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The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousef, Osama Bin Laden and the Future of Terrorism
Details the manhunt for Ramzi Yousef, the terrorist behind the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, and the discovery that he was backed by Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, an increasingly influential sponser of international terrorism.
Hardcover
First published October 7, 1999
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About the author
Simon Reeve
14 books273 followersSimon Reeve is an English author and broadcaster. In recent years he's been travelling around little-known regions of the world for a series of BBC television documentaries.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 4, 2022
Read for my EPQ
very factual book that focuses on the 1993 WTC bombing. What makes it so interesting is the fact that it was written before 9/11 so, reading it with hindsight of what’s to come, was very interesting . The middle dragged on quiet a bit, and i think could have been condensed down.
very factual book that focuses on the 1993 WTC bombing. What makes it so interesting is the fact that it was written before 9/11 so, reading it with hindsight of what’s to come, was very interesting . The middle dragged on quiet a bit, and i think could have been condensed down.
January 28, 2026
AN OVERVIEW OF THE ‘NEW BREED OF TERRORISTS’
English author and broadcaster Simon Reeve wrote in the Introduction to this 1999 book, “Few in the West had heard of [Osama] bin Laden before the embassy bombings, but suddenly his photograph was plastered across global television screens and his anti-American rhetoric filled the airwaves… America might eventually capture and jail Osama bin Laden, just as it captured and imprisoned Ramzi Yousef. But others will follow in their wake, because the two men are just the first of a new breed of terrorists unleashed against the West. Poisoned by political hatred and religious fervor, these ‘New Jackals’ have no qualms about mass killing and are as deadly and committed as any group of terrorists the world has ever faced.” (Pg. 1-2)
He continues, “The roots of this new wave of extremist terrorism can be traced to … Afghanistan. After Soviet forces invaded the country in 1979 thousands of young Muslims from around the world travelled to Afghanistan to fight a holy war alongside… their Muslim brothers… But when the Soviets were defeated… thousands of young militants … were left to fend for themselves. Highly politicized and charged with religious zeal, they sought new enemies… Ramzi Yousef was one young man who trained in Afghanistan and then launched himself against the world. Osama bin Laden was one of the leaders. Together they epitomize the new terrorist threat facing the West.” (Pg. 2) He explains, “The new breed of terrorist attacking the West has few aims. They just want to kill and punish for what they believe is Western imperialism and the global oppression of Muslims. In their eyes it is guilt by association.” (Pg. 4)
He says of Ramzi Yousef [the mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing], “In his reasoning, there was only one way of making America realize it was ‘at war’; the ‘Great Satan’ must suffer casualties similar to those inflicted on Hiroshima and Nagasaki… only carnage on such a level would be sufficient punishment for supporting Israel, America’s friend and ally, and the fundamentalists’ sworn enemy because of its treatment of Palestinians.” (Pg. 24)
He states, “American intelligence files on Osama bin Laden date back to the 1980s, when the US viewed him as an ally and funded him and other rebels battling against Soviet troops in Afghanistan. But in the weeks after the [1993] World Trade Center bombing … agents began to uncover evidence he had started plotting against the United States.” (Pg. 47)
He notes, “the new breed of terrorist attacking the West often has little fear of death, let alone the prospect of spending the rest of his or her natural life in a small American cell. In fact, many extremists view imprisonment, torture or death as part of their holy duty: they reap the rewards as martyrs in heaven. (Pg. 58)
