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Inside Al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror
Based on over five years of research, Inside Al Qaeda provides the definitive story behind the rise of this small, mysterious group to the notorious organization making headlines today.
362 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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216 people want to read
About the author
Rohan Gunaratna
64 books27 followersRohan Gunaratna is the head of the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. By its size, ICPVTR is one of the largest counter terrorism research and training centres in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 23, 2008
I made the executive decision late last night to give up on this book. ::GASP::
This is huge. Big-time. No joking around. I don’t quit on books. EVER. I could count on one hand the number of books I’ve given up on and not use all five fingers. And two of the times I gave up on a book I ended up going back and rereading it at a later stage in life (Beloved and Wuthering Heights, the first I liked enough to reread twice, the second I still don’t especially like), so I can’t even count those two.
But I’m giving up. I cannot stand to read any more of this book. It takes me 45 minutes to read 10 pages and while I wouldn’t call myself a fast reader, I’m not that slow. Ugh.
This was the worst fucking book I’ve read in a very, very long time (and yeah, I said the F word, bite me). Actually, this was the worst book I’ve read since college, which was the last time I read a mind numbingly dull text book. There was no writing in this book. It was simply 200+ pages of facts all strung together with references to other books and documents the author had found the facts in.
Parts of it reminded me of reading certain passages of the Old Testament: so and so begat so and so who begat so and so who begat so and so who begat so and so who begat so and so…and on and on and on, ad nauseum. Except in the case of this book there would be several inches-long paragraphs of text that would be nothing but foreign-sounding, Middle Eastern names with lots of al’s and el’s and hypens and Muhammed’s and Mohammed’s, all of whom were involved with one terrorist organization or another. I’m not going to remember these names so reading through them was a major waste of my time.
To give the book some credit, yes, the facts were all compiled in one place which means I don’t need to go digging around in 8 kazillion other texts to get some in depth background information about this particular terrorist group and I appreciate that. However, I experienced zero enjoyment and felt no spark of interest in reading this book. The only thing I feel now that I’ve decided to return it to the library even though I only read three-quarters of it is RELIEF that I never have to touch it again.
Another thing that angered me about this book was the size. It was deceptively thin. So when I checked it out from the library, I was like, “oh, this won’t take long to read. It’s under 250 pages, not bad.” Except when I cracked the damn thing open, I realized that I would practically need a magnifying glass to read the words. They were MINISCULE! I’m in my 20’s. I should not have had this much difficulty making out the text in a book but I did. I felt it was totally unnecessary and am convinced the only reason the text was so small was to fool potential readers into thinking this was a “short” book, an “approachable” book, which it isn’t. This book should be closer to 600 pages long for how small/dense the text was. Totally misleading.
I was also royally pissed off by what appears to have been a complete lack of editing in this book. Typos happen. I get it. But the nature of the typos in this edition was really bad. I skimmed over the first several, rolling my eyes but not book marking them because I tend to overlook the first few (I was a Copy Editor for my high school yearbook, I dig it). But after awhile, they really started popping off the page and I couldn’t not keep track of them. Professional publications should not have this many typos, especially of this nature, I’m sorry.
Here are some I book marked when I was actually reading in a place where I could book mark them (not the bus on my daily commute, which is where I get a huge chunk of my daily reading time in):
--In the spectrum of contemporary terrorist leaders Osama bin Laden. has no equal As a leader who… (p. 53)
--Two other others were found in Afghanistan after the collapse of the Taliban regime. (p. 54)
--In retaliation for the imposition of us sanctions against Sudan and later Afghanistan, he reiterated this call. (p. 90)
--There he kept switching from hotel to hotel to avoided going home, until he was arrested by the police in Navi Mumbai (New Bombay) on October 2, 2001. (p. 120)
Laziness! And you know what? For all I know, there are probably tons more that I missed when I was zoning out, which I spent a lot of time doing through the first 166 pages. Good riddance to you, ya shitty ass book!
This is huge. Big-time. No joking around. I don’t quit on books. EVER. I could count on one hand the number of books I’ve given up on and not use all five fingers. And two of the times I gave up on a book I ended up going back and rereading it at a later stage in life (Beloved and Wuthering Heights, the first I liked enough to reread twice, the second I still don’t especially like), so I can’t even count those two.
But I’m giving up. I cannot stand to read any more of this book. It takes me 45 minutes to read 10 pages and while I wouldn’t call myself a fast reader, I’m not that slow. Ugh.
