Put together a list of my favorite terrorism/national security books for anyone else interested in that genre. So here goes:
Far and away number one is Joby Warrick’s “Rise of ISIS.” It details ISIS’s start as al Qaeda in Iraq and took it through it’s rise in 2014. He had some sources in Jordanian intelligence that shared fascinating details. Not sure I have ever read a book so fast.
Another one, similar name, is Ali Soufan’s Black Banners, written by an FBI agent who investigated the Cole bombing and ended up playing a big part in the 9/11 investigation. Really enjoyed this one, although there are some unfortunate redactions in it.
Steve Coll’s “Ghost Wars” chronicles the CIA’s involvement in Afghanistan during the Cold War and follows through to September 10, 2001. There’s a ton of detail in here, and it really highlights the dumpster fire that the country was, as well as our role in it, prior to 9/11
Another one was Joby Warrick’s first: “Triple Agent,” which details the story of a Jordanian doctor who sold himself as an al Qaeda insider who wished to switch sides, only to detonate a suicide vest at the CIA base in Khost, unfortunately killing numerous Americans.
Peter Bergen’s “Manhunt” chronicles the hunt for bin Laden after 9/11 through his capture in Abbottabad.
Lastly, another quick read with a little different flavor, was American Radical, the story of a Muslim FBI agent who went undercover to infiltrate a terrorist cell.
Not pictured because I could not find it was Lawrence Wright’s “The Looming Tower,” which details bin Laden’s life prior to 9/11. It is revered ny many as one of the best.
None of these are “light reads” and may not be desirable pandemic quarantine reading, but if you’re as interested in this stuff as I am and haven’t read any of them, I would definitely recommend you do so.
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