Through Our Enemies' Eyes: Osama Bin Laden, Radical Islam & the Future of America (Paperback)

~ Anonymous (Author)
Key Phrases: United States, Saudi Arabia, Arab Afghans (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A work of uncommon analytical acuity and perspicacity. The author has brilliantly captured the essence of the threat posed by Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. His understanding of the beliefs and ideology that animate bin Laden and his followers sheds new and important light on al Qaeda's intentions, mindset, and targeting patterns. Through Our Enemies' Eyes is likely to become a classic in the literature on terrorism." --Bruce Hoffman, author of INSIDE TERRORISM, and editor-in-chief of STUDIES IN CONFLICT AND TERRORISM

Product Description

Describes the motives and determination of radical Muslims like Osama bin Laden and their quest to destroy America and the West

Reveals why America was so profoundly unprepared for the murderous attacks of September 11 and how we can prevent similar events from happening again

Written by an anonymous member of the U.S. intelligence community using sources previously unexploited

This is the one book all Americans must read in order to truly understand the reasons why radical Muslims like Osama bin Laden and his followers have declared war on America and the West. Furthermore, this is the only book to accurately describe the severity of the threat they will continue to pose, with or without bin Laden’s leadership, to our national security.

In order to win the war against terrorism, the author argues that we must first stop dismissing militant Muslims as "extremists" or "religious fanatics." Formulating a successful military strategy requires that we must see the enemy as they perceive themselves—highly trained and motivated soldiers who fervently believe their cause is righteous. The author describes how militants throughout the Islamic world are enraged by what they believe is Western aggression against their people, religion, and culture. Though bin Laden declared war on America years ago—not once but twice—the author argues that American complacence in the face of such violent threats stems from the increasing secularization and moral relativism of American society and culture. Even if bin Laden is brought to justice, the author warns, the dangers posed by radical Islamic militants will not disappear, and we must be prepared for a protracted war against terrorism. This is an important book that will make a major impact on how America thinks about its enemy and itself.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574885537
• ISBN-13: 978-1574885538
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #492,961 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Noteworthy Read, June 16, 2003

By	Victoria J. Knoll (Where I hang my hat.) - See all my reviews

There's so much literature about bin Laden, al-Qaeda, etc. that I just don't even bother to get myself involved in it.

I had picked up this book, thinking, it was going to read like the Pentagon Papers and just give me a bad headache.

I was wrong. Instead, I found that Anonymous gave insightful information and different angles on the subject. It's about reality and less hocus pocus. S/he showed parts of the situation I never explored or even bothered to care about. S/he is very descriptive without getting wordy or over-exaggerated and gets to the meat of it. This author talks/discusses with you and not over/at you. It's simple, short but descriptive enough to read. You don't need to know the complete, in-depth history of x, y, or z. It's a nice quick reference book about bin Laden: from his education to the Taliban connection and Muslim point of view. I actually want to learn more and answer the questions that the book brought up and the ones I've made as well.

Anonymous precisely focuses on the topic and rarely strays from it. You know what s/he will be talking about in every chapter. Within each chapter, there are also subdivisions and headings that tell you what s/he will be discussing. S/he really zeroes in specifically and makes sure that it's not confusing. The break up of the chapter helps make it more focused and I didn't get as lost at all.

Another really helpful bit is the complete index and reference page at the end of the book as well as a short glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar. S/he also emphasizes certain points to the reader to make sure we don't start jumping to conclusions. I'd suggest reading the author's note to the glossary.

I found that Anonymous mostly asking the reader to have an open mind and keep things in perspective. S/he made a point about the media representations by US/West and bin Laden's own propaganda in MidEast. I think s/he did his best to give a picture of both sides. S/he uses quotes from many resources and wants the reader to judge for him/herself what it means. Anonymous makes sure that when quoting, the reader understands who, what, where, why, when of the quotes and it's not just some quote from somewhere. It's quite easy to be biased and I hope people will give this great book a chance.

Some people may be put off by the fact that the book doesn't put the US/West in a 'pretty light', but the Author also shows the violence/illusions of bin Laden as well. Neither parties are saints. One of the most important points Anonymous brings up is the fact that, at one time or another, we (US or Western civ, etc) held the same beliefs and passions of bin Laden. That in the end, we (humans) are all the same. You may not agree or like it, but it's one angle of reality that cannot be ignored because ignorance only festers more ignorance.

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By far the best of the countless books on Bin Laden, August 18, 2004

By	C. Catherwood "writer" (Cambridge UK and Richmond VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is by far the best of the countless books on Bin Laden (and there are a lot of them...) The author really knows what he is talking about, and since most of it was written BEFORE 9/11 that fact shows all the more why this is so important for every person to read. There is no fancy theorising in this book, and the author also shows that bin Laden really is religious in his motivation - it is his warped interpretation of Islam that is behind all this, and not some ludicrous notion of people hating us for our freedoms. Read it and be truly well informed on the present crisis. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ (Carroll and Graf, 2004) and CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling, compelling, and a MUST read for everyone, November 22, 2004

By	Alexander B. Anderson "bruiser2" (Dallas, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is undoubtedly the finest book on Bin Laden/Al Qaeda out of the countless I have read over the last several years. It is concise, clear, and absolutely terrifying as it makes clear that Al Qaeda is led by an able and charismatic genius who has been able to gather and focus the Muslim world's collective hatred of the United States and our one-sided foreign policy.

The thrust of this treatise is simple. Al Qaeda is smarter than we are (they don't have to win elections and they are not beholden to special interests), they are tougher than we are (aren't you afraid to die?), and they don't care how long it takes to win (Allah is infinitely patient and will be pleased with victory whenever it comes - why does my microwave dinner take so f*&*&%$#$ long to heat up?).

What I found most compelling is that the book is HEAVILY footnoted, quoting Muslim clerics, bin Laden, and other relevant Muslims. So, in other words, it is not some pedantic, crusty white guy lecturing me about why Al Qaeda is evil; rather it is Al Qaeda telling me in their words why they hate me and why they are going to kill me and how all of that is supported by the Koran and driven forward by the ridiculous and inarguably anti-Muslim foreign policy of this, our once great and now downward-trending country.

Whew, what a book. And what a world we live in.