From Le Monde diplomatique, an article on Bin Laden as a Fantasy Figure: Riches beyond belief. A review of The Faces of Terrorism: Social and Psychological Dimensions by Neil Smelser (and the first chapter) and The Lesser Jihad: Recruits and the Al-Qaida Network by Elena Mastors and Alyssa Deffenbaugh. The introduction to What Makes a Terrorist: Economics and the Roots of Terrorism by Alan B. Krueger (and a review). A review of The Islamist: Why I joined radical Islam in Britain, what I saw inside and why I left by Ed Husain and Inside the Global Jihad by Omar Nasiri and Gordon Corera. The Convert's Zeal: Radical Islamism has become a magnet for some of the world's angriest people. A review of Making Islam Democratic: Social Movements and the Post-Islamic Turn by Asef Bayat.
Constructing conflict: In many Western cities, plans to erect mosques often stir more passion than any other local issue—and politicians are leaping into the fray. Brothers in Arms: The United States and the Muslim Brotherhood have more in common than they think. But if the Brotherhood is to win over American skeptics, its actions will have to match its words. Islam, the American way: Why the United States is fairer to Muslims than “Eurabia” is. The world left the US behind: If you look at the issues being debated in the wider world, the US is not at the forefront of global debate on any of them — except terror and security. Todd Gitlin reviews What They Think of Us: International Perceptions of the United States Since 9/11. America is obsessed with the prospect of bad news: A review of The Culture of Calamity: Disaster and the Making of Modern America by Kevin Rozario.
From Telos, an essay on degrees of enmity and the "War on Terrorism". Susan Faludi on America’s Guardian Myths: Our original “war on terrorism” bequeathed us a heritage that haunts our reaction to crises like the one that struck on that clear morning in the late summer of 2001. A review of Stuart Croft's Culture, Crisis and America's War on Terror. David Cole and Jules Lobel on Why We're Losing the War on Terror: Going on the offensive has only made us more vulnerable. From Commentary, a review of The Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World by Douglas E. Schoen. After the neocons: people will still vote for democracy. His Toughness Problem—and Ours: Ian Buruma reviews World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism by Norman Podhoretz.
