An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror (Hardcover)

~ David Frum (Author), Richard Perle (Author) "WE TOO LIVE in trying times-and thus far our fellow Americans have passed every test..." (more)
Key Phrases: terror groups, United States, President Bush, Middle East (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Some observers see the global political landscape as a complex amalgam of divergent worldviews, shades of gray that usually move in harmony but sometimes collide with violent results. David Frum and Richard Perle, authors of An End to Evil think it's a great deal simpler than that: the United States is good, those who pose a threat, current or future, are evil and must be neutralized or destroyed. Frum, the former speechwriter for George W. Bush credited with coining the term "axis of evil," and Perle, a former assistant Secretary of Defense who was still serving on the Defense Policy Board at the time this book was published, advocate an aggressive, activist approach to stomping out terrorism both within America's borders and in other countries as well. Their plan, described with forceful and urgent language, calls for the United States to overthrow the government of Iran, abandon support of a Palestinian state, blockade North Korea, use strong-arm tactics with Syria and China, disregard much of Europe as allies, and sever ties with Saudi Arabia. Domestically, the authors say, several federal agencies need to be overhauled, a national ID card system needs to be put in place, and the government and its citizens need to realize the gravity of the terrorist threat and step up the effort, as the title indicates, to end evil. Frum and Perle place blame for American ineffectiveness in the fight against terrorism on some political targets one would expect (Congressional Democrats, Bill Clinton) but also point fingers at the present-day intelligence community and even the State Department. It's a broad-ranging political opinion book--one might even use the words "screed" or "manifesto." Perhaps because it tries to cover so much ground, the individually compelling arguments don't hold together as coherently as one might hope. Still, for those who believe that the threat of terrorism is immense and that not nearly enough is being done about it, Frum and Perle offer a stirring call to arms. --Charlie Williams

From Publishers Weekly

From one former and one present Bush staffer comes a highly charged domestic and foreign policy manifesto for dealing with the terrorist threat. In delivering their "manual for victory" for the war on terror, Frum (The Right Man) and Perle (a member of the Defense Policy Board) urge "a new commitment to security at home, a new audacity in our strategy abroad, and a new boldness in the advocacy of American ideals." In direct, often bulleted prose, the authors voice strong support for President Bush's current policies and initiatives, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and for his policy of preemptive strikes where there is a perceived threat. They also push for a more vigilant "self-policed" America, the use of national ID cards, unwavering support for Israel, a hard line with Libya, Syria and the Saudis, and indifference toward European governments that stand in our way. The book's most compelling argument, however, is for the need to reform the bureaucracy that failed us on 9/11-this includes both the CIA and the FBI, as well as the need to better enforce existing immigration laws. Despite the authors' insider resumes, little here is groundbreaking. Many of their opinions and arguments are those debated daily in the media. The book is also highly partisan-former President Clinton is treated with contempt, described as "weak-willed" and "lacking the character" to deal properly with the budding threat posed by Osama bin Laden or with Saddam Hussein's expulsion of U.N. inspectors. Nevertheless, this is a comprehensive, no-nonsense primer on the conservative approach to handling the terrorist threat.
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (December 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400061946
• ISBN-13: 978-1400061945
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (161 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #729,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An End To Frum & Perle: How To Destroy Your Own Neoconservative Movement, November 28, 2006

By	Lucian H. Roosevelt (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror (Hardcover)

David Frum and Richard Perle actually wrote a book that urges the United States to eliminate all of Israel's enemies (Syria, Iran) and abandon support for a Palestinian State. The book reads like a hysterical satire of neoconservatism, their aggressive and fantastical war ideas so absurd and blatantly in the service of Israel that I quite literally convulsed with laughter.

What is most amazing is that two educated people were foolish enough to write such a book while America is currently bogged down in a deadly Vietnamesque war of neoconservative making. You would think these guys would have the good sense to quietly limp off the playing field of ideas and retreat to their air-conditioned offices at the American Enterprise Institute where they could reinvent themselves as experts on healthcare or education and gracefully detach from the failed Israel First movement.

