Whether or not you agree with this book, I feel strongly it is a
must read. Here is my complete summary after reading it thoroughly.
Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror
By Anonymous
The author has two main themes in this book. The first is that the United States wants to see Bin Laden as they want him to be, not as he actually is. The second theme centers on what the Intelligence community is doing, or rather not doing which is not paying ttention to what the author calls “checkables.” Checkables are those items that we can learn from our spying, other intelligence work, and especially what the Muslim leaders say and write themselves. The third theme is that we are not fighting terrorists, but insurgents. If we don’t have this right, we will be fighting them as terrorists one way, when we should be fighting them as insurgents another way.
The author says he spent at least two decades in the United states Intelligence agencies. His main assignment through much of this time was reading and analyzing Bin Laden speeches and writings as well as other Muslim fundamentalists’ writings and speeches.
The author states that he is not presenting this information because he necessarily agrees with the Muslims’ assessments. At times he does and at times he doesn’t. But rather, he wishes us to really know our enemy and he doesn’t think we do.
He opens the book by telling Americans what they really are not hearing from our government nor media sources: that is, what Bin Laden is really saying and thinking, especially to not only the American government but to the people.
Here is one sample: “You run a society contrary to the nature of mankind by separating religion from your politics. For Muslims, God’s word as He revealed it in the Koran and the Prophets’ sayings and traditions (the Sunnah)-are meant to guide all aspects of life: personal, familial, societal, political and International. God makes laws, man does not. “
Bin Laden is holding the American people responsible too since they have a democracy which elects the leaders which sets policy. The author points out that Bin Laden didn't have a problem with democratic governments before--he let them live without incident. Although he didn't approve of our lifestyle and type of government, he didn't interfere with it. Then why is he up in arms now? It's becuase of our recent policies which he believes are against Muslims. That is what has stirred up the hornets nest..not who we are...but what we do.
He helps us to understand that most Muslims do not understand nor accept the separation of church and state. When the Christian Right expresses something against Muslims and in favor of the Jews for instance, the Muslim leaders like Bin Laden think that these Christian leaders are speaking for the government and that they influence the government much more than in reality they do. They also think these statements from people like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, etc. have a huge impact on American societal thinking BECAUSE in the Muslims’ frame of reference in their countries, whatever their imams speak has a huge impact on their society. In other words, it isn’t separated. Whatever the imams say, the people tend to think. They do no understand that in America it is much different in the arena of ideas.
The author continues by presenting some points of how Muslims view life which the author thinks is not understood in America.
Muslims view life and their dealings with others through an all encompassing Muslim prism.
Their faith influences their life, defines it, and directs it at a level outsiders would find difficult to comprehend.
The Muslim believes it is every Muslim’s duty to defend Muslim territory when attacked.
Jihad is divided into two parts in the Muslim world:
1. offensive jihad
2. defensive jihad
So far we really have not seen offensive jihad as much as defensive. In jihad, the Muslim needs no central authority to direct it (although they might have some central authorities like Bin Laden to organize it). The Muslim understands that if they are attacked, they attack back immediately.
It isn’t who we are that is inflaming the Muslim community, although that is what we are continually hearing from the Bush administration. It is what we are doing—our policies in Muslim lands that is problematic to them.
Here in a nutshell he presents what America wants the Muslims to do but they cannot.
America wants Muslims to refrain from defensive jihad. They cannot do that and follow their faith.
America wants Muslims to stop supporting [certain] charitable groups that the U.S. thinks are funding terrorists. They cannot do that since tithing is one of the five pillars of Islam.
America wants the Muslim school curriculum to be less religious. They cannot do this since their religion and education go hand in hand. Remember that their religion pervades throughout their whole life---they do not compartmentalize their faith like many Americans do theirs.
American policy supports certain aggressions against Muslim populations in various countries. The Muslim sees this as an attack and therefore must participate in jihad according to the Koran. Some examples of U.S. meddling and/or support:
Hindu India in Kashmir, Catholic Filipinos in Mindanao, Orthodox Russian Christians in Chechnya, Chinese Communists in Xinjiang Province, apostate al-Saud in Arabia, Israeli Jews in Palestine.
In addition, U.S. military troops have been sent to help in some of these places and the U.S. is also seen as trying to control Arab oil.
Muslims see these things as a direct attack by the U.S.
Afghanistan
The war in Afghanistan, in the author’s opinion, was lost from the beginning. It was a half-hearted, poorly executed war. The borders were not sufficiently closed and the war was too long delayed allowing both Al Queda and Taliban members to escape out of the country, or at least to go back to Afghan villages and blend in. Contrary to what the Bush administration is telling us, this author says that intelligence knows that Al Queda and Taliban are simply resting and regrouping. They haven’t been “broken” or defeated at all.
In the 2nd half of 2003 and early 2004 the Al Queda-Taliban attacks on the Karzai regime has increased, not stopped.
There are 7 pillars of checkables that the author says the intelligence community and the government needs to understand about Afghanistan.
Historically…..
1. Minorities cannot rule for long in Kabul (the capital). But today we have a minority Tajik government, thereby slighting the majority Pushtuns.
2. Afghans ARE Muslims—not pro-western.
3. Afghans cannot be bought. U.S. soldiers are the ones being duped by paying huge sums of money to them. They will end up doing what they want to do anyway whether we pay them or not.
4. Strong governments in Kabul cause war because Afghanistan is a very tribal country and resists strong central rule.
5. Different countries are once again arming different Afghani groups and warlords which will cause more civil war.
6. Pakistan must have a Pushtun government or it itself will become unstable as civil war will spill over the border.
7. There will definitely be an Islamist regime in Kabul no matter what Donald Rumsfeld says.
Not Terrorists, but Insurgents
Question: what do Iraq, Lebanon and the Internet have in common?
Answer: New fields for Al Queda
Iraq was a dream gift for Bin Laden as it mobilized even further the Muslim world in jihad against the United States. The author says that Iraq now will be forever a burden to the Untied States which will have to be its forever caretaker.
Victories of the U.S. and its allies between 2011-2004 against al Queda:
30
Victories of al Queda between 2001-2003
73
The author’s guidelines for winning
Accept that we are hated, NOT misunderstood.
Get used to killing insurgents, NOT just arresting terrorists. Professional soldiers he says are paid to kill and to die if they must. We are at war, not only in a terrorist CIA action.
Others will not do our duty for us, Forget UN mandates and alliance building. If it happens and they want to get on board fine, but don’t seek it.
Do the checkables and demand expertise and responsibility from the Intelligence community AND the government.
Deal with Bin Laden and al Queda as an insurgency group, NOT a terrorist group. He is waging war and we cannot defeat him with CIA and FBI overseas actions and law activities and arrests.
Demand energy self-sufficiency so that the U.S. government will stop propping up corrupt Arab regimes., This is one prime reason for the jihad against us.
Islam is at war with the U.S. although the U.S. government keeps denying this.
Senior military and Intelligence retirees are a problem because when they near retirement they do not wish to sabotage their chances for a cushy non-government job by telling government leaders the truth. Pay good pensions so they can really retire and encourage honesty and integrity among them. These intelligence and military leaders are cowards (what the author calls them) because are NOT getting the correct information up to the government leaders.
Be discriminating where we get involved in the world.
So that is it. The one thing that I found frustrating is that the author never really defines "terrorist" nor insurgent" for us. I guess for that we must consult a dictionary?
