Voices of Terror

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 400 pages
• Published by: Sourcebooks, Inc. October 1, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1594290350
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1594290350
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

Product Description
Renowned historian and international scholar Walter Laqueur offers a sweeping survey of writing on one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: the use of violence as a tool for political change.

From ancient Roman tyrannicides and French revolutionaries to the Weathermen and Osama Bin Laden, Voices of Terror brings together 120 of history's most controversial figures, militant organizations and guerrilla groups for a rare glimpse into the minds behind the violence. This important new anthology includes a substantial selection of material by Islamist terrorists, about the evolving concept of jihad and on post-September 11, 2001 perspectives.

With commentary from Karl Marx, Emma Goldman, Mao Tse Tung, Che Guevara, and Menachem Begin, among others, and documents of al Qaeda, Hamas and the PLO, Voices of Terror is an essential resource for anyone interested in international current events.

About The Author
Walter Laqueur has written dozens of books, including A History of Zionism, The Israel-Arab Reader, and The New Terrorism. He holds the Kissinger Chair for International Security Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Reader Reviews
"Voices of Terror" is an important book. It does not have a narrative, simply some introductory and explanatory text to tie things together as it is simply a reference for those who wish to study the history, present state and future of terrorism. Assembled by Walter Laquer, who has a long background as a security and foreign policy, an expert with a deep knowledge of the Middle East, it is a well researched and selective compendium of written texts and manifestos that have justified and advanced the cause of political assassination and terrorism. First of all, Laquer correctly criticizes the use of the phrase "War on Terror" as he like others reminds us that terror is a means, a strategy that different groups with different agendas use, but it is not an ideology. Perhaps the Bush Administration is hesitant about declaring war on "Islamic Radicalism" or "Islamic Terror." The series of documents begin in the classical era with the justifications for tyrannicide and then move into the Enlightenment and era of the early political revolutions with writings from France and then 19th century radical tracts from Russia, there is then a section on 20th century terror with manifestoes from the Irish Republican movement, the Palestinian terrorists, our home grown Weather Underground and Europe's Red Army Faction, both of whom resorted to terror. Laquer includes interpretations of terrorism from Goldman, Marx, Lenin and Trotsky. Part Two is a series of four sections devoted to guerrilla war from the 19th century to the present day. The final component of the book, Part Three, is devoted to the "Origins of 21st Century Terrorism" and it includes the religious justifications from many of the major Islamic intellectuals who have written in an effort to normalize the use of terrorism. Unfortunately, they have succeeded all too well. The final section of Part Three is another series of manifestoes from groups as disparate as the Tamil Tigers, The Red Brigade and Jemaah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia. This book is truly vital reading as it is important to realize that there is an ideology behind those who stalk innocent men, women and children in New York, in Spain or Iraq. There has to be elaborate justifications to convince so many to commit he most heinous murders - and there are. To know what type of threat we face, we must understand what motivates those who threaten us and "Voices of Terror" is a stark look into the heart of the terrorist movements. Jeffrey Morseburg