Customer Reviews

Dunces of Doomsday: 10 Blunders That Gave Rise to Radical Islam, Terrorist Regimes, and the Threat of an American Hiroshima

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I wonder how the clown reviewer who admitted he hasn't read the book (NoTime2ReadEverything) can justify a) bothering us with his uninformed opinion, and b) declaring that Islam is not rooted in the violence that Mohammad taught and personally practiced. Has he read the Qur'an? Based on his "review," certainly not.

This book will shake you up. It's full of vitally important information that every person who cares about the survival of democracy NEEDS to know; not just about the true nature of the Islamic threat, but also about how hubris, ignorance and PC sensitivity in the U.S. and Europe are almost guaranteeing success for enemies of liberty. It draws very clear connective lines from the rise of Islam in Iran, through our alliance and later conflicts with Saddam Hussein, to the rise of al Qaeda and the re-galvanization of Islam against the West.

Of the many, many horrendous, self-defeating mistakes ennumerated in this brisk and very well written book is this: we know that al Qaeda and indeed much of Islam is funded by heroin sales, we know exactly where the poppy fields and refinement facilities are in Afghanistan, and we know that without them, al Qaeda would be crippled, so WHY IN HELL ARE THE POPPY FIELDS STILL THERE? Right under the noses of our forces!

The research here is meticulous if not always perfect. But even when connections are made that seem a bit shaky, they never undermine the veracity of the overall theme -- that Islam has been determined to dominate the West for 1400 years, that this is as true today as it was when Mohammad was alive, and that our failings are playing right into their hands and leading us inevitably to a horrific nuclear disaster.

Remember the Chinese proverb: "may you not live in 'interesting' times?" Unfortunately, that's us. And by interesting, I mean terrifying.

Browsed through most of this in one sitting while at the book store. It's eye opening. Details the life of Muhhamed (sp?), verses of the Koran that call for the killing of Christians and Jews, and mistakes the U.S. Goverment has made at failing to recognize the threat.

For instance, did you know the majority of Muslims don't decry the use of terror on American citizens?

Or that one of the F.B.I.'s counter-terrorist operatives wouldn't wire tap a suspect because he was a fellow Muslim, because "Muslims don't do that to Muslims." And this guy didn't get in trouble for this; he was promoted!

Read this book and your spirits will sink. In this war on terror, I don't like our odds.

Reviewer: B. Morgan (USA) - See all my reviews

I took this book on vacation with me and found myself spending more time reading than I should have. It is an incredibly piercing work that engages you from the beginning. As the book went on, I was becoming more irritated reading about our lame brained leaders.

This is a good book. It points out a glaring weakness in our foreign policy which appears to be designed for quick fixes and not well thought out actions leading to long term successful solutions.

I thought it was well put together and I loved the Prologue. I wish the author would write a novel in the same manner as the Prologue was written. I am a Paul Williams fan and have read many of his other books, as well.

"Dunces of Doomsday" provides a summary of U.S. actions in the mid-East over the last 25+ years. The book makes clear to readers that we have made, as the author claims, a series of blunders in that area. Whether it be ten, as Williams claims, or more/less is not important. What is important is, that a series of moves that appeared intelligent at the time, turned out to be anything but.

Williams begins by pointing out that Wahhabism, the most virulent and radical Islam sect, has been the official religion of Saudi Arabia since the nation was founded in 1932. Nor are we in a war against al Qaeda - it is just one Muslim terrorist group among hundreds. Thus, Islam is the enemy, further evidenced by dancing in the streets in nations round the world post 9/11 (including New Jersey), images of Osama in shops, stalls, and homes across the world, the fact that Osama is now the favored name for Muslim boys. and a Gallup Poll finding (along with many similar others) that a majority of the world's one billion Muslims have an unfavorable opinion of the U.S. Every conflict within today's world involves Islam. This refusal by the Bush administration to call a spade a spade is the first blunder in our present war, according to Williams. Therefore, we should be using racial profiling, rather than believing that "only a few are the problem."

Williams then takes a chapter to document why Islam (per the Koran) is not peaceful. He points out that jihad is a religious duty, martyrdom is Islam's highest good, women are sexual objects, that Muslims believe Jews have corrupted the teachings of Allah, and leading clerics assert that anywhere from 4 to 10 million Americans must die (per Islamic law of parity) for our prior assaults on Muslims.

Of the 1,400 mosques in America, 90% were built with Wahhabi funds from Saudi Arabia. Billions more fund the Islamic Prison Foundation, whose purpose is to convert large numbers of African Americans to Wahhabism and rabid anti-Americanism.

Williams then goes on to chronologically summarize a number of past American blunders in the Middle East, beginning with President Carter. Carter undermined support for the Shah of Iran (eg. forcing the release of 3,000 political prisoners), helping create the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the 444-day hostage situation, and the subsequent rescue debacle attempt. This destabilization was then followed by the Russians invading Afghanistan in 12/79 and Iraq invading Iran - a nine-year war that then led to Gulf War I.

