Customer Reviews

Osama's Revenge: THE NEXT 9/11 : What the Media and the Government Haven't Told You

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

Mr. Williams fills an important void here with his book exploring the implications of tactical nuclear proliferation today. There are few books that deal with this subject (perhaps because of the murky nature of the nuclear smuggling world) and fewer still that are up-to-date. Yet the likelihood of a tactical strike in America by Islamic radicals has never seemed stronger. Certainly this important if terrifying topic deserves awareness and careful attention from policymakers and the general public alike. This is not to say his work is without substantial flaws, however.

Mr. Williams does provide sources for many of the eye-opening assertions in this book, but more than a few of them are of dubious credibility. The role of Bin Laden in international heroin smuggling, for example, is treated with a tone of bedrock certainty, when much about this connection remains controversial. As another example, of what value are the claims of various Russian mobsters he talks to? Hard to say. Mr. Williams also falls into the trap of regarding Al Qaeda as a single, monolithic block controlled from the top by Bin Laden and others. In reality, the lines of control seem to be much looser: "Al Qaeda" may be more of a "franchisable" process than a true organization, as one radical Islamist put it, with Bin Laden as a figure of inspiration rather than a tactical leader in firm control.

Yet despite these and other shortcomings (such as occasional lapses into painfully melodramatic prose), I consider it a book worth reading. There is certainly credible evidence that Soviet-era tactical nuclear arms are missing, as admitted by top-level Russian authorities such as Alexander Lebed. And let there be no doubt that there exist many who would use such weapons to damage America. This book should be taken with a grain of salt, but hopefully it will incite debate and raise awareness about this pressing issue.

Mr. Williams does a pretty good job of presenting some al-Qaeda facts that the general public might not be aware of. His chapter on their involvement with the drug trade (and the amount of money that bin Laden reaps from it) was good. Even better is the chapter about the important role that A.Q. Khan and his associates/cronies (including the ISI and even Musharraf for that matter) play in the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The book tends to border a bit on hysteria when it comes to discussing what the next attack might in fact be like. But, at least Williams is honestly assessing one possible future. One thing that scares me about the American public is that many people seem to think that 9/11 won't happen again. Hopefully it won't, but we should all be aware that al-Qaeda WILL try something. One of the important things that Williams stresses is how PATIENT al-Qaeda and bin Laden in particular are. If it takes them 10 years to pull of a nuclear attack then they will wait 10 years. I'm not sure that they will be able to pull that off, but I do believe that they are trying. Hopefully we will have the intelligence to help prevent it. Overall, a pretty decent and quick read.

Paul L. Williams does an excellent job and putting the current War On Terrorism into perspective. Osama's Revenge gives the reader a clear understanding of the threat we face. Mr. Willaims outlines the "Networking" and organization of Terrorists groups over the last few decades. If you think it's only about Al Qaeda, then your sadly mistaken. It's a war of perverse will that encompasses thousands of militants and and criminals that have the same goals... The destruction of Israel, the destruction of the United States (The Great Satan) and the implentation of a world Caliph (Islamic Leader who rules by the Sharia ~ Islamic Law ). Osama Bin Laden in considered a Hero amoungst many Muslim communities across the globe. This book portrays a dark reality that few Americans comprehend.

While we sit in our comfortable homes watching the political parties debate the economy and who has the biggest ego, thousands if not millions of "Extremist" are plotting our demise! Something Michael Moore doesn't have to intellect to confront!

It's time for us to wake up and deal with the 'Real Threat'. Nuclear proliferation amoungst countries and/or groups that believe that killing infidels is a Holy Duty (Jihad) and a quick ticket to paradise.

It's a must read!

The author has done a great job weaving together documented compelling information that gives the reader reason to pause and contemplate what may be the fate of the US regarding nuclear weapons. He gives great insight into how these weapons may very well already be in the hands of al Qaeda cells in our country.

Williams doesn't miss a chance to make the reader aware of the gravity of the situation. Al Qaeda's tentacles reach from Las Vegas to Northeastern Pennsylvania. No geographic location is exempt.

