Inside the Jihad: My Life with Al Qaeda: A Spy's Story

This is not the strategic analysis of Jihad, not a religious text, but it is a great story about one man's life inside and outside of Jihad over the years. I found it exciting to read and actually felt the author's discomforts and risks. If you are interested in learning a high level analysis of modern Jihad, militant Islam, read Imperial Hubris. This book partners well with that backdrop and steps inside the actual world of the training camps and breathes life into the personal struggles faced by many young Muslims.

Even before 9/11 I was trying to read all the material I could find on the Islamic extremist movement. There are many informative books out there but even the best of those are usually from the Western view looking in. This book is written by someone who has actually "been there, done that". (making the leap of faith that the story is in fact -true) It is well documented that Al Qaeda members are sophisticated and well trained but this book is a real eye opener. Training in weapons of all kinds, explosives, martial arts, fitness, tactics and the use of advanced camps for certain disciplines are all described. More chilling are the frequent references to unlimited ammo and explosives. If you still think the West is up against an enemy of poor, ignorant religious zealots who are anxious to die for Allah then you might want to start your learning experience here. It is oh so much more complicated than that and this book gives you a glimpse into some of the background that must be understood if the West is to make intelligent decisions dealing with the entire Muslim world..

I have finished most of this book, and as soon as I get off-line I'm going to read the rest. This book is absolutely amazing. This should be mandatory reading for anyone who wishes to fully understand the events leading up to 9/11 and what we are now facing in Iraq, all from the point of view of someone who attended the infamous terrorist training camps in Afganistan. As the author explains, we are now engaged with a people who are not only fighting amongst themselves for dominance of their individual Islamic sect, but who are quite used to fighting world superpowers and have been doing so with increasing success since the days of the Cold War. The training they receive in the terrorist camps in some ways rivals that of our own military, especially since they have no use for our self-imposed 'rules of engagement'. What makes this book so attractive and easy to read is that is a first-person account of a spy working for France who infiltrated the terrorist network that would later come to be known as Al Qaeda, as well as attended the training camps. He trained alongside Chechens who were hoping to use their training against the Russians, Palestinians, and other European and Middle-eastern radicals. He explains the mind-set of the radicals, the infighting between the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Iran, and various "puppet-governments" in "Muslim-lands". He also explains a little of the history of it all, and the networking that goes on across the globe. Perhaps what was most stunning for me was the description of the camps and level of technology they have access to, as well as the level of training received there. I also must mention the resolve. The shear dedication to God and the belief they are doing His Will in fighting the infidels, Israel and its allies in whatever way, shape, or form they can. Through it all the author manages to get across the humanity of the people he is speaking of, you can really grasp where they are coming from. I highly advise anyone and everyone who wants to understand the situation in the middle-east to read this book. I love this book.

A terrific book! Omar Nasiri(pseudonym) writes his personal story beginning with his youth selling drugs and then guns in Belgium. He is street-smart, bright and a proud Muslim. His gun/ammo sales are going to Islamic fundamentalists but Mr. Nasiri does it to make money. He sees that killing innocent people, often Muslims, in the name of Islam, is abhorrent. Through a twist of fate, he comes to work for French Intelligence who send him on an open-ended trip to the tribal areas of Pakistan and then into the terrorist training camps of Afghanistan. He thrives in the camps and feels great bonds of brotherhood while being trained as an an Islamic killer and working for the West. This is the unique perspective of this book--Mr. Nasiri is a Muslim at his core who describes a common feeling of Muslim humiliation ("we even have to buy Uzis from the Israelis") but who has nothing but contempt for Muslim extremists. Watching him be "handled" by English Intelligence would be comical if it wasn't so serious--it is like watching two Mid-Western farmers run a black agent in Harlem. Unfortunately, we are the farmers. Mr. Nasiri appears to represent an understandable view-point of ordinary Muslims. This is a powerful thought.

Inside the Jihad is a thrilling read from start to finish. Omar Nasiri didn't start out in the radical Islamic movement as a spy at all. He also didn't become a spy because he felt it was the right thing to do, he did it to save his life. Omar's life wasn't normal for anyone, European or Arab. He was born in Morocco and when he was 5 his family moved to be with their father who had been working in Belgium for two years. However Omar had TB and was placed in a sanitarium. A sanitarium ran by Catholic nuns. Then at ten he went to live in a castle with 25 other foster boys. He did see his family rarely but he grew up westernized, having implications later on. The man who ran the castle, Edourd, took Omar under his wing. This included allowing Omar to shoot guns in the range provided he does his homework. However the one time he lied about completing his homework so he could shoot, Edourd found out, and said something to Omar he never forgot. Edourd said in anger that he would never amount to anything and Omar vowed to prove him wrong. He vowed to prove anyone wrong who ever underestimated him. Omar then moved in with his family who by then returned to Morocco. He wasn't close to his family but then did something a good Muslim son shouldn't do. He stood up and assaulted his father after he gave one too many beatings to his mother. His mother then divorced and moved with the family back to Belgium. Omar stayed in Morocco. Soon enough he was making money as the go-between for hashish dealers and the tourists. He learned the skills necessary to avoid arrest and spot buyers and sellers. These skills would eventually allow him entry to the camps. After his brother brought him back to Belgium he soon learned that his mother's house was the hub for the GIA in Europe. This is where Al Ansar was published and spread around the world. He soon put his skills to use in obtaining bullets for the GIA members and soon enough was buying weapons, detonators, and even explosives. After discovering to his horror that the arsenals he was buying were being kept in his house he made a mistake that sent him into the arms of the DGSE (French Secret Service). After helping the DGSE he was almost sent to jail with the rest the GIA cell, but by his wits he managed to stay out of jail. By way of another mistake he also wanted out of Europe. Soon enough we was sent to Turkey, alone, to somehow find his way into Afghanistan. The DGSE had little hope of seeing Omar again. Omar would prove them wrong as well. Before a flight to Pakistan, he used his skills to identify a Jihadist and made a connection that within weeks would allow Omar to enter the training camps. Once at the camps the training was physically exhausting and thoroughly extensive. Weapons training involved pistols, surface to air missiles, tanks, explosives, mortars and everything in between. Everything was drilling into the trainee's heads. The scariest part was the do-it yourself explo