Terrorism: Theirs and Ours [Paperback]

Eqbal Ahmad (Author), David Barsamian (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1583224904 | ISBN-13: 978-1583224908 | Publication Date: December 4, 2001

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan received a group of bearded turban-wearing men who looked like they came from another century. After receiving them in the White House, Reagan spoke to the press, referring to his foreign guests as "freedom fighters." These were the Afghan mujahideen. In August 1998, another American president ordered missile strikes from the American navy based in the Indian Ocean to kill Osama bin Laden and his men in the camps in Afghanistan. The terrorist of yesterday is the hero of today, and the hero of yesterday becomes the terrorist of today. In Terrorism: Theirs and Ours, Eqbal Ahmad holds up the concepts of "terrorist" and "freedom fighter" to U.S. foreign policy. What do these terms mean? Where do they apply? How can the roots of political violence be stemmed? An invaluable primer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

EQBAL AHMAD, who passed away in 1999, was hailed by his close friend Edward Said as "perhaps the shrewdest and most original anti-imperialist analyst of the postwar world, particularly of the dynamics between the West and postcolonial Asia and Africa; a man of enormous charisma, dazzling eloquence, incorruptible ideals, unfailing generosity and sympathy. Humanity and genuine secularism ... had no finer champion." Eqbal Ahmad was Professor Emeritus of International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. For many years he served as managing editor of the quarterly Race and Class. His essays appeared in The Nation and other journals throughout the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press (December 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583224904
• ISBN-13: 978-1583224908
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.2 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Middle East > General
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > Leaders & Leadership
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Crime & Criminals > Criminology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ...Worth Every Penny!, February 25, 2003

By 

The Aeolian Kid "the-aeolian-kid" (WAMESIT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism: Theirs and Ours (Paperback)

... Man, this little book of 59 pages packs a powerful punch...! It is worth every penny. You can read it in a few hours, and you will be glad you did; for, it opens your eyes to seeing our country as much of the rest of the world sees us - with total clarity!

... Ahmad states on page 24: "What is my recommendation to America? First, avoid extremes of double standards. If you're going to practice double standards, you will be paid with double standards. Don' use it. Don't condone Israeli terror, Pakistani terror, Nicaraguan terror, El Salvadoran terror, on the one hand, and then complain about Afghan terror or Palesinian terror. It doesn' work. Try to be even-handed. A superpower cannot promote terror in one place and reasonably expect to discourage terrorism in another place. It doesn't work in this shrunken world." Also, on page 20, he states: "Sometimes it's the fact that you have experienced violence at other people's hands. Victims of violent abuse often become violent people. The only time when Jews produced terrorists in organized fashion was during and after the Holocaust. It is rather remarkable that Jewish terrorists hit largely innocent people or U.N. peacemakers like Count Bernadotte of Sweden, whose country had a better record on the Holocaust. The men of Irgun, the Stern Gang, and the Hagannah terrorist groups came in the wake of the Holocaust. The experience of victimhood itself produces a violent reaction."

... This book comes in two sections: the first section is an edited transcript of a public talk the auther gave at the University of Colorado, in Boulder, on October 12, 1998; the second section is composed of excerpts edited from: Eqbal Ahmad: Confronting Empire, Interviews with David Barsamian ( Souh End Press, 2000 ). ... This is a great litle book with a great wrap-around cover photo of former U.S. President, Ronald Reagan ( beardless! ), sitting in a room in the White House on June 16, 1986 while meeting with a group of heavily bearded mujahideen leaders from Afghanistan. Somehow, Reagan looks out of place in his own house! ... Read this book! You won't regret it. ... YOWZA! - The Aeolian Kid

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great analysis, but too short, May 7, 2002

By 

BookLobby.com (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism: Theirs and Ours (Paperback)

The late Eqbal Ahmad (d. 1999) led a full life. Apart from being a social activist, a political science professor in the United States, a short stint in the Pakistani army, and valuable contributions to the Algerian independence movement-he managed to be accused (unfairly) of attempting to kidnap Henry Kissinger and found the time to interview Osama bin Ladin in 1986. This world traveler and intellectual par excellence warned the world about September 11 two years before it happened. This short booklet includes an eloquent essay by Eqbal on terrorism and a couple of interviews of him by David Barsamian. Everything from Taliban, American foreign policy, Pakistani politics, the Kashmir issue, and the Arab-Israeli conflict is touched upon. The main, focus, of course, is terrorism: what is it, who defines it, who practices it, and what causes it.

Eqbal asserts that since WW II, the U.S. saw Islamic fundamentalism as a way to combat Communism in the Muslim world. He notes that the same groups that the U.S. gave billions of dollars in 1980s to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan have are now attacking the U.S. (what the CIA calls "Islamic blowback"). Eqbal explains why these groups now see the U.S. as their enemy, when just yesterday the U.S. was a friend. While Eqbal is very critical of U.S. foreign policy, no one should think that Eqbal is an apologist for terrorism. He was a committed secularist and a democrat, and had little sympathy for fundamentalists of any religion. (He called the Taliban "barbarians" when the Clinton administration was trying to secure an oil pipeline through Afghanistan.)

One criticism of this book is that it is too short. That is why readers who like this book should also get "9-11" by Noam Chomsky and "Rogue State" by William Blum. Also, you can find many of Eqbal Ahmad's articles online. Read them before you buy this book.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative, and Very Realistic, April 15, 2002

By 

J. Eyre "dr_badd" (Cedar City, Utah (thats right UTAH!)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terrorism: Theirs and Ours (Paperback)

I bought this book wanting to know a little about the reality of terrorism. Terrorism: Theirs and Ours does just that. It gives the reader an accurate idea of what it is like, as well as what what the other side feels. The truly amazing thing about this book is that it was written before 9-11, before George W Bush bought, and cheated his way into being president. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who wants to know the truth not only about Terrorism, but he United States invovlement in Terrorism.