Osama Bin Laden Reprint Edition

by Michael Scheuer (Author)

52 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0199898398

ISBN-10: 0199898391

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9/11 almost instantaneously remade American politics and foreign policy. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Patriot Act, water boarding and Guantanamo are examples of its profound and far-reaching effects. But despite its monumental impact--and a deluge of books about al-Qaeda and Islamist terrorism--no one has written a serious assessment of the man who planned it, Osama bin Laden. Available biographies depict bin Laden as an historical figure, the mastermind behind 9/11, but no longer relevant to the world it created. These accounts, Michael Scheuer strongly believes, have contributed to a widespread and dangerous denial of his continuing significance and power.

In this book, Scheuer provides a much-needed corrective--a hard-headed, closely reasoned portrait of bin Laden, showing him to be a figure of remarkable leadership skills, strategic genius, and considerable rhetorical abilities. The first head of the CIA's bin Laden Unit, where he led the effort to track down bin Laden, Scheuer draws from a wealth of information about bin Laden and his evolution from peaceful Saudi dissident to America's Most Wanted. Shedding light on his development as a theologian, media manipulator, and paramilitary commander, Scheuer makes use of all the speeches and interviews bin Laden has given as well as lengthy interviews, testimony, and previously untranslated documents written by those who grew up with bin Laden in Saudi Arabia, served as his bodyguards and drivers, and fought alongside him against the Soviets. The bin Laden who emerges from these accounts is devout, talented, patient, and ruthless; in other words, a truly formidable and implacable enemy of the West.

Acclaim for Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terrorism

"Pulls few punches...a fascinating window on America's war with Al Qaeda."
--Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

"No serious observer of the war on terrorism can ignore this scathing critique."
--Peter Bergen, author of Holy War, Inc.

"A powerful, persuasive analysis of the terrorist threat and the Bush administration's failed efforts to fight it."
--Richard A. Clarke, Washington Post Book World

"A fire-breathing denunciation of U.S. counterterrorism policy."
--Julian Borger, The Guardian

"Presents overwhelmingly persuasive evidence to buttress a host of significant and controversial arguments."
--Benjamin Schwarz, Atlantic Monthly

"Destined to become a classic in the field of counterterrorism analysis."
--Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside Terrorism

Osama Bin Laden

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This propulsive biography is not bin Laden for beginners, but its central point is clear. Scheuer (Imperial Hubris), chief of the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, argues that the West chronically underestimates bin Laden's "piety, generosity, personal bravery, strategic ability, charisma and patience." In creating a cartoonish enemy, the U.S. has "mindlessly" played into bin Laden's plans to provoke a war on Muslim soil to catalyze a jihad to "obliterate America from within, by making it economically weak, until its markets collapse." The depiction of bin Laden's evolution from devout student to militant leader is deeply detailed and dense, and readers unable to keep up with a dissection of Islam's diverse creeds and doctrines will feel overwhelmed at times, but Scheuer's project is lucid and important. Bin Laden "anticipated a war of attrition that might last decades" and has planned ahead. He has cultivated a multigenerational cadre of between 5,000 and 7,000 loyal warriors, many from the educated upper classes. The conflict with al-Qaeda will, by bin Laden's design, likely be multigenerational, and Scheuer takes a crucial step in revealing how the West keeps itself vulnerable by persisting in demonizing rather than understanding its formidable opponent. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Scheuer, chief of the CIA’s bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999 and a consultant to that unit until 2004, delivers an unnerving profile of the al-Qaeda leader. Unnerving not just because it lays out bin Laden’s genius in luring the U.S. into a financially ruinous “war on terrorism” but also because it shows a “pious, brave, intelligent, charismatic” man fully capable of leading an insurgent Muslim force against the West, a profile at odds with the more fanatical, marginalized figure often portrayed by mainstream media. Scheuer tracks bin Laden’s life from his Saudi childhood as the son of a remote but revered and very wealthy contractor all the way to his place as one of the pivotal political figures of our time. More to the point, as he has in previous books (Marching toward Hell, 2008), Scheuer argues that bin Laden’s success owes as much to America’s ineptness in the Mideast as it does to bin Laden himself, a sentiment that should warn policymakers and citizens alike. --Alan Moores --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product details

Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (March 16, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0199898391
ISBN-13: 978-0199898398
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.9 x 5.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 52 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #65 in Books > History > Middle East > Saudi Arabia
- #448 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Middle East
- #537 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Middle East

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Top customer reviews

Fascinating read

ByMSon April 16, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I learned more from this book about modern politics than I imagined I would. Michael Scheuer's thesis makes a lot of sense.

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pretty good

ByJSRon February 22, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Very informative but I don't like the authors know it all attitude protraid via his words. Particularly toward the west and how he knows how the USA could have handled finding him better. Anyhow... pretty good and very informative

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Osama Bin Laden: Ten Years Later

