Editor's shelf. - book review

Parameters, Summer, 2002

In the aftermath of the events of 11 September 2001 there has been a rush to publish on the part of many who would tell us of the motivations and actions of those who committed those vile acts. Among the multitude of releases are three new entries that deserve attention. Each of these works goes beyond the current fundamentalist threat to America and explores the long-term implications of the new terrorist threat. The first of these works is published by Public Affairs and combines the special expertise of two of America's most prestigious editors, James F. Hoge, Jr., and Gideon Rose, the editor and managing editor of Foreign Affairs. The book's revealing title, How Did This Happen? Terrorism and the New War, reflects the editors' attempt to answer this Machiavellian conundrum and at the same time prepare America for the conflicts ahead. Hoge and Rose have assembled a collection of narratives by some of America's most recognized experts, ranging from Samuel R. Berger, Wesley K. Clark, and William J. Perry to Anatol Lieven, Michael Mandelbaum, and Fareed Zakaria. The book spans the spectrum of the causes and effects associated with terrorism--the motives and actions of terrorists, the ability of the US military to counter terrorists, the impact of the situation in the Middle East, bio-terrorism, airport security, and diplomatic pressures. What makes this collection unique is the fact that it is not merely a presentation of op-ed or opinion pieces on the issues leading to the present crisis, but informed, sound, and insightful analyses providing perspective and reliable interpretation of the many issues that created the environment supportive of the events of 11 September 2001 and beyond. A few especially noteworthy offerings (to this reader) merit specific mention. Michael Scott Doran's "Somebody Else's Civil War: Ideology, Rage, and the Assault on America" provides a riveting insight into the organization and motivation of terrorist organizations throughout the world, and their impacts not only on America but on the world in general. Walter Laqueur's "Left, Right, and Beyond: The Changing Face of Terror," William Perry's "The New Security Mantra: Prevention, Deterrence, Defense," and Anatol Lieven's "The Cold War is Finally Over: The True Significance of the Attacks" are equally deserving of the reader's time.

A companion to the offering by Hoge and Rose is To Prevail: An American Strategy for the Campaign Against Terrorism by Kurt M. Campbell and Michele A. Flournoy, both with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). This book is a product of the CSIS Task Force on Terrorism. The book's announced intent is to take the reader beyond the drama associated with the events of 11 September 2001 and to encourage an understanding of the medium- to long-term implications of this new terrorist threat. The authors highlight the difficult choices that will have to be made in the areas of foreign assistance, public diplomacy, and assistance to failed states if we are to be victorious. The authors would have the reader believe that in order to prevail we must, as a nation, place our trust and diplomatic treasure with such organizations as the United Nations and others within the international community so that we might reap the benefit of their support. Various contributors challenge America to identify and er adicate the social and political factors that spawn global terrorism. Many of these recommendations go beyond the traditional conservative role the United States has exercised in the past, extolling a more international view of the influences, missteps, and miscalculations that permitted this fundamentalist threat to evolve. As with any task force product, the real value of the book lies with its "Key Findings and Recommendations." There are 16 specific findings by the task force. They range from the obvious--descriptions and definitions associated with "the new terrorism," a call for greater partisanship on the part of Congress, and the need for "international engagement"--to the more esoteric--refocusing our strategic alignment throughout the world, a call for an "international coalition of coalitions," and how to win the "hearts and minds" of Arabs and Muslims throughout the world. The findings are followed by 18 recommendations. This is the area where the authors and their contributors may face the greate st criticism. Although many of the recommendations have already been acted upon, the reader is left with an uneasy feeling that all we need is more funding for foreign assistance and the military, combined with better relations with the Congress and nations around the world, and all will be well. The task force may have overlooked one basic recommendation, the need to identify and destroy those who would support, condone, or carry out such acts. However, in fairness to the authors and their contributors, the book presents a comprehensive, succinct, and informative analysis of how we should deal with this threat in the years ahead. It is an excellent primer for any academic or intellectual analysis of the terrorist threat to America and the world.