Interesting reading, though probably not the book you'll want to carry-on for your next flight. Obviously one-sided arguments, but quite striking in their 1) vehemence and 2) repetitiveness (as noted within, probably to help with indoctrination). Gives some insight into "The Arab Mind," though - hopefully- not most of them.

To the very considerable extent that the confict between the West and al Qaeda is a war of ideas, 2007's "The Al Qaeda Reader" is essential for understanding al Qaeda's point of view. Raymond Ibrahim has done American readers a great service in translating and editing a selection of al Qaeda documents on theology and propaganda. As Ibrahim notes in his introduction, "This volume of translations, taken as a whole, proves once and for all that, despite the propaganda of al-Qaeda and its sympathizers, radical Islam's war with the West is not finite and limited to political grievances - real or imagined - but is existential, transcending time and space and deeply rooted in faith."

"The Al Qaeda Reader" is divided into sections, beginning with a glossary of Arabic terms and important figures in Islam, then plunges into four documents on al-Qaeda's version of Islamic theology. These four documents make very clear that al Qaeda has no interest, indeed, cannot conceive of a live-and-let-live accomodation with the West. Al Qaeda instead offers the West three choices: Convert to Islam, agree to live under Islamic authority, or die. Al Qaeda believes that Islam demands offensive jihad of all its adherents, and this belief justifies all its tactics, whether suicide bombers or the slaughter of innocent non-combatants. Further, al Qaeda has no use for democracy, which it sees as a direct contravention of the authority of Allah and of the Sharia.

The second part of the book is a selection of propaganda statements made by al Qaeda leaders, including Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden. Its principal value is to show the extent to which Al Qaeda leaders are capable of spinning a potent combination of half-truths and fantasy in dealing with the West and with its own followers. In al Qaeda's world, a vast, vague but evil conspiracy of Zionists, the West, and apostate Islamic rulers threatens to overwhelm the world, held back only by the heroism of a few true Islamists. An inability to defeat the West in a head-to-head military manner is buried beneath the glorification of acts of terrorism and a stunning series of lies about the nature of recent events in Palestine, Afganistan, and Iraq. The selections demonstrate how closely al Qaeda follows the Western media and how adept it has become in spinning events for the benefit of Western media.

Al Qaeda has convinced itself that a handful of Mujahedin not only defeated the Soviet Union in Afghanistan but destroyed the Soviet Union as well. Al Qaeda is similarly convinced, in spite of its failures in Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and elswhere, that the complete defeat of the West is just a matter of time. It no doubt counts on the inability of the West to recognized the implacable nature of its foe to contribute to that anticipated event.

This volume is very highly recommended to students of and participants in the global war on terrorism, who must understand the nature of al Qaeda if useful countermeasures are to be taken.

Anyone interested in either al-Qaeda or radical Islam and its goals and ideologies must read this book. The way it's organized---theology and propaganda---helps show the reader how al-Qaeda constantly contradicts itself, by saying one thing to Americans (we are fighting merely in self-defense) and the exact opposite to Muslims (we must hate all non-Muslims and wage jihad against them, tell they submit to Islam). It is actually amazing that the writings from this book haven't been referenced more by the media, since, till this day, the media continues to report al-Qaeda's messages to us that say the same old thing (leave us alone and we'll leave you alone). It would also be great if one of these "experts" who assure us that if only we would give in to al-Qaeda's political demands the war would be over, would be honest and counter-balance al-Qaeda's "olive-branches" with their till now secretive writings to other Muslims about how the infidels must be hated and fought no matter what---till they either convert, live in submission, or die.

This is an extraordinary antidote to the mushy-headed liberalism of our time about Mohamedanism as a 'religion of peace'.

