Rating: 
Summary: Finally, a fair and balanced view of terrorism
Review: The book is magnificent and accurate. Stern has gone beyond villifying terrorism as a Muslim problem and has identified how it can crop up anywhere and with anyone (including Jews, Christians, and Hindus). Her discussion of Jewish terrorism is especially relevant given that the state of Israel was founded through acts of terrorism propagated by groups such as the Irgun and Stern Gang back in the 30s and 40s. In addition, she has the courage to identify many of the so called settlers in the West Bank as exactly what they are...colonizing terrorists. Her treatment of suicide bombers is particularly enlightened, noting that the scourge of suicide bombing is made possbile by the manipulation of zealous leaders and the continued humiliating treatment by occupying forces. The present administration (particularly Condoleeza Rice and Paul Wolfowitz) would do well to read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Look Behind The Hype
Review: The topic of terrorism used to be in the political realm, but the past decade has seen a decided shift to the religious. Professor Stern has done an admirable job trying to get past generalities and actually study the people and their motivations. Through an unprecedented collection of interviews with the actual terrorists themselves, she helps to lift the veil a little bit, and peer underneath it. It's admirable that she undertakes this work when it in the post 9/11 world it is fraught with politics and colored by personal views, and also an issue that has no easy answer. Terrorism is in the eye of the viewer. What is one person's terrorist is another's justified protector and fighter. To see this, look at the breadth of reviews already posted here. She tries to find both sides in each movement she studies, looking how the movement came to be, and what keeps it going. What makes people send their children to be martyrs to a movement? Stern attempts to discover what is behind this. The book is thorough, but not overly dense. One of the biggest drawbacks is that Stern's academic background shines through, and sometimes the prose is a bit dry. But this is the best work I've read so far to examine terror movements both domestic and international. Well worth the read if you are interested in learning more on this hot button issue.
Rating:
Summary: Bold, Informative - an inside look at the religious militant
Review: This is a very interesting and informative look into the minds of today's religious militants.Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this work, is the fact that a fortyish Jewish/American woman gathers her data by roaming around the streets of Gaza, Islamadad, and Kashmir (amoung many others). For the most part, these militants treated the author with respect - and often went out of their way to make her feel comfortable. It reminds us that these are people, despite their radical beliefs and actions. I found the right-wing Chrisitan and radical Jewish content a little less interesting. Nevertheless, this book was very well-written, thorough and enlightening to say the least.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Buck from Terrorism
Review: We're tired. We know this is the 15 minutes for the mediocre political "scientists" and would-be experts. What a mint 9-11 has been for the ambulance chasers such as Stern.
Rating:
Summary: Straight from the terrorist's mouth
Review: With the avalanche of books on terrorism and Islam cluttering the bookstores and library shelves, I was hesitant to plunge into this one. I am glad I reconsidered. It is a remarkable account using primary sources, primarily insiders or inmates who have been active in pursuing their perfidious goals. Many are the actual villains in some of the high profile terrorist crimes of our era.
Sparing a lot of details and personalities, you can discover them for yourself, it is enough to say that Stern has traveled the globe to conduct her interviews and compile her research. From American Fundamentalists with their addiction to targeting abortion clinics for destruction; to Hamas; Indonesians, Pakistanis et al committed to their respective jihads, the author gives a comprehensive, and often eye opening glimpse at the inside operations of a vast cross section of groups.
In establishing a common thread of psychological and economic profiles of the recruits for various terrorist groups, Stern provides useful insight for those wishing to comprehend some of the most menacing ideologues in our modern world. The story is all the more remarkable as Stern is an American professor, female, and Jewish; yet she manages, occasionally at potential risk to her safety, to penetrate conservative Muslim strongholds to obtain her information.
This is scholarly, but still well organized and readable, and I highly recommend it as a first stop for anyone seeking to get a good handle on this important issue.
Rating:
Summary: Think Again
Review: You idiotic heretics actually think that Israeli settlers are colonizers? You dumbass Georgia hick. Not only are a heretic that espouses this idea that "Palestine" is even a nation when it has always been ISRAEL the holy land. The Romans renamed it Syria Palestrina (Palestine) after they crushed the revolt of 70 CE (I refuse to abide by this A.D. garbage) The Israelis should have expelled all of the Arabs from the West bank and Gaza in 1967. That land is properly part of Israel. Israel has bent over backwards to accomodate these PLO and Hamas, etc. terrorists. I dont advocate violence, however sometimes harsh problems call for harsh solutions. Of course some idiot who believes in a heretic who you call "Jesus" - Yeshua is his real name, in a ridiculous deification of man would support those who would persecute and denounce the true chosen people and religion. How dare you speak with such IGNORANCE!
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