy and global corporations because they are so scared of everything they can only react with bluster and anger and are easily used. As a multi combat tour Marine Corps vet and a proud progressive I have no problem seeing them get a little taste of their own medicine albeit with much more class and factual accuracy than anything they can muster up. It's past time to fight back against ignorance and blind anger engendered by the fear of these corporate pawns.

Markos connects the dots on the obvious (to those that care to see it) facts that the right wing power bases are abusing America for the short term gains of millionairs, the ego of the religious extremists that make up their self defeating base and to generate wealth from advertising on their hyped up media empire. It is a fascinating and dangerous connect of thoughtless, emotional and ego-driven extremist that serve. Hopefully, the majority of Americans will reject the extremism and idiocy that is growing in blind, frothing support.

While getting people all riled up about 'the muslims' the American right is often the same ones in bed with them for the purposes of getting cheap oil to run American cars. This power arrangement has existed since the 1970's--if not earlier. But our government does not want to disclose this to a gullible American public.

Their remaining in office, and in power rests on maintaining a delicate power balance over the American people. Fear of an 'unknown' people and culture then keeps the American people subserviently voting in those who promise to keep the country 'safe'. Interestingly, we do not stop to question the politics/structure of this very arrangement.

Because if we did, we would discover some lurking similarities between the two governments. Maintenance of 'safety' comes through control of social customs including gender/sexual roles. 'Disparate' American Christian conservatives and Muslim Saudi Arabian conservatives are ultimately linked together in much simmilarity by their distrust of a sexuality comming outside of a very narrow and male heterosexual boundary. The two seemingly different groups have more alike than initially appears.

I read this book as the friend of somebody who had been in New York during 9/11 and those people are themselves a member of a 'minority religion' often attacked by several of the American Christian fundamentalists now rushing to oppose a mosque. And I'm also coming as the relative of servicemembers whose Middle East tour of duty enlightened them to other perspectives and religions. Learning about a religion different from their own Roman Catholicism was an unexpected benefit of military service.

This book is really informative. It of course would be a good read for a government public affairs class. But a gender studies class with an emphasis on government should also utilize it. The thesis and supporting evidence is very timely.

I have to confess that I was biased in favor of this book before I even bought it. I love Markos's website, so I knew his book would be good. I didn't, however, know that it would be THIS good. The problem with many political books today is that they are very repetitive. The author latches on to one point s/he is trying to make and beats it to death with constant repetition. Markos Moulitsas is ane xception from this rule. Each page of AMERICAN TALIBAN offers something new an interesting.

Markos's writing style is really good. He has this great sense of humor that allows him to balance out the very serious stuff he writes about with some appropriate moments of levity. The research behind this book is impressive. The author doesn't make any statements he can't corroborate. Every charge he makes against the representatives of the "American Taliban" is supported by their own statements.

The central point of the book is that - in spite of their anti-Taliban rhetoric - the representatives of the fanatical religious fringe of the American society share most of Taliban's beliefs. Both kinds of Taliban are equally preoccupied with violence, guns, hatred of sex, rejection of democracy, hatred of homosexuality, and their burning desire to keep women in a state of permanent subjection.

Both the Christian and the Muslim fundamentalists are driven by their fear and rejection of modernity. The idea that the world is changing is intolerable to them. They lash out in violence against a world that has become incomprehensible and confusing. The segment of the American society that turns to religious fanaticism because it's terrified of change is not that huge. However, members of the American Taliban are very loud and active. They insist that they speak for all Americans, even though it's patently untrue. Markos's book is an important milestone on the path of resistance to religious fanaticism in this country and everywhere in the world.

AMERICAN TALIBAN is a powerful political statement that is beautifully written and is a pleasure to read. I highly recommend it to anybody interested in politics. However, if you don't have a sense of humor, you might miss the point of the book and even become enraged by it.

which pleases the author no end. The fact that it couldn't be more obvious that not a single one of these silly commentators read the first paragraph of Kos's book isn't the point. The point is that they're driven to comment about it. Compelled. Unable to restrain themselves.