Williams states that the Ayatollah provoked Iraq's invasion, calling for Shiites in Iraq to rebel against Hussein (not a "faithful Muslim"), and sending aircraft over Iraq. Libya, China, and North Korea aided Iran, while Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates gave billions in loans and grants, and Egypt, Jordan and Israel sent arms and supplies. France, the Soviets, and the U.S. did also. At about the same time, the U.S. decided to become peacekeeper in Lebanon after the Israeli invasion, leading to the Marine barracks being blown up (241 killed) and seven hostages taken. President Reagan, anxious to not become embroiled in another hostage situation, was receptive to Iran's suggestion that the U.S. give TOW missiles ot it - Reagan approved this (twice), leading to the release of one prisoner. The U.S. then sent HAWK missiles, and another was released. All told, 2,004 TOW and 18 HAWK missiles were sent, along with spare parts and intelligence regarding Iraq were provided, in return for $30 million ($18 million was diverted to the Contras). Sadaam was angered and hit the U.S.S. Stark with a missile - killing 37 (he apologized).

The nine-year war cost over $100 billion, and Arab nations wanted Hussein to repay the loans - with interest. They also refused his request to increase Iraq oil production, while holding down prices by increasing their own. In addition, Kuwait had pilfered $2.4 billion in oil from underneath Iraq, and Basra's port was no longer usable. Thus, Hussein attacked Kuwait. President Bush knew that the U.S. would not support a war to keep oil prices down; a p.r. firm hired by Kuwait provided the rationale with bogus claims of Iraqi atrocities against hospitalized premature Kuwaiti babies.

Bush I rationalized not taking Baghdad because "the U.S. would end up occupying a hostile country without an exit strategy." The ensuing sanctions, however, included baby food, some drugs, and medical supplies - leading to some one million Muslim deaths and increased hatred for the U.S. (And then there was Bush's encouraging Kurds and Shiites to revolt, but refusing to stop Sadaam's subsequent slaughter of both groups.)

Now we had tens of thousands of American troops in Saudi Arabia (prohibited by the Koran), and a very angry Osama. At about the same time, Russia began dismantling its military arsenal - including its thousands of nuclear weapons. About 30% were unemployed, and its soldiers were particularly hard hit - rifles, tanks, missile,s and even ships were sold on the black market. According to reasonably credible sources, even suitcase bombs were sold, with some acquired by Osama. (Maintaining the nuclear triggers is a problem, but Osama has money and allies - Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea.)

Meanwhile, al Qaeda bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and President Clinton retaliated with missiles into Afghanistan. At the time, Taliban leader Mullah Omar had just agreed to either expel or hand over Osama - however, the American missiles united the two leaders. Then came 9/11. At Tora Bora the U.S. believed Osama had at least 2,000 troops (actually 300, per Osama) and outsourced his pursuit to local warlords - one of which was an Osama ally. At the same time, Pakistan did not close off Osama's escape - it either couldn't or Musharaff recognized it as political suicide.

Blundering continues even today, per Williams. Our "open" border with Mexico allows thousands of OTMs (other than Mexicans) to sneak in, and our allowing heroin growing in Afghanistan persists.

Not all of Williams' "Dunces of Doomsday" is credible - especially his references to Osama's spending hundreds of millions to buy suitcase bombs and support rebels elsewhere - most of his money was seized by Sudan and Saudi Arabia, though donations probably continue to flow in. Nonetheless, it is clear that we have made a number of blunders in the mid-East over the years, and that it has been a bi-partisan effort.

Thoughtfull without being alamist, the autor does a good job of exposing the failure of our representatives to act when they needed to regardless of which side of the isle they may be on. The author is carefull to build his case while still remaining readable, and even if only a quarter of the information presented is accurate there is danger a-brewing in every Wahhabist mosque in america. Must reading for anyone concerned with national security.

THE DUNCES OF DOOMSDAY: 10 BLUNDERS THAT GAVE RISE TO RADICAL ISLAM, TERRORIST REGIMES AND THE THREAT OF AN AMERICAN HIROSHIMA is no general treasure but hones in on ten major errors which have left security holes in the United States. Former FBI consultant Williams documents the history of these blunders, including the underlying belief that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, and provides keys to how to cap the dangers - if we act quickly enough.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I like the reviews I see here, so rather than repeat them I will simply say that I know Paul Williams, his first book, Osama's Revenge: THE NEXT 9/11 : What the Media and the Government Haven't Told You is first class, and both that book and this book are on my list of top 40 books for Earth Threat #9: Terrorism.

It should trouble all Americans that the US Government, under the failed congress (see The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track (Institutions of American Democracy) and Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders), parties (see Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It), and Dick Cheney (see Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency, my long review itemizes the 23 high crimes and misdemeanors documented by the book), is focusing on terrorism rather than all ten threats. See my lists on threats, policies, and players.

I have put this book second in my list for terrorism, it is easier to read that Ralph Peters, but both books will make your blood boil. My own two books helpful to the public are available free at OSS.Net, but much more fun if you buy them in book form from Amazon:

The New Craft of Intelligence: Personal, Public, & Political--Citizen's Action Handbook for Fighting Terrorism, Genocide, Disease, Toxic Bombs, & Corruption
THE SMART NATION ACT: Public Intelligence in the Public Interest

This book is an eyeopener. I appreciate the fact that the author was more than willing to spread the dunce caps around to those who deserve them.

Excellent recap of all the errors that got us to where we are today. Anyone who thinks Jimmy Carter is a nice guy and Bill Clinton didn't do anything wrong needs to read this book for a bite of reality. Also the histroy of Islam presented is eye opening.

What an eye-opener! I remember from news media so many of the things described, but didn't really get the connection. I certainly do now. Great research and presentation of the facts. I would like to see our government leaders read this book and get a clue as well.
Thank you for the enlightenment.