<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Stern did an exceedingly fairminded job
Review: I applaud Miss Stern's effort in presenting us with the whole picture. For years we have been focusing solely on Muslim militants, forgetting that fanatics of other faiths also utilize terror as their tool. Before 9/11, the terrorist organization that has killed the largest number of civilians was the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and their Protestant Royalist counterparts came a close-second. But no one pay any attention to them, since they were killing each other, not us, and that they are both white and Christian. The problem of this book in revealing the terrorist acts perpetrated by Christians is that it misplaced the focus on American homegrown Christian fundamentalists, rather than Christian fanatics in Serbia, Croatia and Northern Ireland. I agree with my previous viewers that people like Falwells don't kill, they just rant. And ranting is no terrorism. But IRA does kill (even though I am sympathetic towards their cause), and Stern should probably spend more time on them. As for Jewish settlers vs. terrorists: Yes most Jewish settlers are just ordinary, law-abiding people like you and I, but the only Jewish terrorists *today* (I'm not talking about the LEHI or Avraham Shtern) are recruited from the ranks of the settlers. So if one wish to conduct a thorough research on their mindset, etc., one has to investigate the environment under which their psychology were forged. Thus, researching the history and realities of the settlements is indeed a useful way through which one can learn Jewish extremism better. Some may ask, why study this topic at all if there are at most 50-60 Jewish terrorist when Stern's writing her book? Well it's not about numbers. If one try to learn the relationship between religious fervor and terrorism, one *has to* study terrorism committed in the name of *different* religions. This is the method of "abstraction", through which researchers like Stern drew general principles out from the realities in the case of each religion. And she did a darn fine job. It's not about politicla correctness, it's about scientific methodology.
Rating: 
Summary: Fighting Terrorism with Brains Not Political Rhetoric
Review: In this lucid, intelligent study, Professor Jessica Stern brings us face to face with members of some of most notorious terrorist organizations around the globe and introduces us to their point of view without making excuses for them or losing site of the fact that they are premeditated mass-murderers. This is not only a remarkable feat but also an extremely necessary one. Famous strategists have argued throughout history that the only way to defeat a powerful enemy is to understand how it thinks. This is especially true of global terrorism whose practitioners are often stateless, furtive, flexible, and remarkably regenerative. Few people are as qualified to examine this subject as Stern. Not only has she researched and taught terrorism at prestigious government organizations and universities in the United States, but also, she personally interviewed numerous terrorist cadres and leaders both in captivity and while they were at large. This book warrants a couple of cautionary statements. First, readers should not confuse it with sociologist, Mark Jurgensmeyer's similarly titled study, "Terror in the Mind of God" which was published in 1998. In that book, Jurgensmeyer provides a sociological study of global terrorists that adduces common modes of thought to a variety of terrorist organizations around the globe. Second, this book will not appeal to anyone who clings to the comforting but woefully inadequate belief that terrorists are simply "evil doers" who are "jealous of our freedoms." Terrorism certainly is an evil phenomenon, and many sections of this book depict the author's moral struggle to empathize with people who plan and carry out unspeakable acts. But as Stern points out, we can only effectively combat terrorism when we place ourselves in the minds of terrorists and attempt to understand their thinking. TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
One of the most important contributions of this book is the fact that it provides a functional taxonomy of terrorist organizations. Stern demonstrates that terrorist movements range from individual practitioners and leaderless groups, to complex hierarchical organizations, and ultimately to massive, transnational "franchises" that incorporate all others. Individuals or "lone wolf avengers" as Stern calls them include examples such as the notorious Unibomber, while at the other end of the scale massive, transnational terrorist "franchises" include al Quaeda which recruits a variety of different people for different roles whether they are skilled specialists, or merely individuals that possess the required citizenship and language skills for a specific operation. TERRORIST MOTIVATIONS
Perhaps more important is Stern's examination of terrorist motivations. In many cases, terrorist organizations-however reprehensible their acts may be-do possess legitimate grievances most of which center around brutality and humiliation suffered at the hands of a more powerful force. But in numerous instances, Stern finds that terrorists often depart from their original grievances until they are committing acts of terror as both a business and a lifestyle. In Kashmir, for example, Stern found that terrorists who originally opposed the brutal treatment of Kashmiri citizens by Indian police and soldiers later benefited from their plight because it provided them with a source of funding and recruits. Ironically, these same terrorists eventually collaborated with corrupt Indian military officials and members of India's organized crime in order to further achieve their goals. Their original "mission" became obscured and the terrorists-as so often happens-began to operate more out of economic necessity and habit than in order to redress a grievance. TERRORISM AS A PRODUCT
As strange as it may seem, Stern notes that terrorist organizations must often market themselves and vie for funding in the same manner as NGOs and startup companies. In order to attract financial backers and popular support, terrorist organizations frequently try to sell their missions. Prior to the attacks of September 11th for example, al Quaeda rarely mentioned the plight of the Palestinians. But after the attacks, al Quaeda immediately mentioned the Palestinians in their broadcast speeches in order to attract the sympathy of moderate Moslems who might otherwise be alienated by the scale and brutality of September 11th. TERRORISM AND GLOBALIZATION