He points out, “The bomb at Mashhad was not Yousef’s only attack on fellow Muslims. During this period of his life he seems to have been motivated as much by hatred of Shiite Muslims as by hatred of America and the West. He was on a killing rampage, and even other Sunni Muslims were not safe.” (Pg. 67)
After Yousef was in custody, agents asked him, “So why did he not attack an Israeli target?… Yousef replied that Israeli targets were too well defended, and if you could not attack your enemy, ‘you should attack the friend of your enemy.’” (Pg. 108)
He states, “Many reporters and analysts have applied the blanket label of ‘Islamic fundamentalist’ To Ramzi Yousef, suggesting---largely on the basis that he claims to be a Muslim---that his motivation is religious ideology and a wish to fight a holy war against the Christian West. It is a false assumption: there is scant evidence to support any description of Yousef as a religious warrior. ‘He’s not someone you would ever describe … as being religious,’ said Neil Herman. ‘He hides behind a cloak of Islam.’” (Pg. 125)
He summarizes, “Ramzi Yousef… is the first of a new breed of terrorist, one with no clear or definable political goals. His motivation was not wholly religious or wholly political, but a combination of the two which manifested itself in a desire to inflict pain and suffering on his enemies, mainly the West for its political arrogance and support for Israel, but also on those Shiite Muslims who oppose his own Sunni Muslim views.” (Pg. 126-127)
During interrogation, the FBI realized, “many of the militants had been through torture, had been shot at, tear-gassed… had walked through minefields in Afghanistan; the law enforcement agents of the free world could do little to frighten them.” (Pg. 145)
He admits, “The relationship between America and bin Laden in Afghanistan is now a source of some embarrassment to both sides… Bin Laden’s faith in his American friends was shattered, however, when the war finished. ‘The United States was not interested in our jihad. It was only afraid that Russia would gain access to warm waters,’ says bin Laden.” (Pg. 168)
He says of the most powerful man in Afghanistan, Mullan Mohamed Omar, supreme leader of the Taliban, “[In] 1994, when some of his neighbors told him that two young girls had been kidnapped, shaved, and raped by mjjaheddin rebels manning a local checkpoint, the mullah was furious and rallied a small group of former veterans. Together they attacked the checkpoint with a few rusty AK-47s and freed the girls. The ringleader was hanged from the barrel of an old Soviet tank while the mullah’s comrades cheered. The incident was a turning point in Afghan history, for the mullah’s new followers multiplied rapidly.” (Pg. 190)
A leader of the moderate side of Islam explained, “Muslims who carry out these attacks are the fringe. But those who applaud are the disenfranchised Muslims everywhere who see the double standard of the United States taking unilateral action against an Islamic nation. Now, anyone who stands up to the U.S. becomes a hero.” (Pg. 203-204)
He summarizes, “Bin Laden’s group has several factors working in its favor which lend many analysts to believe it is now just a matter of time before another massive terrorist attack. The first is its structure: however quickly Western investigators unravel one element of al Qaeda and the global Islamist movement, another will uncoil, simply because a broadly based terrorist organization without a rigid central command structure is often impossible to contain. The second is the size of its support base: bin Laden already had thousands of trained fighters before the American missile attacks; now he has been deluged with volunteers, and camps… are once again swelling with young militants eager for jihad.” (Pg. 213-214) [Of course, we now know of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks...]
He concludes, “The new breed of terrorist is even more dangerous, because the groups are less structured and hierarchical: the terrorists are more like members of a cult, receiving religious motivation and broad instructions via radio broadcasts, satellite television or, increasingly, the Internet.” (Pg. 263)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying 20th century terrorists.
