In this masterful and groundbreaking biography, scheuer shatters many myths about the alqaeda leader that dangerously persist in washington nearly a decade after 911. Out of government scheuer has continued to be one of the most original and thoughtful interpreters of bin laden and al qaeda, and in this volume he has distilled his decade and half of thinking about them to great effect, synthesizing a large body of literature to produce a portrait of bin laden. But despite its monumental impactand a deluge of books about alqaeda and islamist terrorismno one has written a serious assessment of the man who planned it, osama bin laden. Osama bin laden by michael scheuer, 2011 online research. The author is the former head of the cias osama bin laden unit. Host michel martin speaks with former cia agent michael scheuer, who led the cia unit tasked with tracking osama bin laden from 1996 to 1999. The best books on osama bin laden five books expert. The wars in iraq and afghanistan, the patriot act, water boarding and guantanamo are examples of its profound and farreaching effects. Michael scheuer served as the chief of the osama bin laden tracking unit at the cias counterterrorist center between 1996 and 1999 and then as special advisor to.
Addressing the people of america, the alqaeda leader denounced us foreign policy, from the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki to the invasion of iraq. Mike was the leader of the bin laden unit when it was founded in 1995. Why the west is losing the war on terrorism, and has been featured extensively on television, including 60 minutes, and has been the focus of print media worldwide. List of books and articles about osama bin laden online. Reading osama bin laden makes clear that scheuer is still obsessed with. Former head of the cias osama bin laden unit 199699, and an agent of the cia for over 22 years. Scheuer, who ran the cias alqaeda unit from 1996 to 1999, has been making a great name for himself as a counterterrorism expert since leaving the agency in 2004.
Michael scheuer talked about his forthcoming biography, osama bin laden oxford university press, usa. Now, scheuer offers a scathing and frightening look at how the iraq war has been a huge setback to americas war on terror, making our enemy stronger and altering the geopolitical landscape in ways that are profoundly. Osama bin laden kindle edition by scheuer, michael. Michael scheuer, retired cia officer, and former chief of the osama bin laden unit on freedom watch with judge andrew napolitano. His initial motives for declaring jihad holy war against the united states in 1995 have actually been met. But despite its monumental impactand a deluge of books about alqaeda and islamist. His biography gets the story of the zawahiribin laden relationship right. The israelis are certainly an immensely malign influence in the united states. Osama bin laden authored by michael scheuer is deliciously fantastic.
Osama bin laden, radical islam, and the future of america by michael scheuer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He also had a piece of advice for ordinary americans. In this book, scheuer provides a muchneeded corrective. He is the author of many books, including the bestselling imperial hubris. Available biographies depict bin laden as an historical figure, the mastermind behind 911, but no longer relevant to. While we have all seen and viscerally felt the damage bi. Osama bin laden by michael scheuer former head of cias. He authored two books as anonymous, most importantly imperial hubris, a. In this book, scheuer, the first head of the cias bin laden unit, provides a closely reasoned portrait of bin laden. Michael scheuer books list of books by author michael. Osama bin laden by michael scheuer, paperback barnes. In september 2007, in the runup to the sixth anniversary of the 11 september attacks, osama bin laden released a video message.
The first biography of osama bin laden to assess his place as one of the most significant figures of our age. This seminal work on modern terrorism assesses the changes and continuities in osama bin ladens thinking since 2002. These accounts, michael scheuer strongly believes, have contributed to a widespread and dangerous denial of his continuing significance and power. In his 22year career, he served as the chief of the bin laden issue station aka alec station, from 1996 to 1999, the osama bin laden tracking unit at the counterterrorist center. Author michael scheuer seeks to bury osama bin laden, not. Upon first reading this book i felt like i was sitting in front of osama bin laden and he was telling me all about himself and his personal aspirations in forming alqaeda. Scheuer was interviewed by telephone on december 21, 2010. Osama bin laden, and the extent to which alqaeda was. Michael scheuer, former head of the bin laden unit at the central intelligence agency, talked about osama bin laden and his war against the u. Michael scheuer led the cias bin laden unit from 1996 to 1999 and remained a counterterrorism analyst until 2004. In 2007 osama bin laden named two western writers he held in high regard noam chomsky and former cia officer michael scheuer.
Scheuer born 1952 1 is a former intelligence officer for the central intelligence agency, american blogger, author, foreign policy critic, political analyst, and former adjunct professor at georgetown universitys center for peace and security studies. The youngest son of a wealthy yemeniborn businessman, bin laden was trained as a civil engineer grad. The event is cosponsored by the world affairs council of oregon. Michael scheuer, former head of the cias osama bin laden unit, says al qeada is much bigger than it was on 911. Its a pleasant surprise to me to find out that the fbi is spying on the israelis. Osama bin ladens bookshelf had one of michael scheuers books. The al qaeda leader and 911 mastermind spent years in hiding after the united states invaded afghanistan. The full collection also contains dozens of reports and think tank. When michael scheuer first questioned the goals of the iraq war in his 2004 bestseller imperial hubris, policymakers and ordinary citizens alike stood up and took notice. One assignment during his 22year career was serving as chief of the bin laden issue station the osama bin laden tracking unit.
Michael scheuer served as the chief of the osama bin laden tracking unit at the cias counterterrorist center between 1996 and 1999 and. Available biographies depict osama bin laden as a historical figure, the mastermind behind 911, but no longer relevant to the world it created. Your next choice is mike scheuers biography of bin laden. Interestingly, michael scheuer, who wrote imperial hubris included in this list, once ran the cias bin laden tracking unit. Scheuer 911 almost instantaneously remade american politics and foreign policy. Its author is michael scheuer, the former head of the cias bin laden unit, who resigned in november 2004, after two decades of experience in national security issues related to afghanistan and south asia. Marching toward hell book by michael scheuer official. New york times and washington post bestseller imperial hubris was originally published anonymously, as required by the central intelligence agency. He then worked as special adviser to the chief of the bin laden unit from september 2001 to november 2004. Why the west is losing the war on terrorism, and has been featured extensively on. Osama bin ladens bookshelf reflects his fixation on west the.
Michael scheuer wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. From 1996 to 1999, he served as the chief of the bin laden unit aka alec station, the osama bin laden tracking unit at the counterterrorism center. For a good generation now, the former chief of the c. Available biographies depict bin laden as an historical figure, the mastermind behind 911, but no longer relevant to the world it created. Michael scheuer was the chief of the cias bin laden unit from 1996 to 1999 and remained a counterterrorism analyst until 2004.
He then worked again as special advisor to the chief of the bin laden unit from september 2001 to november 2004. Osama bin laden by michael scheuer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Matthew partridge finds michael scheuers work to be extremely useful as a guide to the motivations of. Michael scheuers osama bin laden makes for a slashing. Osama bin laden by michael scheuer 9780199738663 booktopia.
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