Crush the Cell: How to Defeat Terrorism Without Terrorizing Ourselves

By Michael A. Sheehan

Book Overview

C rush the Cell demolishes, with simple logic, the edifice of false "terror punditry" that has been laid, brick by brick, since 9/11. A veteran of special ops, international diplomacy, and bruising clasheswith federal lawenforcement agencies, Michael Sheehan delivers in this book a two-part message: First, thatwe'vewasted--and are continuing towaste--billions of dollars on thewrong protectivemeasures, and second, that knowing the bad guys'nextmove is paramount. Here, Sheehan showswhy defensive fortresses don't work, but offensive operational intelligence does. He peels back themystery surrounding terrorist cells, explains just how"terror experts"andmembers of themedia are playing into the terrorists' hands...and provides perhaps the clearest picture yet of what modern terror-fighting is all about. "Trenchant...scores some palpable hits...the depth and breadth of Sheehan's experience give him an authority that is hard to assail." -- The Economist "Filled with startling insights...like its author, this book is smart, tough, brave, and relentlessly honest."--Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307382184
• ISBN13: 9780307382184
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

What Americans need to know

Must read for Americans who want answers to issues involving Combatting Terrorism and what they need to ask their elected representatives.

What makes this book stand out in a crowded field?

What makes Michael Sheehan's new book, "Crush the Cell," different from the many other literary works addressing the threat of terrorism confronting our country and the world? It certainly is a terrific read that provides a view from the trenches that only someone with Mr. Sheehan's front-line experience in the war against terrorism could provide. And, there is surely no one else out there who has the perspective Sheehan brings to this topic. Mr. Sheehan has served his country as a Special Forces officer in the military and confronted the threat of radical terrorist in high-level Federal Government and law enforcement positions. Sheehan was one of the most senior counterterrorism officials in the Clinton Administration and served as the top terrorism cop in what has been the main domestic battleground in this conflict, New York City. His experience and perspective gained from these and many other assignments to various "hot-spots" (e.g., Haiti, Somalia, and perhaps, most stressful, the U.N.), provide ample reasons to read this book. But the main reason you won't be able to put it down is the author's imminently readable style in telling his compelling story, or rather, series of compelling stories. These numerous vignettes, which come from Sheehan's unique experiences as a Green Beret, the State Department's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and the NYC Deputy Police Commissioner for Counterterrorism (and other fascinating, often dangerous postings), puts the reader in the trenches with him. Each real life tale of his part in trying to prevent 9/11 before it happened and in trying to prevent it from recurring, is told in a down-to-earth manner. So much so that you will feel like Mr. Sheehan was explaining all this to you over a cup of coffee in your kitchen. His unpretentious tone compliments Sheehan's ability to cogently and clearly untangle the many nuances of a highly complicated matter. In just a few pages, Mr. Sheehan takes the reader through the history of the Islamic religion to explain the roots of the current fanatical terrorist movements. He sorts out the different terrorist groups, their agendas, their state sponsors, and their religious pedigrees. Sheehan debunks many of the myths that both oversimplify their motives (most suicide bombers are seeking more than a night in paradise with 72 virgins) and magnify their abilities (returning a rental truck after a pre-9/11 attempt to blow up the World Trade Towers shows the ineptitude of many of their foot-soldiers). What emerges is a clear picture of a ruthless and relentless, but often incompetent, foe that can be stopped if the right tools and methods are put into place. Others have pointed fingers and, on occasion, appeared to use their insider accounts to satisfy personal agendas or increase book sales by airing salacious charges against their former bosses and peers. Instead, Mr. Sheehan takes the high road. Mostly, he only looks back critically to help inform his readers about

Must reading for the Presidential candidates

This is an excellent book that puts in perspective much of what is talked about with the "War on Terror" and which provides an analysis of the effectiveness of the various government agencies involved in countering terrorists. Importantly, Mr. Sheehan makes a careful distinction between insurgents and terrorists and suggests that insurgents such as Hamas are not now as big a threat to the United States as they are made out to be. His main point is that we should focus on gathering intelligence which will enable us to crush terrorist cells whose main objective is to take action which will harm persons and property in the United States. I was surprised to learn about the extensive counter-terrorism activities of the New York Police Department where Mr. Sheehan played a major role. His credentials are impressive beginning with graduation from West Point, becoming a Green Beret and working with the National Security Agency, the State Department, the UN and the NYPD. He takes a critical look at steps taken since 911 which have been misguided such as throwing together disparate agencies into the Department of Homeland Security and creating a National Intelligence Agency. I have been critical of the Government's efforts to monitor electronic transmissions but am more sympathetic to these efforts as a result of reading this book. Without explicitly criticizing President Bush, Sheehan makes it clear that it is not helpful for politicians to use the threat of terrorism to make us more fearful than is necessary.

Practical Answers from Sheehan

Full Disclosure: I have known Mike Sheehan for over 20 years and think highly of him. Did you ever wonder just what those Homeland Security color codes mean? If you read Sheehan's book, you will know you can stop caring about them. This is the book that helps you understand how a small group of dedicated men have so damaged and befuddled us and how we can defeat them without destroying the fabric of our lives. Sheehan discards the pedantic in favor of the practical. He is prescriptive without pretense. He explains why he thinks Hezbollah has not struck outside the Middle East in years, but admits he does not know if or when they might reach across the seas again. Michael Sheehan has hit the balance point. He makes it clear that the terrorists dangerous and can do terrible damage. But he does so with no effort to terrify. His personal experience, from having his own boots on the ground to cabinet-level policy issues and back down to rubbing elbows with street detectives, gives Sheehan the ability to craft practical solutions that fit policy considerations at the highest level. He reminds us that al Qaeda has been creative and persistent, but also bumbling (overloaded the boat; forgot to bring the gun). His overall message: We can beat these guys if we keep calm, think about our actions, take our hits and stay with it.