English author and broadcaster Simon Reeve wrote in the Introduction to this 1999 book, “Few in the West had heard of [Osama] bin Laden before the embassy bombings, but suddenly his photograph was plastered across global television screens and his anti-American rhetoric filled the airwaves… America might eventually capture and jail Osama bin Laden, just as it captured and imprisoned Ramzi Yousef. But others will follow in their wake, because the two men are just the first of a new breed of terrorists unleashed against the West. Poisoned by political hatred and religious fervor, these ‘New Jackals’ have no qualms about mass killing and are as deadly and committed as any group of terrorists the world has ever faced.” (Pg. 1-2)
He continues, “The roots of this new wave of extremist terrorism can be traced to … Afghanistan. After Soviet forces invaded the country in 1979 thousands of young Muslims from around the world travelled to Afghanistan to fight a holy war alongside… their Muslim brothers… But when the Soviets were defeated… thousands of young militants … were left to fend for themselves. Highly politicized and charged with religious zeal, they sought new enemies… Ramzi Yousef was one young man who trained in Afghanistan and then launched himself against the world. Osama bin Laden was one of the leaders. Together they epitomize the new terrorist threat facing the West.” (Pg. 2) He explains, “The new breed of terrorist attacking the West has few aims. They just want to kill and punish for what they believe is Western imperialism and the global oppression of Muslims. In their eyes it is guilt by association.” (Pg. 4)
He says of Ramzi Yousef [the mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing], “In his reasoning, there was only one way of making America realize it was ‘at war’; the ‘Great Satan’ must suffer casualties similar to those inflicted on Hiroshima and Nagasaki… only carnage on such a level would be sufficient punishment for supporting Israel, America’s friend and ally, and the fundamentalists’ sworn enemy because of its treatment of Palestinians.” (Pg. 24)
He states, “American intelligence files on Osama bin Laden date back to the 1980s, when the US viewed him as an ally and funded him and other rebels battling against Soviet troops in Afghanistan. But in the weeks after the [1993] World Trade Center bombing … agents began to uncover evidence he had started plotting against the United States.” (Pg. 47)
He notes, “the new breed of terrorist attacking the West often has little fear of death, let alone the prospect of spending the rest of his or her natural life in a small American cell. In fact, many extremists view imprisonment, torture or death as part of their holy duty: they reap the rewards as martyrs in heaven. (Pg. 58)
He points out, “The bomb at Mashhad was not Yousef’s only attack on fellow Muslims. During this period of his life he seems to have been motivated as much by hatred of Shiite Muslims as by hatred of America and the West. He was on a killing rampage, and even other Sunni Muslims were not safe.” (Pg. 67)
After Yousef was in custody, agents asked him, “So why did he not attack an Israeli target?… Yousef replied that Israeli targets were too well defended, and if you could not attack your enemy, ‘you should attack the friend of your enemy.’” (Pg. 108)
He states, “Many reporters and analysts have applied the blanket label of ‘Islamic fundamentalist’ To Ramzi Yousef, suggesting---largely on the basis that he claims to be a Muslim---that his motivation is religious ideology and a wish to fight a holy war against the Christian West. It is a false assumption: there is scant evidence to support any description of Yousef as a religious warrior. ‘He’s not someone you would ever describe … as being religious,’ said Neil Herman. ‘He hides behind a cloak of Islam.’” (Pg. 125)
He summarizes, “Ramzi Yousef… is the first of a new breed of terrorist, one with no clear or definable political goals. His motivation was not wholly religious or wholly political, but a combination of the two which manifested itself in a desire to inflict pain and suffering on his enemies, mainly the West for its political arrogance and support for Israel, but also on those Shiite Muslims who oppose his own Sunni Muslim views.” (Pg. 126-127)
During interrogation, the FBI realized, “many of the militants had been through torture, had been shot at, tear-gassed… had walked through minefields in Afghanistan; the law enforcement agents of the free world could do little to frighten them.” (Pg. 145)
He admits, “The relationship between America and bin Laden in Afghanistan is now a source of some embarrassment to both sides… Bin Laden’s faith in his American friends was shattered, however, when the war finished. ‘The United States was not interested in our jihad. It was only afraid that Russia would gain access to warm waters,’ says bin Laden.” (Pg. 168)
He says of the most powerful man in Afghanistan, Mullan Mohamed Omar, supreme leader of the Taliban, “[In] 1994, when some of his neighbors told him that two young girls had been kidnapped, shaved, and raped by mjjaheddin rebels manning a local checkpoint, the mullah was furious and rallied a small group of former veterans. Together they attacked the checkpoint with a few rusty AK-47s and freed the girls. The ringleader was hanged from the barrel of an old Soviet tank while the mullah’s comrades cheered. The incident was a turning point in Afghan history, for the mullah’s new followers multiplied rapidly.” (Pg. 190)
A leader of the moderate side of Islam explained, “Muslims who carry out these attacks are the fringe. But those who applaud are the disenfranchised Muslims everywhere who see the double standard of the United States taking unilateral action against an Islamic nation. Now, anyone who stands up to the U.S. becomes a hero.” (Pg. 203-204)
He summarizes, “Bin Laden’s group has several factors working in its favor which lend many analysts to believe it is now just a matter of time before another massive terrorist attack. The first is its structure: however quickly Western investigators unravel one element of al Qaeda and the global Islamist movement, another will uncoil, simply because a broadly based terrorist organization without a rigid central command structure is often impossible to contain. The second is the size of its support base: bin Laden already had thousands of trained fighters before the American missile attacks; now he has been deluged with volunteers, and camps… are once again swelling with young militants eager for jihad.” (Pg. 213-214) [Of course, we now know of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks...]