The bulk of this book is four important 'theological' treatises by the pagan terrorists bin Laden and al Zarqawi on why pagan Mohamedanism must always be at war with Chriatianity. Liberals, who think that they can withstand Mohamedanism by abandoning Christianity for 'multiculturalism' will be appalled by the tight reasoning of these men from their pagan presuppositions. These are not 'lunatics' in the mental ward sense of the term; they reason clearly and 'reasonably' from their failed presuppositions.

One comes away from this visit to a foreign landscape with a renewed appreciation that nothing short of a renewed commitment to the truths of Christianity can withstand the current assault of pagan Mohamedanism.

As Sun Tzu in his 'Art of War' said: to win a war, know your enemy. To win the 'war on terror', this book would be on my list of required reading. Some generals during the Vietnam war didn't know about the tunnel warfare or choose to ignore them as insignificant, Hitler's Mein-Kamph and Mao's Red book were ignored as rubbish. Unfortunately, in the same vein, the 1400 year history of Muslim onslaught, starting from Mecca-Medina in Saudi-Arabia and spreading to all corners of the world, is not studied. The experience of peoples who fought against the Muslim onslaught for centuries and are still fighting, is not utilized and learned from. e.g. there are many Indian authors who have written a number of well researched books that are ignored.

Through sources such as this book and others, one would discover a lot of important information. e.g. in no particular order:
1) Same or similar strategies and tactics were used over and over again for 1400 years.
2) One would be surprised and find a simple and straightforward Muslim declaration that 'war is deception'. Considering this, everything we hear or read becomes suspect, specially: treaties, promises, safe-passages, proclamations of being brothers-in-arms, excuses for non-performance and such.
3) Everything is part of war: One would be surprised to see how various distinct elements of life are fused tightly together in Islam : religion, war to convert every non-Muslim to Islam (jihad), politics, finance, business, law etc.
4) Our practices such as: spending huge resources on trying to catch specific terrorists or getting into the cycle of tit-for-tat killing (10 terrorists for 10 innocent people killed by them) - these are exercises in futility. Such actions have not stopped the terrorist activities or changed their minds. One can come to this kind of awakenings only after 'knowing' the enemy. 1.e. the real responsibility lies with Umma (community, nation) and Ulema (learned ones, clergy). Absolutely nothing moves without express approval of (often a precedent is shown) Koran (the book) or Hadith (tradition & deeds of Muhammad) or sharia (Muslim law) and is sanctioned or quite often demanded (fatwa) by the Ulema (clergy).

There is much more.. may be I should write a book :)
So, get this book - and read it slowly over days.

As Sun Tzu in his 'Art of War' said: to win a war, know your enemy. To win the 'war on terror', this book would be on my list of required reading. Some generals during the Vietnam war didn't know about the tunnel warfare or choose to ignore them as insignificant, Hitler's Mein-Kamph and Mao's Red book were ignored as rubbish. Unfortunately, in the same vein, the 1400 year history of Muslim onslaught, starting from Mecca-Medina in Saudi-Arabia and spreading to all corners of the world, is not studied. The experience of peoples who fought against the Muslim onslaught for centuries and are still fighting, is not utilized and learned from. e.g. there are many Indian authors who have written a number of well researched books that are ignored.

Through sources such as this book and others, one would discover a lot of important information. e.g. in no particular order:
1) Same or similar strategies and tactics were used over and over again for 1400 years.
2) One would be surprised and find a simple and straightforward Muslim declaration that 'war is deception'. Considering this, everything we hear or read becomes suspect, specially: treaties, promises, safe-passages, proclamations of being brothers-in-arms, excuses for non-performance and such.
3) Everything is part of war: One would be surprised to see how various distinct elements of life are fused tightly together in Islam : religion, war to convert every non-Muslim to Islam (jihad), politics, finance, business, law etc.
4) Our practices such as: spending huge resources on trying to catch specific terrorists or getting into the cycle of tit-for-tat killing (10 terrorists for 10 innocent people killed by them) - these are exercises in futility. Such actions have not stopped the terrorist activities or changed their minds. One can come to this kind of awakenings only after 'knowing' the enemy. 1.e. the real responsibility lies with Umma (community, nation) and Ulema (learned ones, clergy). Absolutely nothing moves without express approval of (often a precedent is shown) Koran (the book) or Hadith (tradition & deeds of Muhammad) or sharia (Muslim law) and is sanctioned or quite often demanded (fatwa) by the Ulema (clergy).

