What Does Al Qaeda Want?: Unedited Communiques

By: Marlin, Robert

Book Overview

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, al-Qaeda has become the most infamous terrorist organization in history. While their actions are deplorable, it remains a populist and idealist... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556435487
• ISBN13: 9781556435485
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books
• Length: 101 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Useful Collection of Al Qaeda Pronouncements

I'm interested in what's going on in the Middle East, and I'm always looking for the truth or at least a different perspective. I found Marlin's collection of al Qaeda communiqués to be a valuable resource. Americans are likely to find the contents of these communiqués disturbing. Obviously, al Qaeda wants us out of the Middle East and will stop at nothing to achieve this goal. The book does a good job of letting al Qaeda's leaders say for themselves what al Qaeda wants. I was a little disappointed that Marlin did not offer his opinion on these communiqués or on al Qaeda in general, but according to Marlin, he never set out to write a polemic. The book consists of a collection of unedited communiqués along with a "brief introduction to each document [that] provides some historical context to aid our understanding of the fundamental issues as articulated by the authors." The purpose of the book is, in the commentator's own words, "to provide a perspective on al-Qaeda's goals through a representative sample of the written demands of Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network." In other words, Marlin set out to present the facts and allow critical readers to draw their own conclusions. The book achieves this goal, but I'd still like to know what Marlin thinks. Personally, I think al Qaeda's leaders are like most megalomaniacs. Unfortunately, the megalomaniacs are fighting for control of the world at the expense of ordinary people like the rest of us - Muslim and non-Muslim. I think any critical reader will conclude from this book that al Qaeda's leadership is intensely and dangerously irrational.

A 'must' for anyone who would gain informed, unedited perspectives on al-Qaeda and its purposes

President Bush says al-Qaeda has attacked because of their hatred of freedom and democracy - but the average Islamic peoples' real grievances are what rallies support for the group, more than an overall ideology. What Does Al-Qaeda Want? Unedited Communiqués offers text of taped messages, decrees, and interviews with bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders in an effort to use primary sources to define more clearly al-Qaeda's objectives and concerns. What Does Al-Qaeda Want? is a 'must' for anyone who would gain informed, unedited perspectives on al-Qaeda and its purposes.