He quotes sections of the al Qaeda Training Manual which I found frightening albeit fascinating at the same time.

While the book cites cold hard facts, it is written in a very readable manner, almost like a novel that was telling a story of which I patiently awaited a conclusion.

It was an absorbing read. I finished the book in 2 days.

This was an incredibly disturbing book, but I'm not exactly sure how much of it is true. He claims that bin Laden acquired 48 suitcase nukes from the Chechen mafia. First of all, I have to wonder how he knows this; much of his book is based on what various people say. I didn't see any clear evidence of this though. But what makes me the most skeptical is the idea that Osama is just hoarding these weapons. If he really has a lot of nukes, why would he have bothered with crashing planes into buildings? After reading this book, however, I've realized that Osama is spending millions to acquire nukes, even if he doesn't already have them. Although I think this book exaggerates the threat a little, it does quite a good job in exposing a threat that many of us still think is nonexistent.

This is the first book to paint a real picture of Osama Bin Laden's ideology in real terms. The letters declaring War against America should have been released to the public and discussed with at least as much vigor as the "Laci Peterson Case" or the idiot rape case in Colorado. Instead, the American Public has been duped by the media moguls and again by the politico's and their pundits into some false sense of safety. It is too bad that we have the attention span of five year olds as is thoroughly demonstrated throughout our social consciousness.

Osama Bin Laden doesn't care if you are liberal or conservative, gay or straight, educated or uneducated, rich or poor, or even an athiest but watch out if you are a Christian or a Jew. HE HATES ALL and is DETERMINED to DESTROY ALL that is not Traditional Islam. He despises our weaknesses and the fact that we import these things to Arabian countries. He has used our liberal, must tolerate everything, politically correct society against us... in fact...he literally took it to the BANK. THIS society is bankrolling his Jihad along with Muslim extremist societies around the world. He laughs at the fact that we have no backbone in this country and stand for nothing....except some arbitrary concept called "Freedom" which has been taken far out of context in our society. Everything LIBERAL AMERICA espouses....from the Hollywood elitists to the Michael Moore idiots, is exactly what Bin Laden sites as a reason for his Jihad.....WE DO NOT STAND TOGETHER proud of who we are....we have allowed ourselves to be divided by special interests and this year more than any other....liberal interests that are more concerned with power than with people.....Bin Laden singles out Clinton and his actions with Lewinsky going unpunished and his turning tail in Somalia as examples of our "cowardice." He blames the United States for what the United Nations, France, Germany, and Russia did in scamming the world in the "Oil for Food Program." Yet Kerry wants to buddy up with exactly these people who put each and every one of us in jeopardy. Kerry isn't helping and he won't make us safer or safe. He is divisive and has created a chasm in a self serving attempt to regain the White House.

There is no negotiating with Bin Laden and his group......and as best I can tell.....we can't even figure out who his lackey's are here in the United States because they came in during the Clinton years and settled into our society as members indistinguishable from our neighbors. He is ready to do the utmost at all costs to take us out, one by one if necessary, and make us pay!!!!

Sadly, we aren't ready for a thing. The American public is interested only in their own petty lives. They no longer vote, but Bin Laden is holding each member of our society accountable because we can, and therefore to him we are all legitimate targets. He takes our freedoms more seriously than we do and in that respect he has a point. We have allowed ourselves to be overtaken with immoral, ignoble ideology that has created more harm than good and more trouble than help.

WE ARE NOT ONE BIT SAFER TODAY.....BOTH politcal parties are responsible because they don't wish to OFFEND anyone. WHERE ARE THE ADULTS in this society? Where are those that say enough of this behavior, it's time for responsible decisions even if at times offensive.....like it or not....Bin Laden will hold us accountable for what we have failed to hold our politicians accountable for.

Who cares what you drive or what rights you think you're entitled to or what amount of fat is in a hamburger or what Jesus would eat or what "value" which party currently holds......IF THIS BOOK IS CORRECT and BIN LADEN has suitcase Nuclear weapons...this country will have a rude awakening and will be required to take a good hard look at itself and it's leaders the self serving, self interested, demagogues who haven't done a thing to make us safer.

