THE TERRORIST WATCH: INSIDE THE DESPERATE RACE TO STOP THE NEXT ATTACK

BY RONALD KESSLER
www.RonaldKessler.com
Crown Forum Books
www.crownforum.com

The author of this book is someone who has had both unique access and unique experience to be able to write this book. Mr. Kessler is the New York Times’ best selling author of 16 non-fiction books to include " The Bureau: The Secret History of the FBI ", "The CIA at War", "Inside the CIA", to mention a few. He is also a former Washington Post and Wall Street Journal investigative reporter. Drawing on the access that he had gained earlier with the CIA, FBI and others, Mr. Kessler addresses these agencies together in their battle against terrorism directed against America. Mr. Kessler has had the opportunity to meet with and interview the FBI and CIA Directors, the White House Counterterrorism Chief and the intelligence personnel throughout the federal government. He also visits the Operations Centers of the key agencies in this battle to include CIA, FBI, DOD and the new interagency National Counterterrorism center. Most of us are now aware of some of the intelligence shortcomings prior to 9/11 attacks. What everyone may not be aware of are the changes that have occurred since then and the successes that our agencies have had due to the fact that they do now work together in a unified effort to protect our country. While the average citizen only sees long lines at the checkpoints at the airport or our troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan; most of the work done by our law enforcement and intelligence agencies, by its very nature, is done in secret. It is no accident that we have had no terrorist attacks in the US since 9/11 and have had numerous arrests of terrorist plots both in the US and worldwide. This book deals with the reality of how the FBI/CIA work together through the newly created National Counterterrorism Center in fighting terrorism and reviews some of the many successes. The book also talks about how the media and many politicians not only put out misinformation but also jeopardizes these agencies efforts through deliberate leaks in the media. The book also talks about the ongoing battle that still goes on today and what is at stake.

I think that the book will be of interest to those of us in the anti/counter terrorism community and of even more interest to the public who normally knows about us only through the TV news and TV shows.

Email dated January 30, 2008 from Mr. Elliot Grollman

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Naxals are no less of a threat than the jehadis

Sundeep Chakravarti’s “Red Sun: Travels in Naxalite country” is a very important book which offers an excellent account of the nature of the Naxalite threat. The Naxalite movement thrives on disillusionment and disaffection. It collects unaddressed grievances and unredressed complaints and channelises them into anger against the “Indian State”. The fact that both Communism and Socialism failed doesn’t matter to the Naxalite leadership, ideologues and sympathizers: people in remote, backward districts of Indian don’t know 20th century history. The left-leaning and left-wing commentariat has succeeded where the pseudo-secularists have failed. The average Indian believes that the Naxalites are not quite as serious a threat as the jehadis. While the Naxalites consolidated into a nation-wide movement a few years ago, the central government continues to claim that this is essentially a matter for the States and it would only play a co-ordinating role. Compared with their usual backers, the Naxalites derive greater benefit when reputed individuals and organisations criticize the government. The media coverage of the affairs is playing into the hands of the Naxalites. The interests of freedom and rights will be better served if the central government is compelled to really fight and defeat the Naxalites. There is the non-security aspect of the anti-Naxalite strategy, wrongly characterized as the need for “development “.

Mall Today – March 6, 2006.

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