There is much more.. may be I should write a book :)
So, get this book - and read it slowly over days.

I liked this book a lot. It can be a tough read because it is a series of direct translations and the grammar and vocabulary are difficult. But it is a fascinating insight into the minds of the leaders of Al Qaeda. Their arguments for what they are doing and why are very precise and well presented. I was surpised to realize that their justification for everything is entirely based on their reading of the Koran and supporting islamic doctorine and that their treatises as translated here are filled with supporting quotes and references to these materials.

This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the war on terror, or the mindset of Al Qaeda. While I've seen some of these writings in English before, some of these are completely new, and all of them are translated in a way that makes it easier for an English language reader to understand better.

The author has translated from Arabic writings of Al Qaeda leaders Al Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden. The book is filled with praises to Allah and references to "blessed events" such as 9/11. Hatred of all things American is evident throughout. Some of the hatred is claimed to be because of the American support of Israel against Palestine. Democracy is attacked because laws are made by the people and according to Islam only Allah can make the law or "sharia." Opposition to moderate Islam is expressed ie., efforts to coexist with the Western world. It is declared that radical Islam is the real Islam and it is the duty of Muslims to force the Infidel's submission to Allah. Finally, specific things wrong with America are listed.

To A Louse
Robert Burns

O wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae many a blunder free us,
An foolish notion:

Halfway effective propaganda is characterized by several things. It should contain as much truth (or believable lies) as possible. These act as that "spoon full of sugar" that "helps the medicine go down." It should also appeal to one's preconceived notions and prejudices, or create those prejudices and notions.

The Al Qaeda Reader demonstrates the truth of this. I believe this book accurately expresses what the radical Islamists believe (or, at least, claim to believe - true believers are not noted for being excessively in touch with reality). I do not agree with most of what is said in this book. Some of the facts in the book are accurate. Actually, enough of them are accurate to give the work credibility if you accept the Islamists' basic assumptions, which I don't. From the Al Qaeda viewpoint, the conclusions logically follow. The presentation is made (and made rather well) in a manner to appeal to those Moslems who feel victimized by events and/or by the west.

The mind set demonstrated in this book is one which should be familiar to anyone who has studied the history of any other organization, political, religious, or a combination of the two, which claims to have sole possession of THE TRUTH!!!! Change a few words and the book could be describing radical Christianity or Communism or lots of other organizations. In that respect, the book also demonstrates what I see as the weakness of Al Qaeda & etc. For every bin Laden, there is an Ibrahim, for every Torqemada there is a George, for every Stalin there is an Ivan who just wants a quiet life without all the brou-ha-ha of crusades or jihad or other vast, loud and dangerous causes.

Burns was right. The book allows us to "see oursels as ithers see us." If Al Qaeda's picture of us isn't pretty, the self portrait they present also lacks charm.

We all know now that Fear sells war. Now, we know it sells books too!

Informative look at English translations of letters and essays written by Al Qaeda insiders to the Muslims at large explaining why it is their obligation as Muslims to kill Christians and Jews. Much repeating, but that's the way the original documents were written.

Very well done, frightening stuff to learn about Al Qaeda. The author puts their own EVIL words into print where we infidels can see what they are really up to! If you want to see what they have said about their goal of world domination, and why they believe this is their mission, read this book.