This was the worst fucking book I’ve read in a very, very long time (and yeah, I said the F word, bite me). Actually, this was the worst book I’ve read since college, which was the last time I read a mind numbingly dull text book. There was no writing in this book. It was simply 200+ pages of facts all strung together with references to other books and documents the author had found the facts in.
Parts of it reminded me of reading certain passages of the Old Testament: so and so begat so and so who begat so and so who begat so and so who begat so and so who begat so and so…and on and on and on, ad nauseum. Except in the case of this book there would be several inches-long paragraphs of text that would be nothing but foreign-sounding, Middle Eastern names with lots of al’s and el’s and hypens and Muhammed’s and Mohammed’s, all of whom were involved with one terrorist organization or another. I’m not going to remember these names so reading through them was a major waste of my time.
To give the book some credit, yes, the facts were all compiled in one place which means I don’t need to go digging around in 8 kazillion other texts to get some in depth background information about this particular terrorist group and I appreciate that. However, I experienced zero enjoyment and felt no spark of interest in reading this book. The only thing I feel now that I’ve decided to return it to the library even though I only read three-quarters of it is RELIEF that I never have to touch it again.
Another thing that angered me about this book was the size. It was deceptively thin. So when I checked it out from the library, I was like, “oh, this won’t take long to read. It’s under 250 pages, not bad.” Except when I cracked the damn thing open, I realized that I would practically need a magnifying glass to read the words. They were MINISCULE! I’m in my 20’s. I should not have had this much difficulty making out the text in a book but I did. I felt it was totally unnecessary and am convinced the only reason the text was so small was to fool potential readers into thinking this was a “short” book, an “approachable” book, which it isn’t. This book should be closer to 600 pages long for how small/dense the text was. Totally misleading.
I was also royally pissed off by what appears to have been a complete lack of editing in this book. Typos happen. I get it. But the nature of the typos in this edition was really bad. I skimmed over the first several, rolling my eyes but not book marking them because I tend to overlook the first few (I was a Copy Editor for my high school yearbook, I dig it). But after awhile, they really started popping off the page and I couldn’t not keep track of them. Professional publications should not have this many typos, especially of this nature, I’m sorry.
Here are some I book marked when I was actually reading in a place where I could book mark them (not the bus on my daily commute, which is where I get a huge chunk of my daily reading time in):
--In the spectrum of contemporary terrorist leaders Osama bin Laden. has no equal As a leader who… (p. 53)
--Two other others were found in Afghanistan after the collapse of the Taliban regime. (p. 54)
--In retaliation for the imposition of us sanctions against Sudan and later Afghanistan, he reiterated this call. (p. 90)
--There he kept switching from hotel to hotel to avoided going home, until he was arrested by the police in Navi Mumbai (New Bombay) on October 2, 2001. (p. 120)
Laziness! And you know what? For all I know, there are probably tons more that I missed when I was zoning out, which I spent a lot of time doing through the first 166 pages. Good riddance to you, ya shitty ass book!
January 3, 2025
This book is an information dump on the author’s investigations into Al Qaeda and its sprawling network of allies and fundraisers. The research is undeniably valuable, revealing some of the more bizarre and unsettling aspects of radical Islam and its terrorist factions. For instance, the book briefly touches on a boarding school in East Asia where parents could send their children to be radicalized—a chilling notion in itself. In another instance, we learn that Al Qaeda gained funding from agricultural ventures in northern Europe, specifically in countries like Norway and Denmark. These details highlight the group’s far-reaching influence and surprising ingenuity in securing resources.
The book also underscores the enduring power of Osama bin Laden’s persona, demonstrating how his ideological grip motivated thousands of jihadists across the Middle East and beyond. However, despite its wealth of information, the book feels more like a dense dossier than a coherent narrative. It lacks the nuance necessary to truly understand Al Qaeda as a historical adversary, reducing complex motivations and geopolitical dynamics to scattered anecdotes.
This is not a book for those seeking insight into the broader context of radicalism or the psychological underpinnings of jihadist movements. It offers facts—often fascinating, sometimes horrifying—but fails to weave them into a story that enlightens or challenges the reader’s understanding. In short, it’s a trove of data but a barren field for anyone hoping to cultivate a deeper comprehension of Al Qaeda.