He concludes, “The new breed of terrorist is even more dangerous, because the groups are less structured and hierarchical: the terrorists are more like members of a cult, receiving religious motivation and broad instructions via radio broadcasts, satellite television or, increasingly, the Internet.” (Pg. 263)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying 20th century terrorists.
October 7, 2012
Luckily this book wasn't written as a he is such a bad guy, whatever his reasons.
I didn't realize first that the book was written before the airplanes destroyed the Twin Towers, so was waiting until that would be described. As it was written before, it was kind of fun to see how Reeves wrote about thinks and knowing what really happened afterwards. Spooky sometimes, but also making you feel sometimes like it couldn't be true they managed to do this stuff.
I guess Americans will feel different reading this book, but I liked the way Reeves wrote. Yes, what happened is bad. But the book shows you also the other side and makes you think about what the other side says. Their reasons, their background and what has happened in their countries, now and a long time ago.
It isn't a book about the terrorists are wrong and the countries they harm or complete victims.
I don't support them, but certain things they say I don't disagree with either.
The review Fiona wrote about this book which she gave to me, explains very well what the book is about. So I would advise to read that one too!
So my conclusion is that just as with his other book that I read, I thought it would be so so, but again it was interesting to read and well writen.
I didn't realize first that the book was written before the airplanes destroyed the Twin Towers, so was waiting until that would be described. As it was written before, it was kind of fun to see how Reeves wrote about thinks and knowing what really happened afterwards. Spooky sometimes, but also making you feel sometimes like it couldn't be true they managed to do this stuff.
I guess Americans will feel different reading this book, but I liked the way Reeves wrote. Yes, what happened is bad. But the book shows you also the other side and makes you think about what the other side says. Their reasons, their background and what has happened in their countries, now and a long time ago.
It isn't a book about the terrorists are wrong and the countries they harm or complete victims.
I don't support them, but certain things they say I don't disagree with either.
The review Fiona wrote about this book which she gave to me, explains very well what the book is about. So I would advise to read that one too!
So my conclusion is that just as with his other book that I read, I thought it would be so so, but again it was interesting to read and well writen.
April 4, 2019
A superb piece of work. Nothing created. Just a joining of the factual dots gained through investigative journalism. It reads so well 20 years on as when you interpolate the facts with the predictions you actually arrive in our terrorism reality today.
If you are looking for a religion, particularly Muslim, bashing diatribe then you will be disappointed. This isn't prose turning reality into a pantomime. There are some home truths for us in the West to take in. Historical misjudgements that we are still suffering from today. And by us I mean everyone.
I was told that it accurately predicted a particular terrorist action that did occur years after this book was published. It didn't. But what it did predict, which included acts like that particular terrorist action, is a change in what terrorism is and why the easiest way to reduce terrorism is the hard negotiated resolutions of complex issues. An example of one that has been eased this way already is Northern Ireland. It isn't solved but enough comprises have occurred to seriously reduce atrocities committed.
Finally, it reads well. Whilst not glamorising anything, it is a page turner nonetheless.
If you are looking for a religion, particularly Muslim, bashing diatribe then you will be disappointed. This isn't prose turning reality into a pantomime. There are some home truths for us in the West to take in. Historical misjudgements that we are still suffering from today. And by us I mean everyone.
