15 Feb 18, 7 am, personal for Dr. Sageman: I posted the below yesterday a few hours before the news broke about the shooting in Parkland, FL. This seems to confirm your point that we suffer more from terrorism by the near threat than the distant threat. We try to manage the distant threat with immigration restrictions, drone strikes, raids etc. I suspect handling the near threat is a far more difficult challenge, an understatement at best. The issues with preventative detention are huge. Charles Krohn
--0-- --0--
This is the reverse parable of blind men touching an elephant, describing it from their individual experience. Sageman sees the elephant with scientific precision. He is not blind but extremely inclusive as he dissects terrorism. I'm not an analyst but I understand declarative assertions, and he makes the most of them, all credible and supported with research that is his exclusive domain. Short version, if you have opinions about terrorism, you probably don't know what you're talking about. He does.
I was drawn to the book based upon Sageman's work in Afghanistan as recorded in Steve Coll's book Directorate S, explaining why "friendly" Afghans murder American counterparts.
While we worry a lot about terrorism on our shores, constantly reminded by politicians anxious to portray themselves on the leading edge, statistically the threat is of minor consequence. "To put this threat in context," Sageman writes, "car accidents and US firearm homicides pose threats to Western and US lives several orders of magnitude higher than neojihad....The government's failure of imagination may have contributed to the tragedy of 9/11, but it has overacted and its fanciful imagination now sees threats that don't exist." (pg 58)
Further, "the homicide rate is 20,000 times greater than the terrorist base rate in the United States." (pg 79) This is known to officials who avoid overreacting by adding suspects to watch lists without sufficient cause "This commendable restraint indicates that the government is indeed taking very seriously its duty to protect US persons' civil liberties" (pg 83)
Overall, Sageman apparently believes terrorism should be addressed on a case-by-case basis, because much of what appears to be driven by various confessions is at root personal decisions. This is not to exclude al Qaeda-sponsored acts re 9/1l.
Charles Krohn
Author: The Lost Battalion of Tet
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Frequently bought together
This item: Misunderstanding Terrorism
$22.50
Only 2 left in stock (more on the way).
+
$33.25
Get it Sep 11 - 26
Usually ships within 9 to 10 days
+
$83.80
Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 30
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from other countries
PIRET
Arnaque : libre vendu avec blocage DRM
Reviewed in France on November 11, 2017
