Rating: 
Summary: Really clear, easy to read, chilling
Review: "Hatred's Kingdom" is an excellent and very logical account of the way in which the Saudi Arabian government and 'ulama have supported terrorism. It explains it very clearly in terms of the roots of Wahhabi Islam that tend to see non-Muslims as polytheists. In some cases, Wahhabis have tended to see even other sects of Islam in these terms.Many people in the West today are aware of the structure of life in Saudi Arabia. Non-Muslims cannot practice or proclaim their religion on pain of death; women are severely restricted both in dress and in opportunities - they are not allowed to drive and must be accompanied by a male relative on a bus or train (though not on flights); and cinema, theatre and Western music are likewise banned. What Dore Gold does in "Hatred's Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism" is to show very clearly the manner in which Saudi support for terrorism today is rooted in the ideas of Wahhab in the eighteenth century - which called for a return to the Islam of the first Muslims. "Hatred's Kingdom" gives very easy-to-read accounts of what the Wahhabis believed had corrupted Islam since the seventh century and how the Wahhabis believed Islam should be returned to the basic belief in the oneness of God. This, they felt, meant that Judaism and Christianity had to be attacked as unbelief. More often, actually, Wahhabis have seen these religions as polytheism, and have attacked them viciously in their propaganda with quotes from the Qur'an. We see very clearly how the Wahhabi armies of ibn Saud fought the Ottomans over several centuries to gain control of the Hijaz from the Hashmites (who rule Jordan today), succeeding after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The oil wealth of Saudi Arabia in later years meant that the 'ulama and government could carry out Wahhab's original intention of spreading his form of Islam across the whole world, which we see has led to the setting up of large numbers of Wahhabi schools in the West and the conversion of many young people to Islam. Because Wahhabism was/is the toughest and most reliable defence for the US ruling class against socialist revolution in the Middle East, the US government has strongly backed Saudi Arabia ever since oil was found in the Persian Gulf. The crux really is that Wahhabism believes it has an obligation to fight the Dar-al-Harb (non-Wahhabis, especially non-Muslims) regardless of the means used. This explains both why the US trained Osama Bin Laden against the Afghan PDPA in the 1980s and why Osama felt threatened by the placement of US troops on Saudi soil. It also explains why Muslim terrorists believe it is neither suicide nor terrorism to sacrifice one's life as a human bomb if one kills infidels in the process. The book is especially clear at showing why many attempts at modernisation by Saudi monarchs are firmly opposed by the 'ulama and how the 'ulama have considerable control over Saudi politics. Over the last thirty years, the 'ulama have in fact become vocal in their demands for an even stricted Islamic state in Saudi Arabia, and have in fact succeeded in tightening many regulations governing Saudi life. The whole book is clear in showing that Saudi 'ulama aim to spread Wahhabism globally by jihad, and how 'ulama see it as the highest goal of every Muslim to die in a jihad. Indeed, they point out that Wahhabism basically believes that nonbelievers have no right to live whatsoever. 'ulama and Saudi princes thus contribute vast sums of money to fuding such groups as al-Qa'ida, leading to such horrors as the September 11 attacks. Dore Gold points out the only by finding a substitute to lessen dependence on Saudi oil can the US solve the problem its alliance with a state built on an ideology of holy war has created for it since the September 11 attacks. In summary, an extremely clear book that offers a very good understanding of where Muslim terrorism comes from.
Rating:
Summary: The Sad Truth About Saudi Arabia!
Review: Hatred's Kingdom, proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Saudi government is both the financial and ideolgical engine of radical Islam. I learned a great deal from this book -- especially from the primary source documents in the back of the book. Saudi Arabia is no ally of the United States - it is part of the problem not the solution to the evils of terrorism that destroyed the innocents in the World Trade Center. Another, more fun view of the Kingdom, is Keshner's COCKPIT CONFESSIONS OF AN AIRLINE PILOT... What a great and informative read.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, this really is a must read about today's world
Review: Yes, this really is a must read about today's world! 15 out of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudi citizens, all 19 were permeated through and through by Wahhabi extremist Islam - which until recently has been totally atypical of Islam worldwide (which in turn has been more peaceful) and if we in the West continue to let the Saudis get away with it things will get even worse!Sad to say, this book contains a lot of truth - although the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is a moderate, he is not intimately connected enough to many of the Saudi power players, and if he fails it is serious bad news. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating history, yet terribly alarming.
Review: A must read if you want to truly understand the origins behind the Wahhabi sect of Islam and their hate for the west, other muslim's, and anyone who does not subscribe to their view of God. With the history detailed in this book, it is amazing that after centuries of their terror, we are just waking up to the reality that we have been funding this breeding ground of terror for the last century.