The book also underscores the enduring power of Osama bin Laden’s persona, demonstrating how his ideological grip motivated thousands of jihadists across the Middle East and beyond. However, despite its wealth of information, the book feels more like a dense dossier than a coherent narrative. It lacks the nuance necessary to truly understand Al Qaeda as a historical adversary, reducing complex motivations and geopolitical dynamics to scattered anecdotes.
This is not a book for those seeking insight into the broader context of radicalism or the psychological underpinnings of jihadist movements. It offers facts—often fascinating, sometimes horrifying—but fails to weave them into a story that enlightens or challenges the reader’s understanding. In short, it’s a trove of data but a barren field for anyone hoping to cultivate a deeper comprehension of Al Qaeda.
July 20, 2025
Although I purchased "Inside Al Qaeda" by Rohan Gunaratna one score and three years ago, it was not until three weeks past that I found both the time and the disposition to read it.
There is no gainsaying that the author had conducted meticulous research. This is amply evident in the extraordinary level of detail presented concerning the terrorist organisation, its perverse ideology, and the inner workings of its members’ psyches --- information that appears to have been drawn from various intelligence sources upon which the author evidently relied.
What is, however, found wanting is the organisation of the book’s contents: I was excruciatingly overwhelmed by a vast welter of information and a "swathe" of unpronounceable names, together with a multitudinous array of references to organisations, acronyms, and agencies --- many of which were left unexplained. A set of glossaries would have been invaluable in aiding the reader to fathom the depth and complexity of the material.
By the time I reached the final page, the only clear impression I retained was that Al Qaeda was responsible for numerous terrorist atrocities, and that it was a formidable and dangerous Islamist organisation which had committed many a blood-curdling murder and act of violence in the name of a God ironically styled as merciful.
Were one to ask whether the information conveyed in this substantial volume had enhanced my understanding of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and their accomplices, I should, unfortunately, have to respond in the negative.
Although the book may have made banner headlines in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, I rather doubt it would have found a publisher had the manuscript been submitted even five years later. The lack of structural cohesion and thematic unity has, in my view, marred what might otherwise have been a masterly work.
In summary:
1. The text abounds with names and acronyms, yet no glossary is provided.
2. The chapter on Osama bin Laden is not architectonically arranged; it lacks internal order and unfolds without systematic design.
3. The author appears to have hurried through the manuscript, leaping from one topic to another without any discernible chronological or thematic sequence.
4. Chapter Two, which addresses Al Qaeda’s organisation, ideology, and strategy, reads more like a police training manual --- overburdened with detail and replete with superfluous information.
There is no gainsaying that the author had conducted meticulous research. This is amply evident in the extraordinary level of detail presented concerning the terrorist organisation, its perverse ideology, and the inner workings of its members’ psyches --- information that appears to have been drawn from various intelligence sources upon which the author evidently relied.
What is, however, found wanting is the organisation of the book’s contents: I was excruciatingly overwhelmed by a vast welter of information and a "swathe" of unpronounceable names, together with a multitudinous array of references to organisations, acronyms, and agencies --- many of which were left unexplained. A set of glossaries would have been invaluable in aiding the reader to fathom the depth and complexity of the material.
By the time I reached the final page, the only clear impression I retained was that Al Qaeda was responsible for numerous terrorist atrocities, and that it was a formidable and dangerous Islamist organisation which had committed many a blood-curdling murder and act of violence in the name of a God ironically styled as merciful.
Were one to ask whether the information conveyed in this substantial volume had enhanced my understanding of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and their accomplices, I should, unfortunately, have to respond in the negative.
Although the book may have made banner headlines in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, I rather doubt it would have found a publisher had the manuscript been submitted even five years later. The lack of structural cohesion and thematic unity has, in my view, marred what might otherwise have been a masterly work.
In summary:
1. The text abounds with names and acronyms, yet no glossary is provided.
2. The chapter on Osama bin Laden is not architectonically arranged; it lacks internal order and unfolds without systematic design.
3. The author appears to have hurried through the manuscript, leaping from one topic to another without any discernible chronological or thematic sequence.
4. Chapter Two, which addresses Al Qaeda’s organisation, ideology, and strategy, reads more like a police training manual --- overburdened with detail and replete with superfluous information.
