Inside Al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror

Of course we had to read this book for the class, but for those of you who doubt his knowledge, let me just say this. There is no, and I mean no American who has the knowledge about Al Qaeda as Dr. Gunaratna has. That is why he was a debriefer for the CIA, he questioned Bin Laden's pilot, and also the former head of Al Qeada's Anthrax program, yes they had an Anthrax program. This book isnt writen by some guy listening to others, this is writen by a guy who was living it. I advise all of you, who want to know the truth about Al Qeada, and how they are no longer a group but a movement, to read this book like a bible. And of course, if your as lucky as I as to have him as a teacher, take any class he teaches, not only is he informitave, he is funny and witty as well...

Inside Al Qaeda Global network of Terror was one of the most compelling books about Al Qaeda and the new threat of terrorism that I have ever read. The non-bias straightforward writing of Gunaratna brought to light the vastness of terrorism and its reach throughout the world. The book is very concise in the facts and the chapters are very fluid like. If you desire to learn about Al Qaeda and how complex it really is, I recommend this book. Over all an excellent read.

This is THE definitive book so far on Al Qadea for several reasons. One of the biggest is that since it came out in 2002 (it is now in paperback too) it has proven more correct every single day. If you've heard some of this information before or read some of it before it's mainly because this is the book that clearly has been the authorative source for many of journalists (I was a journalist and know how that works!)who do not attribute their on-the-air brilliance to the fact that they read this book. It's all HERE. And more and more of this book is proving to be correct every single day. The latest sign of author Rohan Gunaratna's solid scholarship, analysis and nuts-and-bolts-inside-info in Inside Al Qaeda has been displayed on the front page of the Los Angeles Times which ran a story about how the terrorist organization is undergoing a "major shift" in strategy -- mutating into more of a decentralized network, relying on an array of regional and local allies to launch more frequent attacks on targets. If you read the book before, you KNEW that this network was in place -- and that this development was coming. Guanaratna painstakingly lays out the huge worldwide network of terrorist groups that are directly or indirectly allied with Al Qaeda. He breaks it down into regions and countries. In fact, this book is a virtual directory: see an event in the newspapers, then look it up in this book and you have all the background to sound like an on the air expert (but you won't get paid big bucks). No, it does not read like a novel. But this superb book is highly readable -- reading like a straightfoward newsmagazine report. There is not a word of filler or ideological rhetoric in it -- the author only lays out....facts. When he states that there is no evidence of a solid connection between Iraq and 911 he has 100 percent credibility due to what has come before. He's NOT proclaming it due to any political agenda. The book details it all: the bloody and highly political rise of Osama Bin Laden, Bin Laden's motives and goals (basically achieve a political goal by garnering a high victim body count, and whether that includes civilians, women, children or Muslims is absolutely irrelevant); the skyrocketing rise of militant Islam; how slights from fellow Muslim national leaders created and radicalized the Al Qaeda into a terrorism Frankenstein; an account of 911 from an operational standpoint; predictions on what is likely to come; and the highly detailed profiles of various cells. To those who are not sympathetic to Bin Laden or Al Qaeda's political goals (in other words, those who do feel upset if they see innocents intentionally murdered to make a political statement)this book is depressing, as it documents Al Qaeda's highly fluid and adaptable "multidimensional" nature -- which you now see in newscycles each day. Nor will it vanish soon. Writes Gunaratna: "Al Qaeda's leadership, membership and supporters firmly believe that everything ha

Excellent book. A well researched and overview of Al Qaeda. Provides excellent insights into the ideology and methods of operation for one of the world's most dangerous terrorist groups. Unlike other books on this subject, this work is superbly footnoted, perhaps reflecting the author's academic background. This is essential for a truly authoritative work of non-fiction, something sadly lacking in many other books in this genre. The section on Al Qaeda's operations in Southeast Asia is groundbreaking, providing information not seen anywhere else. Tellingly much of what the author described about Al Qaeda operations in Asia was subsequently demonstrated in spades in Bali last October. The general reader might find this book somewhat dense, the print is small and the reading somewhat dry. For the serious student of modern terrrorism, however, this book is a must have. Other authors should take a lesson from Gunaratna's footnoting. Well worth the price!!

Rohan Gunaratna's book on Al Qaeda is the most thoroughly researched available. The level of detail is impressive; he even gives the exact address of the former Al Qaeda headquarters in Brooklyn and Osama bin Laden's cell phone number! This book provides Americans with credible specifics we need to fight terrorism. I wish to point out to the reviewer from Alexandria, VA, that if he/she had read the book carefully they would have understood that the twentieth highjacker Rohan Gunaratna referred to was Moussaoui, who was arrested by the FBI three weeks before the 9/11 attack.