In Their Own Words: Voices of Jihad- Compilation and Commentary: Voices of Jihad - Compilation and Commentary

by David Aaron

This book presents the actual statements and writings of jihadis expressing their views on virtually every subject relevant to their cause. It is not about Islam as it is practiced in its many varieties in Muslim communities throughout the world, nor is it about Islamic fundamentalism or the various Islamist political movements. Rather, it is about a small group of Muslims who carry out and promote terrorism in the name of Islam. Because the jihadis' statements are often more appalling and more profoundly revealing than the accounts that have been written about jihadi terrorism, this book provides unfiltered access to a broad range of the stories, rationales, ideas, and arguments of jihadi terrorists and those who support them. Introductory and contextual material is also included, to provide the background and origins of what the jihadis are saying?to each other and to the world. It is hoped that this will provide greater insights into the motives, plans, and participants in jihadi terrorism, as well as the nature of the threat they pose. Not all of the quotations are from prominent jihadis. Some have been selected because they are representative, others because they are contradictory, and still others because they provide a unique insight into the jihadi mentality.

349 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2001

About the author

David Aaron has served on the National Security Council in both Republican and Democratic adminstrations, from 1972 to 1974 as senior staff member and, from 1977 to 1981, as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. From 1974 to 1976, he headed an investigative task force for the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was a member of the first SALT negotiations, directed the work of the SALT II negotiations and participated in the Vienna Summit of 1979. He has been sent on sensitive presidential missions to Europe, Africa, China abd Latin Americam aand in 1981 won the National Defense Medal, the Pentagon's highest civilian award.

He lives in Weston, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Heather Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Their Own Words: Voices of Jihad (Rand, 978-0-8330-4402-0) carries the heavy endorsements of Bob Woodward, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and John Esposito on the back cover. Compiled by Rand’s director of Middle East Public Policy, David Aaron, the book provides a wide variety of views, stories, and justifications by individuals who promote terrorism in the name of Islam. “We have not attempted to present a balanced collection of Muslim views in this book,” Aaron writes in the Note on Sources. “Because the book comprises original jihadi writings, the issue of balance is not germane, except as it pertains to conflicting jihadi views.” While terrorism may have always been a tactic of warfare, seldom have its authors been so well documented.