I'm just blown away when somebody creates a product, in this case a book, that so perfectly fits the requirements of its time.
I have in my mind a picture of 302 million Americans turning to each other on 9/11/2001 and saying, "What?" "Who is this al Qaeda? 'U.S. is the Great Satan?' What are they talking about? What do they have against us? Who are these people? How can they behave like this?
"The Koran says people of different religions can live together. It says suicide is forbidden. It says not to kill women and children in war. It talks about kindness, taking care of the poor, and always considering the ethics of one's behavior. How do they justify committing suicide, blowing themselves up in the midst of crowds of women, children, innocent bystanders, and fellow Moslims in the process? What in the world is going on here?"
This book homes in on the basic thinking of al Qaeda and the Jihadists--how they justify their actions according to the basic texts of their religion, even when other Moslems disagree with their interpretation.
What's fascinating is how logical they are. They are not irrational. Theirs is a very legalistic religion in which every possible human action is categorized according to the Koran and the Hadith.
What a relief to get some answers to the questions we've been asking ourselves and each other for the past 6 years.

I'm not writing this review to comment on the believes and interpretations of Islam. That's a whole another topic for discussion. Nor does Raymond Ibrahim's collection represents every Muslim's believes and values. In my humble opinion, "The Al Qaeda Reader" should be appreciated and viewed from a completely different angle.

First of all, I'm very pleased that the text has been presented "as is", without any alternations. Although I'm not sure how much originality has been lost in translation, the book gives us something raw and fresh to absorb and digest.

Al Qaeda's careful manipulation of selected Islamic theologies is a sad truth, not only for the west, but also for those Muslims who would like to live a peaceful life. If a religious text tells you to kill someone, then it cannot be a treated as noble. Ancient Hindu traditions asked people to drink cow's Urine. According to medical definitions, Urine is a fluid produced by the kidneys. It consists of excess water and the toxic waste products from food. You are not supposed to consume it. My grandparents drank it. My father questioned it. I now ridicule it.

Religious text and definitions should be interpreted and absorbed with sanity. Things written thousands of years ago cannot be applied to present times.

"The Al Qaeda Reader" is a brave effort. Raymond Ibrahim's effort shouldn't be considered as an insult to Islam. The book's greatest value may be to encourage moderate Muslims to read it, and more importantly, make sure their children understand that Islam is much more peaceful than what is depicted by Al Qaeda and its cronies.

N,Sivakumar
Author of: America Misunderstood: What a Second Bush Victory Meant to the Rest of the World

I'm not writing this review to comment on the believes and interpretations of Islam. That's a whole another topic for discussion. Nor does Raymond Ibrahim's collection represents every Muslim's believes and values. In my humble opinion, "The Al Qaeda Reader" should be appreciated and viewed from a completely different angle.

First of all, I'm very pleased that the text has been presented "as is", without any alternations. Although I'm not sure how much originality has been lost in translation, the book gives us something raw and fresh to absorb and digest.

Al Qaeda's careful manipulation of selected Islamic theologies is a sad truth, not only for the west, but also for those Muslims who would like to live a peaceful life. If a religious text tells you to kill someone, then it cannot be a treated as noble. Ancient Hindu traditions asked people to drink cow's Urine. According to medical definitions, Urine is a fluid produced by the kidneys. It consists of excess water and the toxic waste products from food. You are not supposed to consume it. My grandparents drank it. My father questioned it. I now ridicule it.

Religious text and definitions should be interpreted and absorbed with sanity. Things written thousands of years ago cannot be applied to present times.

"The Al Qaeda Reader" is a brave effort. Raymond Ibrahim's effort shouldn't be considered as an insult to Islam. The book's greatest value may be to encourage moderate Muslims to read it, and more importantly, make sure their children understand that Islam is much more peaceful than what is depicted by Al Qaeda and its cronies.

N,Sivakumar
Author of: America Misunderstood: What a Second Bush Victory Meant to the Rest of the World

I got a chance to hear the author on the Dennis Prager radio show. I'm going to purchase the book. If it's as good as the interview, this book will send shivers down your spine!