Osama Bin Laden

9/11 almost instantaneously remade American politics and foreign policy. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Patriot Act, water boarding and Guantanamo are examples of its profound and far-reaching effects. But despite its monumental impact--and a deluge of books about al-Qaeda and Islamist terrorism--no one has written a serious assessment of the man who planned it, Osama bin Laden. Available biographies depict bin Laden as an historical figure, the mastermind behind 9/11, but no longer relevant to the world it created. These accounts, Michael Scheuer strongly believes, have contributed to a widespread and dangerous denial of his continuing significance and power. In this book, Scheuer provides a much-needed corrective--a hard-headed, closely reasoned portrait of bin Laden, showing him to be a figure of remarkable leadership skills, strategic genius, and considerable rhetorical abilities. The first head of the CIA's bin Laden Unit, where he led the effort to track down bin Laden, Scheuer draws from a wealth of information about bin Laden and his evolution from peaceful Saudi dissident to America's Most Wanted. Shedding light on his development as a theologian, media manipulator, and paramilitary commander, Scheuer makes use of all the speeches and interviews bin Laden has given as well as lengthy interviews, testimony, and previously untranslated documents written by those who grew up with bin Laden in Saudi Arabia, served as his bodyguards and drivers, and fought alongside him against the Soviets. The bin Laden who emerges from these accounts is devout, talented, patient, and ruthless; in other words, a truly formidable and implacable enemy of the West. Acclaim for Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terrorism "Pulls few punches...a fascinating window on America's war with Al Qaeda." --Michiko Kakutani, New York Times "No serious observer of the war on terrorism can ignore this scathing critique." --Peter Bergen, author of Holy War, Inc. "A powerful, persuasive analysis of the terrorist threat and the Bush administration's failed efforts to fight it." --Richard A. Clarke, Washington Post Book World "A fire-breathing denunciation of U.S. counterterrorism policy." --Julian Borger, The Guardian "Presents overwhelmingly persuasive evidence to buttress a host of significant and controversial arguments." --Benjamin Schwarz, Atlantic Monthly "Destined to become a classic in the field of counterterrorism analysis." --Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside Terrorism Other Available Biographies Depict Osama Bin Laden As A Historical Figure, The Mastermind Behind 9/11, But No Longer Relevant To The World It Created. These Accounts, The Author Believes, Have Contributed To A Widespread And Dangerous Denial Of His Continuing Significance And Power. In This Book The Author, The First Head Of The Cia's Bin Laden Unit, Provides A Closely Reasoned Portrait Of Bin Laden Showing Him To Be A Figure Of Remarkable Leadership Skills, Strategic Genius, And Considerable Rhetorical Abilities. 9/11 Almost Instantaneously Remade American Politics And Foreign Policy. The Wars In Iraq And Afghanistan, The Patriot Act, Water Boarding And Guantanamo Are Examples Of Its Profound And Far-reaching Effects. Because He Led The Effort To Track Down Bin Laden, The Author Is Able To Draw From A Wealth Of Information About Bin Laden And His Evolution From Peaceful Saudi Dissident To America's Most Wanted. Shedding Light On His Development As A Theologian, Media Manipulator, And Paramilitary Commander, The Author Makes Use Of All The Speeches And Interviews Bin Laden Has Given As Well As Lengthy Interviews, Testimony, And Previously Untranslated Documents Written By Those Who Grew Up With Bin Laden In Saudi Arabia, Served As His Bodyguards And Drivers, And Fought Alongside Him Against The Soviets. The Bin Laden Who Emerges From These Accounts Is Devout, Talented, Patient, And Ruthless; In Other Words, A Truly Formidable And Implacable Enemy Of The West. Osama Bin Laden As Subject -- Education, 1957-1979 -- Apprenticeship, 1979-1989 -- Nomad, 1989-1996 -- Organizer, 1996-2001 -- Survivor And Planner, 2001-2010 -- The Bin Laden Era. Michael Scheuer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [189]-262) And Index. Джихад Усамы бен Ладена продолжался долгие годы после терактов 11 сентября 2001 года. Сам он оставался в глубоком подполье, зато его идеи распространялись по всему миру. Теперь бен Ладен мертв, и нам нужно понять, как долго эти идеи будут сохранять свое влияние на джихадистов. Созданная им подпольная организация по-прежнему угрожает США, Европе, Израилю, христианам в арабских странах, евреям, а также самим арабам в тех странах, которые пытаются строить демократию. Автор этой книги, в 1996-1999 годах возглавлявший отдел ЦРУ по поиску бен Ладена, разъясняет, что борьба с "Аль-Каидой" требует хорошего знания истории джихада, а также четкого представления о целях джихадистов - например, таких как полное изгнание "неверных" из арабских стран. Размышления Шоера, подкрепленные интересными, но малоизвестными сведениями, представляют деятельность бен Ладена в исторической перспективе - автор изображает его проницательным лидером, который готов безжалостно убивать врагов ради достижения своих политических и религиозных целей. Конечно, выводы, которые делает Шоер, целиком и полностью субъективны, и тем не менее getAbstract рекомендует эту книгу самой широкой аудитории вне зависимости от политических взглядов читателей. Единственное, чего не знал о бен Ладене автор, - это то, что через два месяца после выхода его книги в свет американские "морские котики" сбросят труп Усамы в океан, и от главного террориста мира останутся только круги на воде Scheuer, the first head of the CIA's bin Laden Unit, draws from a wealth of interviews, speeches, and previously un-translated documents to challenge the complacency of the West's perception of Osama bin Laden. Exploring bin Laden's evolution from a peaceful Saudi dissident to America's Most Wanted and shedding light on his development as a theologian, media manipulator, and military commander, Scheuer produces a closely reasoned, authoritative portrait of America's most determined enemy. --from publisher description The author draws on his experience as the former head of the CIA's bin Laden unit to argue that the terrorist leader is still relevant, still making decisions, and still planning to put innocent people in harm's way. Osama bin Laden as subject Education, 1957-1979 Apprenticeship, 1979-1989 Nomad, 1989-1996 Organizer, 1996-2001 Survivor and planner, 2001-2010 The bin Laden era Epilogue.