Leaderless Jihad

I generally only recommend books after I've read them, but in this case I need to make an exception.

Several weeks ago I added the book Leaderless Jihad by Marc Sageman to my list of books to buy.  But since I already had a good-sized stack to take with me on my upcoming trip out of country, I postponed the purchase.  I'll be gone for about seven weeks though, and I didn't want to wait until I get back to mention the book here.

David Ignatius mentioned the book in a recent column.  Quoting Ignatius,

The heart of Sageman's message is that we have been scaring ourselves into exaggerating the terrorism threat -- and then by our unwise actions in Iraq making the problem worse. He attacks head-on the central thesis of the Bush administration, echoed increasingly by Republican presidential candidate John McCain, that, as McCain's Web site puts it, the United States is facing "a dangerous, relentless enemy in the War against Islamic Extremists" spawned by al-Qaeda.

What we have here friends is some real analysis.  Finally.  Not just more fear-mongering and political posturing.  News Flash:  Most politicians want us scared so we'll vote for them, then approve whatever "big brother" agenda they're promoting this week.  Sageman has the credentials and presents a well-reasoned argument.  His policy advice?  (again quoting Ignatius)

is to "take the glory and thrill out of terrorism." Jettison the rhetoric about Muslim extremism -- these leaderless jihadists are barely Muslims. Stop holding news conferences to announce the latest triumphs in the "global war on terror," which only glamorize the struggle. And reduce the U.S. military footprint in Iraq, which fuels the Muslim world's sense of moral outrage.

It's much too late for the Bushies.  Hopefully the next administration will follow that advice.