June 5, 2024
A FINE OVERVIEW OF AL QAEDA (as of 2002)
Author and political scientist Rohan Gunaratna wrote in the Introduction to this 2002 book, “Aa Qaeda is the first multinational terrorist group of the twenty-first century and it confronts the world with a new kind of threat… Al Qaeda has moved terrorism beyond the status of a technique of protest and resistance and turned it into a global instrument with which to compete with and challenge Western influence in the Muslim world… This book describes in detail the threat posed by Al Qaeda and offers a perspective with which to formulate a counter-strategy in the coming years of conflict. My book attempts to paint a broad picture of an organization whose global reach and long-term threat have been underestimated until quite recently.” (Pg. 1)
He explains, “Al Qaeda was uncompromisingly distinct from most other Islamist groups in history, its avowed position being: ‘Islamic governments have never been and will never be, established through peaceful solutions…’ … Without directly challenging Western military power, economic strength and cultural influence, the Islamists perceive that they cannot bring about change in their home countries, because a group of Western countries, led by the USA, supports Israel and the unrepresentative Arab regimes of the Middle East.” (Pg. 5)
He outlines, “Al Qaeda created a worldwide strategic framework of Islamist military and political organizations… Al Qaeda emphasizes the physical as well as the psychological aspects of warfare training… Another hallmark of an Al Qaeda attack is its huge investment in the planning and preparatory stages… Al Qaeda’s relationship with other Islamist groups has long been one of its trump cards… Although its ideology is puritanical, Al Qaeda is an essentially modern organization, one that exploits up to date technology for its own ends… Another of Al Qaeda’s strengths is its wealth… Al Qaeda’s unprecedented mobility, motivation and capacity to generate wealth pose multiple challenges to international security” (Pg. 6-13)
He notes that “Osama did not begin his campaign against the Saudi regime until after the Iraqi troops were defeated in Kuwait in February 1991. When he expressed his displeasure publicly at the continuing presence of US troops, which he regarded as ‘infidels,’ on Saudi soil, he was sidelined. By making common cause with the forces opposed to the Saudi monarchy, Osama initiated a subtle campaign against them.” (Pg. 28) Later, he adds, “Osama was quick to consolidate his links with the Taliban leadership, and by financing and materially assisting the regime he soon had widespread influence over it… The regime reciprocated … by giving him and Al Qaeda sanctuary, and by providing weapons, equipment and training facilities.” (Pg. 40-41)
Osama issued his February 1997 fatwa: “Stating that the Americans had declared war on Allah, the Prophet, and Muslims, Osama announced that it was the duty of all Muslims to comply with God’s order by killing Americans and their allies, both civilian and military, irrespective of location.” (Pg. 45) He continues, “[Osama is] justifying his actions as a necessary response to halt the destruction of Islam and the loss of Muslim life and property… and by conducting daring attacks, he has demonstrated that the US is fallible and can be seriously harmed.” (Pg. 51)
He observes, “Osama never interpreted Islam to assist a given political goal. Islam is his political goal, his rhetoric, philanthropy towards the Muslim poor and military support for oppressed Muslims having great resonance among young Muslims the world over, including those living in the West.” (Pg. 87) He goes on, “Osama is a self-acknowledged terrorist and makes no pretense about his strategy of using and justifying terror as an instrument… Martyrdom is assigned the highest priority by Al Qaeda’s volunteers, who have succumbed to the psychological and spiritual influences of Islamist ideologues. Killing and dying for Allah are viewed as the highest form of sacrifice.” (Pg. 91)
He points out, “Most American Muslims---both Arab and non-Arab---do not support political violence, especially terrorism, but there is widespread resentment of the perceived influence of the Jewish lobby in shaping US foreign policy and America’s role in the Middle East, especially in its political, economic and military support for Israel. Thus although there is some degree of sympathy with Al Qaeda’s objective, most Muslims living in the West abhor the tactics adopted to advance its aims.” (Pg. 111)
He summarizes, “The global fight against Al Qaeda will be the defining conflict of the early 21st century… Defeating Al Qaeda and its associate groups will be the single biggest challenge confronting the international security and intelligence community, law enforcement authorities and national militaries in the foreseeable future… Afghanistan [became] the world’s premier terrorist training center for about forty guerrilla and terrorist groups. With no vital interests at stake in a remote corner of Asia, the West was impervious to the suffering of the Afghan people, who had endured death and destruction for two decades.” (Pg. 221)
He concludes, “In order to win, the West and the Muslim world must embark on a new relationship, one that counters the status quo that gave rise to Al Qaeda. To a large extent, the attitude of the West and the Muslim world has created the current situation. The West must work with the Muslim world… public diplomacy should be an integra feature in the campaign against terrorism.” (Pg. 233) He adds, “The vast majority of Muslims… want to live in peace and harmony. But they will only support the global campaign against terrorism and their leaders’ participation in it if the rest of the world is seen to concentrate its attack on the whole range of relevant issues, not just the weapon of terror alone.” (Pg. 242)
This book will be of keen interest to those wanting more information about Al Qaeda.
