Secret History of al-Qaeda, The

Journal of Third World Studies, Spring 2008 by Abraham, A J

Atwan, Abdel Bari. The Secret History of al-Qaeda. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2006. 256 pp.

If a person has any interest in Islamic Fundamentalism or terrorism, this is clearly a book to read. The author understands his subject extremely well; he is the Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious Arabic newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi.

The author has spent some personal time with Osama bin Laden in his Tora Bora compound and, consequently, he gives the reader some valuable insights into dth mind of that enigmatic leader. Osama's concepts of Holy War (actually Jihad/struggle) are clearly depicted. But, the most intriguing chapter in this book is entitled: Cyber-Jihad which explains the use of computers in terrorism. The book also surveys the rise and expansion of al-Qaeda into Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

The author expresses his beliefs in how to combat or neutralize al-Qaeda. He believes that the United States should disengage militarily from the region but continue to push for democratic reforms (p. 235). I do not share Atwan's view. The solution to the problem of Islamic Fundamentalism lies with the Moslem clergy, and its interpretation of Islamic jihad. And, at present, only the technology of democracy is possible in the region, as applied in Lebanon. The ideology of democracy rooted in equal rights in faith and between sects or between genders is not acceptable to the Moslem clergy.

A.J. Abraham John Jay College (CUNY)