Dollars for Terror: The United States and Islam

This was an extremely detailed book about our problems leading up to September 11th in the Islamic World. It's a different perspective because the author isn't American. I was a Political Science major in college, so I was interested, though it is probably much more detail than most people would like. The book's best audience would be people involved in International Affairs. It would be interesting to see the author do an update and see if any of his assessments have changed.

This notes that Ramzi Yousef, the guy serving life at Supermax in Colorado for WTC '93, was connected at one point to the CIA....

With a smidgen of slack at the beginning of this book, for awkward passages which I attribute to the fact that Labeviere is Swiss and is just getting his keyboard warmed up, this book ranks as one of the most important books on international relations, terrorism, Islamism, blowback of foreign policy postures and decisions prior to and during the Cold War, and a litany of other subject headings made not only important, but crucial, since the September 11th attacks on the WTC and Pentagon and the ongoing low intensity/destabilization campaign being waged against the USA and the West. Once he gets cranked up, Labeviere gives rich insight and valuable historical overview in addidtion to posing useful questions which arise au naturel from the unfolding landscape of discourse. He gives the reader the who, where, how, why, when, and the linkages. He shows us the chinks in our security, the cracks in our armor, and challenges us to take heed. Originally published in French in 1999, before our current crisis, his observations are robustly clear and alarming, and steer one away from the comfort of oversimplicity in casting the shadow of blame or in the proposal of tidy solutions. Every public official should be put in a jumbo jet and told that they will not stand on terre firma again until they have read every word of this book. It is an outstanding summary essential to understanding our world and our time. It is a must read for every citizen who wants to know what we are really facing domestically and internationally. It is an excellent introduction for the student of world affairs who wants a solid foundation from which to dive deeper into the complexities which drive our modern realities. It is a challenge to the modern thinker, strategist, or armchair optimist to survey and prioritize the real problems and find real solutions for the world where we live, which will leave the politically sensitive and politically correct bobbling and abandoned in the wake of national security imperatives like garbage behind the Islip barge. A must read in real politik. I have extensive notes and marked passages all throughout my copy. For the connoisseur, two flavors, English or French. Very interesting passage on page 297, quoting Egyption President Mubarak's adviser, Dr. Ossama Al-Baz, after the Luxor massacre, which will echo with all Americans. Every chapter could inspire dozens of satirical caricatures and political cartoons, were the subject less serious. Given the truths which emerge, the face in the mirror is our own, and it is ourselves who must answer the gauntlet, who must set aright the chesspieces scattered across the floor of civilization. The stakes are indeed high. Caveat: There are distracting prejudices reflecting the author's personal bias woven in the last two chapters which are less than professional, but the body of the book can be corroborated by other authors, such as Mark Huband and John Cooley, both experts in the area.

This book is profoundly relevant in light of the recent events. For anyone truly looking to understand the history and politics leading up to September 11th, this book is an excellent source. Added to a little pre-existing knowledge about history, it illuminates an entire chain of events, drawing connections and conclusions that proved to be amazingly on target. I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to grasp the different angles of the situation in the middle east.