Author and political scientist Rohan Gunaratna wrote in the Introduction to this 2002 book, “Aa Qaeda is the first multinational terrorist group of the twenty-first century and it confronts the world with a new kind of threat… Al Qaeda has moved terrorism beyond the status of a technique of protest and resistance and turned it into a global instrument with which to compete with and challenge Western influence in the Muslim world… This book describes in detail the threat posed by Al Qaeda and offers a perspective with which to formulate a counter-strategy in the coming years of conflict. My book attempts to paint a broad picture of an organization whose global reach and long-term threat have been underestimated until quite recently.” (Pg. 1)
He explains, “Al Qaeda was uncompromisingly distinct from most other Islamist groups in history, its avowed position being: ‘Islamic governments have never been and will never be, established through peaceful solutions…’ … Without directly challenging Western military power, economic strength and cultural influence, the Islamists perceive that they cannot bring about change in their home countries, because a group of Western countries, led by the USA, supports Israel and the unrepresentative Arab regimes of the Middle East.” (Pg. 5)
He outlines, “Al Qaeda created a worldwide strategic framework of Islamist military and political organizations… Al Qaeda emphasizes the physical as well as the psychological aspects of warfare training… Another hallmark of an Al Qaeda attack is its huge investment in the planning and preparatory stages… Al Qaeda’s relationship with other Islamist groups has long been one of its trump cards… Although its ideology is puritanical, Al Qaeda is an essentially modern organization, one that exploits up to date technology for its own ends… Another of Al Qaeda’s strengths is its wealth… Al Qaeda’s unprecedented mobility, motivation and capacity to generate wealth pose multiple challenges to international security” (Pg. 6-13)
He notes that “Osama did not begin his campaign against the Saudi regime until after the Iraqi troops were defeated in Kuwait in February 1991. When he expressed his displeasure publicly at the continuing presence of US troops, which he regarded as ‘infidels,’ on Saudi soil, he was sidelined. By making common cause with the forces opposed to the Saudi monarchy, Osama initiated a subtle campaign against them.” (Pg. 28) Later, he adds, “Osama was quick to consolidate his links with the Taliban leadership, and by financing and materially assisting the regime he soon had widespread influence over it… The regime reciprocated … by giving him and Al Qaeda sanctuary, and by providing weapons, equipment and training facilities.” (Pg. 40-41)
Osama issued his February 1997 fatwa: “Stating that the Americans had declared war on Allah, the Prophet, and Muslims, Osama announced that it was the duty of all Muslims to comply with God’s order by killing Americans and their allies, both civilian and military, irrespective of location.” (Pg. 45) He continues, “[Osama is] justifying his actions as a necessary response to halt the destruction of Islam and the loss of Muslim life and property… and by conducting daring attacks, he has demonstrated that the US is fallible and can be seriously harmed.” (Pg. 51)
He observes, “Osama never interpreted Islam to assist a given political goal. Islam is his political goal, his rhetoric, philanthropy towards the Muslim poor and military support for oppressed Muslims having great resonance among young Muslims the world over, including those living in the West.” (Pg. 87) He goes on, “Osama is a self-acknowledged terrorist and makes no pretense about his strategy of using and justifying terror as an instrument… Martyrdom is assigned the highest priority by Al Qaeda’s volunteers, who have succumbed to the psychological and spiritual influences of Islamist ideologues. Killing and dying for Allah are viewed as the highest form of sacrifice.” (Pg. 91)
He points out, “Most American Muslims---both Arab and non-Arab---do not support political violence, especially terrorism, but there is widespread resentment of the perceived influence of the Jewish lobby in shaping US foreign policy and America’s role in the Middle East, especially in its political, economic and military support for Israel. Thus although there is some degree of sympathy with Al Qaeda’s objective, most Muslims living in the West abhor the tactics adopted to advance its aims.” (Pg. 111)
He summarizes, “The global fight against Al Qaeda will be the defining conflict of the early 21st century… Defeating Al Qaeda and its associate groups will be the single biggest challenge confronting the international security and intelligence community, law enforcement authorities and national militaries in the foreseeable future… Afghanistan [became] the world’s premier terrorist training center for about forty guerrilla and terrorist groups. With no vital interests at stake in a remote corner of Asia, the West was impervious to the suffering of the Afghan people, who had endured death and destruction for two decades.” (Pg. 221)
He concludes, “In order to win, the West and the Muslim world must embark on a new relationship, one that counters the status quo that gave rise to Al Qaeda. To a large extent, the attitude of the West and the Muslim world has created the current situation. The West must work with the Muslim world… public diplomacy should be an integra feature in the campaign against terrorism.” (Pg. 233) He adds, “The vast majority of Muslims… want to live in peace and harmony. But they will only support the global campaign against terrorism and their leaders’ participation in it if the rest of the world is seen to concentrate its attack on the whole range of relevant issues, not just the weapon of terror alone.” (Pg. 242)
This book will be of keen interest to those wanting more information about Al Qaeda.