I was told that it accurately predicted a particular terrorist action that did occur years after this book was published. It didn't. But what it did predict, which included acts like that particular terrorist action, is a change in what terrorism is and why the easiest way to reduce terrorism is the hard negotiated resolutions of complex issues. An example of one that has been eased this way already is Northern Ireland. It isn't solved but enough comprises have occurred to seriously reduce atrocities committed.
Finally, it reads well. Whilst not glamorising anything, it is a page turner nonetheless.
February 15, 2017
Interesting that this book was published in 1999, but of course few people, to include me, read it until after Sept. 11th.
The FBI was able to infiltrate Sheikh Omar's group, which prevented bridge and tunnel bombings
Ramzi Yousef was not an observant Muslim - he just used Islam to further his cause.
Bhutto supported the US move to seize Yousef in Pakistan.
Reeve foresees the fall of the Egyptian govt.
The FBI was able to infiltrate Sheikh Omar's group, which prevented bridge and tunnel bombings
Ramzi Yousef was not an observant Muslim - he just used Islam to further his cause.
Bhutto supported the US move to seize Yousef in Pakistan.
Reeve foresees the fall of the Egyptian govt.
April 2, 2020
A very must interesting read to comprehend the rise of new brand of Islamic terrorism of 1990s which is sponsored and manned by sophisticated young evil geniuses. The world is at greater danger now than ever...
April 18, 2020
Another small fry ready to use whatever to sell the fear that gets him paid.
September 5, 2024
Very well written and digestible.
August 5, 2013
This work has obviously lost some of its punch since publication but had I read this prior to 9/11 then this certainly would have got a five star rating. New Jackals is an excellent analysis of the career of one terrorist in particular and through his investigation of Yousef's career, Reeve demonstrates the complexity and reach of international terrorism in the early 1990s and how it was poised to strike internationally. Many of the predictions about terrorist attacks or the direction terrorism would follow are remarkably accurate and credit is due. The flaws in the predictions made were that terrorism would increasingly take place in the west with the wars in the Middle East proving that terrorism has mostly been used as a weapon against the near enemy not the far one and the other predictions that missed were that fundamentalist terrorists were eagerly seeking access to wmd's as it seems that bombings have proven effective enough for them.
I would happily re-read this if a new edition was released to incorporate developments in terrorism since publication as while this is certainly not the most scholarly discussion of the topic, Reeve writes with a verve that makes some of the more technical or repetitive aspects of the story just as interesting as the most engrossing aspects of the narrative.
Would highly recommend this to anyone interested in similar topics
I would happily re-read this if a new edition was released to incorporate developments in terrorism since publication as while this is certainly not the most scholarly discussion of the topic, Reeve writes with a verve that makes some of the more technical or repetitive aspects of the story just as interesting as the most engrossing aspects of the narrative.
Would highly recommend this to anyone interested in similar topics
August 9, 2013
Well, I will hold my hand up and say I had absolutely no recollection of an attack on the twin towers in 1993. To read this book and understand what happened and the knowledge and insights gained on Ramzi Youself and Osama bin Laden following the attacks, knowing what would come later - quite frankly it's astounding.
Knowing what we knew, and reading articles about the attack written at the time (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/da...) - I don't know what to make of it all. Could we really not have put all the knowledge to good use to try to prevent the atrocity that was to come?
It's particularly harrowing to read in the article the experiences of those in the towers on the day of the 1993 attack - in particular the quote "it felt like an airplane hit the building". Absolutely chilling.
Knowing what we knew, and reading articles about the attack written at the time (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/da...) - I don't know what to make of it all. Could we really not have put all the knowledge to good use to try to prevent the atrocity that was to come?
It's particularly harrowing to read in the article the experiences of those in the towers on the day of the 1993 attack - in particular the quote "it felt like an airplane hit the building". Absolutely chilling.
February 27, 2009
I read this book for informational purposes only. It was interesting enough on its own but its importance I think lies in understanding the development of the terrorist cells we see today and how they operate and recruit.
June 28, 2011
Good background to the precursors of 9/11, other than that it's a pretty hard read.
August 10, 2007
in depth and detailed. fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews