Osama Bin Laden [Hardcover]

Michael Scheuer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2011 | ISBN-10: 0199738661 | ISBN-13: 978-0199738663 | Edition: 1

9/11 almost instantaneously remade American politics and foreign policy. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Patriot Act, water boarding and Guantanamo are examples of its profound and far-reaching effects. But despite its monumental impact--and a deluge of books about al-Qaeda and Islamist terrorism--no one has written a serious assessment of the man who planned it, Osama bin Laden. Available biographies depict bin Laden as an historical figure, the mastermind behind 9/11, but no longer relevant to the world it created. These accounts, Michael Scheuer strongly believes, have contributed to a widespread and dangerous denial of his continuing significance and power.

In this book, Scheuer provides a much-needed corrective--a hard-headed, closely reasoned portrait of bin Laden, showing him to be a figure of remarkable leadership skills, strategic genius, and considerable rhetorical abilities. The first head of the CIA's bin Laden Unit, where he led the effort to track down bin Laden, Scheuer draws from a wealth of information about bin Laden and his evolution from peaceful Saudi dissident to America's Most Wanted. Shedding light on his development as a theologian, media manipulator, and paramilitary commander, Scheuer makes use of all the speeches and interviews bin Laden has given as well as lengthy interviews, testimony, and previously untranslated documents written by those who grew up with bin Laden in Saudi Arabia, served as his bodyguards and drivers, and fought alongside him against the Soviets. The bin Laden who emerges from these accounts is devout, talented, patient, and ruthless; in other words, a truly formidable and implacable enemy of the West.

Acclaim for Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terrorism

"Pulls few punches...a fascinating window on America's war with Al Qaeda."
--Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

"No serious observer of the war on terrorism can ignore this scathing critique."
--Peter Bergen, author of Holy War, Inc.

"A powerful, persuasive analysis of the terrorist threat and the Bush administration's failed efforts to fight it."
--Richard A. Clarke, Washington Post Book World

"A fire-breathing denunciation of U.S. counterterrorism policy."
--Julian Borger, The Guardian

"Presents overwhelmingly persuasive evidence to buttress a host of significant and controversial arguments."
--Benjamin Schwarz, Atlantic Monthly

"Destined to become a classic in the field of counterterrorism analysis."
--Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside Terrorism

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This propulsive biography is not bin Laden for beginners, but its central point is clear. Scheuer (Imperial Hubris), chief of the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, argues that the West chronically underestimates bin Laden's "piety, generosity, personal bravery, strategic ability, charisma and patience." In creating a cartoonish enemy, the U.S. has "mindlessly" played into bin Laden's plans to provoke a war on Muslim soil to catalyze a jihad to "obliterate America from within, by making it economically weak, until its markets collapse." The depiction of bin Laden's evolution from devout student to militant leader is deeply detailed and dense, and readers unable to keep up with a dissection of Islam's diverse creeds and doctrines will feel overwhelmed at times, but Scheuer's project is lucid and important. Bin Laden "anticipated a war of attrition that might last decades" and has planned ahead. He has cultivated a multigenerational cadre of between 5,000 and 7,000 loyal warriors, many from the educated upper classes. The conflict with al-Qaeda will, by bin Laden's design, likely be multigenerational, and Scheuer takes a crucial step in revealing how the West keeps itself vulnerable by persisting in demonizing rather than understanding its formidable opponent. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Scheuer, chief of the CIA’s bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999 and a consultant to that unit until 2004, delivers an unnerving profile of the al-Qaeda leader. Unnerving not just because it lays out bin Laden’s genius in luring the U.S. into a financially ruinous “war on terrorism” but also because it shows a “pious, brave, intelligent, charismatic” man fully capable of leading an insurgent Muslim force against the West, a profile at odds with the more fanatical, marginalized figure often portrayed by mainstream media. Scheuer tracks bin Laden’s life from his Saudi childhood as the son of a remote but revered and very wealthy contractor all the way to his place as one of the pivotal political figures of our time. More to the point, as he has in previous books (Marching toward Hell, 2008), Scheuer argues that bin Laden’s success owes as much to America’s ineptness in the Mideast as it does to bin Laden himself, a sentiment that should warn policymakers and citizens alike. --Alan Moores

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (February 17, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199738661
• ISBN-13: 978-0199738663
• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 5.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > History > Middle East > Saudi Arabia

More About the Author

Michael Scheuer is a twenty-plus-year CIA veteran. From 1996 to 1999, he served as the Chief of the bin Laden unit (aka Alec Station), the Osama bin Laden tracking unit at the Counterterrorism Center. He then worked as Special Adviser to the Chief of the bin Laden unit from September 2001 to November 2004. He resigned from the CIA in 2004. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Security Studies at Georgetown University and a Senior Fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, writing regularly for its online publication Global Terrorism Analysis. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 68 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Some good points but writing seems incomplete January 10, 2011

By Enjolras TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Michael Scheuer is a unique personality in the field of "bin Laden Studies." He's neither liberal nor conservative, although he holds positions that please and upset both parties. However, at times he seems to have nuggets of wisdom, but his insights are limited by his passionate and occasionally sloppy communication. Osama Bin Laden bears all of these characteristics.