But no, they instead choose to show up on Hardball or the op-ed pages of the The Weekly Standard, stubbornly and improbably pushing for an invasion of Iran and Syria. Two solipsistic eggheads who never served in the military, so determined to protect Israel that they're willing to sacrafice American lives, American values and American money. These Zionists are nothing more than sick and soulless traitors. Nefarious, demonic vampires who lack judgement, wisdom and empathy. What baffles is their pig-headed audacity: thinking they can crank out an Israel First book like this and actually convince the American people that we should attack Iran and Syria (two countries that do not in any way threaten the United States).

The irony in all of this is that Jews around the world want to keep Israel strong and safe partially because if (God forbid) another Holocaust happens there will be safe haven for them. However, nothing creates stronger Anti-Semitic feelings than Americans feeling like Jews are manipulating the levers of American power in the service of Israel. You would think that Frum and Perle know this themselves but their astonishingly ridiculous book proves otherwise.

Oh, well, Neoconservatism is dead. This book provides some laughs before the celebratory funeral. Frum, Perle, Kristol, Abrams, Rhode, Feith and Wolfowtiz -- their place in history is final. They will go down in the Grand Hall of Historical Shame as the Zionists within America who pushed the United States into a pre-emptive war for Israel's benefit. Eggheads without wisdom. Idealogues without judgement. Warmongers without restraint.

And when they're dead and condemned to their own little sinister cells of Hell we can all applaud and breath easy and thank God for one beautiful thing: America without neoconservatives.

52 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Current events nail this one into its coffin, March 1, 2006

By	Duerksen (Oxford, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror (Hardcover)

Well, we haven't heard much lately (as of March 1, 2006) from these two bellicose neocons, have we? I read this book when it first came out, but events of the past few days (e.g. the initiation of categorical civil war in Iraq; the renunciation, abridgement, or disavowal of Neoconservatism by its very founders and leaders) has lead me to think back on the time I wasted reading this glorified pamphlet.

Beyond their own inadequacy-driven ideology, the authors obviously have no idea what they are talking about. For instance, they cite as their gauge of public opinion in the Islamic world the antiquated idiom of "the coffee-houses of Damascus and Cairo"; as if they were writing in 1938 rather than the internet-wired beginning of the 21st century. But no, it couldn't be 1938, because according to Pearle and Frum, history in the Middle east begins in 1979, with the overthrow of the Shah of Iran and the taking of American hostages by Islamic radicals of that country. After reading the book I looked back through it for confirmation of this startling impression, and was able to find no specific mention of any event in the entire region predating that year. What about the CIA's overthrow of the democratically-elected Mossadeq government in Iran in 1952, and their installation of a medieval monarchy in its place? - apparently not worth mentioning; - couldn't possibly have had any bearing on Iranian attitudes and motives as they disposed of their Shah and lashed out at his American sugar-daddies. Similarly, while the authors do note the existence of the state of Israel, they fail to explore any aspect of its controversial establishment and expansion.

Apart from the book's countless factual errors, outright lies, and generally nefarious motives, this willful dismissal of crucial history stands as the most compelling reason to stay away from this intrinsically worthless book.

34 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I really thought these two could do better, November 18, 2005

By	Lee L. (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

I personally do not agree with "necons" like Perle. I think that their talk of democracy in the Middle East is an admirable goal, but when you really look at their writings and silence on particular issues, you're left with nothing more than a desire to control the Middle East...just in a more aggressive, proactive way.

Two things that immediately jumped out at me from this book:

(1) No index. I'm still baffled by this. I've never come across a book on politics/foreign policy that doesn't have an index. Why isn't there an index here? Its absence may not mean anything, but it is baffling nevertheless.

(2) Next to no cited sources. This is probably a result of the fact that this book is a polemic if it's anything. Still, you'd think the authors would want to put as much scholarly weight behind this book as possible.

Beyond that, this book does not represent the type of strong thinking I've seen from both authors in other forms. I disagree with a lot of what they've said, but before this book I would have called each intellectual/policy heavyweights. This book seems like they weren't even trying. It seems almost immature at times. If I had read this book without seeing the authors names, I would have been shocked to find out it was Perle and Frum.

Finally, the main reason for not liking this book is that the authors are suggesting the type of foreign policy that ultimately makes this country weaker. Iraq has demonstrated the limits of American power and that we do need help with some of our goals. Perle and Frum appear to be thumbing their noses at the world here. They come across as being very arrogant. It is this type of attitude that makes others not want to help us, which makes our job much harder than it should be.