So, the next time you get on a plane and have to take your shoes off or give up your cuticle scissors.....remember the fact that those intending to do us harm ARE REAL and ARE HERE NOW while we screen for shoe bombs and scissors that couldn't do as much harm as a ball point pen. Always playing catch up. The irony is that so much of our tax dollars have been wasted from the local entities to the national entities that could have secured this country through updated technology and training and instead of politically dividing national security agencies our government should have been demanding a spirit of cooperation. Shame on us for what we have allowed our government to get away with while sitting back hoping to get ours.

SO MUCH FOR AN OPEN SOCIETY!!!!!!!

Mr. Williams' accout is frightening, well founded, and concise. I saw him on Fox News prior to my order and the interview stopped me in my tracks. Granted the thought of nuclear attack is not a new worry; it is the fodder of screenplays everyday. Yet, Paul Williams defines how this could happen, the technology that is current, the scientists that are willing, and the methodical, plodding efforts of bin Laden. We are at the brink of an atack, and I am truly worried what will be next.

Williams begins with a several page cogent statement by bin Laden summarizing why he is against America, and the actions required for him to cease. Reasons include support for Israel, and occupation on Muslim lands, but nothing about Bush's "they don't like freedom."

Osama went to Afghanistan, according to Williams, partly because of its potential for funding terrorism via opium sales. Sales to the U.S. would not only provide money for his efforts, but also weaken the U.S. and help convince others that the U.S. is a corrupt society.

Money, however, is only an enabler. The much bigger issue involves what Osama has/could do with large amounts of money. According to Williams, a number of Soviet "suitcase bombs" are missing - though various sources disagree on what that number is (30-80 is the most credible figure). Worse yet, a number of them were already smuggled into the U.S. and secreted by the Soviets during the Cold War.

What exactly is a "suitcase bomb?" From various sources it is contended that they began weighing 800 lbs, then were reduced to 320 lbs, and in their last version - only 60 lbs. Explosive power ranges from 10-250 tons, to 1-10 kilotons. The Hiroshima bomb was 13 kilotons, and the Oklahoma City bomb was an estimated .2 tons).

bin Laden reportedly purchased twenty nuclear suitcases in Grozny in 1996 for $30 million in cash and two tons of heroin, and intends to explode 6-7 simultaneously in the U.S.

So why hasn't he done it? Williams (and other sources) state that the suitcases' nuclear triggers would quickly deteriorate to uselessness in about four months. That's the "good news."

The "bad news" is that through expertise provided by Dr. Khan (father of Pakistan's bomb), and the resources of Iran's and/or Pakistan's nuclear reactors, the triggers could be replaced.

Again the obvious question: "What are we doing in Iraq?"

Williams' thesis is that Al Qaeda used the enormous profits of its heroin and opium operations to purchase several "suitcase" nuclear weapons from Russian criminals. The suitcase nukes, which are hard to maintain, have supposedly been made ready for use by rogue Russian and Pakistani scientists. Worse yet, claims Williams, these weapons have already been deployed to Al Qaeda terrorist cells in several major cities in the United States, ready for an "American Hiroshima" that will kill upwards of 4 million Americans and devastate the world's economy.

Williams' claims are sensational, and they must be taken with a large grain of salt. His chapter notes show that Williams relied on newspaper articles, internet sources and rumor rather than privileged access to military intelligence. And the proposition that nuclear weapons are in the hands of Islamists begs a couple of key questions: why haven't they been used against the Russians, who have many mortal enemies in Chechnya? For that matter. why haven't they already been detonated in America, Europe, Iraq or Afghanistan?