First, Scheuer goes to great lengths to write an actual biography of bin Laden, not simply diatribe against the man. Scheuer uses many sources both written by bin Laden or by those close to him. It's fascinating to see what Scheuer highlights that goes missing in the typical "war on terror" books. For example, bin Laden loves the outdoors and believes a Spartan lifestyle toughens soldiers. Thus, it should come as no surprise that he's survived quite readily in the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan. More importantly, Scheuer clarifies that bin Laden has never followed takfirism, or the policy of judging certain Muslims insufficiently pure. In fact, his success derives in no small part to his appeals to pan-Islamism, going so far as to chastise his lieutenant Zarqawi in Iraq for targeting Shias.

While I appreciate Scheuer's caution against rushing to villainize bin Laden, at time he goes too far in the opposite direction. Scheuer lambast anyone who accepts what he calls the "Saudi propaganda version" of bin Laden's life, notably that bin Laden as a good Saudi led astray by the Egyptian al-Zawahiri. Scheuer does point out that Zawahiri does seem to have moved closer to bin Laden's positions after they met. But he also recounts - and immediately dismisses - an anecdote by a Saudi journalist about an interview during which bin Laden seemed to change his mind after talking to Egyptian colleagues. It's not clear why Scheuer's guesswork is superior to that firsthand account, which he likens to something "utterly impossible."

A more persistent problem with the book is that Scheuer seems to occasionally lash out at everyone and everything - except for bin Laden himself - for little reason. He blames "New Age" professors for the fact that the U.S. military is unwilling to accept high causalities or engage in total war (isn't that really the fault of an American public?). He insinuates that everybody else in the policy community is stupid by claiming jihad is primarily a non-violent form of struggle (doesn't Scheuer realize American officials have to pretend Islam is a "religion of peace" in order not to incite Muslims further?).

Perhaps most critically, for somebody who worked at the CIA, Scheuer seems to have a poor grasp of policy realities. He lambasts the U.S. military for not invading Afghanistan until October 7, 2001, giving al-Qaeda time to flee. Yet, what other option did it have - we simply could not transport the troops or give the Taliban an ultimatum in time? Likewise, he claims the U.S. airstrike that killed Zarqawi was a boon to al-Qaeda, but what alternative did the U.S. have - to let him live? It's frustrating because Scheuer makes these comments almost as asides, and while they could develop into interesting insights, as is they seem more like snide recriminations.

Finally, the book is not really written for a beginner. In fact, there's relatively little context. Readers who aren't already familiar with Zarqawi or Zawahiri, much less the minor characters like Qutb or Ramzi Yousef, will probably get lost. I didn't have this problem generally because I'd followed the news for the past 15 years, but even so I'm sure I missed the full importance of some of the names he drops.

Despite my criticism, I give the book 3.5 stars because it is an important biography of Osama bin Laden (arguably the first actual biography) and makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the man. Scheuer really tries to understand him and understand the world from his perspective. I do think the book would have benefitted from a readover by somebody who isn't fully immersed in this debate just to ask the questions "Will readers know who that is?" or "What do you mean by that provocative sentence?" As it stands, I can't quite believe this book is almost complete and nearing (as of January 10, 2011) publication.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding who he is rather than who we wish him to be February 5, 2011

By Stratiotes Doxha Theon VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Mr. Scheuer does us a great service in telling us the truth rather than what we want to hear. It is difficult to seek to understand an enemy for his merits rather than simple name-calling that portray him as that which we prefer he was. But Mr. Scheuer reminds us that it is not because he wishes to praise bin Laden, but to bury him. He argues convincingly that others have, for various reasons, misjudged and misrepresented bin Laden and al Queda. Some have done so, perhaps for political or economical reasons to cover their own failings. Others more out of ignorance and desiring to say what itching ears want to hear. Whatever the source of the obfuscation it leads to the same result - our defeat. By intentionally covering our ears and eyes to reality we have sealed our own demise. Until we learn to acknowledge this enemy for what it really is, we will never understand how to defeat him.