ByNathanon September 9, 2011

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Ten years ago this weekend, the 9/11 attacks took place. The effects of that day's events are still as pertinent today as they were a decade ago because of the two major wars that have been ignited as a response, and also because of the loss of civil liberties due to increased security. One aspect that makes this anniversary different from the rest is this one is the first without Osama bin Laden still alive.
It is worth going back now to look at the man who financed and inspired the attacks. Osama bin Laden may be dead but the objectives he strove to achieve have in a large part become a reality. His initial motives for declaring Jihad (holy war) against the United States in 1995 have actually been met. Michael Scheuer, chief of the CIA's bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, provides something revealing in his recent book Osama bin Laden. It was sixteen years ago on August 23, 1995, when Osama bin Laden declared Jihad on the United States. In his declaration and subsequent statements he laid out plainly what he wanted to achieve. In his book Scheuer cites bin Laden's three primary goals:
(1) Helping to bleed America into bankruptcy.
(2) Spreading out U.S. military and intelligence forces to the point where they have little reserves or flexibility.
(3) Stripping away American allies and creating as much political divisiveness as possible in the United States.(pg. viii)
In each case, bin Laden ultimately achieved his objectives. America has been bled into bankruptcy by two no-end wars, living beyond our means, barrowing, and inflation. Our military has been stretched dangerously thin as a result our intention to police the world. Our allies have indeed been stripped away as we have made enemies abroad because of our arrogant foreign policy. Lastly we are no doubt living in a time of great political divisiveness with more and more Americans becoming disillusioned with our foreign and domestic policies.
If we look at bin Laden as a man with three particular objectives in mind, we will see that in a large part as a result of our response to 9/11 we have created a situation for ourselves that puts us right where he wanted us. Bin Laden was astute enough to realize we could weaken our own influence in the world over time better than he could with his single act of terrorism.
In conclusion, the ramifications of 9/11 a decade later affect our nation as it tries to finance the wars and to cope with the loss of civil liberties due to homeland security. Bin Laden probably looked upon this fact with some since of satisfaction. America's lost her much of her influence in the world, which is what he wanted.

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Simply enlightening

ByBoilson February 16, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Michael Scheuer has written an important book. Read it. I found the first chapter somewhat difficult because of the endless names and terms most of which were foreign (to me) but once over that (a necessity to understand what is coming) the author has produced the definitive documented account on Mr. Bin Landen. And what a story it is. Read some of the other reviews here for more on that.

I must state that the recent NY Times review of the book by FOUAD AJAMI, a certified, Johns Hokins School of International Studies noecon, is a pure hatchet job. Its only aim was only to discredit Scheuer and to cover for the sins of deep thinkers Like Rumsfeld, Feith, Wolfowitz, the Likud party and Bush. Mr. Ajami who comes across as so amiable in his endless CNN talking head appearances chalks all of Osama's evil up to Osama's father having abandoned him. Spent a little too much time in therapy (psychoanalysis no doubt)Fouad did...likely.

Scheuer's book is the bible on Osama. Read it a weep. And understand the enemy that Osama is and further know that the fools and knaves who run our own government are not of and will likely not be of much help in killing Osama. We are on our own folks. Good luck to all.

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Paperback I received is great. Also looking for a hardcover book of the ...

Byronald w. oliveron July 14, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Paperback I received is great. Also looking for a hardcover book of the same book- 1st edition, 1st printing. Thank you.

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Five Stars

ByAmazon Customeron March 14, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

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Helpful perspective

ByHard2hearon April 10, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Bin Laden is an enigmatic personality who has been described in the Western media as a Satanic Terrorist Leader who has a fanatical and warped sense of Islam that has brought undeseved harm to the West and our alies.
While this is one aspect of who he is, the Book by Scheur gives an indepth understanding of his background, the development of his ideas, formation of Al Queda and importantly: what is his goal and why does he believe what he does and how does he plan to accomplish it.
This book is particularly enlightening and creates a broader perspective regarding the dynamics and the turmoil in the Middle East (Especially the current revolations in Egypt, Libya,Algeria, etc). While I don't give any credit to Bin Laden for any positive attributes, one can see where his plans and execution give the name "Mastermind" real meaning, albeit, a very evil one.
For a student of today's dynamics in the Middle East and what the future may hold, this is a book that is worth reading.

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Five Stars

ByLeon Lamon August 28, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Comprehensive biography of the terrorist mastermind of 9/11. In-depth and thought-provoking.

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Most recent customer reviews

It's Important to Know Who Osama Bin Laden Really Is.

Excellent biography. The best material on Bin Laden I've seen anywhere. An objective and very professional assessment of a dire adversary.

Published 1 year ago by Thomas Dunnam

The only less than great aspect of the book is the effort made in ...

A well organized display of a man capable of horrors and beyond...but also the writer dos not shy away from the horrors delivered from the west.Read more

Published 1 year ago by Haraldur Baldursson

Slightly disagreeable

While this book will be the standard biography for some time to come, one is left behind with an uncomfortable feeling that its author has been too close to his subject, writing...Read more

Published 1 year ago by HH

Five Stars

good

Published on August 18, 2015 by Everest

Still Shilling for the CIA

Since the vast majority of Americans believe 9/11 was an inside job perpetrated by the CIA and the Mossad how can anyone still claim that Bin Laden "masterminded" this...Read more

Published on April 20, 2015 by Gwaredd Thomas

Bad guy

Man that Bin Ladin dude sucked.

Published on January 8, 2015 by Yalc

A book distinguishing itself by significant omissions

The author omits:

- The absence of a definite accusation by the US government against bin Laden regarding his responsibility for 9/11 (even President Bush only...Read more

Published on November 5, 2013 by Elias Davidsson

Don't bother

A former Chief of the CIA Bin Laden unit, Scheuer does not so much correct misconceptions about bin Laden or Islam as to add new ones.Islamic Governance Read more

Published on April 23, 2013 by Alyssa A. Lappen

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