Get to Know the Background of the Islamic Enemies of the World
Discover the backgrounds and motivations of the world’s most dangerous Islamic extremist groups through expert analysis. This curated reading list features deep-dive histories and firsthand accounts, including Gary C. Schroen’s *First In*, Michael Scheuer’s *Imperial Hubris*, and Robert D. Kaplan’s *Soldiers of God*. Explore the ideological roots, key figures, and global impact of these enemies to better understand modern terrorism and geopolitical conflict. Unlock essential context from top authors on Islamic history and warfare.
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First In
by Gary C. Schroen
An agency insider furnishes an account of the role of the CIA in the war against terror in Afghanistan, chronicling the complex negotiations with Afghan warlords that led to the defeat of the Taliban, despite the disastrous close calls caused by pressuref
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Soldiers of God
by Robert D. Kaplan
First time in paperback, with a new Introduction and final chapter World affairs expert and intrepid travel journalist Robert D. Kaplan braved the dangers of war-ravaged Afghanistan in the 1980s, living among the mujahidin—the “soldiers of god”—whose unwavering devotion to Islam fueled their mission to oust the formidable Soviet invaders. In Soldiers of God we follow Kaplan’s extraordinary journey and learn how the thwarted Soviet invasion gave rise to the ruthless Taliban and the defining international conflagration of the twenty-first century. Kaplan returns a decade later and brings to life a lawless frontier. What he reveals is astonishing: teeming refugee camps on the deeply contentious Pakistan-Afghanistan border; a war front that combines primitive fighters with the most technologically advanced weapons known to man; rigorous Islamic indoctrination academies; a land of minefields plagued by drought, fierce tribalism, insurmountable ethnic and religious divisions, an abysmal literacy rate, and legions of war orphans who seek stability in military brotherhood. Traveling alongside Islamic guerrilla fighters, sharing their food, observing their piety in the face of deprivation, and witnessing their determination, Kaplan offers a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of a people and a country that are at the center of world events.
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Imperial Hubris
by Michael Scheuer
According to the author, the greatest danger for Americans confronting the Islamist threat is to believe--at the urging of U.S. leaders--that Muslims attack us for what we are and what we think rather than for what we do.
