Review of
Instaread Summary of The Terror Years From Al-Qaeda to the Islamic State by Lawrence
Wright
Five out of five stars
The modern
reality of global terrorism is a very complex issue, from the origins, the
motivating factors to how to respond to it. The book being described is a
collection of essays written by Wright that appeared in “The New Yorker” and
other venues. One of the key points of emphasis appearing in the summary is the
lamenting of how things used to be. Providing an existence proof that in many
ways the terrorists have succeeded.
The repressive
nature of the governments in some of the Muslim majority countries driving the
continued development of terrorism is mentioned in the key takeaways.
Specifically the policies of the governments of Saudi Arabia and Syria before
the outbreak of the civil war. It is a continuing irony that the United States
is strongly allied with what is one of the most repressive governments on
Earth.
Key takeaway
two makes what should be a point of emphasis when counter terrorism tactics are
being considered. It is very possible that the 9/11 attacks in the United
States would have been prevented if the American CIA had passed basic
information to the FBI. Deliberately poor communication led to a disaster.
As is pointed
out in key takeaway six, in the 1980’s there was generally a free flow of
economic goods and people between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Now, the Israelis
are building a wall that even extends underground, with the goal being to
completely separate the two regions. Wright also mentions that when he was
younger, he and a girlfriend wandered casually around an airport and were even
given a tour. Given the security lines in the airports that passengers now have
to traverse, the nostalgia is justified.
Although the
topic of terrorism is a complex one, enough depth is given to the most
significant points in this summary to inform the reader of the main reasons we
find ourselves in the complex morass of modern terrorism.
No comments:
Post a Comment