One such understanding is to stop referring to al Queda as simply a terrorist organization rather than an insurgency. The difference is one of organization and rational planning. Terrorists are not rational nor do they have the networked organization nor organizational skills of bin Laden. Insurgency is not motivated simply out of distrust and dislike of our 'liberal western freedoms.' It is, in the minds of the insurgents, simply fighting what it believes is a defensive war to retain or regain what it feels is rightfully their's. Perception is indeed reality and their perception is that the west is the aggressor against Islam and they do not fight for world domination so much as the prevention of meddling in Muslim lands either by western military and money or by the lukewarm Muslim leaders who cooperate with infidel powers in order to retain their political standing and foreign funding.

The grand strategy in this insurgency is much like past insurgencies guided by the 'eastern way of war' as described in The Art of War (Shambhala classics). The near enemy of the insurgency is the lands of the holy shrines of Islam and their corrupt and compromising leadership. But in order to topple those regimes and restore the holy shrines to true Islam, the far enemy must first be eliminated. As Sun Tzu describes, first remove your adversary's alliances and then defeat him. America is that ally that props up the enemy regimes in those lands that rightfully belong to true believers. So, bin Laden set about a cogent and brilliant plan to draw America into a war it could not win. A war that would bleed her economically and remove her capability to support the near enemies of Islam. The attacks on American interests were not random shots across the border, as it were. They were planned to incite and lure America into a war in Afghanistan - the empire slayer trap. When that was accomplished, the strategy was to widen the conflict and spread American resources so thin that they continue to bleed further in a conflict they can never win. But even America and the collaborating Islamic rulers are the final goal. The final goal also entails defeating Israel and regaining Jerusalem and all of Palestine. After those are accomplished the final goal is a cleansing of Islam by a gradual conquest of the Shia heretics. It is, in the end, and despite the western rhetoric about peaceful Islam, an Islamic insurgency with Islamic goals. We deceive ourselves in denying reality.

So far, America has played into that strategy at virtually every turn. The reason we have is because we continue to ignore a true understanding of a formidable enemy. In order to defeat him, we have to face the truth and stop deceiving ourselves. We can respect this foe as formidable and intelligent or continue to lull ourselves with talk about 'hating our freedom' or 'a simple irrational terrorist.' Will we learn or will we marginalize those like Mr. Scheuer for attempting to tell us the truth?

This is a long awaited and thoroughly researched biography of a brilliant strategist and the organization he created. It is time to face the facts and change our strategy to defeat him.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Subject: Briefing Osama bin Laden January 11, 2011

By M. A. Ramos VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Michael Scheuer who worked in the "bin Laden" unit while with the CIA has continued is interest if not constant focus on Osama bin Laden. This is not necessarily a bad thing and in his book we have what is the first objective biography of the man who has declared war on not just the U.S.A. but on all who stand in the way of the teachings of Islam of eight hundred years ago. This includes the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I found this not to be the normal biography and read more like an intelligence briefing with the end notes being an important part of the book. We get a glimpse of Osama bin Laden the educated businessman, family man, farmer, Islamic solider and lover of nature. All that made him the intelligent and patient adversary Mr. Scheur pro-ports him to be. Along with his short biography is the author insight into the thinking and motivations of Osama bin Laden using the hundreds of pages of documents written by bin Laden himself and those close to him for his research.

We see through the writings and broadcast that Osama bin Laden has laid out his philosophy and plan of action and has done so in a way that the over one billion Muslims of the world can understand his reason based on their cultural and religious history. It is obvious that the author has tremendous respect for his subject yet knows he must be defeated. He points out many of the errors that are made by the western politicians and academia who have completely misread this man and his intentions. Though an insightful analysis and based on many facts there is still interpretations made on subjects that can only be known to the subject.

Having lived in Saudi Arabia I do know that many believe that America is a paper tiger that will leave as soon as the populace sees some casualties; as we did in Lebanon and Somalia. I do not judge these decisions for only the President, we hope, has an accurate assessment of all the facts at hand. Some of the author's assessments seem to not take account the logistical abilities that allow armies to deploy in strength. Though Osama bin Laden is the new and real threat the west faces this is a conflict that has been going on since the founding of Islam...and between other factions as far back as history has been recorded.

The author also seems to expect the reader to have a fundamental understanding of the players that have also been involved for over a decade in this conflict but it does shed some light on the man who is Osama bin Laden. An interesting overview on this complex man whose plans according to the author drew the west into war on Islamic lands.