{"product_id":"the-al-qaeda-reader-9780385516556","title":"The Al Qaeda Reader","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe global war on terror is not just a military conflict but a war of ideas. Indeed it is in some respects primarily an ideological struggle. Yet it is a war we cannot win without a broader understanding of al-Qaedas goals and motives.  What do our enemies believe? What motivates their war against the West? What is their vision of the ideal Islamic society? Surprisingly  more than five years after 9\/11  there is very little understanding of these questions.  Despite our tendency to dismiss Islamic extremism as profoundly irrational  al-Qaeda is not without a coherent body of beliefs. Like other totalitarian movements  the movements leaders have rationalized their brutality in a number of published treatises. Now  for the first time  The Al Qaeda Reader gathers together the essential texts and documents that trace the origin  history  and evolution of the ideas of al-Qaeda founders Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden.  This extraordinary collection of the key texts of the al-Qaeda movementincluding incendiary materials never before translated into Englishlays bare the minds  motives  messages  and ultimate goals of an enemy bent on total victory. Al-Qaedas chilling ideology calls for a relentless jihad against non-Muslim \"infidels \" repudiates democracy in favor of Islamic law  stresses the importance of martyrdom  and mocks the notion of \"moderate\" Islam.  Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of these works is how grounded they are in the traditional sources of Islamic theology: the Koran and the teachings of the Prophet. The founders of al-Qaeda use these sources as powerful weapons of persuasion  reminding followers (and would-be recruits) that Muhammad and his warriors spread Islam through the power of the sword and that the Koran is not merely allegory or history but literal truth that commands all Muslims to action.  In addition to laying bare al-Qaedas ultimate motives  The Al Qaeda Reader includes the organizations propagandist speeches  which are directed primarily at Americans  Europeans  and Iraqis. Here  al-Qaedas many \"official\" accusations against the West are meticulously delineated  from standard complaints such as the Palestinian issue and Iraq to wholly unexpected ones concerning the U.S.s exploitation of women and the environment.  Taken together  the Theology and Propaganda sections of this volume reveal the most comprehensive picture of al-Qaeda to date. They also highlight the double-speak of bin Laden and Zawahiri  who often say one thing to Muslims in their religious treatises (\"We must hate and fight the West because Islam commands it\") and another in their propaganda directed at the West (\"The West is the aggressor and we are fighting back merely in self-defense\").  Westerners from across the political spectrum will be fascinated and enlightened by The Al Qaeda Readers insights into the nature of Islamic texts and the ways in which al-Qaeda has used these texts to manufacture hatred against our civilization and our way of life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45650522996789,"sku":"ByrdShop_038551655X","price":249.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780385516556.jpg?v=1781798984","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-al-qaeda-reader-9780385516556","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}