Product Description

WhenImperial Hubrisfirst came out in 2004, the greatest danger for Americans confronting the Islamist threat was to believeâat the urging of U.S. leadersâthat Muslims attack us for what we are and what we think rather than for what we do. The now-classic showed that a growing segment of the Islamic world strenuously disapproves of specific U.S. policies and their attendant military, political, and economic implications and demonstrated that they will go to any length, not to destroy our secular, democratic way of life, but to deter what they view as specific attacks on their lands, their communities, and their religion.Imperial Hubrisremains a must read for an in-depth look at Al Qaeda and the War on Terror.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2208 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 313 pages

From Publishers Weekly
It's unclear how, in an age when even office workers must sign confidentiality agreements, an alleged CIA Middle Eastern specialist has gotten permission to publish a sprawling, erudite book on the origins and present state of the "war on terror." His main point is that Arab antagonism to the West (and even non-fundamentalist Arab regimes' winking at terrorism) has its root in real grievances that have gone unaddressed by U.S. measures. The actions of the Saudis, and their U.S. supporters, come in for some hard criticism, as does the elevation of Northern Alliance warlords to de facto governors of Afghanistan. The author makes some challenging remarks regarding Israel ("Surely there can be no other historical example of a faraway, theocracy-in-all-but-name of only six million people that ultimately controls the extent and even the occurrence of an important portion of political discourse and national security debate in a country of 270-plus million people that prides itself on religious toleration, separation of church and state, and freedom of speech") while playing down the extent to which the Taliban itself was a corrupt theocratic regime. But his annotated compendia of battles and skirmishes won and lost by the U.S. and al-Qaeda are gripping, and his engagement with his subject has made him a pundit-in-demand.
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Review
"Pulls few punches... and gives us a fascinating window on America's war with Al Qaeda." - Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Presents overwhelmingly persuasive evidence to buttress a host of significant and controversial arguments." - Benjamin Schwartz, The Atlantic Monthly "A powerful, persuasive analysis of the terrorist threat and the Bush administration's failed efforts to fight it." - Richard A. Clarke, former national coordinator for security and counterterrorism, Washington Post Book World "This book is so valuable, it hardly seems that any review could do it justice." - Ralph Peters, author of Beyond Baghdad: Postmodern War and Peace "Anonymous is an extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and provocative thinker. His analysis and forecasts about Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda network, and terrorism in general are extremely insightful - not to mention accurate." - Faye Bowers, Christian Science Monitor "A powerful, persuasive analysis of the terrorist threat and the Bush Administration's failed efforts to fight it... [The author's] criticism is damning.... Imperial Hubris is an important contribution to a necessary debate...." - Richard A. Clarke (former national coordinator for security and counter-terrorism) in Washington Post Book World "Rare is the book that can change the course of an international debate, but Imperial Hubris is just such a book." - Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press "This book is so valuable, it hardly seems that any review could do it justice.... All those concerned with our national security would do well to take up this book. We cannot know the many services the author has rendered to our country in his intelligence role, but I suspect that Imperial Hubris - a work of supreme integrity - may be his greatest contribution of all." - Ralph Peters, retired Army intelligence officer and author of Beyond Baghdad? Postmodern War and Peace "A sprawling, erudite book on the origins and present state of the 'war on terror'... Gripping." - Publishers Weekly "Now the definitive book on terrorism has appeared that should be mandatory reading for every thinking person.... A gold mine of information and brilliant analysis. It breaks taboos and sweeps away the clouds of lies about al Qaeda, Iraq, and Afghanistan." - Toronto Sun "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 Schwartz The Atlantic Monthly "Pulls few punches... and gives us a fascinating window on America's war with Al Qaeda." - Michiko Kakutani, New York Times "[The author's] conclusions are as disquieting as his policy prescriptions are compelling.... Imperial Hubris is destined to become a classic in the field of counterterrorism analysis." - Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside Terrorism "No serious observer of the war on terrorism can ignore this scathing critique of the Bush administration's policies...." - Peter Bergen, author of Holy War, Inc. "A rapid-fire, plain-spoken polemic stated with conviction and passion... Michael Scheuer's tough-minded and honest book is a much-needed antidote to the shallow and often deceptive information doled out by our elites and by the American media." - Chronicles "This is an insightful, bitter, worrisome book. It is also the most consequential critique of the war on terror yet published, deeply historical, broadly researched, and crisply articulated.... Like it or hate it, no substantial debate about the war on terrorism can now take place without references to this book and its ideas.... The author's insights into al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and Islam's antipathy toward the United States are brilliantly presented.... The author's professional expertise and deep knowledge of his subject jump from every page.... Imperial Hubris has to be read by every serious military leader or thinker." - Parameters "A bold attack on the U.S. antiterrorism and intelligence machinery, one that is likely to provoke strong reactions on one side or another. But the attack is always thought-provoking.... Anyone interested in an insider's view of the intelligence community, including the failures of the CIA, the FBI, the White House, and the State Department, will want to read this provocative work." - Security Management"

About the Author
, and has been the focus of print media worldwide. He lives in the Washington, D.C., area.