Williams hints at some possible answers. Perhaps Al Qaeda has the weapons, but they are unreliable and difficult to maintain. Perhas bin Laden is just waiting for the right anniversary date--say, an October 7 (the start of the war in Afghanistan), or a January 15 (the start of the First Gulf War), or even a November 27 (the anniversary of Pope Urban's call for crusade in 1095). Above all, Williams argues, bin Laden and al Qaeda are patient--the fact that a nuclear weapon hasn't gone off yet is no comfort that al Qaeda isn't working hard to make it happen.

Another possibility is that al Qaeda understands that the nuclear destruction of one or more American cities could very easily lead to a savage retaliation by the United States. Even bin Laden may be unwilling to pick the ultimate fight with an adversary that is equipped with a large arsenal of thermonuclear warheads. In the face of an "American Hiroshima," I suspect that the American public and its leaders would be very hard to restrain, and that possibility may give pause even to a fanatic.

Still, the threat of nuclear terrorism is so dangerous that it has to be taken seriously. Imagine a single nuclear weapon exploding in Long Beach, which handles a huge proportion of the imports coming into the United States--apart from the tragic and enormous loss of life, the world economy (not just America's) would be plunged into a depression overnight.

For a more plausible but equally disturbing take on the nuclear threat, read Graham Allison's "Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe." Allison's argument is that the real nuclear threat comes from unprotected stockpiles of enriched uranium 235 in the former Soviet Union. The Bush Administration has drastically cut the funding for programs that were intended to secure these stockpiles, and Allison makes a very cogent argument that the war in Iraq has distracted the United States from the critical task of keeping Russian uranium out of the hands of terrorists. If a nuclear weapon does explode in the US, it may very well be a U-235 fission device (like the bomb dropped on Hiroshima) delivered by containership to a major port (Long Beach, New Orleans, Houston, Boston, or New York). Remember, U-235 weapons are so well understood and reliable that the one dropped on Hiroshima was not even tested--it was the much trickier plutonium implosion bomb that was the subject of the famous July 1945 test at Alamagordo. In 1945, the problem with a U-235 bomb was that it took an entire year to make enough enriched uranium for just one bomb--the Russians have solved that problem for al Qaeda and have left tons of material in scores of poorly proected sites.

And just in case you sleep well at night thinking that the Department of Homeland Security will be able to protect us from this nuclear threat and its aftermath--well, just consider the Bush Administration's recent performance in the face of Hurricane Katrina.

Osama's Revenge raises some harrowing potentials. Mr. Williams reports that al Qaeda has obtained numerous functional weapons, weapons grade fuel, and non-weapons grade materials which would be useful in Radiological Dispersion Devices (dirty bombs). He reports that Israel intercepted a backpack nuke being smuggled into that nation. He reports that President Bush entered into an agreement with President Putin, just prior to the invasion of Afghanistan, to permit US use of nuclear weapons should certain circumstances occur, and the US, in turn, permitting Russian use of nuclear weapons in Cheknya. All serious items of intelligence, never revealed as such before.

Unfortunately, his credibility with me suffered as I looked at little details throughout the book. He refers to weapons incorrectly, uses improper terms to describe organizations. Speaks of the "Green Beret commandos," certainly not the term a journalistic endeavor should use to refer to Special Forces. Speaking of the Soldier of Fortune Convention in Las Vegas, he states that one can obtain "an unregistered Saturday Night Special - a .38 Harrington and Richardson." Saturday Night Special?? And being in Las Vegas, not New York, there is no registration. If he means a private sale, no there is no ATF paperwork...nor is any mandated by federal law. "Vietcong K-50Ms", whatever they are supposed to be. The firearm often referred to as a "Swedish K" was popular with both the VC and American Special Forces...

His footnotes, referring to the intelligence he notes, refer almost exclusively to news stories, many from small, little known news sources. Respecting the fact that the major media can, far too well, get it wrong (ala CBS and the Bush faxes...)still, would not a story about purloined nuclear devices, or secret agreements, reported by some small, NET based site, be located and expanded upon by some member of the major media?

If the sources of the book are true and accurate (and web based reporting is often questionable), it is indeed a bleak and frightening report. However, it is still marred by the inaccuracies, as minor as they are in regards to his subject, which then call into question all aspects of his report.