If someone knew when and where the next major terrorist attack was to be to take place against America, wouldn't the US intelligence community want to know about it? In Countdown to Terror, US Congressman Curt Weldon, proves that "Ali," an informant with access to the minutes of the most secret Iranian councils does have details about many plots against the US. In fact, he has outright predicted - days, weeks, or months in advance - numerous terrorist plots that were actually carried out our thwarted at the last minute. Still, the CIA, the DIA, the NSA, and the FBI in the US have all repeatedly refused to listen to him, even going as far as to threaten him for his communications with Congressman Weldon. "Ali" now warns of an even greater threat than the 11th of September 2001 - a plot called "The 12th Imam" - which the US intelligence community must act upon, or face catastrophic consequences. Congressman Weldon exposes a deeply dysfunctional culture and perverse political agendas in American intelligence that are endangering American security. He also explains why the recent restructuring of the intelligence agencies will do nothing to fix the country's broken and failing intelligence services.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
Could the next September 11 be nuclear? This is no theory, says Congressman Curt Weldon, in his shocking new book Countdown to Terror. It is a fact as real as the arrest of Muslim terrorists who planned to crash a plane into the Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire in 2004. What’s even more stunning, Congressman Weldon tried to warn American intelligence about the attack—but no one in America’s intelligence community would listen. How did Congressman Weldon know about it? Because of a secret source, an intelligence contact code-named Ali who has been a treasure trove of reliable intelligence—intelligence that, despite Congressman Weldon’s strenuous efforts, has been routinely ignored by the CIA and the rest of America’s intelligence services. But in Countdown to Terror, Congressman Weldon lets you know what the CIA doesn’t want to know. You’ll learn, straight from Ali’s actual reports: · Why Iran will decide the next terror strike on America · How a major planned terror strike was called off because the terrorists thought it would help President Bush politically · Why Iran, not al Qaeda, is the command post of radical Islamic terror · Who is undercutting American efforts to create a peaceful, stable Iraq · Why Iran is like the Soviet Union in the 1980s: extremely dangerous, the iron glove behind all our enemies—yet on the verge of internal collapse · The Iranian nuclear program: red-hot and more advanced than you think Congressman Weldon’s sharing of vital intelligence with you, the reading public, is unprecedented. But it is necessary so that the American people can be informed and pressure our government to do what needs to be done to protect our country, fix our still broken intelligence services, and win the war on terrorism. Countdown to Terror is a frightening book—but it is all true. And if we act now, we can avoid its grimmest scenarios.
About the Author
Congressman Curt Weldon is a senior member of the US Congress's House Armed Services Committee. He served for six years as the Chairman of the Military Research and Development Subcommittee, overseeing the development and testing of key military systems, weapons programmes and technologies.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quite Possibly the Truth.,
By
This review is from: Countdown to Terror: The Top-Secret Information that Could Prevent the Next Terrorist Attack on America--and How the CIA Has Ignored It (Hardcover)
In "Countdown to Terror" we have a first person account of our failings in The War on Terror which are specifically described in light of the 12th Iman plot. It comes straight from the mouth of Curt Weldon, Congressman, and vice chairman of the House Armed Service Committee. He immediately states that a "politically correct" attitude towards intelligence has eroded our national security. I should state ahead of time that it is a partisan account (which doesn't bother me) as the Republican representative blames the Clinton Administration for much of what is wrong with our intelligence apparatus today. Also, Weldon provides documents revealing that the Iranian government actively desired a Democrat in the White House in 2004, and that they had businessmen channeling funds for this purpose.
Weldon is introduced to an Iranian revolutionary, counter-revolutionary as the case may be, to whom he gives the name "Ali." He goes to Paris to meet with him, and then forwards the information to the CIA who allegedly send a member of the French Interior Ministry to threaten Ali and demand that he keep quiet. Ali has well-developed sources in Iran who have told him all kinds of things which would shock the American public--and everybody else. Most important are: 1. At the present time, Osama bin Laden is being hidden and sheltered in Iran by the Iranian government. 2. Iran is sponsoring and planning an assassination attempt on the first President Bush. 3. The Iranian government's attempt to build a nuclear bomb is far more advanced than we know. 4. Iran is actively trying to purchase a nuclear weapon from North Korea. 5. Ayatollah Khameni put out a contract (so to speak) on Yassir Arafat due to his wish to derail "an American peace." The overall theme of the book is "speak truth to bureaucracy." Weldon knows that it goes against tradition and his better judgment, but he wishes to take his case to the American people so that they can be fully informed of the information that he has, which the CIA does not regard as being accurate. The impression that one has, after reading this account, of Ayatollah Khameni and his Committee of Nine is that they are completely mad. They anticipate an American invasion of Iran and are actively taking steps to prevent it. The leadership fully believes that they are not like Iraq and will win a showdown with the United States. They regard the first President Bush as being the real brains behind the W presidency and that is why they wish to eliminate him. Most intriguing to me, is that the Iranian government has created a Legion of Foreigners known as the "Fer de lance" which boasts 22,000 members from various countries. The book is mostly comprised of letters and memoranda that the Congressman has received from Ali. For this reason, while the work is very interesting, I cannot recommend to you that you purchase its 200 pages for the price they're asking. Picking it up used, or at least in paperback, is best practice unless you are independently wealthy. Yet, for those who follow the behaviors of Islamofacist Iran, the story is infinitely believable.