Despite their outspoken opposition to globalization, many terrorist organizations, like their counterparts in the business world, fully exploit it in order to develop trans-national capabilities. Al Quaeda for example has franchise groups all over the world and in the past it has acquired financially insolvent groups such as Egyptian Islamic Jihad. In South America's un-patrolled tri border area (where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet) terrorist groups from all over the world including white supremacists from the United States and Islamic fundamentalists from the Middle East regularly meet to exchange logistics and tradecraft. For this reason, intelligence agencies fear that in the future al Quaeda could "outsource" some of its missions to white supremacist terrorist organizations within the United States effectively making it the Haliburton of the terrorist world. AMERICAN TERRORISTS
Anyone who views terrorism as the bi-product of a "Clash of Civilizations" or "Us vs. Them" scenario should read Stern's first chapter very carefully. Here, Stern describes a radical, white, Christian terrorist organization in the United States that planned in 1986 to poison urban water supplies to bring about The Apocalypse. More disturbing is the fact that despite their radically different ideologies, foreign and American terrorist groups largely sympathize with each other. Terrorists whom Stern interviewed from both camps expressed sympathy with the goals and actions of their counterparts in America or the Middle East. Stern's book leaves us with challenging questions and conclusions about terrorism. Since terrorists often depart from their original motives until they are acting out of mere greed and excitement, it is clearly impossible to defeat them with a strategy of appeasement. At the same time, we must recognize that as long as people feel humiliated, defeated, or excluded from progress and development terrorist organizations will have a never-ending supply of willing recruits. Stern provides us with an excellent starting point for effectively combating terrorism. But it is up to us to elect leaders who are competent and capable of performing this task instead of merely talking about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Courageous, Informative, and Broad-brushed
Review: Stern's definition of "religious terrorism" is comprehensive, encompassing the growing Muslim jihad in Indonesia, militant Palestinians and zealous Israelis, and Americans who kill abortion doctors in the name of Christ. The thing she didn't expound upon is if any of those terrorist groups are radically and consistently living out the core tenants of their belief-system or if they are being disingenuous to their faith. This would have gone a long ways in helping the reader understand differing terrorist motives and possible manipulation of their respective religions. That is, are some people using their faith for their own personal ends as opposed to submitting to its truth-claims? Certainly the author has done an enormous amount of first-hand research. However, after interviewing extremist members of three religions around the world: Christians, Jews, and Muslims, Jessica Stern implies that each of these world religions is equally conducive to terrorism. However, common sense, statistical analysis, and history prove otherwise. Is that politically correct to say? No, however, I wish she'd had the courage to acknowledge that basic truth. Explaining the "how" therefore becomes as important as explaining the "why," and the book carefully outlines the ways in which militant leaders of all denominations find recruits among the disenfranchised. It's the phrase 'all denominations' that hints at Stern's wide blanket toss. Is she suggesting everyone's the same and all beliefs are equally at fault? It appears so. And if so, that's academically irresponsible and simply doesn't fit the facts. Stern suggests the most effective counterstrategy to terrorism is thus not violence but nonviolent techniques such as psychological counter-warfare and the reaffirmation of our own values. However, it's that last part that raises questions. We are to reaffirm our own values? Wait, I thought earlier she suggest that 'all denominations' are to be blamed for the rise in terrorism. How is it that we should re-affirm our own beliefs? If she were to be logically consistent is seems she should suggest all metaphysical beliefs be abandoned. Stern compares Muslim suicide bombers with early Christian martyrs. The obvious thing she doesn't point out is the Christian martyrs were put to death (murdered) for their faith - while suicide bombers put others to death (murder) for their faith. It seems she would have been best served sticking with the comparison between abortion clinic bombers and suicide bombers. Some of Stern's research is at best questionable. On page 26 she quotes a person who's suppose to be an authority on Christianity and in one paragraph the person makes three significant mistakes. I'll conclude with this statement from page 95. "Evangelical Christians and Messianic Jews have developed a cooperative relationship, based on their common belief that rebuilding the Temple will facilitate the process of redemption..." At best this statement is sloppy and at worst it's intentionally misleading. The vast majority of both Evangelical Christians and Messianic Jews do not believe this. Yes, there is a small faction, which is more accurately defined as dispensational Christianity who might believe this - but this would represent a very small number of people. In short, I'm disappointed with the lack of distinctions in the book - and expect more from an author of her experience and influence.
Rating:
Summary: A Look Behind The Hype
Review: The topic of terrorism used to be in the political realm, but the past decade has seen a decided shift to the religious. Professor Stern has done an admirable job trying to get past generalities and actually study the people and their motivations. Through an unprecedented collection of interviews with the actual terrorists themselves, she helps to lift the veil a little bit, and peer underneath it. It's admirable that she undertakes this work when it in the post 9/11 world it is fraught with politics and colored by personal views, and also an issue that has no easy answer. Terrorism is in the eye of the viewer. What is one person's terrorist is another's justified protector and fighter. To see this, look at the breadth of reviews already posted here. She tries to find both sides in each movement she studies, looking how the movement came to be, and what keeps it going. What makes people send their children to be martyrs to a movement? Stern attempts to discover what is behind this. The book is thorough, but not overly dense. One of the biggest drawbacks is that Stern's academic background shines through, and sometimes the prose is a bit dry. But this is the best work I've read so far to examine terror movements both domestic and international. Well worth the read if you are interested in learning more on this hot button issue.
<< 1 >>
| 
