Terrorism: books in brief--spring and winter 2002.

• Position: Bibliography

AbuKhalil, As'ad. Bin Laden, Islam and America's New "War on Terrorism." New York, N.Y.: Seven Stories Press, 2002. Paper, $8.95.

Written before the defeat of the Taliban, the book makes for interesting reading about America's role in the Middle East and its stance toward Islam. The author shows how "Islamophobia," which has always been present in the U.S., experienced new heights after September 11. U.S. support for repressive regimes in the Middle East and its pro-Israeli bias in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict constitute the main underlying causes of terrorism. The Saudi and American connection in the support of the Mujahideen and later the Taliban is highlighted. America's war on terrorism is fraught with danger, including the clear and present danger to civil liberties in America. The author predicts that the war will expand and that the way the U.S. is going about conducting it might mean "that this is a war without end and without conclusions" (p. 97). Several typographical errors in the book constitute a significant irritation.

Chomsky, Noam. 9-11. New York, N.Y.: Seven Stories Press, 2002. Paper, $8.95.

The book is based on interviews conducted after September 11 and revised/edited until it went to press on October 15. Chomsky regards the U.S. as a leading terrorist state and that its response to the 9-11 attacks might lead it into a trap. This new type of war is a setback for the worldwide protest against globalization. The attacks on the U.S. also gave Israel an excuse to crack down on the Palestinians. As the U.S. media and popular culture are replete with symbolism and discourse against Islam and the Arabs, Chomsky reminds the reader that American society is one of the most extreme religious fundamentalist cultures in the world. Listening to Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell as they discuss Islam or Christianity, for that matter, makes one appreciate Chomsky's point of view. Chomsky also reminds the reader that terrorism is not only the weapon of the weak since states also engage in it.

Chomsky is critical of America's response to the September 11 attacks. Instead of going the route of international law, the U.S. chose to respond in kind, thus answering Bin Laden's prayers. Finally, Chomsky shows that what happened on September 11 was not because of clash of civilizations since the U.S. itself has supported terrorist regimes and conducted terrorism in the 1980s against Nicaragua.

Despite editing, the reader still encounters a...