Terrorist; The Inside Story of the Highest-ranking Iraqi Terrorist Ever to Defect to the West
New York: Villard Books, 1991. First Edition [stated]. Presumed first printing as First Edition is present and printing line starts with 2 above, indicating if First Edition is not there, it is a second (or later) printing. Mass market paperback. xviii, 233, [5] pages. Some cover wear and page discoloration noted. Steven Emerson (born June 6, 1954) is an American journalist, author, and authority on national security, terrorism, and Islamic extremism. From 1986 to 1989 he worked for U.S. News and World Report as a senior editor specializing in national security issues.[10][13] In 1988, he published Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era, a strongly critical review of Ronald Reagan-era efforts to strengthen U.S. covert capabilities. Reviewing the book, The New York Times wrote: "Among the grace notes of Mr. Emerson's fine book are many small, well-told stories". In 1990, he co-authored The Fall of Pan Am 103, which argued that Iran was behind the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Reviewing the book, The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Emerson and Mr. Duffy have put together a surpassing account of the investigation to date, rich with drama and studded with the sort of anecdotal details that give the story... depth and weight." The newspaper listed it as an "editors' choice" on their Best Sellers List, and cited it as a "notable book of the year". In 1991, he published Terrorist: The Inside Story of the Highest-Ranking Iraqi Terrorist Ever to Defect to the West, detailing how Iraq spread and increased its terror network in the 1980s with U.S. support. From a review by Daniel Pipes: Adnan Awad, a Palestinian Arab from near Haifa, is the "highest-ranking Iraqi terrorist" of the title. Befriended by Mohammed Rashid, he quickly fell into the clutches of Abu Ibrahim, the head of the 15 May Organization and one of Iraq's leading agents of terror. Needing someone respectable to carry out operations in the West, Abu Ibrahim pressured a reluctant Awad to work for him by demonstrating that he could close down Awad's construction business. Feeling trapped, Awad accepted Abu Ibrahim's orders. In August 1982, he set off for Geneva with a Semtex-lined suitcase. His mission: to blow up the Noga Hilton hotel because its owner was a Jewish supporter of Israel. On reaching Switzerland, however, Awad turned himself over to the U.S. Embassy. During the next two years, he worked with Swiss intelligence. Then, in late 1984, he came to the United States to testify against Mohammed Rashid. As that case slowly wends it way through the Greek court system, Awad moves from one American city to another under the auspices of the federal Witness Protection Program. The one thing a reader can do is check for factual mistakes, illogic and internal contradiction. Combing the book for such flaws, I found that "Terrorist" stands up well. Awad does make a few questionable assertions but nothing that discredits his testimony. On all key matters Awad's account of his personal history, even when sometimes implausible-sounding, does check out; and the impersonal portions of his testimony have stood up to serious scrutiny, both private and governmental. Accordingly, Awad's sensational tale exposes much about Middle East terrorism. Steven Emerson is a leading investigative journalist dealing with intelligence matters; in "Terrorist" as in "The Fall of Pan Am 103," he is at his best, piecing together a complex and elusive story. A fascinating story such as Awad's speaks for itself, without hype. "Terrorist" offers an exciting and original glimpse into the subterranean, both in the Middle East and here. The reviewer was director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia. Condition: Good.
Keywords: Adnan Awad, Terrorism, Iraq, Mohammed Rashid, Abu Ibrahim, 15 May Organization, Witness Protection, Palestine, Abu Dahab, Explosive, Saddam Hussein
ISBN: 0679737014
[Book #84324]
Price: $27.50