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The Convenient Terrorist: Two Whistleblowers' Stories of Torture, Terror, Secret Wars, and CIA Lies
A startling spotlight on the darkest corners of America’s “War on Terror,” where nothing is quite what it seems.
The Convenient Terrorist is the definitive inside account of the capture, torture, and detention of Abu Zubaydah, the first “high-value target” captured by the CIA after 9/11. But was Abu Zubaydah, who is still being indefinitely held by the United States under shadowy circumstances, the blue-ribbon capture that the Bush White House claimed he was? Authors John Kiriakou, who led the capture of Zubaydah, and Joseph Hickman, who took custody of him at Guantanamo, draw a far more complex and intriguing portrait of the al-Qaeda “mastermind” who became a symbol of torture and the “dark side” of US security. From a one-time American collaborator to a poster boy for waterboarding, Abu Zubaydah became a “convenient terrorist”—a way for US authorities to sell their “War on Terror” to the American people.
The Convenient Terrorist is the definitive inside account of the capture, torture, and detention of Abu Zubaydah, the first “high-value target” captured by the CIA after 9/11. But was Abu Zubaydah, who is still being indefinitely held by the United States under shadowy circumstances, the blue-ribbon capture that the Bush White House claimed he was? Authors John Kiriakou, who led the capture of Zubaydah, and Joseph Hickman, who took custody of him at Guantanamo, draw a far more complex and intriguing portrait of the al-Qaeda “mastermind” who became a symbol of torture and the “dark side” of US security. From a one-time American collaborator to a poster boy for waterboarding, Abu Zubaydah became a “convenient terrorist”—a way for US authorities to sell their “War on Terror” to the American people.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2017
32 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
John Kiriakou
10 books147 followersJohn served in the Central Intelligence Agency first as an analyst, and later as a counterterrorism operations officer, from 1990-2004. He spent much of his career working on Iraq and the Persian Gulf. In 1997 he changed career tracks from analysis to operations and moved to Athens, Greece, where he worked against the notorious terrorist group “Revolutionary Organization 17 November.” He became chief of counterterrorist operations in Pakistan following the September 11 attacks, and his tour climaxed in the March 2002 capture of Abu Zubaydah, then believed to be al-Qa’ida’s third-ranking official.
John Kiriakou became an anti-torture whistleblower and activist when he told ABC News in December 2007 that the CIA was torturing prisoners, that that torture was official U.S. government policy, and that the policy was approved by the President.
John eventually was charged with three counts of espionage, one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act and one count of making a false statement as a result of the 2007 ABC News interview. Even though he had no criminal intent, and there was no harm to the national security, accepting the plea resulted in a sentence of 30 months in prison.
John Kiriakou became an anti-torture whistleblower and activist when he told ABC News in December 2007 that the CIA was torturing prisoners, that that torture was official U.S. government policy, and that the policy was approved by the President.
John eventually was charged with three counts of espionage, one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act and one count of making a false statement as a result of the 2007 ABC News interview. Even though he had no criminal intent, and there was no harm to the national security, accepting the plea resulted in a sentence of 30 months in prison.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 8, 2022
This one was a bit of a letdown. Which I should have realized with that page count and it being written by a CIA agent and a former Guantanamo guard, so that’s really on me.
The oddly whimsical title made me think this would really go into how Abu Zubaydah’s case illustrated the workings of CIA renditions during the war on terror. Maybe delve into the intersection of CIA and DOD prisoner abuse, look at how the Bush Administration’s torture memos set it all in motion.
Instead, the first chapter was the CIA nabbing him, written in the same boring, masturbatory tone most soldiers’ memoirs have. The rest was mostly a biography of Zubaydah that didn’t go as in-depth as I’d prefer—he went from being a Western-loving teenager to trying to join al-Qaeda? Just because he hated the US’s support of Israel, or were there other factors?—and one chapter on the CIA committing torture against him.
That chapter wasn’t satisfying either. Kiriakou tells of refusing to participate in the abuse, but doesn’t deliver any kind of scathing condemnation I expected from a whistleblower, just a little look-at-how-ethical-I-am moralizing.
A disappointment. Skip this one and watch that HBO documentary instead.
The oddly whimsical title made me think this would really go into how Abu Zubaydah’s case illustrated the workings of CIA renditions during the war on terror. Maybe delve into the intersection of CIA and DOD prisoner abuse, look at how the Bush Administration’s torture memos set it all in motion.
Instead, the first chapter was the CIA nabbing him, written in the same boring, masturbatory tone most soldiers’ memoirs have. The rest was mostly a biography of Zubaydah that didn’t go as in-depth as I’d prefer—he went from being a Western-loving teenager to trying to join al-Qaeda? Just because he hated the US’s support of Israel, or were there other factors?—and one chapter on the CIA committing torture against him.