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astonishing book, don't disregard so quickly,
By Jordan Williams (Marietta, GA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Countdown to Terror: The Top-Secret Information that Could Prevent the Next Terrorist Attack on America--and How the CIA Has Ignored It (Hardcover)
I have now completed a majority of this book. However, I have also read the article at the American Prospect website which other reviewers and the magazine itself claim totally discredits Congressman Weldon on the subject of this book. After reading this article, I am far from prepared to dismiss the congressman's claims. The writers of the American Prospect claim that a man named Mahdavi is actually the intelligence source named Ali in Weldon's book. They give nothing to back this up except the claims of an elderly man from Iran who claims that Weldon stole the story from him. Also, the article says that the reporters spoke to the CIA official who Weldon says disregarded the information from Ali. It is well known that there exists a defensive and protective culture in the CIA. It is natural that a retired official of the CIA would desire retaliation after receiving such a scathing condemnation against himself as well as the CIA. I see no reason to believe these individuals over the word of Congressman Weldon. The American Prospect clearly seeks to give a sinister portrayal of a Republican congressman. Keep in mind that this is a liberal/progressive magazine. However, I would encourage you to take some initiative and read the article yourself at prospect.org. It is titled "Curt Weldon's Deep Throat."
As far as the content of the book goes, I must say that if Congressman Weldon is right, we all have reason to be aware of a possible impending nuclear terrorist attack. If the book is true, we have all been disgustingly unaware of the danger facing our country. I would recommend atleast reading the book through once to judge its credibility for yourself.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome to the shadow world,
By H. Geschichtemann (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Countdown to Terror: The Top-Secret Information that Could Prevent the Next Terrorist Attack on America--and How the CIA Has Ignored It (Hardcover)
I can't decide whether Congressman Weldon is a lousy writer or a devilishly clever one. Given the conversations that I have heard about the book, perhaps it is the latter.
The point of this book is not the intelligence that Weldon received from "Ali." It cannot be. The intelligence is -- at the time of the book's release -- either common knowledge or common suspicion. Apparently "Ali" was (is?) a pretty good source, since most of his predictions about Iranian moves against the U.S. proved accurate after the predictions were passed to Weldon. In fact, one of "Ali's" predictions has been fulfilled in the weeks AFTER the book's release ... namely that the Iranian election would be rigged to elect as president not only an extreme hard-liner but one who is non-clerical. The issue of "Ali" and the treatment of his intelligence -- in particular by the CIA -- is the hook on which the Congressman chooses to hang his continuing justifiable outrage over the bungling bureaucratic structure of U.S. intelligence. It is Weldon's contention (probably a sound one!) that the "feel-good" reforms of the four years since 9/11 have skirted around dealing with the real problem. The real problem, he says, is a set of precepts and ways of doing business that protect the least competent and penalize enterprising agents and analysts at lower levels. The worst of these practices is "groupthink" that dumbs intelligence down to something that even the lead-heads will agree with and does not allow competing views to filter up to policy-makers. The solution, he says, is to fire some folks. OK, Congressman. It works for me! So what are the problems with the book? First, "Ali" brings up all the perennial problems of HUMINT. As a former member of the Shah's government and an avowed active promoter of the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, "Ali" has an axe to grind and an agenda of his own. "Ali" also wants money in order to keep the information coming. (Quelle surprise!) Finally, he has been associated with Gorbanifar. (Remember Iran-Contra?) None of these facts obviates the significance of "Ali's" information. They just mean that a) if CIA bureaucrats want to discredit him they have obvious starting-points and b) "Ali's" information -- like all HUMINT -- cries out for independent confirmation or some measure of skepticism. Second, to those of us who try to follow this stuff, "Ali's" inconsistent transliteration of Arabic names should really have some explanation imbedded in the text. It takes a second look sometimes to figure out who we are talking about. e.g. Alzavaheri (Ayman Al-Zawaheri), Alzrghavi (Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi), and Emad Mognie (Imad Mugniyeh, one of the bloodiest and most dangerous terrorists in Iran's Hizb'allah stable). Still, despite the flaws, the book is a great read and ought not be passed up.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
