Routledge The Globalization of Terror: The Challenge of Al-Qaida and the Response of the International Community

The terrorist destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 was the climax of a course plotted by Osama Bin Laden to bring about his apocalyptic vision of a decisive clash between the Western and Moslem worlds. This timely volume details the organizational workings and belief system of Bin Laden's brutal campaign. The authors explore the background and objectives of the attacks, the elaborate planning that went into them, and the process of their practical execution. In addition to its factual account, The Globalization of Terror makes a significant contribution to scholarly and theoretical research dealing with international terror. The book offers a unique analysis of the Afghan "alumni," who had previously fought the Soviets in the 1980s, within the overall tapestry related to modern international terror. The authors detail how their activities evolved from a movement of national self-defense to the militant worldview identified with radical Islam. The book reveals, as well, the organizational structure so carefully erected by Bin Laden and his associates, in order to realize the vision of a worldwide Islamic Caliphate in practical terms. The book is intended to work as a set of guidelines for newcomers to the world of international terrorism including anti-terror task forces, heads of security companies as well as professionals in the field. The importance of The Globalization of Terror lies in its clear presentation and precise analysis regarding the dimensions of the danger international terror poses to the free world, and in its recommendations for the necessary strategy to prevent the recurrence of acts of large-scale terror. About the Author Yoram Schweitzer is a researcher at the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, Israel. He has published many articles in Israel and abroad. Shaul Shay is a research fellow at the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel and heads the Israel Defense Forces' Department of History. Among his books are Terror at the Command of the Imam, The Endless Jihad, and The Israeli-Iraqi Confrontation 1948-2000. Meir Dagan is former counter-terrorism coordinator of the Prime Minister's Office and is currently head of the Israeli Mossad.