Eric Schmitt
(Author) & Thom Shanker (Author)
Publisher: Times Books; 1 edition (August 16,
2011)
Language: English
ASIN: B004SHEJLM
DESCRIPTION
Inside
the Pentagon's secretive and revolutionary new strategy to fight terrorism--and
its game-changing effects in the Middle East and at home
In the years
following the 9/11 attacks, the United States waged a "war on terror"
that sought to defeat Al Qaeda through brute force. But it soon became clear
that this strategy was not working, and by 2005 the Pentagon began looking for
a new way.
In Counterstrike, Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker
of The New York Times tell the story of
how a group of analysts within the military, at spy agencies, and in law
enforcement has fashioned an innovative and effective new strategy to fight
terrorism, unbeknownst to most Americans and in sharp contrast to the cowboy
slogans that characterized the U.S. government's public posture. Adapting
themes from classic Cold War deterrence theory, these strategists have expanded
the field of battle in order to disrupt jihadist networks in ever more creative
ways.
Schmitt and Shanker
take readers deep into this theater of war, as ground troops, intelligence
operatives, and top executive branch officials have worked together to redefine
and restrict the geography available for Al Qaeda to operate in. They also show
how these new counterterrorism strategies, adopted under George W. Bush and
expanded under Barack Obama, were successfully employed in planning and
carrying out the dramatic May 2011 raid in which Osama bin Laden was killed.
Filled with
startling revelations about how our national security is being managed, Counterstrike will change the way Americans
think about the ongoing struggle with violent radical extremism.
PRAISES
"This
eye-opening account of how the U.S. government has vastly upgraded its
counterterrorism efforts since Sept. 11 reminds readers that while the threat
from al Qaeda and its affiliates persists, so does the American will to strike
back."—Joshua Sinai, The Washington Times
"In Counterstrike, Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker,
reporters for the New York Times, warn
that another catastrophic terrorist event is inevitable, but their
behind-the-scenes account of the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism strategy
gives officials the highest marks… Counterstrike
is a glowing portrayal of the American intelligence community."— Robert D.
Crews, San Francisco Chronicle
"The book [Counterstrike] sheds light on offensive U.S.
cyber operations almost never discussed by U.S. officials."—Bloomberg.com
"New York Times correspondents Schmitt and
Shanker review events after 9/11, focusing on government and military
counterterrorism experts who convinced administration ideologues to switch
gears… [A] reassuring argument that, after an expensive and massive effort,
terrorism seems on the decline."—Kirkus
Reviews
"A remarkable
detective story by two of the nation’s best reporters. With meticulous research
and fine storytelling, Counterstrike reveals
who, what, when, where, and why in describing the long campaign by the
United States government to demolish Al Qaeda and ultimately to kill Osama bin
Laden."--Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of An Army at Dawn
"Counterstrike lays bare the provocative new
ideas that are driving the war on terrorism. Generals often talk about changing
the hearts and minds of people in faraway lands, but Eric Schmitt and Thom
Shanker reveal the importance of changing the hearts and minds of America’s
defense strategists. This is a groundbreaking intellectual history that is also
a great read."--Jessica Stern, author of Terror
in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill
"Eric Schmitt
and Thom Shanker dig deep to tell the story of the covert campaign to defeat Al
Qaeda, from the CIA to the Pentagon. Counterstrike
is a richly reported work that is a seminal account of the battle between
America and Al Qaeda since 9/11."--Peter Bergen, author of The Longest War: The Enduring Conflict Between
America and Al-Qaeda
"Filled with
amazing characters and details, Counterstrike
traces the evolution of America’s strategy for stopping the next attack. It’s a
fascinating story and a great read, too."--Dexter Filkins, author of The Forever War
"Counterstrike scores a direct hit. Eric
Schmitt and Thom Shanker, two of America’s most respected national security
correspondents, provide pathbreaking reporting on and incisive analysis of the
secret war against Al Qaeda after 9/11. This cogent history of America’s
elusive search for a strategy – essential reading for specialists and concerned
citizens alike – should inform our national debate on how best to counter this
most urgent threat."-- Lee H. Hamilton, former congressman and co-chair of
the 9/11 Commission
"Eric Schmitt
and Thom Shanker have written a brilliant and important account of America’s
battle with Al Qaeda. It is an exceptional work in that it truly addresses
strategic issues and not just the tactical fight. There are critical insights
and recommendations provided in this book that make it a must-read for all
those who want to understand how we must deal with this complex
threat."--General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC
REVIEW
Authors Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker give a wide-ranging and
engrossing look at our secretive and expansive efforts to fight a new type of
war against terror in the days following 9/11. When the Bush administration was
caught off guard by a deep strike at the heart of some of America's most
treasured institutions by the evil Osama bin Laden and his forces, the
administration was pushed into a change of direction in both collating and
sharing internal intelligence between revitalized/reorganized agencies,
sometime unconventionally, and in fighting the major terrorist enemy of Al
Qaeda and its offshoots that extended far beyond what had begun in the Clinton
administration. When we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, this new type of war was
'templated' over conventional war on the battlefield, from the highest levels
to the lowest combat units. The authors trace the rise of an interesting cast
of characters, thru 3 presidential administrations, who changed the approach
from "kill or capture" of high valued targets in Al Qaeda to a new
overall approach that has even expanded our philosophy of nuclear war to
include the WMD implications of the war on terrorism, as in the case of Bush's
National Security Presidential Directive 46. The many successes and
frustrations of the Bush administration were handed over to the Obama
administration and its own particular strategy, ultimately leading to the
killing of the top man in Al Qaeda and the further expansion of the continuing
war on terror from countries such as beleaguered Pakistan to our own efforts on
US soil to prevent attacks and contain internal threats. While the book
sometimes dwells at length on the backgrounds of unfamiliar but colorful
terror-fighting personalities involved in the Bush and Obama administrations
and doesn't fully connect the dots about incidents that have come to light in
recent years, the authors unearth an awesome amount of new information (such
the "Two + Seven" strike at Al Qaeda leadership and the stunning
"Taji" and "Sinjar" intelligence treasure troves in Iraq)
that makes this book both an eminently worthwhile read that adds significantly
to our store of knowledge and shows us where we are headed in the future of the
war on terror. Clearly, the anti-terror pace and successes of the Bush and
Obama administrations may surprise many readers. Highly Recommended.
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