December 31, 2008
This book was clearly well-researched. It reads as a playbook of Al Qaeda's creation and growth. It contains details about regional operations, personalities involved, finances, and the whole nine yards. If you are a US strategist who wants a detailed introduction to Al Qaeda, the organization and the business, its origins and history, then this is the book for you.
I gave this 2 stars because it was basically impossible to read. It's not very long, but it's basically just jam-packed with facts. After the first 100 or so pages it goes into details of the organization at a regional level, region by region, detail by detail. It's more of an encyclopedic reference than someone one could actually sit down and read. Definitely not my style, but I respect what he's managed to accomplish because I'm sure it's valuable to someone out there.
I gave this 2 stars because it was basically impossible to read. It's not very long, but it's basically just jam-packed with facts. After the first 100 or so pages it goes into details of the organization at a regional level, region by region, detail by detail. It's more of an encyclopedic reference than someone one could actually sit down and read. Definitely not my style, but I respect what he's managed to accomplish because I'm sure it's valuable to someone out there.
April 20, 2025
I hate school
October 14, 2011
This author is a crack. He is trying to pull the wool over your eyes by assaulting you with a laundry list of facts without any context (the facts come so fast and furious you fell out of breath while you read it). And when he does try to push (unreasonable) conclusions, they don't flow from his facts and don't have any supporting citations (despite the fact that the book has so many citations it reads like an academic paper). It's even difficult to cherry pick the few gems in this book because you have no confidence in the author.
May 20, 2009
Decent book, if not a tad dry, that has given the most details I've seen on this shadowy group. Despite all of the details, however, I still did not come away with much of a stronger grasp of the inner workings of this organization. We know so little about them and yet they know us so well. That is the price that we pay for living in an open civilization.
March 4, 2014
Although it is slightly dated, it still presents a (relatively) clear picture of AQ. My only problem with this book was how Gunaratna tried to cram too much information into each sentence. I understand that he was striving for brevity, but it made the book harder to read, often leading me to have to re-read sentences to understand their structure.
March 10, 2010
Didnt read the whole thing. picked up chapters in the middle and have kept it for reference. VERY detailed and probably not what i was looking for. People have even complained of inaccuracies but im not aware as such.
October 28, 2007
Total snoozefest. Reads like an interoffice memo. It was as if the author had simply put together a bunch of stuff he had heard about Al Qaeda in the news over a period of a few years.
Read
March 11, 2008a look at the structure, goals and organization of the group. it also calls into question the current route we are taking to combat this ideology.
September 28, 2008
THis was good, but not as good as Burke. This was more from an academic side with many interviews. Some of his arguments were weak, but it was very informative and useful.
July 6, 2009
Gunaratna provides an excellent history of the terror network. Some of his insights seem speculative, but that doesn't make them wrong.
March 13, 2010
For the immediate aftermath of 9/11 it was a good read, but much of the content would be more of a historical account now. Good one at the time, just not as relevant anymore.
August 2, 2011
A must read for anyone who wants to learn anything about al-Qaeda from its inception to how it currently operates. Very well researched and written.
August 3, 2011
OUTSTANDING BOOK. READ IT NOW.
March 22, 2013
Book reviews- ummburpoops.wordpress.com
June 2, 2013
mindblowing
December 28, 2007
bit of a data dump....
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews