The Foreign Service Journal, November 2004

60 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 4 B OOKS Know Thy Enemy Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror Anonymous Brassey’s, Inc., 2004, $27.50, hardcover, 309 pages. R EVIEWED BY T HOMAS F ERGUSON The author of this passionate, insightful book is a career intelligence official who has spent 17 years analyz- ing terrorism, militant Islam and the affairs of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and headed the CIA unit dedicated to tracking Osama bin Laden. Drawing on that expertise, he makes a dis- turbingly compelling case that for decades now, Washington policy-mak- ers of both parties have operated under a misapprehension of the enemy that has hamstrung our response. As bin Laden and others have con- sistently told us, al-Qaida’s jihad against the U.S. has nothing to do with our freedoms, and everything to do with our policies and actions in the Muslim world. Specifically, their attacks are meant to advance clear for- eign policy goals: the end of U.S. aid to Israel, and the ultimate elimination of that state; the removal of Western forces from Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Muslim lands; the with- drawal of U.S. support for repressive, apostate regimes throughout the Muslim world; and an end to its toler- ance of the oppression of Muslims by Russia, China and India. Al-Qaida does not expect to achieve these goals through random acts of terror, but through inspiring, organizing and training fighters for a global Muslim insurgency against America. So the U.S. must recognize that it is not fighting a gang of aberrant terrorists, but is in a war for survival with an enemy of immense durability, manpower and resources — and must respond accordingly. Thus, “Anonymous” fully supports the decision to go into Afghanistan after 9/11, but sharply criticizes the initial delay in sending troops, which allowed the bulk of Taliban and al- Qaida fighters to escape. Citing the inadequate resources dedicated to locating and destroying these forces since then, he discounts the viability of the Karzai government, and foresees a growing insurgency that will force a choice between a massive escalation of U.S. forces or withdrawal — the same quandary the Soviet Union faced. In contrast, he calls the decision to invade Iraq “Osama bin Laden’s gift from America,” proving to Muslims around the world his central argument for a defensive jihad: America is engaged in a sustained attack on Islam and Islamic lands. The occupation has also diverted U.S. resources and atten- tion from the essential war in Afghanistan, and daily gives new impetus to al-Qaida’s recruitment efforts. Imperial Hubris offers a damning indictment of missed opportunities, tactical and strategic blunders, and ignorance of the enemy. But it is less persuasive when it comes to formulat- ing realistic alternatives to current pol- icy. The author’s proposals constitute a tough-minded isolationism that breaks down into two broad cate- gories. The first is straightforward enough: we must fight the military struggle more effectively and savagely, aiming to destroy, not arrest or weak- en al-Qaida’s forces, and accepting the likelihood of mass casualties on both sides in the process. This will entail shifting to an even more unilateralist approach, with less reliance on tradi- tional allies and local forces. At the same time, we must alter U.S. foreign policy to diminish the need to fight, by seeking energy self- sufficiency and ending our depen- dence on Mideast oil; drastically scal- ing back non-essential commitments abroad; and ceasing misguided efforts to impart U.S. values to unwilling recipients. Chief among the commit- ments he would re-examine is American support for Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. These are, to say the least, highly provocative suggestions that amount to the abandonment of the imperial posture the U.S. has gradually assumed since World War II. But at a minimum, they deserve serious con- Anonymous offers a damning indictment of missed opportunities, tactical and strategic blunders, and ignorance of the enemy. w