Rating:
Summary: A must read
Review: A must read for anyone who wants to understand the origins of 9/11 and today's global terror in general. I look forward to the day when our media gives as much attention to Saudi Wahhabism as it gives to Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, etc. If Gold's book is on target, and it sounds like it is, Saudi Wahhabism poses as much if not more of a long-term threat to global peace than any individual.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Devastating
Review: The regime of Saudi Arabia has come under a withering stream of criticism and derision lately. It has become particularly fashionable to produce long winded polemics against every facet of the Saudi royalty. Even worse for the House of Saud, the attacks come from all quarters, with conservative national security types deriding their efforts against Al-Qaeda, and liberal Bush opponents eager to capitalize on the President's supposed ties to the desert kingdom. Most of this criticism is richly deserved, as authors like Dore Gold points out again and again. Saudi Arabia, in many ways, is the most threatening country in the world right now. Not because of nuclear weapons or mass armies, but because of the ideas and money it can export. The most fascinating part of Gold's book is his brief but very informative study of the development of Wahhabism and the rising power of Saudi Arabia. Gold pulls no punches in his historical examination of the tyrannical religion that is Wahhabi Islam. It was a heresy when it was formed, and many mainstream Islamic scholars have deemed it that since its inception. From its beginnings, Wahhabism has been nothing but a negative force in the world, spreading a murderous brand of religious intolerance as far as its armies could conquer. Early on, to solidify its political power, the founders of the radical strain of Islam sought strong alliances. One such agreement was forged with the house of Saud, a family of considerable influence. Together, the odd symbiote withstood assaults from the British and the Ottoman Empires, keeping control of the all important holy cities of Islam. This leadership mutated but stayed relatively the same up until the modern era, as the Arab world went through a series of revolutions and religious revival. The kingdom was stable in its riches, it alliance with the western powers, and its fierce religious fanaticism. Only recently has the world become aware of the dangerous agreement, and the effects it would have on the world at large. Everyone saw the effects on September 11th, but the influence of Saudi Arabia is much more widespread than that, as Dore Gold shows. Saudi Arabia extends its influence through two main conduits, religion and money. Through its vast oil wealth, the Saudi royals, and there are thousands of them, can distribute untold millions to their various pet causes, including, more recently, the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. Gold shows how the various players in the kingdom have close relationships with various terrorist fronts, including those who fund groups such as Hamas. Many members of the royal family have made the decision that covertly aiding the terrorist network is much safer than actually confronting them. The kingdom also exports its own radical brand of Islam, supporting various madrassas and "religious" schools, which are really just facades. This, coupled with their own brutal domestic policies, has created a veritable witches brew of violence and religious hatred. Gold outlines the whole situation clearly and gives the reader a clear view of the situation. The one thing I felt was wrong about this book was its kind of simple approach to the problem. A lot of analysts these days urge more pressure on the Saudi's, but offer little follow up. The situation is just so complex, and I often feel many don't understand what would happen if the royals were just "overthrown." Gold kind of falls into this trap, offering little in the way of specifics. However, if you want to get the thrust of the problem, look no further than Dore Gold's well reasoned book.
Rating:
Summary: Sad to say, this book has a lot of truth
Review: Sad to say, this book contains a lot of truth - although the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is a moderate, he is not intimately connected enough to many of the Saudi power players, and if he fails it is serious bad news. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)
Rating:
Summary: Yet another brilliant expose.
Review: Yet another brilliant expose about the Saudi's lies, in great detail. Most of the highjackers on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia gives billions upon billions to terrorists. They are not a democracy. This book is so eye-opening it is unbelievable. Everyone should read this book. It will make you angry the Saudi Arabian is still in existence, as they are liars and cheats.
Rating: 
Summary: Spin and nothing but Spin
Review: Much of the exhaustive research in this book is outdated, well-known by world governments, involved many of the world governments when the events/transactions were taking place. Reading this books you would think that is some new discovery dug out from the dark pits it was banished to because no one wanted anyone to know about it.... actually no... I have seen, read, and heard countless debates and lectures on this information from world government officials and the like. This is OLD NEWS and very WELL - KNOWN STUFF.
Rating:
Summary: Middle East Geopolitical Essential Reading
Review: Essential reading in understanding the present political crisis of Al Queda and Saudi Arabia. Also, essential reading for anyone embarking with political or business relations in the Middle East, and especially with Saudi Arabia. Well written, quick read, covers the broad picture and goes deep, but not long winded (not space filling like most books). Although the author shows much deeply and well founded incriminating evidence against Saudi Arabia, concerning Al Queda, you'll also discover, by reading between the lines, that Saudi Arabia cannot easily reverse their course. For they are on a course of longstanding duplicity and comprimise that cannot easily be reversed without the threat of massive inner self destruction. To read this book is to become accutely aware of what dangers could be avoided in making contracts with such a wayward nation.
| 
