The Carlos Complex: A Study in Terror

by Christopher Dobson, Ronald Payne

The story of Carlos the Jackal, once the most wanted criminal in the world, is the story of modern crime and terrorism itself. Financed by both Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi, he was the mastermind behind attacks as notorious as the OPEC oil siege and the Munich massacre, in which eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and murdered during the 1972 games. Investigating Carlos the Jackal – real name Illich Ramírez Sánchez – espionage experts Christopher Dobson and Ronald Payne have used his story to present a brilliant, brutal depiction of terrorism in the 1970s. From the beginnings of the movement to sinister connections with Palestine and Russia, The Carlos Complex is a fascinating study of the makings of modern terrorism. Christopher Dobson and Ronald Payne have between them more than 40 years of experience as foreign correspondents. They have covered terrorist activity on four continents for The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, ABC, and NBC News.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 1977, this is a very interesting expose of 1970's terrorism, focusing on the most famous terrorist of the age, with a mini biography of Illich Ramirez Sanchez better knows as Carlos the Killer. Also discusses leftist European and Japanese terrorists groups, the Baader Meinhof Gang (Red Army Faction) and the Japanese Red, various Arab Palestinian terror groups, most notably the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine of the bloodthirsty George Habash and Wadi Hadad. It also has a chapter focusing on the primary sponsor of terror at that time, Muamar Gaddafi and chapter on the hostage taking in 1976 by Palestinian and German terrorists of Jewish flight passengers, who were rescued by an Israel commando at Entebbe.

This in fact very relevant today when there is a stronger bond than ever between Islamic terrorists and Islamist regimes and the nihilistic hard left. This book in many ways reveals some of the roots of this unholy axis of evil. As the author describes how the worldwide network of revolutionaries (relaunched today in 2012 in new lethal forms) dedicated to destroying the fabric of modern society and united behind the sinister 'Palestinian cause', which was the hub of which international terrorism revolved in the 1970s and is still a focus of this today.
In the First Chapter of the book, the authors chose to start their story with the 1972 Munich massacre of Israeli athletes by terrorists of the Black September. In this chapter the author dissects the Palestinian 'cause' of the time and relates how the militant Arab states pursued a deliberate policy of keeping the Palestinians as refugees and keeping the refugee camps in poverty.
In the chapter on the Entebbe hostage crisis, the authors describe the obscenity of survivors of the holocaust and other Jews being separated from non-Jews who were released and the obscenity of German terrorists shouting out orders and waving guns over Jewish heads,
The aim of terrorism at the time was to gain the world attention for the causes the terrorists supported which is why the first chapter is entitled 'Terrorism is theater' Habash justified attacks on passengers on flights on the way to Israel in the following perverse way : 'Non Israeli passengers are on their way to Israel. Since we have no control over the land that was stolen form us, and called Israel, it is right that no one may go to Israel without our permission'

Chapter Ten entitled the paymaster details the career up to 1977 of Gaddafi, and their assistance to terrorist groups around the world, and his fanatical hatred of the West and Israel. In the chapter of the Japanese Red Army we read of how the JRA tortured and gruesomely murdered some of its own members for 'bourgeois tendencies' such as that of a young girl for wearing earrings.

This book is still relevant, particularly in it's study of how young Western radicals become involved with ruthless terrorism. today on campuses across the world, anti-Israel hate campaigns such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign and the demonization of Israel falsely as an 'Apartheid state' undermines the struggle of five million Jews in Israel to survive. The International Solidarity Movement, a bloodthirsty and hate-filled group of Communists and Anarchists, transports young radicals from around the world to Israel to participate in and aid and abet terrorist attacks against Israel civilians.

[ParisianIrish · Rating 3 out of 5]

he Carlos Complex: A Study in Terror by Christopher Dobson (co-authored with Ronald Payne) is a compelling and meticulously researched dive into the life and career of Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, known worldwide as "Carlos the Jackal." In this book, Dobson and Payne unravel the story of one of the most infamous and enigmatic terrorists of the 20th century, blending biography with political analysis to explore the conditions that allowed Carlos to become a major figure in international terrorism during the Cold War.

The authors trace Carlos’s journey from his privileged beginnings in Venezuela to his radicalization, training, and eventual involvement with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). This connection launched him into a career of high-profile attacks across Europe, including bombings, assassinations, and the infamous 1975 OPEC siege. Dobson and Payne do an excellent job capturing the intensity and ambition that made Carlos both a feared terrorist and a media sensation.

One of the book's strongest features is its examination of Carlos's complex motivations, blending ideological zeal with a penchant for notoriety. Dobson and Payne’s narrative highlights how Carlos’s image was carefully crafted, not just by himself but by the media and political operatives who saw him as a symbol of anti-imperialist resistance. This focus on his personality and image provides valuable insights into the psychology behind his actions and the allure of terror as a political tool.

Dobson and Payne are thorough in setting Carlos within the broader context of Cold War geopolitics. Their analysis sheds light on the interconnected world of state-sponsored terrorism, showing how various regimes, intelligence agencies, and extremist groups enabled figures like Carlos to operate across borders. The book explores the global impact of Carlos’s actions and the underlying tensions between superpowers that fueled terrorist networks.

However, The Carlos Complex can be somewhat dense, with its extensive historical and political background that may challenge readers less familiar with the period. Despite this, Dobson and Payne’s commitment to detail results in a rewarding read for those seeking a comprehensive look at the factors that shaped one of modern history’s most notorious figures.

Given that this book was published in the 70's when Carlos was still 'at large' it would probably be wiser to consult a more recent publication on Carlos, which would include his dramatic arrest and trial in Paris.

Overall, The Carlos Complex: A Study in Terror is an insightful and thought-provoking book that goes beyond the sensationalism of Carlos’s image to offer a nuanced view of the forces that shaped his career. It’s a powerful study for anyone interested in the intersections of ideology, media, and the geopolitical forces that drive terrorism, making it an enduring work on the subject.

[António Conceição · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trezentas páginas sobre a História do Terrorismo nas décadas de 60 e 70 do século XX, isto é, sobre a pré-História do Terrorismo. Memórias de uma era anterior às tecnologias da informação que, mesmo para quem viveu nesse tempo, custa a acreditar que tivesse existido.

[Drew Pyke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a few hundred pages longer than it needed to be (for a casual reader at least). I don't know how much of this narrative came from his mystique or from fact. How he evaded being detained in his own flat comes across like magic. It taught me just how much an individual can wield so much power (and money) in a terror network (and how interlinked they are: IRA and Libya for e.g.)

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect book for millennials who think terrorism began in 2001.