Customer Reviews

The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

To the ignorant, this author may seem credible. To those of us who understand the resistance to expansion of government, the 80's farm crisis, oppressive taxation, the murder of Gordon Kahl, violation of our Constitutional liberties, etc., know Levitas is promoting the lie which would have you believe any American, especially those white ones who are opposed to tyranny, are comprised of Nazis. Research this author before you read his book. You might be surprised about his history. Then again, maybe not.

So full of lies, generalities, propaganda and fear mongering that I'm sure this will be a must read while detained in your local FEMA camp. For your own protection of course.
The enemy next door can easy be found... just look to the DHS, TSA and the new "praetorian" class (militarized police forces). The biggest terrorist is our own out of control government empire.

This entire book (any most like it) is based on lies and stereotypes. I am a member of a citizens militia. I am not a right winger or a terrorist. The author of this book is spreading fear and hoping to profit from it.

Sure, many in militias are right leaning Republicans but not all. I am a Socialist and a self confessed hippie. My idea of a great leader is Hugo Chavez. So you can see I am nothing like the crazies this author is trying to scare you with.

Anyone who has seen the loss of freedoms and the rise of fear that has resulted from eight years of Bush knows that the government, no matter who is in office, is not on your side. In fact, with the Patriot Act Two it is in every citizens best interest to do two things. Question your government and learn how to defend yourself and family from enemies both foreign and domestic. That is what a militia is about. Militia members care about the constitution and they care about ensuring their freedom.
It is not paranoia to be prepared for defense and survival. Look around the world and realize how fast a nation can go from normal to fascist, or at peace with it's citizens to genocide. If you aren't ready to defend your country and your family then go ahead, live in fear. But rest assured it isn't your local militia you have to fear.

The Terrorist Next Door and other books like it are written by people with an agenda. If you don't fit into their idea of acceptable then they want you to be labeled, feared and punished without so much as a chance to defend your point of view. Now ask yourself, doesn't that sound like a terrorism?

It's amazing how so-called "terrorists" are later on considered "Patriots" when it is discovered they are fighting for the US Constitution and true FREEDOM.

Remember freedom? Yes, it's true - you too can be free if you choose to be. Alternatively, you can continue to watch "Dancing with Stars" and NFL games on the boob tube while your freedoms are taken from you one step at a time. Up to you, but I think you will agree the evidence is overwhelming => Freedom in America is eroding at an alarming rate.

Enough with the "terrorist" Shtick the mainstream media rams down our throats in support of our current corporate paid-off government. Anyone who is against the current status quo is labeled a "terrorist".

Wake up people - man-up and take a stand. Make you family, yourself, your country proud to call you a real American. A Patriot.

While the book deals wth a timely topic, it is marred by a couple glaring faults. First, the title completely misleads the reader into thinking it is going to discuss the largely-1990s phenomenon on the so-called militiat movement. In reality, the militia movement is dealt with only sparingly at the end of the book and in too few chapters. This is primarily a book about the rise of the "radical right." The author could have done a better job explaining and elaborating upon that theme.

That leads to the second major criticism: that the work too often reads like an insiders' case study rather than a work easily accessible to the general public or academia. The author assumes that the reader will be instantly familiar with all the terms and tactics of the hate groups mentioned in this book. Many aren't, and a lot of the background "big picture" history is either left out or treated cursorily.

Nevertheless, looking past these faults one can find a great wealth of information on the phenomenon of the far-right and its place in late 20th century American society.

authors should find real jobs instead of creating witchhunt after witchhunt looking for those evil militia people who want to blow up the world.

this stuff would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. The left cries about McCarthism but is doing the exact same thing here by creating villians and devils where there are none.

Peddeling hate and fear even if based on loose facts or lies works for some.

The Terrorist Next Door is an invaluable resource for people who have been previously exposed to information about the militia movement. This is not a book for first-time readers who are curious about the domestic terrorist subculture. The Terrorist Next Door suffers somewhat by poor editing. When reading the book, I was under the impression that substantive parts were cut out of the manuscript. The book ends up being a series of case studies, but the writer does not discuss possible relationships between the case studies. For example, did the massacre at Rulo, Nebraska somehow influence the federal government's activities at Waco? Also, Levitas' discussion of the Arizona Patriots needs a great deal more elaboration, because -- as pointed out in other books about the Oklahoma City Bombing -- McVeigh and Fortier spent a great deal of time with this group. So again, is there a substantive relationship between the Arizona Patriots and the Oklahoma City Bombing? Despite the aforementioned editing difficulties and the lack of cohesion among case studies, The Terrorist Next Door provides excellent depictions of Gordon Kahl, Richard Wayne Snell, and the effects of the farm crisis. However, I would have preferred more information on McVeigh and The Order. In addition, a previous reviewer wrote that Levitas attempted to tie the militia movement to the Sept. 11 attacks, and therefore, accuses Levitas of academic dishonesty. This reviewer needs to reread the last chapter in the book. Levitas states that many members of the militia movement were exulted by the Sept. 11 attacks -- perhaps most notably, Billy Roper -- but the book does not suggest that the milita movement was responsibile for the World Trade Center attacks.

A "must read" for anyone trying to understand how home grown terrorists evolved. An excellent and well researched book that connects the dots between the banking collapse, the financial destruction of farmers, and the militants who took advantage of desperate times to sway people to their beliefs. An indictment of politicians at their worst, who, by ignoring a large segment of the population in their time of need, helped to spawn hate groups and a complete mistrust of the government. This is not a book "thrown together" in the aftermath of "9/11". It is painstakingly documented yet written in a style that demands and keeps your attention by an author who is obviously passionate about his work. READ THIS BOOK!

This totally engrossing and historically accurate book is a must read for anyone interested in American history, in terrorism and in the home-grown sources of the Militia movement. It is full of interesting stories about the people who make up the radical right, those who battle them, and the role of ideology (as well as economics) in generating and supporting our home-grown right wing terrorists. As a teacher, I would find it useful for high school and college courses and there is a wonderful time line at the end of the text (not to mention copious and fascinating footnotes)which clearly explicates the relationship between these groups and such events in the larger society as reconstruction,school desegregation, and more recently, the farm crisis and end of the cold war. It is guaranteed to give you a new perspective on American history and what you probably never learned in school.
A broad canvas filled with intimate details -- not the least of which is the dramatic -- and surprising -- story of William Potter Gale -- the seminal figure in the militiamovement who became a hate-monger despite his Russian Jewish ancestry.

Since Sept. 11th, Muslim and Arab men and women have been painted as terrorists. This book reminds us, in often disturbing detail, that the greater threat to American democracy comes within, from white 'Christian' men. At its core, this book forces us to realize that bigotry - in all its forms - is the most dangerous form of terrorism.

The Terrorist Next Door provides the reader with the "who", "what", "where", and the all-important "why" of the militia movement. Where most other books on the subject gloss-over the importance of race and religion in the evolution of the militia movement, this book tackles the issue head-on. In it, Levitas proves that he is not only an amazing researcher, but a skilled analyst and writer. This is one of those refreshing books that not only provides insight and analysis but provides you with the information to back it up.

It should come as no suprise that this book has been nominated for both a National Book Award and a Pulitzer Prize.