Matt Yglesias, who usually wears a white hat, reviews American Taliban with actual intellectual honesty, but Matt strays from the mark this time. He says, yes, Markos is correct about the endless cross correlations between the Afghani and the American Taliban in almost every regard, except the *degree*. Sure, Matt, but that fact hardly absolves the corporate-funded Christian mega-jihadists hell bent on destroying America in the least. The important point is that they are one and the same.

Moreover, Yglesias, misses the very reason why this book was crafted, and Tristero on Hullabaloo insightfully sets him straight:

"Matt can claim as often as he likes that he is not in any real sense equating the Taliban and William Kristol and be quite sincere about it. But simply because Kos - secondhand - got him to talk about it, that is exactly what he is doing.

And that is exactly what we want the right to do as well. We want them to defend their extremism by debunking the comparison with Taliban. Talk about it in detail, please! Tell us all about the important differences between al Qaeda's homophobia and Focus on the Family's. Explain all the nuances so we understand.

And the more they explain how different they are, the more the two are rhetorically associated. And invariably, the more plausible the comparison becomes."

Moulitsas has an agenda - one he's been more than successful with. He doesn't want a handful of "1" ratings on Amazon - he wants thousands. And there's real reasons why not a single one of them squared off against Markos' basic premise - that the Afghani and American Taliban are essentially identical down to the last exquisite detail.

They couldn't possibly object to this. Because they are.

Sometimes you just have to call a spade, a spade. For all their vehement protestations, the radical jihadists and the religious right share an alarming number of similarities. Markos is unafraid to call them on it.

Wow -- just read the reviews -- looks like the folks on the right don't much like what they see in the mirror Markos holds up to them. They are hoisted by their own petards.

If you've been really paying attention, you won't learn anything new, but it's sort of amazing to see it all organized and pulled together in one place.

If the ideas and rhetoric of the political right make you nervous -- Read this book!

If you know someone who has never really been political, but who is now hovering on the edge of becoming polically active -- Give them this book!

If you need a reason to turn and work to get Democrats and progressives elected in 2010 -- read this book!

In some ways it's simplistic and rhetorical -- American Taliban = Republican.
But this portrait grows out of the public record of the things high ranking and influential members of the Republican Party have been doing and saying for the last 40-30 years. And tracks six structural issues not window dressing -- Power, War, Sex, Women, Culture, and Truth.

If the right does not like what they see here. Then they need to start taking a long hard look at the trajectory of their actions and their rhetoric, because as it is now there is a certain structural resonance between the Republican party and the Taliban.

American Taliban is not an oxymoron, more's the pity.

Right now it's a prophetic warning. Let's hope it's a warning that gets a hearing and a positive response -- if not by the right itself -- by those of us that oppose the deep structure of fundamentalism.

Just a reminder of what's happening, right under our noses. Markos does a service by reminding readers of the dangers that live next door or just `round the corner. Hopefully, this book will generate a lot of press and attention. Already, wingers are upset about it, although most have not read it. I believe we have to confront those in this country who mirror the Taliban and let them know (via the ballot box) that the gig is up.
November will send a message - one way or the other. American Taliban should be an excellent GOTV tool. Should also be required reading in every high school civics class.
This is the best of the three books Markos has written. Good job, my friend!

I am normally a slow reader, but it took me but a mere weekend to finish this engaging and informative book. I hate to use that old clichè, "I just couldn't put it down," but it was so accurate in this case. Moulitsas has a clear, succinct, and intelligent writing style that is still very easy to read and understand in spite of its braininess. It's a short book that is packed with information and, yes, the author's opinions, but makes strong and lucid arguments against a group of Americans with a huge tendency to, well, not rely too much on making arguments to present its authoritarian belief system.

Moulitsas may indeed be "preaching to the choir" with a left-leaning reader like me, but even from a strictly aesthetic standpoint, I'm a fan. Moulitsas is a wonderful writer who makes his case vividly and with interesting detail to boot. Highly recommended for a weekend read.