The Terrorism Trap: September 11 and Beyond [Paperback]

Michael Parenti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

A penetrating analysis of the hidden political, economic, and religious agendas behind the September 11 attacks and the war, with an emphasis on Afghanistan’s history and the U.S.-led globalization process that has impoverished and angered much of the world.

The Terrorism Trap is a richly informed, powerfully argued, well-written analysis of the deeper causes and meaning of September 11. Michael Parenti dissects the religious, political, and economic forces behind the attacks, putting them in proper historical perspective, which includes an understanding of Afghanistan’s hidden history. He answers such questions as: Why did September 11 happen? Who is to be blamed? Who is taking advantage of the crisis? Who is hurt by all the ensuing events? And why do they hate us? He sees the religious terrorism of today as related to a longstanding religious tradition of violence as well as being a reaction to a U.S.-led globalization process that has impoverished and angered much of the world. This book helps us understand what is to be done to save democracy from terrorism and reactionism.

Michael Parenti is one of the nation's most astute political analysts. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in 1962 and has taught at a number of colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. He frequently appears on radio and television talk shows and lectures on college campuses and before community, church, and public interest groups to discuss current issues and ideas. His books are read by both lay readers and scholars, and are used extensively in college courses.

He is the author of many books including To Kill a Nation (Verso, 2001), History as Mystery (City Lights Books, 1999), Democracy for the Few (St. Martin's; seventh edition 2001), America Besieged (City Lights Books, 1998), Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism (City Lights Books, 1997), Dirty Truths (City Lights Books, 1996), Against Empire (City Lights Books, 1995), Land of Idols: Political Mythology in America (St. Martin’s, 1994), Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media (St. Martin’s; 2nd ed. 1993), Make-Believe Media: The Politics of Entertainment (St. Martin’s, 1992), The Sword and the Dollar: Imperialism, Revolution, and the Arms Race (St. Martin’s, 1989), Power and the Powerless (St. Martin’s, 1978. )

His work has been published in CovertAction Quarterly; Monthly Review; New Political Science; Nature; Z Magazine; Dollars and Sense; The Humanist; The Nation; Journal of Politics; American Political Science Review; The New York Times; Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . .A richly informed and powerfully argued analysis of the deeper causes and meaning of September 11." -- Z Magazine, June 2002

"Parenti's information, logic, arguments and sentiments . . . provide a cohesion and language to make sense out of the events . . ." -- Maximum Rock 'n' Roll, July 2002

From the Publisher

The Terrorism Trap is a richly informed, powerfully argued, well written analysis of the deeper causes and meaning of September 11. Michael Parenti dissects the religious, political, and economic forces behind the attacks, putting them in proper historical perspective, which includes an understanding of Afghanistan's hidden history. He answers such questions as: why did September 11 happen? who is to be blamed? who is taking advantage of the crisis? who is hurt by all the ensuing events? And why do they hate us? He sees the religious terrorism of today as related to a long-standing religious tradition of violence as well as being a reaction to a US-led globalization process that has impoverished and angered much of the world. This book helps us understand what is to be done to save democracy from terrorism and reactionism.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: City Lights Publishers (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872864057
• ISBN-13: 978-0872864054
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #342,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Current Events > September 11
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Current Events > Terrorism
  • #48 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Americas > United States > 20th Century

More About the Author

Michael Parenti (Berkeley, CA) is the acclaimed author of more than twenty books, including, most recently, Contrary Notions: The Michael Parenti Reader; The Assassination of Julius Caesar; and The Culture Struggle. The New York Times Book Review, the Washington Post, the New York Review of Books, Harper's, The Nation, and Antioch Review, are among the countless publications that have praised Parenti's work. For further information, visit his Web site: michaelparenti.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pocket rocket of political perspective!, September 25, 2002

By 

Quickhappy "quickhappy" (Big city, big country) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Terrorism Trap: September 11 and Beyond (Paperback)

This little book is a masterful creation. It's short, easy to read, and hard-hitting. Parenti explains in plain language why the American government is so despised around the world. He shows that the U.S. kills civilians elsewhere on a regular basis (e.g. 30,000 in Nicaragua during the Reagan years, 2 million in Vietnam), but makes no apology for it. He shows that the U.S. government cares about oil, money, and corporate profits far more than about global problems such as AIDS, hunger, or deforestation. His chapter on Afghanistan is particularly helpful, especially when showing that Afghan women were doing very well before the U.S. supported the Taliban and Osama bin Laden and fueled a war which killed 1.5 million Afghans.

As a college instructor, I will surely assign this to my students, who will enjoy debating Parenti's arguments. Highest recommendation!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping examination of the 9-11 tragedy...and much more, December 29, 2002

By 

Josh Dougherty (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Terrorism Trap: September 11 and Beyond (Paperback)

I've only recently begun reading the works of Michael Parenti, but I can not recommend them enough to those uninitiated with his analysis of history and contemporarty American culture.

In particular, this work on the tragedies of 9-11 takes a very broad view, looking not only at the acts themselves or their immediate aftermath, but also at decades of preceding policies as well as the propaganda that accompanied them, AND how it relates to the ongoing and newly implemented policies of today.

Mr. Parenti is lesser known than many other social critics, and you won't often see or hear him on the commercial media, but I strongly suggest that you do yourself a favor by embarking on a google search for his writings and lectures. You'll find many of his talks available, in audio and text format (even some video), available free on the web. I've listened to many of them and found them to be entertaining, challenging and very informative.

So, please, if you're not familiar with Michael Parenti, don't take my word for it, listen or read for yourself. But I stronly suggest that you don't pass up the opportunity to hear his thoughts on these events. The book is short, very readable and thorougly enlightening. Do yourself a favor and listen to what he has to say.

Josh

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Needed Context, April 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Terrorism Trap: September 11 and Beyond (Paperback)

This little booklet does economically what the President cravenly forbids us to do--put the events of Sept. 11 into historical context. In succinct fashion, Parenti shows how US-led elimination of progressives in Afghanistan paved the way for Muslim fundamentalism as the governing ideology and sole remaining resistance to globalization. He also demonstrates how the terror attack facilitates the right-wing agenda here at home, creating conditions ripe for Security State exploitation. I particlarly like his riff on that platitude about "a world changed forever". There is also a refreshing absence of breast-beating over the horrific nature of the attack, since American sponsored atrocities of similar scope are rather common fare in the rest of the world. And though much of the interventionist material is familiar to Parenti readers, reminders of those atrocities are required by context. Still and all, I wish he had deepened Chapter one, the most topical chapter, which could have used more detailed discussion of the immediate aftermath. Nonetheless, Sept. 11 cries out for those perspectives systematically filtered out of the media as too threatening to corporate rule. As always, Parenti's commentary remains an enlightening one, and deserves to be read by all, especially those well-meaning folks blinded by bumper stickers and the blur of red, white and blue.