That chapter wasn’t satisfying either. Kiriakou tells of refusing to participate in the abuse, but doesn’t deliver any kind of scathing condemnation I expected from a whistleblower, just a little look-at-how-ethical-I-am moralizing.
A disappointment. Skip this one and watch that HBO documentary instead.
September 6, 2020
Kiriakou and Hickman combine their insights into CIA operations and Guantanamo to shed light on the facets of a highly publicized case that the US government would prefer remain out of the public eye while penning a strong condemnation of CIA and US government practices of their co-called War on Terror.
July 26, 2021
Former CIA officer John Kiriakou explains the entire history of Abu Zubaydah, including his abduction and torture. The books describe how Abu Zubaydah was misconstrued by the CIA. Their perception of Abu Zubaydah as Al Queda's number three and all of the CIA's intelligence turned out to be false. The book also reveals how the CIA conducts bogus wars in Afghanistan and supports Mujahideen forces. Whistleblowers exposed the true face of one of the world's most powerful intelligence agencies, and it's up to you to believe it or not.
April 28, 2019
Recommended reading and a shattering indictment of the Central Intelligence Agency by the former analyst, case officer and Chief of Counterterrorist Operations in Pakistan, who led a series of military raids on al-Qaeda safehouses that culminated in the capture of Abu Zubaydah.
July 13, 2017
John Kiriakou is a former CIA officer, who was involved in the capture of Abu Zubaydah. Joseph Hickman is a former U.S. Marine, who was stationed at the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Both are whistleblowers, and they recognized they had the credibility to challenge the official narrative on Zubaydah and did so quite well.
The book raises several key issues, including the torture of Zubaydah, to argue he is not the No. 3 person in al Qaeda. He, in fact, never was, and this is why the government keeps back pedaling prior claims about him.
It is accessible for anyone who knows little about Zubaydah. Hickman and Kiriakou also weave in the history of the CIA and US government supporting mujahideen forces in Afghanistan and highlight two other figures, who unlike Zubaydah, are responsible for much carnage - US-backed carnage so they are free to take up positions in power.
The book raises several key issues, including the torture of Zubaydah, to argue he is not the No. 3 person in al Qaeda. He, in fact, never was, and this is why the government keeps back pedaling prior claims about him.
It is accessible for anyone who knows little about Zubaydah. Hickman and Kiriakou also weave in the history of the CIA and US government supporting mujahideen forces in Afghanistan and highlight two other figures, who unlike Zubaydah, are responsible for much carnage - US-backed carnage so they are free to take up positions in power.
August 17, 2019
Utterly Disgusting
While I can't agree with Abu Z's beliefs and actions, I can certainly sympathize with his current situation.
Torture combined with interrogation isn't allowed for many reasons - not the least of which being that it rarely results in factual information. Mass muderers, ponzi scheme leaders, and all other person accused of crimes are given due process. The men at GITMO should be provided no less.
Otherwise, the U.S. is no better than the "terrorists" it claims to be fighting.
While I can't agree with Abu Z's beliefs and actions, I can certainly sympathize with his current situation.
Torture combined with interrogation isn't allowed for many reasons - not the least of which being that it rarely results in factual information. Mass muderers, ponzi scheme leaders, and all other person accused of crimes are given due process. The men at GITMO should be provided no less.
Otherwise, the U.S. is no better than the "terrorists" it claims to be fighting.
September 19, 2024
This book offers a powerful look into the darker side of the War on Terror, exposing government cover-ups and the human cost of secret wars. The real-life story feels like a political thriller, but the fact that it's all true makes it even more impactful. It’s a tough but important read for anyone interested in whistleblower accounts or government ethics.
December 31, 2025
I went down the John Kirakou rabbit hole earlier this month, so finding this short read was perfect for my curiosity. It also provided a lot of answers to questions I had from the many interviews, videos, and podcasts
I consumed.
I consumed.
September 3, 2023
Read for research.
October 9, 2022
This is a great preliminary read to the torture report. This book is much more interesting and short, and it provides a lot of context leading up to the war on terror. There's so much insanity and compromise present. How does Bush have a terrorist to the White House multiple times, or someone on the watch list continue to be in our armed forces? How does the U.S. justify its foreign policy that makes people hate us? How could anyone think that terror was justified? And beyond the sheer immorality of torture, how could they be so blind as to see that torture doesn't work - and in fact, it actually hampers information flow.
It's all just insanity.
It's all just insanity.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews