Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy [Hardcover]

Paul R. Pillar (Author), Michael H. Armacost (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001 | ISBN-10: 0815700040 | ISBN-13: 978-0815700043 | Edition: 1

The United States government-backed by the overwhelming support of the American public-takes a hard line against international terrorism. The tenets of official U.S. counterterrorist policy are: make no concessions or deals with terrorists; bring them to justice for their crimes; isolate and apply pressure on states that sponsor terrorism; and bolster the counterterrorist capabilities of countries willing to work with the United States. While these tenets are sound principles, their application, specifically overseas, raises difficult questions. Does the "no deal" policy actually deter terrorists acts? Are there cases where agreements might reduce terrorism, while advancing other U.S. interests? Do isolation and pressure really force offending states to alter their support for terrorists? What factors affect the willingness, not just the capability, of foreign governments to help the United States in counterterrorism? In this critical study, a career CIA officer provides a guide to constructing and executing counterterrorist policy, urging that it be formulated as an integral part of broader U.S. foreign policy. In the first four chapters, Paul R. Pillar identifies the necessary elements of counterterrorist policy, he examines why the United States is a prime terrorist target, and he reveals why the counterterrorist policies that seem strongest are not always the most effective. Chapter 5 examines the widely varying nature of terrorist groups and the policy tools most appropriately applied to them. Chapter 6 focuses on states that sponsor terrorism (including Iran, Libya, North Korea, and Cuba), along with those that enable it to occur (particularly Greece and Pakistan). Pillar examinesways in which the American public's perspective toward terrorism can actually constrain counterterrorist policy, and he concludes that terrorism cannot be "defeated" only reduced, attenuated, and to some degree, controlled. The final chapter summarizes his recommendations for amending U.S. policy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Provides hard realizations about the moral compromises that will be required in this new struggle." -- New York Times Book Review, October 14, 2001

"The author offers a valuable overview of terrorism and counterterrorism, including why the United States is a prime terrorist target." -- Washington Times, July 15, 2001

"The book's strength is its nuanced sense of how Washington's counterrorism policy actually works, day in and day out." -- Foreign Affairs, September/October 2001

About the Author

Paul Pillar was deputy chief of the Counterterrorist Center at the CIA and is the author of Negotiating Peace (Princeton University Press, 1983).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 285 pages
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press; 1 edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815700040
• ISBN-13: 978-0815700043
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #967,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A serious but (frighteningly) understandable MUST read, October 28, 2001

By 

Joel L. Gandelman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy (Hardcover)

When I first read about this book in the newspaper, I was prepared to read a very dry, boring academic work on terrorism. I was a Political Science major in college so that did not bother me. BUT I was truly SURPRISED when I read this -- and STRONGLY recommend it to everyone who wants to get "the complete picture" of where the United States is in this terrorism "war," how terrorism grew, where it is going...and how it may be contained.
True, this book cannot be compared to a "fast read" nonfiction book or an informative news magazine piece. It is quite serious and that's not surprising since its author was deputy chief of the CIA's Counterterrorist Center. But it is NOT boring and is easily undertandable. It's sort of between an academic text and a standard nonfiction book.
Even though it was written before the horrorific Sept 11 events there are plenty of references to Osama bin Laden..and many others terrorist individuals and groups. In fact, chapters are broken into headings such as states, groups, counterterrorist instruments, etc.
What's MOST interesting about this book is this: immediately after Sept 11 American policymakers (government and elected) had been faulted with not knowing much about terrorism.
But it is VERY clear from reading this book that this is THE book they have used to get up to speed. This clearly was their "Bible." A lot of what is going on now seems to be based on the concepts and conclusions in this book; and when you listen to some elected officials on Sunday news shows it's clear they read THIS book.
The most unsettling part of all this is: after you read it, and get a wonderful understanding of the groups, people, and options, you realize that: a)the US government and officials WERE indeed woefully unprepared (books like this and reports on terrorism apparently were used as doorstops by both political parties until disaster struck) and b) dealing with terrorism is akin to squeezing a half-full water balloon...for each push on one end, something bulges on the other end.
I STRONGLY recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to understand the historical, military and political minefield that the U.S. now tiptoes through.
Don't be scared off because it's a serious book! It's thoughtful, balanced with lots of quotes and analysis. Level-headed...and NOT a "doomsday" book. Academics will love it. Policy makers and elected officials already parrot it. And the average reader will find it understandable...and realize the challenges and dangers ahead as never before. Read it and keep it, or read it and lend it, or read it and sell it...but READ IT. Read it!

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taking the panic out of terror, September 22, 2001

By 

John C. Bannon "[e-mail]" (Cumberland, Maine United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy (Hardcover)

I have only begun reading this book, but have already advanced my understanding of terrorism a thousand-fold. It is eerie to read the book, knowing that it was written before the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. If only we'd read it before then...

This is not a mass-market book; it is more reminiscent of a college textbook. There are no photographs, and no lurid descriptions of terrorist attacks. Those omissions provide an example of the importance of this book: by de-sensationalizing terrorism, the author renders it possible to apply unimpassioned reason to a menace that can only by combatted by careful planning, intelligent strategizing, and long-term considerations of foreign policy. Despite its sobriety, however, the writing is lucid and elegant. It is a relief to find that at least one author has been studying the problem of terrorism so recently, and in such depth. After reading the book, terrorism remains something to be feared, but no longer a source of panic.

I urgently recommend the book to anyone who had been overwhelmed by the WTC incident and is trying to comprehend the "new world" in which we live. Pillar has made international terrorism comprehensible -- which is a major contribution to America's efforts to recover from the September 11th attack. Knowledge is strength.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book I've read on terrorism, October 15, 2002

By 

David Fallas-redondo "dfallas" (San José, Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy (Hardcover)

This is not a book about secret operations or police actions against terrorism. This text is about the phenomenom of terrorism, its different manifestations and the kinds of groups related to this activities. Mr. Pillar explains the methods for answering the terrorist threat and -contrary to what many may think- he relegates military actions to the last place of the list. This book was written before September 11, 2001, but certainly it helps explain why the attacks took place and sets the path to prevent such acts in the future. This book is also important for those interested on the legal aspects of terrorism, because it deals with different instruments adopted to combat this threat. For every person who would like to form his/her own opinion on how to fight terrorism, this text is a must read.